
 
Contents
 
Operation, maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
 
Under the hood: 
 
Hood141
Engine compartment 
essentials142
Washer fluid143
Engine oil143
Coolant145
Brake fluid146
 
Care and maintenance: 
 
The BMW Maintenance 
System147
 
Laws and regulations: 
 
Technical modifications148
California Proposition 
65 Warning148
OBD interface socket149
 
Replacement procedures: 
 
Onboard tool kit152
Windshield wiper blades152
Lamps and bulbs153
Changing a wheel156
Battery162
Fuses163
 
Assistance, giving and 
receiving: 
 
Jump-starting164
Towing the vehicle166Engine specifications170
Dimensions171
Weights172
Capacities173 

 
18n
 
Indicator and warning lamps 
 
Technology that monitors itself 
 
Indicator and warning lamps that are 
identified by "
 
l
 
" are tested for proper 
functioning whenever the ignition key is 
turned. They each light up once for 
different periods of time. 
If a fault should occur in one of these 
systems, the corresponding lamp does 
not go out after the engine is started or 
it lights up while the vehicle is moving. 
You will see how to react to this in the 
following section.
 
Red: stop immediately
 
Battery charge current 
 
l 
 
The battery is no longer being 
charged. There is a malfunction 
of the alternator drive belt or in the 
charging circuit of the alternator. Please 
contact the nearest BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle center.
If the drive belt is defective, do not 
continue driving. The engine could 
be damaged due to overheating. If the 
drive belt is defective, increased 
steering effort is also required.
 
<
 
 
Engine oil pressure 
 
l 
 
Stop the vehicle immediately 
and switch off the engine. 
Check the engine oil level; top off as 
required. If the oil level is correct: 
please contact the nearest BMW  Sports 
Activity Vehicle center.
Do not continue driving. The 
engine could be damaged 
because of inadequate lubrication.
 
<
 
 
 
Parking brake
 
* /
Brake hydraulic system  
l
 
Comes on when you engage the 
parking brake. For additional informa-
tion: refer to page 64. 
Comes on although the parking brake 
is released: have the brake fluid level 
checked. Before continuing your 
journey, be sure to read the notes on 
pages 135 and 146.
Also comes on in the Check Control 
with the message "CHECK BRAKE 
LININGS".
Parking brake warning lamp
 
* 
/
Brake hydraulic system warning 
lamp for Canadian models. 
Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)
 
* 
 
 
l
 
In addition, an acoustic signal is 
sounded: a flat tire has 
occurred. Reduce vehicle speed imme-
diately and stop the vehicle. Avoid hard 
brake applications. As you steer the 
vehicle, use caution and avoid overcor-
recting.
For additional information: refer to 
page 98 

 
19n
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
 
Indicator and warning lamps 
 
Red or yellow: continue to drive; 
drive cautiously 
 
If the brake warning lamp 
comes on red together with the 
yellow warning lamps for ABS 
and DSC: 
Continue to drive; drive 
cautiously and defensively and 
avoid full brake applications. 
Have the system checked by the 
nearest BMW Sports Activity Vehicle 
center. 
For additional information: refer to 
pages 92 and 134.
If all three warning lamps come on 
yellow:
Continue to drive; drive cautiously and 
defensively and avoid full brake appli-
cations. 
Have the system checked by your 
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center as 
soon as possible. 
Warning lamps for Canadian 
models. 
 
Red: an important reminder
 
Parking brake
 
* 
Comes on when the parking 
brake is engaged. 
For additional information: refer to 
page 64. 
Parking brake warning lamp
 
*  
for 
Canadian models.
Please fasten safety belts 
 
l 
 
Together with an acoustic signal 
or a message
 
* 
 in the Check 
Control. Comes on until the safety belts 
are fastened. For additional information 
on safety belts: refer to page 49. 
Airbags 
 
l 
 
Please have the system 
inspected by your BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle center. 
For additional information: refer to 
page 55. 
 
Yellow: check as soon as possible 
 
Antilock Brake System (ABS) 
 l 
ABS has been deactivated in 
response to system malfunction. 
Conventional braking performance 
remains available with no loss of effi-
ciency. Please have the system 
inspected by your BMW Sports Activity 
Vehicle center.
For additional information: refer to 
page 134
ABS warning lamp for Canadian 
models.
Engine oil level
Comes on while driving:
The oil level is at the absolute 
minimum; refill as soon as possible. Do 
not drive more than approx. 30 miles 
(50 km) until you do.
For additional information: refer to 
page 143.
Engine oil level 
Comes on after the engine has 
been switched off: add engine 
oil at your earliest opportunity (when 
you stop to refuel). 
For additional information: refer to 
page 143.  

