Contents
Overview
Controls and features
Cockpit16
Instrument cluster18
Indicator and warning lamps22
Multifunction steering wheel26
Sports steering wheel27
Hazard warning flashers28
Warning triangle28
First-aid kit28
Refueling29
Fuel specifications30
Tire inflation pressure30
Locks and security systems:
Keys34
Electronic vehicle
immobilizer35
Central locking system36
Opening and closing
Ð from the outside36
Using the key36
Using the remote control37
Opening and closing
Ð from the inside40
Liftgate41
Tailgate41
Alarm system43
Electric power windows45
Sliding/Tilt sunroof with glass
moonroof46
Adjustments:
Seats48
Steering wheel51
Mirrors52
Seat, mirror and steering wheel
memory54
Car Memory, Key Memory55
Passenger safety systems:
Safety belts56
Airbags57
Child restraints60
Child seat security61
Child-safety locks62
Driving:
Steering/Ignition lock63
Starting the engine64
Switching off the engine65
Parking brake65
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic66
Turn signal indicator/Headlamp
flasher69
Washer/Wiper system/Rain
sensor69
Rear window defroster71
Cruise control72
Everything under control:
Odometer, outside temperature
display74
Tachometer75
Energy control75
Fuel gauge75
Coolant temperature gauge76
Service Interval Display76
Check Control77
Onboard computer80
Technology for safety and
driving convenience:
Park Distance Control (PDC)82
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)83
Hill Descent Control (HDC)84
Contents
11n
Controls and features
Operation, care and maintenance
Lamps:
Side lamps/Low beams86
Instrument lightning86
High beams/Parking lamps87
Fog lamps87
Interior lamps87
Reading lamps88
Controlling the climate for
pleasant driving:
Automatic climate control90
Seat heating96
Steering wheel heating96
Roller sun blind97
Independent ventilation
system97
Cabin convenience:
BMW Universal Transmitter98
Glove compartment101
Storage compartments101
Cellular phone102
Cup holders102
Ashtray, front103
Cigarette lighter103
Ashtray, rear104
Loading and transporting:
Ski bag105
Cargo area
Fold the rear backrests
down107
Cargo area cover107
Partition net108
Cover panels in the cargo
area109
Power outlets110
Pull-out cargo floor111
Cargo loading112
Roof-mounted luggage rack113
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedures116
Driving your BMW X5117
General driving notes118
Catalytic converter118
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)119
Disc brakes122
Brake system123
Winter operation123
Power steering125
Level control system125
Cellular phone126
Radio reception126
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure127
Tire condition127
Tire replacement128
Tire rotation129
Wheel and tire
combinations130
Winter tires131
Snow chains131
Approved wheel and tire
specifications132
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
15n
Cockpit16
Instrument cluster18
Indicator and warning lamps22
Multifunction steering wheel26
Sports steering wheel27
Hazard warning flashers28
Warning triangle28
First-aid kit28
Refueling29
Fuel specifications30
Tire inflation pressure30
Overview
30n
Fuel specifications Tire inflation pressure The engine uses lead-free gasoline
only. However, you can refuel with dif-
ferent fuel qualities since the engine is
equipped with knock sensors.
In order to achieve rated values for
engine performance and fuel consump-
tion:
>Super lead-free premium gasoline
(91 AKI).
AKI = Anti Knock Index
The minimum fuel quality is:
>Regular lead-free gasoline (87 AKI).
Because of the engineÕs design, you
should refuel with this gasoline only
as an exception.
Do not use leaded fuels. The use
of leaded fuels will cause perma-
nent damage to the system's oxygen
sensor and the catalytic converter.<
You will find tire inflation pressures on
the inside door pillar. Check tire pressures All pressure specifications are indicated
in psi (kilopascal) for tires at ambient
temperature (refer also to the next
page). 530us009
Check tire inflation pressures reg-
ularly Ñ at least every two weeks
and before beginning a longer trip. In-
correct tire pressure can otherwise lead
to tire damage and accidents.
Check the tire inflation pressure of the
spare wheel. Inflate the spare tire to the
highest inflation of any tire on your vehi-
cle.<
Comply with tire approval
specifications The inflation pressures in the table ap-
ply to tires from BMW-approved manu-
facturers. Your BMW center is familiar
with these pressures. Higher pressures
may be specified for tires from other
manufacturers. You will find a list of
approved tires beginning on page 132.
