2001 BMW X5 4.4I tow

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

Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
43nAlarm system
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood, or the liftgate
is opened.
> To movement inside the vehicle (inte-
rior motion sensor).
> To variations in the vehicle tilt sensor
such as occur during attempts to
steal the wheels or tow the vehicle.
> To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following:
> Sounding an acoustical alarm for
30 seconds.
> The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes.
> The high beams flash on and off in
the same rhythm.
To activate and deactivate the
alarm system
When the vehicle is locked or unlocked
with the key or the remote control, the
alarm system is also simultaneously
armed or disarmed.
The interior motion sensor is activated
approx. 30 seconds after you have
finished locking the vehicle.
The system indicates that it has been
correctly armed by switching on the
hazard flashers for a single cycle and by
emitting an acoustical signal.
You can have different acknowl-
edgment signals set to confirm
system arming and disarming. <
You can still open the liftgate after the
system has been armed by pressing
button 3 of the remote control. Refer to
page 39. When you close the liftgate, it
is secured again.
Indicator lamp displays
> The indicator lamp below the interior
rearview mirror flashes continuously:
the system is armed.
> The indicator lamp flashes during
arming: a door(s), the hood or liftgate
are not completely closed. Even if
you do not close the alerted area, the
system begins to monitor the
remaining areas, and the indicator
lamp flashes continuously after
10 seconds. However, the interior
motion sensor is not activated.
> If the indicator lamp goes out when
the system is disarmed: no manipula-
tion or attempted intrusions have
been detected in the period since the
system was armed.
530us018

Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
47nSliding/Tilt sunroof with glass moonroof*
Automatic* opening and closing
Press the switch past the resistance
point and then release it.
Other automatic operations are:
>With the sunroof open, press the
switch briefly toward "Lift:" the
sunroof automatically extends to its
fully raised position.
Pressing the switch again briefly stops
the motion.
> With the sunroof raised, hold the
control switch toward "Open" until
the roof has reached the desired
position.
Safety feature
If the sliding/tilt sunroof encounters
resistance at a point roughly past the
middle of its travel when it is closing,
the closing cycle is interrupted and the
sliding/tilt sunroof will open again
slightly. Despite this safety feature, be
extremely careful that the closing
path of the sunroof is not obstructed
whenever it is closed. Otherwise, trig-
gering the closing-force limitation may
not be ensured in some situations (with
very thin objects, for instance). You can
disable this safety feature by pressing
the switch beyond the pressure point
and holding it. <
Power loss or malfunction
After interruptions in the electrical
supply (when the battery is discon-
nected, for instance), the sunroof may
only lift. To reinitialize the mechanism:
1 Raise the sliding/tilt sunroof fully.
2 Press and hold the switch for approx.
twenty seconds.
In the event of an electrical malfunction,
you can also operate the sliding/tilt
sunroof manually. Refer to page 188.
530us023

54nMirrors
Interior rearview mirror
To reduce glare from vehicles behind
you when you are driving at night, tilt
the mirror by turning the button.
Lighted vanity mirror
Fold down the sun visor and slide the
cover panel to the side as required.
The mirror lamps operate from ignition
key position 1 and up.
Sun visors
These can be folded down toward the
windshield or swiveled out against the
side windows.
530us030
Interior and exterior rearview
mirror with automatic dimmer
*
By responding to the effects of ambient
light and the glare from following traffic,
these mirrors automatically dim through
an infinitely-variable range.
There are 2 photocells located in the
interior rearview mirror for this purpose.
One photocell (arrow) is in the mirror
glass, while the other is offset some-
what on the back of the mirror.
The mirrors automatically revert to their
clear, undimmed setting whenever you
select "Reverse."
530us031
For trouble-free operation, keep the
photocells clean and do not cover the
area between the interior rearview
mirror and the windshield. Do not
attach any kind of stickers on the wind-
shield in front of the mirror, either.
For an explanation of the electro-
chromic technology used in these
mirrors, refer to page 199.

