2000 BMW X5 4.4I differential

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
137n
Engine oil Checking oil level 1 Park the vehicle on a level surface.
2 Shut the engine off after it has
reached normal operating tempera-
ture.
3 After approx. 5 minutes, pull the dip-
stick out and wipe it off with a clean
lint-free cloth, paper towel, or similar
material.
4 Push the dipstick carefully all the way
into the guide tube and pull it out
again.
5 The oil level should be in between the
two graduations on the dipstick.
As with fuel economy, oil consumption
is directly influenced by your driving
style and vehicle operating conditions. 530us100
The oil volume between the two marks
on the dipstick corresponds to approx.
1.1 US quarts (1 liter). Do not fill beyond
the upper mark on the dipstick. Excess
oil will damage the engine. 460de189
Adding engine oil Wait until the level has dropped to just
above the lower mark before adding oil.
However, do not wait until the oil level
drops below the lower mark.
BMW engines are designed to op-
erate without oil additives; the use
of additives could lead to damage in
some cases. This is also true for the au-
tomatic transmission, the transfer box,
the differential, and the power steering
system.< 530us101

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
177n
The transmission of power to the four
drive wheels is provided permanently
through a transfer box. The distribution
of torque between the front and rear
axles is 38% to 62%.
Traditional differential locks at the front
and rear axles and in the transfer box
are not required. Their function is taken
over by automatic braking intervention
at all four wheels. These traction inter-
ventions are governed by Automatic
Differential Brake (ADB), a sub-function
of DSC.
If a wheel tends to slip, it is braked
automatically by ADB until it once again
gains traction, and drive force can be
transmitted to that wheel. In addition,
the drive force is distributed to the
remaining wheels during this system
530us133
intervention. Engine output is also re-
duced if necessary.
When the DSC is deactivated, the ADB
traction intervention is set for the maxi-
mum drive force. However, the engine
intervention and the stability controls
are no longer available. For this reason,
DSC should only be deactivated in the
exceptional circumstances described
on page 83.
The BMW X5 is a vehicle for all types of
roads. The permanent four-wheel drive
provides a significant degree of vehicle
stability and tractive power under all
road conditions. It assists in critical sit-
uations such as driving in extreme win-
ter conditions or on bad roads. Precision sensors monitor the wheel
speeds, the steering angle, lateral
acceleration, brake pressure and the
movement of the vehicle around its
vertical axis.
If differences in wheel speeds occur,
the system recognizes the danger of
wheelspin and reduces the engine's
drive torque. If necessary, the system
also responds with additional braking
intervention at all four wheels.
In addition, DSC permanently monitors
the vehicle's current operating condi-
tion and compares it with an ideal con-
dition that is calculated from the sensor
signals. If discrepancies from this ideal
condition (understeering or oversteer-
ing, for example) occur, DSC stabilizes
the vehicle in fractions of a second by
reducing engine power output and with
the assistance of braking intervention at
individual wheels. Dangerous skids are
thus prevented from the very beginning.
You may need some time to become
accustomed to this system intervention.
However, it provides optimum drive
force and vehicle stability.
The braking intervention may be ac-
companied by certain sounds specific
to the system.
Four-wheel drive DSC

180n
Rain sensor
*
Integrated rear suspension
The rain sensor controls windshield
wiper operation, depending on how wet
the windshield is.
Infrared light is carried along the sur-
face of the windshield in an optical con-
ductor in such a manner that it is re-
flected completely when the windshield
is dry. The quantity of reflected light is
measured.
If the window is covered with beads of
water, the amount of light that is re-
flected is decreased since the infrared
light at the surface of the windshield
can then escape. The quantity of re-
flected light is thus a means of gauging
the degree of wetness on the wind-
shield. 390de133
When the system is set to the "Intermit-
tent" wiper speed, the wipers react im-
mediately Ñ if water is splashed onto
the windshield by vehicles traveling
ahead of you, for example. As a result,
the rain sensor provides a contribution
to driving safety and comfort.
This axle is based on the same multi-
link principle as that in series-7 vehi-
cles. The axle's kinematics and elastic
kinematics are critical for wheel control
Ñ a significant prerequisite for achieving
the objective of exceptional onroad
handling characteristics with this vehi-
cle concept.
In order to reduce unsprung mass, the
wheel carriers and the swing arm are
made of aluminum.
For an outstanding quality in acoustics
and vehicle oscillation characteristics,
the differential is isolated with double
elasticity through a chassis sub-frame
toward the vehicle body.
530us131

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
187n
Capacities
Notes
Fuel tank
Reserve gal. (liters)
gal. (liters) approx. 24.2 (approx. 92)
approx. 2.6 (approx. 10) Fuel specification: page 30
Windshield washer system
with headlamp washer system quarts (liters) approx. 8.2 (approx. 7.8) For details: page 136
Cooling system including
heater circuit quarts (liters) 12.7 (12.0) For details: page 140
Engine oil and filter change quarts (liters) 8.5 (8.0) "BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil".
For details: page 138
Automatic transmission, transfer box
and differential Ð Ð Lifetime fluid, no fluid
change required