76n
Coolant temperature gauge Service Interval Display Blue The engine is still cold. Drive at 
moderate engine and vehicle speeds.Red When you switch on the ignition, the 
warning lamp comes on briefly to 
confirm that the system is operational.
If the warning lamp comes on while 
driving or the message "COOLANT 
TEMPERATURE" appears in the Check 
Control
*: the engine is overheated. 
Switch off the engine immediately and 
allow it to cool down.
Checking coolant level: refer to 
page 145. 
390de007
Between the blue and red zones Normal operating range. It is not 
unusual for the needle to rise as far as 
the edge of the red zone. 
The range of available displays varies 
according to your individual vehicle's 
equipment. 
Green lamps The number of illuminated lamps 
decreases as the time for your next 
maintenance visit approaches.Yellow lamp This field appears together with 
OILSERVICE or INSPECTION. 
Maintenance is due. Please contact 
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle 
center for an appointment.Red lamp The maintenance deadline has been 
passed.390us008 

77n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Check Control Graphic display
* 
The following alerts or status messages 
are displayed with icons from ignition 
key position 2 and up until the defects 
are corrected:
1 Check low beams
2 Add washer fluid (goes out after 
approx. 1 minute)
3 Door open
4 Tailgate open
5 Check brake and tail lamps. 
A defective center brake lamp is indi-
cated by the upper symbol.
When you open the door after stopping, 
a warning signal sounds without a 
visual indicator for: 
>LIGHTS ON and
>KEY IN IGNITION LOCK. 390de121
Alphanumeric display
* 
Text messages are used to alert the 
driver to system malfunctions when the 
ignition key is turned to position 2. The 
alert is accompanied by a gong.
1 Status messages symbol
2 Display
3 CHECK button 
Messages concerning system faults are 
differentiated based on two priorities: 390us111
Priority 1
These defects are immediately indi-
cated by a gong and a flashing warning 
symbol 1. Simultaneous defects will be 
displayed consecutively. These status 
messages remain in the display until the 
defects are corrected. They cannot be 
deleted by pressing the CHECK 
button 3:
>RELEASE PARKINGBRAKE
>COOLANT TEMPERATURE
The coolant is overheated. Stop the 
vehicle immediately and switch off 
the engine, refer to pages 76 and 145
>STOP!ENGINE OILPRESS
The oil pressure is too low. Stop the 
vehicle immediately and switch off 
the engine, refer to pages 18 and 143 

78n
Check Control>CHECK BRAKE FLUID
Indicates that brake fluid is down to 
approximately the minimum level. 
Top off the brake fluid at the next 
opportunity, refer to page 146. Have 
the cause of the brake fluid loss diag-
nosed and corrected by your BMW 
Sports Activity Vehicle center
>TIRE DEFECTIVE
*
Reduce vehicle speed immediately 
and stop the vehicle. Avoid hard 
brake applications. Do not oversteer, 
refer to page 99
>SELFLEVEL SUSP.INACT
*
Please consult the nearest 
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center 
>SELFLEVEL SUSP.INACT
*
"max. 35 mph/max. 60 km/h
*"
These displays appear consecutively.
Do not exceed a maximum speed of 
35 mph (60 km/h).
Please consult the nearest BMW 
Sports Activity Vehicle center
>SPEED LIMIT
*
You will see this message if the 
programmed speed limit has been 
exceeded, refer to page 86.Priority 2
These displays appear for 20 seconds 
when the ignition key is turned to posi-
tion 2. The warning symbols remain 
after the message disappears. You can 
call up the messages again for display 
by pressing the CHECK button.
>TRUNKLID OPEN
This message appears only at the 
start of a trip
>DOOR OPEN
This message appears after a 
minimal defined road speed has been 
exceeded
>FASTEN SEAT BELTS
*
In addition to this message, an indi-
cator lamp with the safety belt icon 
appears and an acoustical signal is 
sounded
>WASHER FLUID LOW
The fluid level is too low; top off at 
the next opportunity, refer to 
page 143
>CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV
The oil level is at the absolute 
minimum; refill as soon as possible, 
refer to page 143. Do not drive more 
than approx. 30 miles (50 km) until 
you add oil >CHECK FILLER CAP
Check to see whether the fuel filler 
cap has been closed properly, refer 
to page 24. A fuel filler cap that has 
not been closed all the way will set 
off the Service Engine Soon lamp
>OUTSIDE TEMP. +23 7 (Ð5 6)
This display is only an example. The 
current temperature is displayed at 
outside temperatures of +37.5 7 
(+3 6) and below, refer also to 
page 74
>SET TIRE PRESSURE
*
The RDC has imported the current 
inflation pressure in the tires as the 
target values which the system will 
monitor, refer to page 98
>CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
*
Check and correct the tire inflation 
pressure to specifications at the 
earliest opportunity (next stop to 
refuel), refer to page 99
>TIRECONTROL INACTIVE
*
A temporary interference of the RDC 
or a system fault, refer to page 99
>CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS
A lamp has failed or the electrical 
circuit has a fault, refer to pages 155 
and 156 or consult a BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle center. 

