32n
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 locks62Driving:
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
Controls
68n
Automatic transmission with Steptronic engine speed is too high, for instance,
the downshift will not be executed. The
gear selected will appear briefly in the
instrument cluster followed by the
current gear.
If you are driving in the manual
mode and wish to accelerate rap-
idly Ð to pass another vehicle, for exam-
ple Ð shift down manually or with the
kickdown function.<
You can only change from M/S to se-
lector lever positions "P," "R" and "N"
via the "D" position.
In the following situations, the Step-
tronic "thinks" for you in the manual
mode:
>In order to prevent engine over-
speeding, the transmission shifts
automatically to the next higher gear
shortly before the RPM cutoff point.
>At low speeds, the transmission
shifts down automatically Ð you do
not have to act.
>In the "Kickdown" mode, the trans-
mission shifts down to the lowest
possible gear based on the engine
speed.
>Depending on the situation Ð when
driving in adverse winter conditions,
for example Ð you may also start out
in 2nd or 3rd gear.
Electronic transmission control
module
If the indicator lamp comes on
or the message "TRANS.FAIL-
SAFE PROG" appears in the
Check Control
*, there is a fault in the
transmission system.
Bring the vehicle to a stop. Move the
transmission selector lever to "P." Set
the parking brake and turn the engine
off (ignition key to position 0).
Wait a few seconds, then start the en-
gine.
If the indicator lamp goes out after a
few seconds, normal transmission per-
formance has been restored. You may
continue to drive as usual. If the indica-
tor lamp does not go out, you can place
the selector lever in all positions. How-
ever, the vehicle will now only drive for-
ward with limited gear selection.
If this should occur, avoid extreme en-
gine loads and consult the nearest au-
thorized BMW center.
Do not work in the engine com-
partment when a drive gear (for-
ward or reverse) is engaged. If you do
this, the vehicle could move.<
Information on jump-starting, tow-start-
ing and towing begins on page 170.
76n
Coolant temperature gauge Service Interval Display Blue The engine is still cold. Drive at moder-
ate engine and vehicle speeds. Red When you switch on the ignition, the
warning lamp comes on briefly to con-
firm that the system is operational.
Comes on while driving and the mes-
sage "COOLANT TEMPERATURE" ap-
pears in the Check-Control
*: the engine
is overheated. Shut off the engine im-
mediately and allow it to cool down.
390de007
Between the blue and red zones Normal operating range. It is not un-
usual for the needle to rise as far as the
edge of the red zone in response to
high outside temperatures or severe
operating conditions.
Checking coolant level: refer to
page 140.
The range of available displays varies
according to your individual vehicle's
equipment.
Green lamps The number of illuminated lamps
decreases as the time for your next
maintenance visit approaches. Yellow lamp This field appears together with
OILSERVICE or INSPECTION.
Maintenance is due. Please contact
your BMW center for an appointment. Red lamp The maintenance deadline has been
passed. 390us008
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
77n
Check Control Graphic display
*
The following alerts or status messages
are displayed with icons from ignition
key position 2 and up until the defects
are corrected:
1 Check low beams.
2 Add washer fluid (goes out after ap-
prox. 1 minute).
3 Door open.
4 Tailgate open.
5 Check brake and tail lamps.
A defective center brake lamp is indi-
cated by the upper symbol.
When you open the door after stopping,
a warning signal sounds without a vi-
sual indicator for:
>LIGHTS ON and
>KEY IN IGNITION LOCK. 390de121
Alphanumeric display
*
Text messages are used to alert the
driver to system malfunctions when the
ignition key is turned to position 2. The
alert is accompanied by a gong.
1 Status report symbol
2 Display
3 CHECK button
Messages concerning system faults are
differentiated based on two priorities: 390us111
Priority 1
These defects are immediately indi-
cated by a gong and a flashing warning
symbol 1. Simultaneous defects will be
displayed consecutively. These status
messages remain in the display until the
defects are corrected. They cannot be
deleted by pressing the CHECK
button 3:
>RELEASE PARKINGBRAKE
>COOLANT TEMPERATURE
The coolant is overheated. Stop the
vehicle immediately and switch off
the engine. Refer to pages 76
and 140.
>STOP! ENGINE OILPRESS
The oil pressure is too low. Stop the
vehicle immediately and switch off
the engine. Refer to page 22.
78n
Check Control >CHECK BRAKE FLUID
Indicates that brake fluid is down to
approximately the minimum level.
Top up the brake fluid at the next op-
portunity. Refer to page 141. Have
the cause of the brake fluid loss diag-
nosed and corrected by your BMW
center.
>SELFLEVEL. SUSP. INACT
Please consult the nearest authorized
BMW center. Refer to page 125.
>SPEED LIMIT
*
You will see this message if the pro-
grammed speed limit has been ex-
ceeded.Priority 2
These displays appear for 20 seconds
when the ignition key is turned to posi-
tion 2. The warning symbols remain
after the message disappears. You can
call up the messages again for display
by pressing the CHECK button.
>TRUNKLID OPEN
This message appears only at the
start of a trip.
>DOOR OPEN
This message appears after a mini-
mal defined road speed has been
exceeded.
>FASTEN SEAT BELTS
*
In addition to this message, an indi-
cator lamp with the safety belt icon
appears and an acoustical signal is
sounded.
>WASHER FLUID LOW
The fluid level is too low; top up at
the next opportunity. Refer to
page 136.
>CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV
Add engine oil as soon as possible.
