IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
157n
Engine oilChecking oil level1 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
dipstick 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 marks 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.530us205
Adding engine oilWait 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
operate without oil additives; the
use of additives could lead to damage
in some cases. This is also true for the
manual transmission, the automatic
transmission, the differential, and the
power steering system.< 530us101
IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
197n
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-X), a sub-func-
tion of DSC.
If a wheel tends to slip, it is braked
automatically by ADB-X 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
530us133
system intervention. Engine output is
also reduced if necessary.
When the DSC is deactivated, the
ADB-X traction intervention is set for
the maximum drive force. However,
the engine intervention and the stability
controls are no longer available. For
this reason, DSC should only be deacti-
vated in the exceptional circumstances
described on page 95.
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
situations such as driving in extreme
winter 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 wheel-
spin and reduces the engine's drive
torque. If necessary, the system also
responds with additional braking inter-
vention at all four wheels.
In addition, DSC permanently monitors
the vehicle's current operating condition
and compares it with an ideal condition
that is calculated from the sensor
signals. If deviations from this occur
(understeering or oversteering, for
instance), DSC can stabilize the vehicle
in fractions of a second by adapting
engine output and with the assistance of
braking intervention at individual
wheels. This way, as long as the skid
can still be managed under the laws of
physics, these kinds of dangerous skids
are prevented even before they can
start.
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 accompanied by
certain sounds specific to the system.
Four-wheel drive DSC
Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
201nFront axle Integrated rear suspensionLevel control system*
At the same time, particular attention
has been devoted to maintaining the
driving performance you have come
to expect from BMW.
This axle is based on the same multi-
link principle as that in 7 Series vehi-
cles. The axle's kinematics and elastic
kinematics are critical for wheel control
— a significant prerequisite for achieving
the objective of exceptional onroad
handling characteristics with this
vehicle 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
The level control system for the rear
axle maintains constant ground clear-
ance of your vehicle, even when
carrying a load.
For this purpose, the vehicle is
equipped with air springs instead of
steel springs at the rear axle. With the
help of two sensors, an electronic
control unit calculates the height of the
body at all times and, if it is required, it
allows air which is generated in a
compressor to flow into the air springs.
As a result of the pressure increase in
the air springs, the level control system
ensures not only constant ride height,
but also ride comfort which is indepen-
dent of the load the vehicle is carrying.
530us132
Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
209nCapacities
Notes
Fuel tank
Reserve gal. (liters)
gal. (liters)approx. 24.6 (approx. 93)
approx. 2.0 (approx. 8) – BMW X5 3.0i
approx. 2.5 (approx. 10) – BMW X5 4.4i Fuel specification: page
30
Windshield washer system
with headlamp washer system quarts (liters) approx. 8.2 (approx. 7.8) For details: page
156
Cooling system including
heater circuit quarts (liters) 11.1 (10.5) – BMW X5 3.0i
12.7 (12.0) – BMW X5 4.4i For details: page
160
Engine oil and filter change quarts (liters) 7.9 (7.5) – BMW X5 3.0i 8.5 (8.0) – BMW X5 4.4i"BMW High Performance
Synthetic Oil"
For details: page
158
Manual and automatic transmission,
transfer box and differential – – Lifetime fluid, no fluid
change required
Everything from A to Z
A
ABS (Antilock Brake System) 23, 137
Accessories 6
Activated-charcoal filter 112
Adaptive Transmission Control (ATC) 196
ADB-X (Automatic Differential Brake) 197
Adding brake fluid 161t
coolant 160t
engine oil 157t
washer fluid 156t
Adjusting head restraints 49t
mirrors 53t
seats 48t
steering wheel 52t
temperature 102 t, 108 t
washer nozzles 156t
Air conditioner 100
Air distribution 102, 108
Air outlets 100, 106
Air pressure 30t , 145 t
Air supply 102, 109
Airbags 23, 58 , 168 , 196
Alarm system 43
Antennas 144
Antifreeze 160
radiator 141 Antilock Brake System
(ABS) 23, 137
Anti-theft alarm system 43
Anti-theft protection 37
Approved gross vehicle weight 208
Aquaplaning 136, 145
Arrival time 90
Ashtray front 120
rear 121
AUC (Automatic recirculated air control) 110
Automatic car washes 163
Automatic climate control 106
removing condensation
from the windows 109
Automatic cruise control 74
Automatic curb monitor 55
Automatic Differential Brake (ADB-X) 197
Automatic dimming, interior rearview mirror 54
Automatic recirculated air
control (AUC) 110
Automatic transmission with Steptronic 68
Average fuel consumption 82
Average speed 82, 91 Avoiding unintentional
alarms 44t
Axle loads 208
B
Backup lamps 67
bulb replacement 177t
Battery 185, 210
capacity 210
charge 186t
discharged 190t
Belts 57
Beverage holder 119
Blower 102, 109
BMW comfort seat 50
BMW High Performance Synthetic Oil 158
BMW sports seat 51
BMW Universal Transmitter 115
Body-cavity protectant 164
Brake 140
fluid 161t
hydraulic system 22
malfunctions 141t
pads 24, 141
Brake system 141
bulb replacement 177t
Break-in procedures 134
Bulbs and lamps 175
C
California Proposition
65 Warning 169
Can holder, refer to cup holder 119
Capacities 209
Car jack 180
Car keys 34
Car Memory 56
Car radio reception 144, 198
Car vacuum cleaner power outlet 127t
socket 121t
Car wash 163
Care exterior 164
interior 166
Cargo area 42, 124
capacity 208
cover 124
lamps 98
opening from the
inside 41
Cargo floor, pull-out 128
Cargo loading 129
Caring for the vehicle finish 165
Catalytic converter 136
CBC (Cornering Brake Control) 138