Your vehicle is equipped with tires that
not only meet US standards, but also
European standards. We recommend
the exclusive use of BMW approved
tires.
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
31n
Tire inflation pressure BMW Tires
All pressure specifications
in the table are indicated in
psi (kilopascal) with cold tires
(cold = ambient temperature)
X5 All sizes 32 (220) 32 (220) 36 (250) 39 (270)
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
115n
Car care Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedures116
Driving your BMW X5117
General driving notes118
Catalytic converter118
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)119
Disc brakes122
Brake system123
Winter operation123
Power steering125
Level control system125
Cellular phone126
Radio reception126
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure127
Tire condition127
Tire replacement128
Tire rotation129
Wheel and tire
combinations130
Winter tires131
Snow chains131
Approved wheel and tire
specifications132Under the hood:
Hood133
Engine compartment134
Washer fluid136
Washer nozzles136
Engine oil137
Coolant140
Brake fluid141
Vehicle Identification No.141
Care and maintenance:
The BMW Maintenance
System142
Caring for your vehicle143
Airbags148
Vehicle storage148
Laws and regulations:
Technical modifications149
OBD interface socket150
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
127n
Information for your safety The factory-approved radial tires are
matched to the vehicle and have been
selected to provide optimum safety and
driving comfort on your vehicle.
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and Ð above all else
Ð driving safety which depend on the
condition of the tires and the mainte-
nance of the specified tire pressure.
Incorrect inflation pressure is a frequent
cause of tire damage. It also signifi-
cantly influences the roadholding ability
of your BMW.
Check tire inflation pressures Ð
including the spare wheel Ð regu-
larly, at least every two weeks and
before beginning a longer trip. If this is
not done, incorrect tire pressures can
cause driving instability and tire
damage, ultimately resulting in an
accident.<
Tire tread Ð Tire damage Inspect your tires frequently for tread
wear, signs of damage and for foreign
objects lodged in the tread. Check the
tread depth.
Tread depth should not be allowed to
go below 0.12 in (3 mm), even though
the legally specified minimum tread
depth is only 0.063 in (1.6 mm). At a
tread depth of 0.063 in (1.6 mm), tread
depth indicators (arrow) in the tread-
groove base indicate that the legally-
permissible wear limit has been
reached. Below 0.12 in (3 mm) tread
depth, there is an increased risk of
aquaplaning, even at relatively moder-
ate speeds and with only small amounts
of water on the road. 390de331
Do not drive on a deflated (flat)
tire. A flat tire greatly impairs
steering and braking response, and can
lead to complete loss of control over
the vehicle.
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that
the permitted load on the tires is not ex-
ceeded. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which
damage develops inside the tires. The
ultimate result can assume the form of a
sudden air loss.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate
tire failure or some other vehicle defect,
as can variations in normal vehicle re-
sponse, such as a pronounced ten-
dency to pull to the left or right. Should
this occur, respond by immediately re-
ducing your speed and carefully pro-
ceeding to the nearest BMW center or
professional tire center, or having the
vehicle towed in to have it and its tires
inspected.
Tire damage (up to and including blow-
outs) can endanger the lives of both the
vehicle occupants and other road
users.<
Tire inflation pressure Tire condition
128n
Tire replacement To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single
tread configuration from a single manu-
facturer. BMW tests and approves
wheel/tire combinations. Refer to
page 130. DOT Quality Grades Treadwear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must con-
form to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades.< Treadwear The treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified government test
course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times as
well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due
to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road char-
acteristics and climate.
Traction The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on speci-
fied government test surfaces of as-
phalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests, and does
not include acceleration, cornering, hy-
droplaning, or peak traction character-
istics.< Temperature The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause
the material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessive tem-
perature can lead to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Mo-
tor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels
of performance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required by
law.
The temperature grade for this tire
is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or ex-
cessive loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat buildup
and possible tire failure.< Uniform Tire Quality Grading Quality grades can be found where ap-
plicable on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section
width. For example:
Treadwear 200 Traction AA
Temperature A
Do not use retreaded tires, since
driving safety may be impaired by
their use. This is due to the possible
variations in casing structures and, in
some cases, to their extreme age,
which can lead to a decrease in their
durability.<