BMW 5 Series 2020-2023 Saving Fuel User Manual

Introduction

Advancements aimed at lowering carbon emissions and optimizing fuel consumption have revolutionized the automotive industry in an era where environmental concerns and fuel efficiency are of utmost importance. The BMW 5 Series, a luxury midsize vehicle that expertly blends style, power, and sustainability, is one significant competitor in this space. In this article, we delve into the world of the BMW 5 Series and examine its cutting-edge technologies, novel features, and tactics for maximizing fuel economy. From 2020 until 2023, join us as we set out on a quest to learn how to save fuel with the BMW 5 Series.

Vehicle Features and Options

This chapter describes all standard, country-specific and optional features offered with the series. It also describes features and functions that are not necessarily available in your vehicle, e.g., due to the selected options or country versions. This also applies to safety-related functions and systems. When using these functions and systems, the applicable laws and regulations must be observed.

Reducing Fuel Consumption

General Information
The vehicle contains advanced technologies for the reduction of consumption and emission values.
Fuel consumption depends on various factors, such as driving style, road conditions, maintenance or environmental factors.
Carrying out certain measures, such as a moderate driving style and regular maintenance, can influence fuel consumption and the environmental impact.

Remove Unnecessary Cargo
Additional weight increases fuel consumption.

Remove Attached Parts Following Use
Remove roof-mounted which are no longer required following use.
The attached parts on the vehicle impair aerodynamics and increase fuel consumption.

Close the Windows and Glass Sunroof
Driving with the glass sunroof and windows open results in increased drag and raises fuel consumption.

Tires

General Information
Tires can affect consumption in various ways, for instance tire size may influence consumption.

Check the Tire Pressure Regularly
Check and, if needed, correct the tire inflation pressure at least twice a month and before starting on a long trip.
Low tire inflation pressure increases rolling resistance and thus raises fuel consumption and tire wear.
Observe the correct tire inflation pressure as well as the ECO tire inflation pressure, where applicable.

Drive Away without Delay
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right away but at moderate RPM.
This is the fastest way of warming the cold engine up to operating temperature.

Proactive Driving
Driving smoothly and proactively reduces fuel consumption.
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking.
By maintaining a suitable distance to the vehicle driving ahead of you.

Avoid High RPM
Driving at low engine speeds lowers fuel consumption and reduces wear.
If necessary, observe the vehicle’s gear shift indicator.

Using Coasting Overrun Mode
When approaching a red light, take your foot off the accelerator and let the vehicle coast to a halt.
For going downhill take your foot off the accelerator and let the vehicle roll.
The fuel supply is interrupted in coasting overrun mode.

Switch off the Engine During Longer Stops
Switching off the Engine
Switch off the engine during longer stops, for instance at traffic lights, railroad crossings or in traffic jam.

Auto Start/Stop Function
The Auto Start/Stop function of the vehicle automatically switches off the engine during a stop.
If the engine is switched off and then restarted rather than leaving the engine running constantly, fuel consumption and emissions are reduced. Savings can begin within a few seconds of switching off the engine.

Switch off any Functions that are not Currently Needed
Functions such as seat heating and the rear window defroster require a lot of energy and increase fuel consumption, especially in city and stop-and-go traffic.
Switch off these functions if they are not needed. The ECO PRO driving mode supports the energy conserving use of comfort features. These functions are automatically deactivated partially or completely.

Have Maintenance Carried Out
Have the vehicle maintained regularly to achieve optimal vehicle efficiency and service life. BMW recommends that maintenance work be per‐formed by a BMW service center.
Also refer to BMW Maintenance System.

ECO PRO

Principle
ECO PRO supports a driving style that saves on consumption. For this purpose, the engine control and comfort features, for instance the climate control output, are adjusted.
Steptronic transmission: under certain conditions the engine is automatically decoupled from the transmission in the D selector lever position. The vehicle continues traveling with the engine idling to reduce consumption. The D selector lever position remains engaged. In addition, context-sensitive information, ECO PRO tips, are displayed to assist with an efficient driving style.
The achieved extended range is displayed in the instrument cluster as bonus range.

General information
The system includes the following Efficient Dynamics functions and Efficient Dynamics displays:

1. ECO PRO bonus range.
2. ECO PRO seat climate control.
3. ECO PRO climate control.
4. ECO PRO light and sight.
5. ECO PRO Limit.
6. Coasting driving condition.
7. Driving style analysis.

OverviewButton

Activating ECO PRO
Press the button. ECO PRO is displayed in the instrument cluster.

