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.

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    The concept
    This system issues a warning at speeds above approx. 40 mph/65 km/h if the vehicle is about to leave the lane on roads with lane markings. The steering wheel begins vibrating gently. The time o ...

    Running a function
    Press the button. The function will run immediately. This means, for example, that the number is dialed when a phone number is selected. ...

    What to do if...
    Only a black screen is visible. Switch on the system. There are no options available on the screen. Replace remote control batteries. Radio stations or TV channels are grayed out and c ...