2001 BMW X5 4.4I tow

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
129n
Cargo loadingStowing cargo When transporting cargo in your BMW:
>Load heavy cargo as far forward as
possible – directly behind the back-
rests – and as low as possible.
>Cover sharp edges and corners.
>Do not pile objects higher than the
top edge of the backrest.
>Fasten the partition net
* (refer to
page 125) and ensure that carried
items cannot pass through the parti-
tion net.
>If you are transporting very heavy
loads when the rear seat is not occu-
pied, secure the outer safety belts in
the opposite buckles.
530de032
Securing the load >Secure smaller, light pieces with the
retaining straps or a luggage net
*, or
use elastic straps (refer to page 42).
>For large, heavy pieces, see your
BMW center for load-securing
devices
*. The lashing eyes provided
at the corners of the cargo area serve
for mounting these load-securing
devices.
>Read and comply with the informa-
tion enclosed with the load-securing
devices.
530us090
Always position and secure the
load correctly. If you do not, it can
endanger the passengers during
braking or evasive maneuvers.
Do not exceed the permissible gross
vehicle weight and the permissible axle
loads (refer to page 208). If you do, the
operating safety of the vehicle is no
longer ensured and you are in violation
of the law.
Do not carry hard or heavy objects
unsecured in the passenger compart-
ment. If you do so, they may be
projected through the air during braking
and evasive maneuvers, thus endan-
gering vehicle occupants.<

134n
Break-in proceduresTo ensure that your vehicle provides
maximum economy throughout a long
service life, we request that you
observe the following suggestions: Engine and axle drive Up to 1,200 miles (2,000 km):
Drive at varying engine speeds and
road speeds, but do not exceed
4,500 rpm and the following road
speeds during this initial period:
BMW X5 3.0i: 100 mph (160 km/h)
BMW X5 4.4i: 106 mph (170 km/h)
Obey your local and state maximum
speed limits.
Refrain from using full throttle and avoid
pressing the accelerator beyond the
kickdown point.
Once you have driven 1,200 miles
(2,000 km), engine and vehicle speeds
can gradually be increased.
You should also comply with these
break-in procedures if the engine or
one of the axle drives is replaced later
in the course of the vehicle service life.
TiresDue to technical factors associated
with their manufacture, tires do not
achieve their full traction potential until
an initial break-in period has elapsed.
For this reason, drive with extra care
during the initial 200 miles (300 km).
Obey your local and state maximum
speed limits.
When the vehicle is operated on
wet or slushy roads, a wedge of
water may form between the tire and
the road surface. This phenomenon is
referred to as aquaplaning, or hydro-
planing, and can lead to partial or
complete loss of traction, vehicle
control and braking effectiveness.
Reduce your speed on wet roads.<
Brake systemApprox. 300 miles (500 km) must
elapse before the brake pads and discs
achieve the optimal pad-surface and
wear patterns required for trouble-free
operation and long service life later on.
To break in the separate parking brake
drums, apply the parking brake lightly
when coasting to a standstill (at a traffic
signal, for instance), provided that
traffic conditions allow you to do so.
To avoid corrosion, repeat this proce-
dure from time to time.
The brake lamps do not light up
when the parking brake is applied.
Vacuum for the brake system servo unit
on your BMW is available only when the
engine is running. When you move the
vehicle with the engine shut off – when
towing, for instance – substantially
higher levels of pedal force will be
required to brake the vehicle.<