Configuring ECO PRO Individual

Via the Driving Dynamics Control

1. Activate ECO PRO.
2. “ECO PRO INDIVIDUAL”

Via iDrive

1. “CAR”
2. “Settings”
3. “Driving mode”
4. “ECO PRO INDIVIDUAL”
5. Select the desired setting.

ECO PRO limit speed

1. “ECO PRO speed”: activate ECO PRO speed.
   An ECO PRO tip is displayed if the speed of the set ECO PRO limit is exceeded.
2. “Notification at:”
   Set the desired speed for the ECO PRO speed.

Activating/deactivating ECO PRO functions
The following ECO PRO functions can be activated/deactivated:

1. ▷ “ECO PRO seat heating”
   ▷ “ECO PRO climate control”
   ▷ “ECO PRO light and sight”

Coasting
Efficiency can be optimized by disengaging or switching off the engine and coasting with the engine idling.

ECO PRO seat climate control
The activation of ECO PRO will reduce the output of the seat heating.

ECO PRO climate control
Climate control is set to be efficient.
This means it is possible to deviate slightly from the set temperature or to heat or cool down the car’s interior more slowly, to economize on consumption.

ECO PRO light and sight
The output of exterior mirror heating and rear window defroster is reduced.

Resetting the settings
Reset ECO PRO INDIVIDUAL to the standard settings:
“Reset to ECO PRO STANDARD”

Displays in the Instrument Cluster

General information
When ECO PRO driving mode is activated, the display switches to a special configuration.

ECO PRO bonus range
A modified driving style helps you extend your driving distance.
The range extension can be displayed as the bonus range in the instrument cluster.
The efficiency display includes the bonus range.
If the bonus range appears in gray, the current driving style is inefficient.
The display turns blue as soon as all conditions for efficient driving are met.
The intervals for resetting the bonus range depend on the settings of the trip data.

Consumption display
Instrument cluster with enhanced features:

A pointer in the consumption display informs about the current driving style:

1. The current consumption in relation to the average consumption is displayed.
2. Pointer in the area of arrow 1: the display of the energy recovered by coasting or when braking.
3. Pointer in the area of arrow 2: display when accelerating.

If the acceleration is inefficient, the area between the average consumption and the current consumption is colored red.

In addition, the following information is displayed, depending on the situation:

1. Depending on the equipment: the total distance driven while coasting.
2. The total time that the engine has been switched off during automatic engine stops.
3. A gear shift indicator recommending the use of a more efficient gear.

Indications on the Control Display

General information
Information about the current effectiveness of the ECO PRO functions can be displayed as energy flow.

Displaying energy flow information

1. “CAR”
2. “Driving information”
3. “Energy flow”

The following functions are displayed:

1. Auto Start/Stop function.
2. Energy recovery.
3. Coasting.

Engine-Off / Coasting

Principle
Under certain conditions, the engine is automatically decoupled from the transmission in the D selector lever position. The vehicle continues traveling with the engine idling to reduce consumption. Selector lever position D remains engaged. This driving condition is referred to as coasting.
Under certain conditions, the engine will not be operated at idle while coasting but switched off automatically in vehicles with Mild-Hybrid technology. When the engine is switched off, the lettering READY is displayed in the instrument cluster. The vehicle continues to coast without consuming fuel. This driving condition is referred to as engine-off coasting.
As soon as the brake or accelerator pedal is de‐pressed, the engine is automatically coupled to the transmission again.

General information
Coasting is a component of the ECO PRO driving mode.
Coasting is automatically activated when ECO PRO driving mode is called via the Driving Dynamics Control.
A proactive driving style helps the driver to use the function often and supports the efficient effect of coasting.

Functional requirements
The function is available in the speed range from approx. 16 mph/25 km/h to 100 mph/160 km/h.

The function is active if the following conditions are met:

1. The accelerator pedal is not depressed or the accelerator pedal is released.
2. Brake pedal not depressed or only slightly depressed.
3. The selector lever is in selector lever position D.
4. Engine and transmission are at operating temperature.
5. Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go function, ACC, not activated.

Operation via Shift Paddles

Principle
The coasting driving condition can be influenced by the shift paddles.

Activating/deactivating coasting via shift paddles

1. Shift to the highest gear by pulling the right shift paddle.
2. To activate coasting mode, actuate the right shift paddle again.

To deactivate, actuate the left shift paddle.

Display

Display in the instrument cluster
The coasting distance traveled is indicated in coasting mode.

Indications on the Control Display
The coasting mode is displayed under energy flow while driving.
The distance traveled in coasting mode is displayed in the trip data.

Color code blue: coasting mode.

