5n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Controls and features
Operation, maintenance
Technology for safety and
driving convenience:
Park Distance Control (PDC)91
Dynamic Stability Control
(DSC)92
Hill Descent Control (HDC)94
Variable Ride Height95
Variable Ride Height on both
axles95
Tire Pressure Monitor (RDC)98
Adaptive brake light99
Lamps:
Parking lamps/Low beams100
Instrument lighting101
High beams/Standing
lamps101
Fog lamps101
Interior lamps102
Reading lamps102
Controlling the climate for
pleasant driving:
Air conditioner103
Automatic climate control106
Sunshades
Independent ventilation
system112
Cabin convenience:
BMW Universal Transmitter113
Glove compartment116
Storage compartments116
Cellular phone117
Beverage holder117
Glasses compartment118
Ashtray, front118
Cigarette lighter, front118
Ashtray, rear119
Cigarette lighter, rear119
Loading and transporting:
Ski bag120
Cargo area
Fold the rear backrests
down122
Cargo area cover122
Partition net123
Cover panels in the cargo
area124
Power outlets125
Pull-out cargo floor126
Stowing cargo127
Roof-mounted luggage rack128
Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedures132
Driving your BMW X5133
General driving notes134
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)134
Brake system135
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressures136
Tire condition136
Tire replacement137
Wheel and tire
combinations139
Winter tires140
Snow chains140
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
21n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Indicator and warning lamps
Green: for your information
Turn signal indicators
Flashes when the turn signal
indicators are operated. Rapid
flashing indicates a system malfunction.
For additional information: refer to
page 68.
Cruise control
Comes on when the cruise
control is activated: available for
operation via the steering wheel with
multifunction buttons.
For additional information: refer to
page 71.
Fog lamps
Lights up whenever you switch
on the fog lamps.
For additional information: refer to
page 101.
Blue: for your information
High beams
Lights up when the high beams
are on or the headlamp flasher
is actuated.
For additional information: refer to
pages 68 and 101.
32n
Opening and closing Ð via the remote controlThe conceptThe remote control offers you optimal
convenience in using your vehicle's
locking system while also providing
three exclusive supplementary features:
>Switch on the interior lamps, refer to
page 33.
With this function, you can also
"search for" your vehicle Ñ when
parked in an underground garage, for
instance
>Open the liftgate, refer to page 33.
The liftgate will open slightly, regard-
less of whether it was previously
locked or unlocked
>Panic mode, refer to page 33.
In case of danger, you can trigger an
alarm.
Whenever you unlock (lock) the vehicle,
you simultaneously deactivate (activate)
the anti-theft system, disarm (arm) the
alarm system and switch the interior
lamps on (off).
You can have an acknowledgment
signal set to confirm that the
vehicle is correctly closed.<
1 Unlock, convenience opening and
alarm system
2 Lock and secure, interior lamp activa-
tion, switching off tilt alarm sensor
and interior motion sensor
3 Open the liftgate, panic mode390de793
Master keys with remote control
unit
Children might be able to lock the
doors from the inside. For this
reason, always take the vehicle's keys
with you so that the vehicle can be
opened again from the outside at any
time.<
Master keys that are used repeat-
edly are always ready for opera-
tion since the battery in the key is
charged automatically in the ignition
lock as you drive.
If it is no longer possible to lock the
vehicle via the remote control, the
battery is discharged. Use this key
while driving for an extended period in
order to charge the battery, refer also to
page 30.
To prevent unauthorized use of the
remote control, surrender only the door
and ignition key 3 or the spare key 2
(refer to page 30) when leaving the
vehicle for valet parking, for example.
In the event of a system malfunction,
please contact your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center. You can also
obtain replacement keys there.<
36n
LiftgateTo open from the outside Press the button (arrow):
The liftgate opens slightly.
The cargo area is illuminated whenever
the liftgate is opened, refer also to
page 102.