136n
General driving notes Catalytic converter
Brakes:
Do not drive with your foot resting
on the brake pedal. Even light but
consistent pedal pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and
possibly even brake failure.
Aquaplaning:
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce vehicle speed. If you do not, a
wedge of water may form between the
tires and the road surface. This
phenomenon is referred to as aqua-
planing or hydroplaning. It is character-
ized by a partial or complete loss of
contact between the tires and the road
surface. The ultimate results are loss of
steering and braking control.
Cargo area cover:
Do not place heavy or hard objects on
the cargo area cover. These objects
could endanger vehicle occupants
during heavy brake applications or
evasive maneuvers.
Clothes hooks:
When suspending articles of clothing
from the hooks, be sure that they will
not obstruct the driver's vision. Do not
hang heavy objects on the hooks. If you
do so, they could cause personal injury
during braking or evasive maneuvers.< The catalytic converter reduces harmful
exhaust emissions.
It is designed for use with unleaded fuel
only. Even minute quantities of lead
would be enough to permanently
damage both the catalytic converter
and the system oxygen sensor.
To ensure efficient, trouble-free engine
operation and avoid potential damage:
>Be sure to comply with the scheduled
maintenance requirements.
>Fill the fuel tank well before it is
empty.
>Tow-start the vehicle only when the
engine is cold, since unburned fuel
may otherwise reach the catalytic
converter. It is better to start the
vehicle with an outside starting aid.
>Avoid other situations in which the
fuel is not burned, or burns incom-
pletely, such as engaging the starter
frequently or for extended periods, or
repeated start attempts in which the
engine does not start (stopping and
restarting an engine which is running
properly does not present a problem).
Never allow the engine to run with
any of the spark plug cables discon-
nected.

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
145n
Information for your safetyThe 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 – above all else
– 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 –
including the spare wheel – regu-
larly (refer to page 30), at least every
two weeks and before beginning a
longer trip. If this is not done, incorrect
tire pressures can cause driving insta-
bility and tire damage, ultimately
resulting in an accident.<
Tire tread – Tire damageInspect your tires frequently for tread
wear, signs of damage and for foreign
objects lodged in the tread. Check the
tread pattern depth.
Tread pattern depth should not be
allowed to go below 0.12 in (3 mm),
even though the legally specified
minimum tread pattern depth is only
0.063 in (1.6 mm). At a tread pattern
depth of 0.063 in (1.6 mm), tread wear
indicators (arrow) in the tread-groove
base indicate that the legally-permis-
sible wear limit has been reached.
Below 0.12 in (3 mm) tread pattern
depth, there is an increased risk of
aquaplaning, even at relatively
moderate 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
exceeded. Overloading leads to over-
heating and causes damage inside the
tires. The ultimate result can assume
the form of a sudden air loss.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation can indicate
flat tire or some other vehicle defect, as
can variations in normal vehicle
response, such as a pronounced
tendency to pull to the left or right.
Should this occur, respond by immedi-
ately reducing your speed and carefully
proceeding 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

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
Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
173n
Replacement procedures:
Onboard tool kit174
Windshield wiper blades174
Lamps and bulbs175
Changing a wheel181
Battery185
Fuses187
In case of electrical
malfunction:
Fuel filler door188
Sliding/Tilt sunroof188
Liftgate188
Tailgate189
Assistance, giving and
receiving:
Jump-starting190
Towing the vehicle191
Repairs

174n
Under the cargo area floor in a pocket.
530us106
Front 1 Move the wiper to a fold-out position
(refer to page 71).
2 Lift the wiper arm and press the
securing spring (arrow).
3 Pull the wiper blade off toward the
wiper arm.
4 Insert the new blade and snap it into
place.
Fold the wipers back down onto
the windshield before you turn the
ignition key to position 1 or 2 again. If
you do not, they could be damaged.< 360de114
Rear

1 Hold the wiper blade on the window
and remove/unclip the wiper arm at
the articulated joint (arrow).
2 Insert a new wiper blade and press it
on/clip it into the wiper arm.
Use only wiper blades approved
by BMW.< 392de173
Onboard tool kit Windshield wiper blades

188n
Manual release In the event of an electrical malfunction,
you can release the fuel filler door
manually:
1 Open the cover on the right in the
cargo area: lift the handle on the
cover.
2 Pull the button with the fuel pump
symbol (arrow). 530us123
Manual operationIn the event of an electrical system
malfunction, you can operate the
sliding/tilt sunroof manually:
1 Open the glasses compartment
(refer to page 119).
2 Insert the Allen wrench from the
vehicle tool kit (refer to page 174) in
the opening provided and turn the
sliding/tilt sunroof in the desired
direction.530us124
Manual release In the event of an electrical malfunction,
you can release the liftgate manually:
1 Remove the plastic plug from inside
the cargo area and pull toward the
interior (arrow). The liftgate will be
released.
2 Reinstall the plug. 530us125
Fuel filler door Sliding/Tilt sunroof Liftgate