2001 BMW X5 4.4I air condition

196n
Deceleration sensors continuously
monitor the physical forces acting upon
the vehicle. If, as the result of a frontal
impact, vehicle deceleration is reached
at which the protection of the safety
belts alone is no longer adequate, the
gas generators of the driver-side and
passenger-side airbags are ignited
simultaneously. However, the
passenger-side airbag is only triggered
if an additional sensor has recognized
that the passenger seat is occupied.
Depending on which side the of vehicle
is involved in a side collision, the head
protection and side airbags in the front
and rear
* on that side are triggered if
necessary.
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The airbags located under the marked
covers inflate and unfold in a matter of
a few milliseconds. In this process, they
tear through the designed separation
points of the upholstered covers or
press them out.
Because the inflation process must be
virtually instantaneous, it is necessarily
accompanied by a certain amount of
ignition and inflation noise. The gas
required to inflate the airbags is not
dangerous, and the associated smoke
then dissipates.
The entire process is completed within
fractions of a second. On vehicles with an automatic trans-
mission, Adaptive Transmission Control
(ATC) uses a number of factors to
calculate the gear which provides the
maximum efficiency. In this process,
the system monitors your personal
driving style, the driving situation, the
condition of the road, and the traffic
conditions.
ATC recognizes your personal driving
style from the positions and movements
of the accelerator pedal, deceleration
when braking, and lateral acceleration
through curves. Four different shift
characteristics – from comfort-oriented
to performance-oriented – are available
for selection by ATC.
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Airbags ATC
*

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
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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
199nDSP sound system* Rearview mirrors with automatic dimmer*
The DSP Professional premium sound
system features a special amplifier
combined with Digital Sound
Processing (DSP) and integrated
speakers to surround you with crisp,
true-to-life sound reproduction. The
speaker system's subwoofers, woofers,
midrange speakers and tweeters
furnish you with an impressively full-
bodied listening experience. The indi-
vidual components are oriented so as
to produce the aural sensation that you
would experience facing the stage in a
concert hall. The system also automati-
cally adjusts the bass and treble
settings to compensate for changes in
volume and vehicle speed.
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The interior and exterior rearview
mirrors with automatic dimming feature
reduce glare from following traffic by
adapting the intensity of the reflected
images to correspond to levels of light
registered by the unit's sensors. The
mirrors revert to their undimmed setting
as soon as the light source disappears.
A forward facing sensor is mounted on
the front of the interior mirror housing
and is designed to monitor light levels
in the area forward of the vehicle.
A second sensor is integrated within
the mirror's glass. The electronic
control system operates by comparing
the respective levels of luminous inten-
sity in front of and behind the vehicle.
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The difference provides the basic
parameter used to modulate an elec-
trical current and induce chemical
changes in a semisolid layer incorpo-
rated in the lenses.
The semisolid reacts chemically to this
electrical current, thus providing
dimming of the mirrors through an infi-
nitely-variable range (electrochromic
technology).
As a result, it is no longer necessary to
dim the interior mirror manually, and the
driver can concentrate completely on
traffic conditions.

202nXenon lamps*
Xenon lamps illuminate the side and
front areas of the vehicle with signifi-
cantly more brightness and uniformity
than traditional halogen lamps.
In a xenon lamp, an electric arc
replaces the filament to generate
intense illumination. A gas mixture in a
quartz glass tube with metal vapor is
ignited by a high electric voltage. The
arc that is generated is then sustained
by a lower voltage. When the lamp is
turned on, there is a brief warm-up
period. Maximum brightness is attained
in approx. 15 seconds.
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Xenon lamps provide significantly
improved visibility, especially during
adverse weather conditions and driving
situations (driving at night in heavy rain
or through road repair areas where
there are no lane markers, for instance).
Vehicles with xenon lamps
are
equipped with dynamic headlamp
range control. As a result, the highway
is always optimally lighted, regardless
of load conditions, and drivers in
oncoming traffic are not blinded.
Xenon lamps make a significant contri-
bution to highway safety since other
highway users, or bicyclists and motor-
cyclists in the right lane, and pedes-
trians are more easily detected.

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

Everything from A to Z
Oil level, indicator lamp24
Oil pressure, indicator lamp 22
OILSERVICE 78
Onboard computer, refer to computer 82, 88
Onboard Diagnostic (OBD) system 170
Onboard monitor, refer to the separate Owner's
Manual
Onboard tool kit 174t
Opening and closing from the inside 40
from the outside 36
using the key 36
using the remote
control 37
Outlets, ventilation 100, 106
Output 206
Outside temperature display 76
Outside temperature in the computer 82
P
Paintwork
minor repairs 165
waxing 165
Park Distance Control (PDC) 93
Parking aid 93 Parking brake
23, 66
Parking in the winter 143
Parking lamps 98
Passenger side mirror tilt function 55
PDC (Park Distance Control) 93
Phone, mobile 144
Playing cassettes, refer to the radio Owner's Manual
Playing CDs, refer to the radio Owner's Manual
Pollen 104, 112
Poor driving conditions 135
Power 47
Power outlets flashlight 127t
other appliances 127t
vacuum cleaner 127t
Power rear-seat backrests 52
Power seat 48
Power steering 143
Power windows 45
safety switch 46
Pressure, tires 30t , 145 t
Pull-out cargo floor 128
R
Radio reception144, 198
Radio, refer to the separate Owner's Manual Rain sensor
71, 200
Reading lamps 99
Rear backrests, folding down 124
Rear lamps 177t
Rear passenger area climate control 111
Rear seats, power 52
Rear window defroster 73, 102 , 110
Rear window wiper 73
blade replacement 174t
Rear-seat backrest, folding down 124
Rear-seat backrests, power 52
Rearview mirror 53
Rechargeable flashlight 118
Recirculated air mode 103, 110
Reclining seat 48
Refueling 29
Releasing fuel filler door following an
electrical
malfunction 188t
hood 151t
tailgate following an
electrical
malfunction 189t
Reminder signal 86Remote control
37
computer 92
Removal aid for the spare wheel 182t
Removing condensation from the
windows 105t, 109 t
Replacing antifreeze, radiator 160t
bulbs 175t
fuses 187t
keys 34t
tires 146t
windshield wiper
blades 174t
Reporting safety defects 7
Reservoir, washer system 156t
Residual heat 110
Restraint system 61
Reverse 67
Rims 148
Roof load capacity 208
Roof-mounted luggage rack 130
Rubber parts, care 142
S
Safety belts57
height adjustment 57
tensioner 198