Refer to page 137.>OUTSIDE TEMP. +23 7 (Ð5 6)
This display is only an example. The
current temperature is displayed at
outside temperatures of +37.5 7
(+3 6) and below. Refer also to
page 74.
>CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS
A lamp has failed or the electrical
circuit has a fault. Refer to pages 157
and 158 or consult an authorized
BMW center.
>CHECK LOWBEAM LIGHTS
CHECK SIDE LIGHTS
CHECK REAR LIGHTS
CHECK FRONT FOGLAMPS
CHECK LICPLATE LIGHTS
CHECK HIGHBEAM LIGHTS
CHECK BACK UP LIGHTS
Defective bulb or circuit. Refer to
page 155 or consult an authorized
BMW center.
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
79n
Check Control >TRANS. FAILSAFE PROG
Please consult the nearest authorized
BMW center. Refer to page 68.
>CHECK BRAKE LININGS
Have the brake linings inspected by
your BMW center. Refer to page 123.
>CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
Coolant too low, top up at the next
opportunity. Refer to page 140.
>ENGINE FAILSAFE PROG
There is a fault in the engine's elec-
tronic control system. When braking,
higher brake application pressure
may be necessary and brake pedal
travel may be significantly longer.
Have the fault checked by your
authorized BMW center.
Displays after completion of trip All of the malfunctions registered during
the trip appear consecutively when the
key is turned to position 0.
The following displays will appear when
appropriate:
>LIGHTS ON
>KEY IN IGNITION LOCK
>CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV
Add engine oil at the next opportunity
(next stop for fuel). Refer to
page 137.
These displays appear when you open
the driver's door after parking the vehi-
cle. A supplementary gong is also
heard.
Status reports remain available for a
period of approx. three minutes after
the display goes out and the key is
removed from the ignition. Press the
CHECK button 3. If there were multiple
reports, press the CHECK button re-
peatedly to view them all in sequence.
To check the Check Control Press the CHECK button 3 with the
ignition key in position 2: CHECK
CONTROL OK appears in the display.
No malfunctions are present in the
monitored systems. Onboard computer
*
You will find a description of the
onboard computer in the Owner's
Manual for the Radio and Information
System or the Owner's Manual for the
onboard monitor.
You can have the Check Control
and onboard computer messages
displayed in a different language.<
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
81n
Onboard computer To cancel the display If the button in the turn-signal lever is
pressed briefly while the average speed
is displayed, the onboard computer
display can be masked out. To restart calculations If you continue to press the button in
the turn signal lever, the average values
which were just displayed for fuel con-
sumption and speed will be recalcu-
lated from that point. The engine must
be running for this calculation.
Onboard computer with
alphanumeric display
*
If your vehicle has Check Control with
alphanumeric display, the system's
onboard computer is described in the
Owner's Manual for the Radio and
Information System or the Owner's
Manual for the onboard monitor.
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
117n
Driving your BMW X5 Your BMW is right at home on all roads
and byways Ð even where the pavement
ends. It combines permanent four-
wheel drive with the agility of a typical
passenger car. On bad roads When you are driving on bad roads,
there are a few points which you should
strictly heed Ñ for your own safety, for
that of your passengers, and for the
safekeeping of the vehicle:
>Familiarize yourself with the vehicle
before you begin driving. Do not take
risks with the vehicle under any cir-
cumstances.
>Always adapt vehicle speed to road
conditions Ð the steeper and more
uneven the road surface is, the
slower the vehicle's speed should be.
>You can operate your vehicle on up-
hill and downhill gradients with a
maximum slope of 50 %. If you intend
to drive on either an uphill or downhill
gradient of this steepness, check to
be sure in advance that the engine oil
and coolant levels are both near the
"max" mark. Refer to page 137
and 140.
When driving down steep slopes, use
the Hill Descent Control (HDC). Refer
to page 84. Starting from a full stop is possible on
uphill gradients of up to 32 %.
The permitted side tilt is also 50 %.
>While driving, watch carefully for ob-
stacles such as rocks or holes. Try to
avoid these obstacles whenever pos-
sible.
>On hill crests and bumpy roads, for
example, be careful to prevent the
body from "bottoming" (contact be-
tween the body and the ground).
The ground clearance of the vehicle
is:
Ð 8 inches (200 mm) with up to four
passengers
Ð 7 inches (180 mm) fully loaded.
>Do not drive in water that is deeper
than 20 inches (50 cm). If you must
drive through water up to that depth,
drive at a walking speed and do not
stop.
After leaving the water, press on the
footbrake gently several times while
driving at a low speed. The brake ap-
plications will help to dry the brakes,
thus preventing a reduction in brak-
ing performance caused by the mois-
ture.
Back onto the paved road In recommending that you observe the
following points after driving on adverse
road surfaces, it is not as a "beauty
treatment" for your BMW. Instead, it is
intended for the maintenance of driving
safety:
>Clean accumulations of dirt from the
body and check the undercarriage for
damage.
>Clean mud, snow, ice and other ma-
terials from the wheels and tires.
Check the tires for damage.
>Check to determine whether rocks,
gravel or accumulations of dirt on the
brake rotors and calipers could influ-
ence braking performance. Remove
all such foreign objects.
>In order to clean the brake rotors,
apply the footbrake gently several
times while driving at a low speed. Be
sure that following traffic is not en-
dangered by this.
>For cleaning the parking brake, apply
the lever slightly at approx. 25 mph
(40 km/h) and continue to drive for
approx. 200 yards (200 meters), pro-
vided that traffic conditions allow you
to do so.