On-demand control of ancillary units saves energy

Intelligent energy management in the new BMW 3-Series is further enhanced by the ancillary units, which consume significantly less energy compared with conventional systems. Examples include the on-demand coolant pump, the electronically controlled oil pump and the electromechanical steering system, which only consumes electric power when steering assistance is actually required. The special air conditioning compressor featured on many of the sports sedan models works on the same principle. As soon as the driver switches the air conditioning off, the belt drive to the compressor is disconnected by a magnetic clutch, to minimise power drain.

    See also:

    Welcome lamps
    When parking the vehicle, leave the switch in position or : the parking and interior lamps light up briefly when the vehicle is unlocked. Activating/deactivating the welcome lamps 1. " ...

    Controls at a glance
    Controls 1.  Control Display 2.  Controller with buttons You can use the buttons to open the menus directly. The controller can be used to select the menu items and create settings. ...

    Ride & Handling
    One of my lasting memories of the prior-generation X3 was its extremely firm ride, which led to a choppy driving experience on rough roads. It was disappointing, to say the least, because BMWs oft ...