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
22n
Indicator and warning lamps
Technology that monitors itself
Many of the systems of your BMW
monitor themselves automatically, both
during engine starts and while you are
driving. Indicator and warning lamps
that are identified by "
l
" are tested for
proper functioning whenever the igni-
tion key is turned. They each light up
once for different periods of time.
If a fault should occur in one of these
systems, the corresponding lamp does
not go out after the engine is started or
it lights up while the vehicle is moving.
You will see how to react to this below.
Red: stop immediately
Battery charge current
l
The battery is no longer being
charged. There is a malfunction
of the alternator V-belt or in the charg-
ing circuit of the alternator. Please
contact the nearest BMW center.
If the V-belt is defective, do not
continue driving. The engine could
be damaged due to overheating. If the
V-belt is defective, increased steering
effort is also required.
<
Engine oil pressure
l
Stop the vehicle immediately
and switch off the engine.
Check the engine oil level; top up as re-
quired. If the oil level is correct: please
contact the nearest BMW center.
Do not continue driving. The en-
gine could be damaged because
of inadequate lubrication.
<
Parking brake
*/
Brake hydraulic system l
Comes on when you engage the
parking brake.
For additional information: refer to
page 65.
Comes on although the parking brake
is released: have the brake fluid level
checked. Before continuing your jour-
ney, be sure to read the notes on
pages 123 and 141.
Also comes on in the Check Control
with the message "CHECK BRAKE
LININGS."
Parking brake warning lamp
*/
Brake hydraulic system for
Canadian models.
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
25n
Indicator and warning lamps Green: for your information
Turn signal indicator
Flashes when the turn signals
are operated. Rapid flashing
indicates a system malfunction.
For additional information: refer to
page 69.
Cruise control
Comes on when the cruise con-
trol is activated: available for
operation via the multifunction steering
wheel.
For additional information: refer to
page 72.
Fog lamps
Lights up whenever you switch
on the fog lamps.
For additional information: refer to
page 87.
Blue: for your information
High beam
Lights up when the high beams
are on or the headlamp flasher
is actuated.
For additional information: refer to
pages 69 and 87.
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
33n
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
Glasses compartment102
Ashtray, front103
Cigarette lighter103
Ashtray, rear104Loading 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
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
37n
Opening and closing Ð from the outside Using the remote control The remote control makes opening and
locking the doors of your vehicle very
convenient. Furthermore, it provides
three additional functions that you can
only execute by means of the remote
control:
>Switch on the interior lamps
With this function, you can also
"search for" your vehicle Ñ when
parked in an underground garage, for
instance.
>Open the liftgate
The liftgate will open slightly, regard-
less of whether it was previously
locked or unlocked.
>Panic Mode
In case of danger, you can trigger an
alarm.
When the vehicle is unlocked, the anti-
theft protection is deactivated and the
alarm system is disarmed; when the
vehicle is locked, the systems are acti-
vated or armed.
The interior lamps are switched on
when the vehicle is unlocked.
You can have an acknowledgment
signal set to confirm that the vehi-
cle is correctly closed.<
Master keys Keys with remote control are master
keys. Refer to page 34.
Children might be able to lock the
doors from the inside. For this rea-
son, always take the vehicle's keys with
you so that the vehicle can be opened
again from the outside at any time.< 530us011
Master keys that are used repeat-
edly are always ready for opera-
tion since the battery in the key is
charged automatically in the steering
lock as you drive.
If it is no longer possible to lock the
vehicle via the remote control, the bat-
tery is discharged. Use this key while
driving for an extended period in order
to charge the battery. Refer also to
page 34.
To prevent unauthorized use of the
remote control, surrender only the door
and ignition key 3 or the spare key 2
(refer to page 34) when leaving the
vehicle for valet parking, for example.
In the event of a system malfunction,
please contact your authorized BMW
center. You can also obtain replace-
ment keys there.<
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
41n
Liftgate Tailgate To open from the outside Press the button (arrow): the liftgate
opens slightly.Manual operation (in the event of an electrical malfunction)
Refer to page 168.530us013
Opening from inside the vehicle Press this button to open the liftgate
when the vehicle is stationary.
If pointed or sharp-edged objects
could strike the rear window while
driving, be sure to provide protection
around all edges. If you do not do this,
the heating conductors of the rear win-
dow could be damaged.< 530us015
Press the button:
You can fold the tailgate down.
When opened, the tailgate can
accept loads of up to 440 lbs
(200 kg). When the vehicle is parked,
you may utilize the tailgate as a seat or
as a loading platform for luggage or
recreation gear, for example.< Manual operation (in the event of an electrical malfunction)
Refer to page 169.530us014
44n
Alarm system >If the indicator lamp flashes for 10
seconds when the system is dis-
armed: an attempted entry has been
detected in the period since the
system was armed.
Following triggering of an alarm, the
indicator lamp will flash continuously. Avoiding unintentional alarms The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion
sensor may be switched off at the same
time. To prevent a false alarm from be-
ing triggered (in garages with elevator
ramps, for instance), or when the vehi-
cle is transported by trailer or train:
Actuate the lock (= arm the system)
twice; in other words, press button 2 of
the remote control twice in succession
(refer to page 38). You may also actuate
the locks twice with the key (refer to
page 36).
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm
sensor and the interior motion sensor
are deactivated as long as the system is
armed.
Interior motion sensor The illustration depicts the transmitter
and receiver of the interior motion
sensor.
In order for the interior motion sensor to
function properly, the windows and
sliding/tilt sunroof must be completely
closed.
However, be sure to deactivate the in-
terior motion sensor (see the previous
column) when you wish to leave the
windows or sliding/tilt sunroof open. 530us019
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
47n
Sliding/Tilt sunroof with glass moonroof
*
Automatic
* opening and closing
Press the switch past the resistance
point and then release it.
Other automatic operations are:
>With the sunroof open, press the
switch briefly toward "Lift:" the sun-
roof automatically extends to its fully
raised position.
>With the sunroof raised, hold the
control switch toward "Open" until
the roof has reached the desired
position.
Pressing the switch again briefly stops
the motion. Safety feature If the sliding/tilt sunroof encounters
resistance at a point roughly past the
middle of its travel when it is closing,
the closing cycle is interrupted and the
sliding/tilt sunroof will open again
slightly. Despite this safety feature, be
extremely careful that the closing
path of the sunroof is not obstructed
whenever it is closed. Otherwise, trig-
gering the closing-force limitation may
not be ensured in some situations (with
very thin objects, for instance). You can
disable this safety feature by pressing
the switch beyond the pressure point
and holding it.<
Power loss or malfunction After interruptions in the electrical sup-
ply (when the battery is disconnected,
for instance), the sunroof may only lift.
To reinitialize the mechanism:
1 Raise the sliding/tilt sunroof fully.
2 Press and hold the switch for approx-
imately twenty seconds.
3 In the event of an electrical malfunc-
tion, you can also operate the sliding/
tilt sunroof manually. Refer to
page 168. 530us023