Displaying energy flow information

1. “CAR”
2. “Driving information”
3. “Energy flow”

System limits
The function is not available under one of the following conditions.

1. DSC OFF or TRACTION activated.
2. Driving in the dynamic limit range and on steep uphill or downhill grades.
3. Battery charge status temporarily too low or vehicle electrical system drawing excessive current.

Driving Style Analysis

Principle
The function helps develop an especially efficient driving style and to conserve fuel.
For this purpose, the driving style is analyzed. The assessment is done in various categories and is displayed on the Control Display.
This display will help you adjust your driving style and save some fuel.

General Information
The current trip is assessed.
To assist with an efficient driving style, ECO PRO tips are displayed during driving.
The range of the vehicle can be extended by adjusting your driving style.
This gain in the range is displayed as a bonus range in the instrument cluster and on the Control Display.

Functional Requirement
This function is available in ECO PRO driving mode.

Calling up the Driving Style Analysis

1. “CAR”
2. “Driving information”
3. “Driving style analysis”

Display on the Control Display
The display of the Driving style analysis shows the efficiency of the Driving style.
The more efficient the driving style, the more bars are displayed in color and the faster the bonus range increases.
In contrast, a reduced number of bars will be displayed with an inefficient driving style.

FAQs

1. How can I improve fuel efficiency in my BMW 5 Series?
   Maintaining adequate tyre pressure, avoiding aggressive driving, adopting the eco-friendly driving mode, and removing unneeded weight from the vehicle are some suggestions to increase fuel efficiency.
2. Does the BMW 5 Series have a fuel-saving mode?
   The BMW 5 Series normally has a fuel-efficient driving mode that optimizes mileage by modifying the throttle response and other factors.
3. Should I use premium fuel in my BMW 5 Series for better fuel economy?
   For the best performance and fuel economy in the 5 Series, BMW advises using premium unleaded fuel.
4. How does regular maintenance impact fuel efficiency in my BMW 5 Series?
   By doing routine maintenance like oil changes, air filter replacements, and spark plug inspections, you may maximize your BMW 5 Series’s fuel efficiency.
5. Is it beneficial to use fuel additives in my BMW 5 Series?
   Since the engine and fuel system were built to operate at their peak performance without them, BMW normally does not require fuel additives. For specific advice, refer to your owner’s manual.
6. Does driving at higher speeds reduce fuel efficiency in the BMW 5 Series?
   Driving at faster speeds does indeed result in increased aerodynamic drag and higher fuel costs. Keeping your speed at a reasonable level will help you save on petrol.
7. Are there any aerodynamic features in the BMW 5 Series that improve fuel economy?
   The BMW 5 Series is built with aerodynamic elements that improve fuel economy and reduce drag, such as an active kidney grille and underbody coverings.
8. Can I improve fuel efficiency by using cruise control in my BMW 5 Series?
   Using cruise control when traveling on highways or in steady-speed situations can help maintain a constant pace, improving fuel economy.
9. How does driving in stop-and-go traffic affect fuel economy in the BMW 5 Series?
   In stop-and-go traffic, frequent accelerating and braking can reduce fuel economy. When you can, try to predict how the traffic will move and keep your speed constant.
10. Does using air conditioning impact fuel economy in the BMW 5 Series?
    Using the air conditioner increases engine load, which can result in decreased fuel efficiency. When possible, use it sparingly and think about using the ventilation system.
11. Is it better to use the automatic start-stop function in the BMW 5 Series?
    The automatic start-stop function, which turns the engine off when the car is stopped, can help save gasoline in some circumstances, like at stop signs or brief stops.
12. How does vehicle weight affect fuel efficiency in the BMW 5 Series?
    Adding weight to the car that isn’t necessary increases fuel consumption. Getting rid of unnecessary goods will increase your fuel economy.
13. Can I improve fuel economy by using low-resistance tires on my BMW 5 Series?
    Fuel-efficient or low-resistance tires can increase fuel economy by lowering rolling resistance and increasing overall effectiveness.
14. Does the BMW 5 Series have regenerative braking to save fuel?
    Regenerative braking, which turns braking energy into electrical energy to recharge the car’s battery and ultimately save gasoline, is available on some BMW 5 Series models.
15. Are there any software updates or eco-friendly features I should be aware of for the BMW 5 Series?
    BMW periodically publishes software updates that can improve performance and fuel economy. For any updates or eco-friendly features that could be available for your particular model, check with your neighborhood BMW dealership or a BMW-authorized repair facility.

Useful Links

View Full User Guide: BMW 5 Series 2020-2023 User Manual | Auto User Guide
Download Manuals: BMW Owner’s Manuals – BMW USA | BMW