2003 BMW X5 3.0I air condition

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Automatic climate control
*
Residual heat mode
The heat which is stored in
the engine is utilized for
heating the interior when the engine
has been switched off (while waiting at
a railroad crossing, for instance).
In ignition key position 1, you can alter
the settings of the automatic climate
control. With the ignition key in posi-
tion 0, the system automatically directs
heated air to the windshield, side
windows and footwells.
This function may be activated
when the outside temperature is
below approx. 59 7/15 6, the engine
is at operating temperature, and the
battery is adequately charged. The LED
on the button will light up when all
conditions have been met.<
Draft-free ventilation You can adjust the vent outlets for the
upper body area to select the optimum
airflow rates and directions for your
personal comfort:
1 Rotary dials for opening and closing
the vent outlets through an infinitely-
variable range
2 Selector levers for airflow direction
3 With the rotary dial you can adjust the
temperature of the incoming air.
>Turn toward blue Ð colder
>Turn toward red Ð warmer. 530de270
Rear passenger area climate
control 1 Air supply
2 Temperature
3 Adjusting the direction of the airflow 530de272

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Driving your BMW X5 Your BMW is right at home on all roads
and byways Ð even where the pavement
ends. It combines permanent four-
wheel drive with the agility of a typical
passenger vehicle. On bad roadsWhen you are driving on bad roads,
there are a few points which you should
strictly observe Ñ for your own safety,
for that of your passengers, and for the
safety of the vehicle:
>Familiarize yourself with the vehicle
before you begin driving. Do not take
risks with the vehicle under any cir-
cumstances
>Always adapt vehicle speed to road
conditions Ð the steeper and more
uneven the road surface is, the
slower the vehicle's speed should be
>You can operate your vehicle on
uphill and downhill gradients with a
maximum slope of 50 %. If you intend
to drive on either an uphill or downhill
gradient of this steepness, check to
be sure in advance that the engine oil
and coolant levels are both near the
MAX mark, refer to pages 141
and 143.
When driving down steep slopes, use
the Hill Descent Control HDC, refer to
page 93. Starting from a full stop is possible on
uphill gradients of up to 32 %.
The permitted side tilt is also 50 %
>While driving, watch carefully for
obstacles such as rocks or holes. Try
to avoid these obstacles whenever
possible
>On hill crests and bumpy roads, for
example, be careful to prevent the
body from bottoming Ð contact
between the body and the ground.
The ground clearance of the vehicle
is:
8 in/200 mm with up to four
passengers
7 in/180 mm fully loaded Ð without
self-leveling suspension
>Do not drive in water that is deeper
than 20 inches/50 cm. If you must
drive through water up to that depth,
drive at a walking speed and do not
stop.
After leaving the water, press on the
footbrake gently several times while
driving at a low speed. The brake
applications will help to dry the
brakes, thus preventing a reduction in
braking performance caused by the
moisture.
Back onto the paved road In recommending that you observe the
following points after driving on adverse
road surfaces, it is not as a beauty
treatment for your BMW. Instead, it is
intended for the maintenance of driving
safety:
>Clean accumulations of dirt from the
body and check the undercarriage for
damage
>Clean mud, snow, ice and other
materials from the wheels and tires.
Check the tires for damage
>Check to determine whether rocks,
gravel or accumulations of dirt on the
brake rotors and calipers could influ-
ence braking performance. Remove
all such foreign objects
>In order to clean the brake rotors,
apply the footbrake gently several
times while driving at a low speed. Be
sure that following traffic is not
endangered by this
>For cleaning the parking brake, apply
the lever slightly at approx. 25 mph/
40 km/h and continue to drive for
approx. 200 yards/200 meters, pro-
vided that traffic conditions allow you
to do so.

