2001 BMW X5 4.4I air suspension

6n

For your own safety

Use unleaded gasoline only. Fuels
containing up to and including
10 % ethanol or other oxygenates with
up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight (that is,
15 % MTBE or 3% methanol plus an
equivalent amount of co-solvent) will
not void the applicable warranties
respecting defects in materials or work-
manship. Field experience has indi-
cated significant differences in fuel
quality (volatility, composition, addi-
tives, etc.) among gasolines offered for
sale in the United States and Canada.
The use of poor quality fuels may result
in driveability, starting and stalling
problems especially under certain envi-
ronmental conditions such as high
ambient temperature and high altitude.
Should you encounter driveability prob-
lems which you suspect could be
related to the fuel you are using, we
recommend that you respond by
switching to a recognized high-quality
brand.
Failure to comply with these recom-
mendations may result in unscheduled
maintenance.
Follow the relevant safety rules when
you are handling gasoline.

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Important safety information.
For your own safety, use genuine parts
and accessories approved by BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested
and approved by BMW and Original
BMW Parts, you simultaneously acquire
the assurance that they have been thor-
oughly tested by BMW to ensure
optimum performance when installed
on your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free
from defects in material and workman-
ship.
BMW will not accept any liability for
damage resulting from installation of
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
BMW cannot test every product from
other manufacturers to verify if it can be
used on a BMW safely and without risk
to either the vehicle, its operation, or its
occupants.
Original BMW Parts, BMW Accessories
and other products approved by BMW,
together with professional advice on
using these items, are available from all
BMW centers.

Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms,
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,
wheels, suspension components, brake
dust shields, telephones (including
operation of any portable cellular phone
from within the vehicle without using an
externally mounted antenna) or trans-
ceiver equipment (for instance, CBs,
walkie-talkie, ham radio or similar
accessories) may cause extensive
damage to the vehicle, compromise its
safety, interfere with the vehicle's elec-
trical system or affect the validity of the
BMW Limited Warranty. See your BMW
center for additional information.

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Maintenance, replacement, or
repair of the emission control
devices and systems may be performed
by any automotive repair establishment
or individual using any certified auto-
motive part.

<



Symbol on vehicle parts

Indicates that you should consult
the relevant section of this
Owner's Manual for information on a
particular part or assembly.

For your own safety

Contents

Operation, care and maintenanceOwner service proceduresAdvanced technology

Under the hood:

Hood 151
Engine compartment 152
Washer fluid 156
Washer nozzles 156
Engine oil 157
Coolant 160
Brake fluid 161
Vehicle Identification Number 161

Care and maintenance:

The BMW Maintenance
System 162
Caring for your vehicle 163
Airbags 168
Vehicle storage 168

Laws and regulations:

Technical modifications 169
California Proposition 65 Warning 169
OBD interface socket 170

Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit174
Windshield wiper blades 174
Lamps and bulbs 175
Changing a wheel 180
Battery 185
Fuses 187

In case of electrical
malfunction:

Fuel filler door 188
Sliding/Tilt sunroof 188
Liftgate 188
Tailgate 189

Assistance, giving and
receiving:

Jump-starting 190
Towing the vehicle 191 Airbags
196
Adaptive Transmission Control (ATC) 196
Four-wheel drive 197
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) 197
Radio reception 198
Safety belt tensioner 198
DSP sound system 199
Rearview mirrors with automatic dimmer 199
Rain sensor 200
Front axle 200
Integrated rear suspension 201
Level control system 201
Xenon lamps 202

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
195n
Airbags196
Adaptive Transmission Control
(ATC)196
Four-wheel drive197
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)197
Radio reception198
Safety belt tensioner198
DSP sound system199
Rearview mirrors with automatic
dimmer199
Rain sensor200
Front axle200
Integrated rear suspension201
Level control system201
Xenon lamps202
Technology

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

Everything from A to Z217n
Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
I
Ice warning 76
Identification number 161
Identification, tires 148
Ignition key 34
Ignition lock 64
Independent ventilation 87
Independent ventilation system 114
Indicator lamps 22
Inflation pressure 31, 145
INSPECTION 78
Instrument cluster 18, 20
Instrument lighting 97
Instrument panel 18, 20
Integrated rear suspension 201
Intensive cleaning system 72
Interference indicators 79
Interference, cellular phone 144
Interior lamps 98
bulb replacement 178t
remote control 38
Interior mirror 54
Interior motion sensor 44
Interior rearview mirror, automatic dimming
feature 199
Interlock 64
Intermittent wipe 71
J
Jack181, 183
Jump-starting 190t
K
Key Memory 56
Keys 34
Keys with radio remote control 34
Kickdown 69
L
Lamps and bulbs 175
Lashing eyes 129
LATCH attachment of the child seat 63
Leather care 167
Length 207
Level control system 24, 201
inactive 143t
License plate lamps, bulb replacement 178t
Liftgate 41, 42
release following an
electrical
malfunction 188t
Light switch 97
Light-alloy wheel 150
Lighter 120
LIGHTS ON warning 97LIMIT
88
Load-securing devices 129
Louvers 100, 106
Low beams 97
bulb replacement 175t
Low-fuel warning lamp 77
Lug bolts 183
Lug wrench 180t
Luggage compartment, refer to cargo area 124
Luggage net 42
Luggage straps 42
Lumbar support 50
M
M+S radial tires149
Maintenance 78t , 162 t
Malfunction displays 79t
Manual operation doors 36t
liftgate 188t
sliding/tilt sunroof 188t
tailgate 189t
Manual transmission 67
Master key 34
Maximum cooling 109
Mechanical seat 49
Memo 86
Memory 55
Microfilter 104, 112
MID (Multi-Information Display) 84 Mirror defrosting
53
Mirror memory 55
Mirrors 53
Mobile phone 144
Modifications, technical 6, 169
Moonroof 46
Motion sensor, interior 44
Multifunction steering wheel 26
Multi-Information Display (MID) 84
N
Navigation system, refer to
the separate Owner's
Manual
O
OBD interface socket 170
Odometer 76
Oil additives 157
consumption 157t
dipstick 157t
grades 158
Oil change interval, refer to
the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet (US
models) or to the Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet
(Canadian models)