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Check Control >CHECK LOWBEAM LIGHTS
CHECK SIDE LIGHTS
CHECK REAR LIGHTS
CHECK FRONT FOGLAMPS
CHECK LICPLATE LIGHT
CHECK HIGHBEAM LIGHT
CHECK BACK UP LIGHTS
Defective bulb or circuit, refer to 
page 153 or consult a BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle center 
>TRANS. FAILSAFE PROG
Please consult the nearest 
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center, 
refer to page 68
>CHECK BRAKE LININGS
Have the brake pads inspected by 
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle 
center, refer to page 135
>CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
Coolant too low, top off at the next 
opportunity, refer to page 145
>ENGINE FAILSAFE PROG
There is a fault in the engine's elec-
tronic control system. 
You can continue to drive with 
reduced engine output or engine 
speed. Have the system checked by 
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle 
center. 
Displays after completion of trip All of the malfunctions registered during 
the trip appear consecutively when the 
ignition key is turned to position 0.
The following displays will appear when 
appropriate:
>LIGHTS ON
>KEY IN IGNITION LOCK
>CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV
Add engine oil at the next opportunity 
(next stop to refuel), refer to 
page 143.
This display appears when you open 
the driver's door after parking the 
vehicle. A supplementary gong is also 
heard.
Status messages remain available for a 
period of approx. three minutes after 
the display goes out and the key is 
removed from the ignition lock. Press 
the CHECK button 3. If there were 
multiple messages, press the CHECK 
button repeatedly to view them all in 
sequence. 
To check the Check Control Press the CHECK button 3 with the 
ignition key in position 2: 
CHECK CONTROL OK appears in the 
display.
No malfunctions are present in the 
monitored systems.Computer You can find a description of the 
computer on pages 80 and 86 as well 
as in the Owner's Manual for the 
Onboard Computer.
You can have the Check Control 
and computer messages 
displayed in a different language.<  

99n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)
*
Adaptive brake light
Flat tireIf there is a tire failure with a loss of 
inflation pressure, the red indicator 
lamp comes on or the message "TIRE 
DEFECTIVE" appears in the Check 
Control. In addition, a gong sounds.
If this occurs, reduce vehicle speed 
immediately and stop the vehicle in a 
safe location. Avoid hard brake applica-
tions. Do not oversteer. Replace the flat 
tire.
The spare tire which is available in 
your vehicle as standard equip-
ment is equipped with the electronics 
required for RDC and, following activa-
tion of the system, is also monitored 
after it is mounted.< 
RDC cannot alert you to severe 
and sudden tire damage caused 
by external factors.< 
Have the tires changed at your 
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle 
center.
Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle 
center has the information needed for 
working with RDC and is equipped with 
the necessary special tools.<
System malfunctionDuring the period of the malfunction, 
the yellow indicator lamp comes on or 
the message "TIRECONTROL INAC-
TIVE" appears in the Check Control.
You will also see the same message
>in the event of a system malfunction
>if a wheel is mounted without the 
RDC electronics
>if, in addition to the spare tire, addi-
tional wheels with RDC electronics 
are on board.
Please contact your BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle center for additional 
information.The adaptive brake light (in preparation) 
provides drivers of following vehicles 
with an indication of the intensity with 
which the brakes are being applied in 
your own vehicle.
The display occurs in two stages:
>Normal braking:
The brake light units within the tail-
light clusters and the high-mount 
brake light integrated within the rear 
spoiler both light up with normal 
intensity
>Hard braking or braking with ABS 
active:
The taillights also come on, lighting 
up with the same intensity as the 
brake lights to provide a larger a 
more conspicuous warning.