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Brake systemDisc brakesWhen the vehicle is driven only occa-
sionally, during extended periods when
the vehicle is not used at all, and in
operating conditions where brake appli-
cations are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion of the
rotors and accumulation of contamina-
tion on the brake pads. This occurs
because the minimal pressure which
must be exerted by the pads to clean
the discs by brake applications is not
reached.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they
will tend to respond to braking with a
pulsating effect which even extended
application will fail to cure.
When driving in wet conditions and in
heavy rain, it is advisable to apply light
pressure to the brake pedal from time
to time. Watch traffic conditions to
ensure that this maneuver does not
endanger other road users. The heat
which is generated by the brake appli-
cations helps to dry the brake pads and
rotors. The braking force is then imme-
diately available when required.Extended or steep mountain descents
should be driven in the gear in which
only minimal periodic brake application
is required. This avoids excessive strain
on the brakes and possible impairment
of the braking effect.
Do not coast with the clutch
depressed or with the transmis-
sion or selector lever in neutral. Do not
drive with the engine switched off. The
engine provides no braking effect when
the clutch is depressed or the transmis-
sion is in neutral, and there is no
power-assist for braking or steering
when the engine is not running.
BMW recommends having brake
inspections performed at a BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle center only. If
you do not, parts of the four-wheel
drive system could be damaged.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any
other objects to protrude into the area
around the accelerator, clutch and
brake pedals and obstruct their move-
ment.<
Brake pads
For your own safety: use only
brake pads that BMW has
released for your particular vehicle
model. BMW cannot evaluate non-
approved brake pads to determine if
they are suited for use, and therefore
cannot ensure the operating safety of
the vehicle if they are installed.<

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Information for your safety The factory-approved radial tires are
matched to the vehicle and have been
selected to provide optimum safety and
driving comfort on your vehicle when
used correctly.
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and Ð above all else
Ð driving safety which depend on the
condition of the tires and the mainte-
nance of the specified tire pressure.
Incorrect inflation pressure is a
frequent cause of tire damage. It
also significantly influences the road-
holding ability of your BMW. Check tire
inflation pressures Ð including the spare
wheel Ð regularly, refer to page 26, at
least every two weeks and before
beginning a longer trip. If this is not
done, incorrect tire pressures can
cause driving instability and tire
damage, ultimately resulting in an
accident.<
Tire tread Ð Tire damage Inspect your tires frequently for tread
wear, signs of damage and for foreign
objects lodged in the tread. Check the
tread pattern depth.
Tread depth should not be allowed to
go below 0.12 in/3 mm, even though,
the legally specified minimum tread
depth, for example in Europe, is only
0.063 in/1.6 mm. Below a tread depth
of 0.12 in/3 mm there is an increased
risk of hydroplaning, even at relatively
moderate speeds and with only small
amounts of water on the road.
Tread wear indicators, refer to arrow,
are embedded around the tire circum-
ference in the base of the tire tread.
Their locations are indicated on the tire
sidewall with TWI Ð Tread Wear Indi-390de331
cator. At a tread depth of 0.063 in/
1.6 mm these indicators, signal that the
tires have reached the legally permis-
sible wear limit.
Do not drive on a deflated Ð flat Ð
tire. A flat tire greatly impairs
steering and braking response, and can
lead to complete loss of control over
the vehicle.
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that
the permitted load on the tires is not
exceeded. Overloading leads to over-
heating and causes damage inside the
tires. The ultimate result can assume
the form of a sudden air loss.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation, e.g. caused
by contact with curbs, etc., can indicate
a flat tire or some other vehicle mal-
function. This is also true for irregulari-
ties in the vehicle's handling character-
istics, such as a pronounced tendency
to pull to the left or right. Should this
occur, respond by immediately
reducing your speed.
Tire inflation pressures Tire condition

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Tire condition Tire replacement Proceed carefully to the nearest
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center or
professional tire center, or have the
vehicle towed in to have it, its wheels
and tires inspected.
Tire damage up to and including blow-
outs can endanger the lives of both the
vehicle occupants and other road
users.<
DOT Quality GradesTread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must con-
form to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades.< Tread wearThe tread wear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified government test
course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and one-half Ð 1g Ð times as
well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due
to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road char-
acteristics and climate.
TractionThe traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on speci-
fied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests, and does
not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.<

