Low fuel effects

[X5Sport]

I'm not recommending anyone try this just to find out, but has anyone else had their X fuel level below 30 miles remaining and observed changes in the way the car drives?  I don't usually let my tank get anywhere near that empty!

I was en route to the fuel station last night and the distance remaining dropped to 29 miles.  Apart from a loud 'bong' alarm, persistent fuel pump symbol and the iDrive constantly showing the range countdown, I also noticed that the car driving characteristics changed.

I had no power as anything other than gentle acceleration was ignored, no kick down and Sport mode wasn't available any more.

There's nothing in the book other than a warning to fuel as soon as possible at that point, so I'm wondering if the car has had some sort of coding stored that puts it into a economy driven mode until more fuel is added?  The engine was not misfiring or running rough in any way but it appeared the wick had been turned down somewhat.

The range counter began to increase as well once the 'limits' were in place.

As soon as I had put fuel in it, everything went back to normal.

Weird

Richard

[sid10]

We came back from Cornwall last year & I decided to play chicken with the on board computer , range went down to 30 about 50 miles from home , pulled in to Penrith 34 miles later , range zero I new that the fuel station was 2 miles away but got caught in stationery traffic 1/2 mile away . Car performed 100 percent no problems , on board computer was going nuts until reached Zero then started counting backwards .
  Finally pulled in to refuel , car was brilliant kids were panicking a bit but I read somewhere they have a 4.5 litre reserve but I must have been running on fumes !
  Like you I dont normally run the car low but mine is the E53 model so wont have as many gismos , sometimes you have to live life dangerously .

[RoShamBo]

Once ran mine down to zero on the OBC to wind up the kids (I know, I know - I'm an animal)

I told then that the car stops dead when it gets to zero.

Car ran as normal.

Ro.

[Horizon]

I had my E53 3.0d down to 0 range and then bottled it and limped her off the Motorway to the nearest gas station.
I was trying to do A return trip from Manchester to Saltcome in Devon on a tank full, bottled out 5 miles from home. 650 miles on a tank. Fully loaded up with gear and 4 adults, doing 80 on the motorways too.
Not bad for a big bus

[Steamyrotter]

The Disco 4 hire car i had did that.
When it dropped to a certain level it would go to limited performance mode, and if you ignored that it would cut out prior to completely empty to avoid air in the fuel system.

Didn't try it myself but read the book! (Whilst looking for something else!)

[jaynana]

I've had the range going down to zero, I do let it run down often, have not noticed a change in behaviour in the E53.

Said that, by that time my usually heavy foot would be acting light and gentle:), to try and make it to the fuel station.

Something to try out next time.

[Don Coffey]

Can't say I've ran the car that low.  Not so much because I don't like to, more to do with the fact I like to fill up to full and hate the way most pumps stop at £100.  I may try this out just to see if it happens on mine.....will report back.

Don

[pvr]

Any mobile signal where you are in case you, uh, test it just a bit too much?  )

[X5Sport]

I never had it happen on the E53, though I did't quite get to zero, I wasn't far off it.  The X6 Manual just says not to run at less than 30 miles for very long - like you could anyway! - as it may cause damage to the engine.... :blink:

Richard

[X5Sport]

[quote="pvr"]
Any mobile signal where you are in case you, uh, test it just a bit too much?  )
[/quote]

He just sets off his Brietling EPIRB and someone comes and get him.....and takes the car as under slung cargo. >:D

[Don Coffey]

No, I just let the wife drive it....she has an uncanny knack of returning the car with single figures on the range!  >:(

Don