Index
Data
Technology
Repairs
Car care
Controls
Overview
63nTransporting children safely
LATCH child seat attachment*
Remove cover panel by pulling it off
toward the front.
Simply put it back on to reattach it.
530de033
The illustration shows the mounts for a
LATCH child-restraint system in the left
rear seat.
To install a LATCH child-restraint
system, please follow the manufac-
turer's operating instructions and safety
precautions.
530de034
Child-safety locks
Slide the safety lever on the rear doors
downward:
The door can now be opened from the
outside only.
530us038

70nAutomatic transmission with Steptronic*Indicator/Headlamp flasher
Electronic transmission control
module
If the indicator lamp comes on
or the message "TRANS.FAIL-
SAFE PROG" appears in the
Check Control
*, there is a fault in the
transmission system.
Bring the vehicle to a stop. Move the
transmission selector lever to "P." Set
the parking brake and turn the engine
off (ignition key to position 0).
Wait a few seconds, then start the
engine.
If the indicator lamp goes out after a
few seconds, normal transmission
performance has been restored. You
may continue to drive as usual. If the
indicator lamp does not go out, you can
place the selector lever in all positions.
However, the vehicle will now only drive
forward with limited gear selection.
If this happens, avoid extreme engine
loads and consult the nearest BMW
center.
Do not work in the engine
compartment when a drive gear
(forward or reverse) is engaged. If you
do this, the vehicle could move. <
Information on jump-starting, tow-
starting and towing begins on
page 190.
1 High beams (blue indicator)
2 Headlamp flasher (blue indicator)
3 Turn signal indicator (green indicator
accompanied by periodic clicking
sound from the relay)
If the indicator lamp and the clicking
from the relay are both faster than
normal, one of the turn signal indicators
has failed.
To signal briefly
Press the lever up to but not beyond
the detent. It then returns to the center
position when released.
530us043

94n
PDC
*
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
The PDC system does not remove
the driver's personal responsibility
for evaluating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstacles. Even when
sensors are involved, there is a blind
spot in which objects cannot be
detected. This applies especially in
those cases where the system
approaches the physical constraints of
ultrasonic measurement, as occurs with
tow bars and trailer couplings, and in
the vicinity of thin and painted objects.
Certain sources of sound, such as a
loud radio, could drown out the PDC
signal tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free
of ice or snow in order to ensure
that they continue to operate effectively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the
sensors for a prolonged period of time.
Maintain an adequate distance of more
than 4 in (10 cm).<
The concept DSC maintains vehicle stability, even in
critical driving situations.
The system optimizes vehicle stability
during acceleration and when starting
from a full stop, as well as optimizing
traction. In addition, it recognizes
unstable vehicle conditions, such as
understeering or oversteering, and, as
far as is possible within the laws of
physics, keeps the car on a steady
course by adapting the RPMs and
brake applications to the individual
wheels.
The system starts up automatically
each time you start the engine.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out shortly
after you switch on the ignition.
Refer to page 24.
Indicator lamp flashes:
The system is active and governs drive
and braking force.
If the indicator lamp fails to go out after
the engine is started, or comes on
during normal driving and stays on:
The system is either defective or was
switched off with the button: the stabi-
lizing applications described to the left
are no longer available. The vehicle will
remain completely operational,
however, without DSC.
Consult your BMW center to have the
system repaired.

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
101n
Air conditioner 1 Airflow directed toward the wind-
shield and side windows
2 Airflow for the upper body
The side rotary dials allow you to
open and close the air supply
through an infinitely-variable range,
while the levers change the airflow
direction. The center rotary dial
controls the temperature of the air
as it flows out. Refer to page 103
3 Front footwell ventilation
4 Rear footwell ventilation
5 Air flow for the upper body in the
rear seat103
6 Temperature102
7 Air distribution toward
>the windows
>the upper body
>the footwell
An infinitely-variable range of
intermediate settings is also
available. Refer to page 102
8 Air supply102
The climate control is active when
the blower is switched on.
9 Rear window defroster73, 102
10 Cooling102
11 Recirculated air mode103