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Winter tires Snow chains
*
Choosing the right tire BMW recommends winter tires Ð M+S
radial tires Ð for operation under
inclement winter driving conditions.
While so-called all-season tires with
M+S designation provide better winter
traction than summer tires with the load
ratings H, V, W, Y and ZR, they gener-
ally do not achieve the performance of
winter tires.
In the interests of safe tracking and
steering response, install radial tires
made by the same manufacturer and
with the same tread configuration on all
four wheels if you elect to mount winter
tires.
Do not exceed specified
maximum speeds
Never exceed the maximum speed
for which the tires are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. Your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center will be glad to
assist you with both their expertise and
the proper equipment for your vehicle.<
Tire condition, tire pressureWinter tires display a perceptible loss in
their ability to cope with winter driving
conditions once the tread wears to
below 0.16 in/4 mm, and should thus
be replaced.
Comply with the specified tire inflation
pressures Ñ and be sure to have the
wheel and tire assemblies balanced
every time you change the tires.
Only certain snow chains have been
tested by BMW and classified and
approved as safe. Consult your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle center for
details. The use of narrow-link BMW
snow chains is approved only in pairs
on the rear wheels and only with the
following tire sizes.
BMW X5 4.6is: 255/55 R18
All other models: 235/65 R 17.
Comply with all manufacturer's safety
precautions when mounting the chains.
Do not exceed a maximum speed of
30 mph/50 km/h.

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Washer fluid Engine oil Windshield and headlamp washer
system Approximate capacity is 8.2 US quarts/
7.8 liters.
Fill with water and Ñ if required Ñ with a
washer antifreeze, according to manu-
facturer's recommendations.
It is more convenient to mix the
washer fluid before adding it to
the reservoir.<
Antifreeze agent for the washer
systems is inflammable. For this
reason, keep it away from sources of
flame and store it only in its original
containers. Store it so that it is inacces-
sible to children. Comply with the
instructions on the containers.< 530de298
Checking oil level 1. Park the vehicle on a level surface
2. Switch the engine off after it has
reached normal operating tempera-
ture
3. After approx. 5 minutes, pull the
dipstick out and wipe it off with a
clean lint-free cloth, paper towel, or
similar material
4. Push the dipstick carefully all the way
into the guide tube and pull it out
again
5. The oil level should be in between
the two marks on the dipstick.
As with fuel economy, oil consumption
is directly influenced by your driving
style and vehicle operating conditions. 530us100
The oil volume between the two marks
on the dipstick corresponds to approx.
1.1 US quarts/1 liter. Do not fill beyond
the upper mark on the dipstick. Excess
oil will damage the engine
BMW X5 4.6is:
If the vehicle's performance reserves
are used extensively Ð high-perfor-
mance driving Ð the oil level should be
maintained at the upper mark on the
dipstick.530us205

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The BMW Maintenance System has
been designed as a reliable means of
providing maximum driving and oper-
ating safety Ð and as cost-effectively as
possible for you.
Please keep in mind that regular main-
tenance is not only necessary for the
safety of your vehicle, but also plays a
significant role in maintaining the resale
value of the vehicle. 390us008
Service Interval Display Conventional systems rely solely on
distance traveled to determine when
service is due. The BMW Maintenance
System, on the other hand, began many
years ago to take the actual conditions
under which the vehicle is driven into
consideration. After all, different drivers
can accumulate mileage in very
different ways.
From the point of view of maintenance,
62,000 miles/100,000 km accumulated
in short-distance urban driving are not
the equivalent of the same distance
covered at moderate speeds in long-
distance highway travel.
The BMW Maintenance System
includes the Engine Oil Service and
Inspections I and II.
Determining the maintenance intervals
according to the actual loads on the
vehicle covers every kind of operating
situation. However, even those who
drive only short distances Ð significantly
less than 6,000 miles/10,000 km annu-
ally Ð should have the engine oil
changed at least every 2 years since oil
deteriorates over time, regardless of
use.
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet Ð US models/Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet Ð
Canadian models For additional information on mainte-
nance intervals and procedures, please
refer to the Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US models or the
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models.
As a precaution against corrosion, it is
advisable to have the body checked for
damage from rocks or gravel at the
same time, depending upon operating
conditions.
Have your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center do the mainte-
nance and repair.
Be sure that all maintenance work is
confirmed in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models or
the Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models.
These entries will constitute your proof
that the vehicle has received regular
maintenance. They are also required for
warranty claims. to the Caring for your vehicle manual.
The BMW Maintenance System