Questions on rear wiper and steering wheel controls

[eddiek]

We're enjoying our new X5 4.8 but had a couple of hopefully simple questions.
1). When the rear wipers are turned on (pushing the wiper arm back), there is always wiper fluid which comes out. Is this necessary? We're just using it when it's raining (which it is now all the time in the NW). I feel that all of the wiper fluid is going to be gone by the time I actually need it.

2). I've realized it's faster to scroll through presets on the radio and SAT with the steering wheel controls. However, I don't understand why (especially in SAT), in order to go down on the list, you have to press the up button on the steering wheel. This seems so counterintuitive.

Also, I know that we weren't expecting great gas mileage and it is very hilly where we live, but after a couple hundred of miles, I'm getting 11 mpg and I don't have a heavy foot. I certainly hope this gets better...

[lakai]

1) for the rear wipers, push the handle back but not all the way, there should be an indent with the handle halfway.

2) on the SAT i think the list is in decending order on the idrive, but is mapped the other way around on the controls

hope this helps

[Craig]

Gas mileage, that's why I'm waiting for the diesel. I wanted the V8 until I heard about the gas mileage. My current SUV doesn't get very good mileage, so I didn't want another one that eats fuel...

Craig

[eddiek]

I barely push the rear wiper back and fluid comes out. Can't figure out why it would be this way or if this is normal.

[StumpyPete]

If you leave the stalk in the permanently switched on position you will get a squirt of water when you push it back. The rear wash-wipe has the annoying habit of not working if you leave it on all the time - you need to "wake" it up. There are two ways of doing this - either what you are doing, and getting the squirt. The second way is to pull the stalk forward to switch it off completely and then push it back to the on position.