When the liftgate is opened, the
clearance from the ground to the
upper edge is more than 6.6 ft (2 m).
Please keep this in mind when opening
the tailgate (in a garage, for example).<530de245
Opening from inside the vehiclePress this button to open the liftgate
when the vehicle is stationary.
If pointed or sharp-edged objects
could strike the rear window while
driving, be sure to provide protection
around all edges. If you do not do this,
the heating conductors of the rear
window could be damaged.<
For information on the cargo area cover
and on other details in the cargo area,
refer to "Cargo area", beginning on
page 122.530de221
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. 530de316
40n
Alarm system Electric power windows >If the indicator lamp flashes for
10 seconds when the system is
disarmed: an attempted entry has
been detected in the period since the
system was armed.
Following triggering of an alarm, the
indicator lamp will flash continuously. Avoiding unintentional alarmsThe tilt alarm sensor and interior motion
sensor may be switched off at the same
time. To prevent a false alarm from
being triggered (in garages with
elevator ramps, for instance), or when
the vehicle is transported by trailer or
train:
Actuate (= arm the system) the lock
twice; in other words, press button 2 of
the remote control twice in succession,
refer to page 33. You may also actuate
the locks twice with the key, refer to
page 31.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm
sensor and the interior motion sensor
are deactivated as long as the system is
armed.
Interior motion sensor In order for the interior motion sensor to
function properly, the windows and
sliding/tilt sunroof must be completely
closed.
However, be sure to switch off the inte-
rior motion sensor (see the previous
column) when you
>leave children or animals in the
vehicle
>intend to leave the windows or
sliding/tilt sunroof open.
Open and close windowsFrom ignition key position 1:
>Press the switch up to the pressure
point:
The window continues to move as
long as you continue to hold the
switch
>Press the switch beyond the pressure
point:
The window moves downward auto-
matically. Touch the switch again to
stop the opening movement.
You can close the windows in the same
manner by pulling the switch.530us020
42n
Sliding/tilt sunroof with glass moonroof
*
To prevent injuries, exercise care
when closing the sliding/tilt
sunroof and keep it in your field of
vision until it is shut.
Before leaving the vehicle, switch off
the electric sunroof mechanism by
removing the ignition key. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle with
access to vehicle keys. Use of the key
can result in starting of the engine and
operation of vehicle systems such as
the power sunroof, etc. Unsupervised
use of these systems can result in
serious personal injury.<
For the convenience mode via the door
lock or the remote control, refer to
page 31 or 33.
Lifting Ð Opening Ð Closing With the ignition key in position 1 or
higher, press the switch or slide it in the
desired direction until you feel resis-
tance.
The headliner slides back somewhat
when you raise the sunroof. When the
sunroof is opened the headliner retracts
with it. It remains open, and it is possible
to slide it back and forth as long as the
sunroof is not completely open.
The headliner insert cannot be
closed with the sliding/tilt sunroof
in its raised position.<
After the ignition has been switched off,
you can still operate the sliding/tilt
sunroof as long as neither of the front
doors has been opened. 530de247
Automatic
* opening and closing
Press the switch briefly past the pres-
sure 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
switch toward "Open" until the roof
has reached the desired position.Safety featureIf 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.
45n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Mechanical seatSeat adjustment1 Backward/forward adjustment
Pull the lever and slide the seat to the
desired position.
After you release the lever, move the
seat forward or backward slightly so
that it engages fully
2 Cushion height
Pull the lever and apply weight to or
remove weight from the seat as
required 530us211
3 Backrest angle
Pull the lever and apply weight to or
remove weight from the backrest as
required.
Comply with the adjustment
instructions on page 44. Failure
to do so could result in diminished
personal safety.< 530us212
Adjusting the BMW sports seat
*
You can adjust the thigh support addi-
tionally:
Pull the lever and adjust the position of
the thigh support for your personal
comfort. 530de253