
 
21n
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
 
Indicator and warning lamps 
 
Automatic transmission
 
* 
Because of a malfunction, the 
automatic transmission shifts 
only in the emergency program. Please 
consult the nearest BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle center. 
For additional information: refer to 
page 67. 
Brake pads
 
*
 l 
Have the brake pads checked.
For additional information: refer 
to page 132.
Self-leveling suspension
* l
Self-leveling suspension is inac-
tive. Please consult the nearest 
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center. 
For additional information: refer to 
page 94.
Dynamic Brake Control DBC l
Fault in the DBC system. 
Conventional braking perfor-
mance remains available with no loss of 
efficiency. 
Please have the system checked and 
repaired by your BMW Sports Activity 
Vehicle center. 
For additional information: refer to 
page 92.
Dynamic Brake Control DBC 
warning lamp for Canadian 
models. 
Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC
 l 
Indicator lamp flashes:
The system is active and governs drive 
and braking force.
The warning lamp comes on and stays 
on while driving:
DSC has been switched off with the 
button. If, after repeatedly pressing the 
DSC button, the warning lamp still does 
not go off, then that means that the 
DSC, HDC and the vehicle's road-
holding ability are defective.
Please have the system checked by the 
nearest BMW Sports Activity Vehicle 
center. 
For additional information: refer to 
pages 91 and 93. 
Engine electronics
*
There is a fault in the engine's 
electronic control system. You 
can continue to drive with reduced 
engine output or engine speed. Please 
have the system checked by your 
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center. 
Tire Pressure Monitor RDC
* l
Check tire inflation pressures, 
refer to pages 26, 97.
Service Engine Soon l 
If the indicator lamp comes on 
either continuously or intermit-
tently, this indicates a fault in the 
emissions-related electronic systems. 
Although the vehicle remains opera-
tional, you should have the systems 
checked by your BMW Sports Activity 
Vehicle center at the earliest possible 
opportunity.
For additional information: refer to 
page 147. 
Service Engine Soon warning 
lamp for Canadian models. 
Check Filler Cap
* l 
This indicator lamp comes on 
when the fuel filler cap is loose 
or missing.
Close the filler cap tightly: refer to 
page 25. 

79n
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 151 or consult a BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle center 
>TRANS. FAILSAFE PROG
*
Please consult the nearest 
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center, 
refer to page 67
>CHECK BRAKE LININGS
Have the brake pads inspected by 
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle 
center, refer to page 133
>CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
Coolant too low, top off at the next 
opportunity, refer to page 143
>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 opportu-
nity, e.g. next stop to refuel, refer to 
page 141.
This display appears when you open 
the driver's door after parking the 
vehicle. A supplementary acoustic 
signal 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 mul-
tiple 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 com-
puter on pages 80 and 85 as well as in 
the Owner's Manual for the Onboard 
Computer.
You can have the Check Control 
and computer messages dis-
played in a different language.<  

130n
Break-in proceduresTo ensure that your vehicle provides 
maximum economy throughout a long 
service life, we request that you 
observe the following instructions: Engine and differential Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km:
Drive at varying engine speeds and 
road speeds, but do not exceed 
4,500 rpm and the following road 
speeds during this initial period:
6-cylinder engines: 100 mph/160 km/h
8-cylinder engines: 106 mph/170 km/h
Obey your local and state maximum 
speed limits. 
Refrain from using full throttle and avoid 
pressing the accelerator beyond the 
kickdown point. 
Once you have driven 1,200 miles/
2,000 km, engine and vehicle speeds 
can gradually be increased.
You should also comply with these 
break-in procedures should the engine 
or one of the differentials be replaced 
later in the course of the vehicle's ser-
vice life.
TiresDue to technical factors associated 
with their manufacture, tires do not 
achieve their full traction potential until 
an initial break-in period has elapsed. 
For this reason, drive with extra care 
during the initial 200 miles/300 km. 
Obey your local and state maximum 
speed limits. 
When the vehicle is operated on 
wet or slushy roads, a wedge of 
water may form between the tire and 
the road surface. This phenomenon is 
referred to as aquaplaning, or hydro-
planing, and can lead to partial or com-
plete loss of traction, vehicle control 
and braking effectiveness. Reduce your 
speed on wet roads.< 
Brake systemApprox. 300 miles/500 km must elapse 
before the brake pads and rotors 
achieve the optimal pad-surface and 
wear patterns required for trouble-free 
operation and long service life later on. 
To break in the separate parking brake 
drums, apply the parking brake lightly 
when coasting to a standstill at a traffic 
signal, for instance, provided that traffic 
conditions allow you to do so.
To avoid corrosion, repeat this proce-
dure from time to time. 
The brake lamps do not light up 
when the parking brake is applied.
Vacuum for the brake system servo unit 
on your BMW is available only when the 
engine is running. When you move the 
vehicle with the engine switched off Ð 
when towing, for instance Ð substan-
tially higher levels of pedal force will be 
required to brake the vehicle.<  

133n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
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.< 

Everything from A to ZAABS Antilock Brake 
System20, 132
Accessories9
Activated-charcoal 
filter110
Adaptive brake light98
Adding
brake fluid144
coolant143
engine oil141
washer fluid141
Adjusting
head restraints47
mirrors53
seats44
steering wheel52
thigh support45
Air conditioner102
Air distribution103, 107
Air outlets102, 105
Air supply103, 107
Airbags20, 55
Alarm system39
Antifreeze143
Antilock Brake System 
ABS20, 132
Anti-theft system31
Approved gross vehicle 
weight170
Aquaplaning132, 134Arrival time87
Ashtray
front117
rear118
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control108
Automatic climate 
control105
removing condensation 
from the windows107
Automatic cruise control71
Automatic curb monitor51
Automatic dimming
exterior rearview 
mirrors54
interior rearview mirror54
Automatic headlamp 
control99
Automatic recirculated-air 
control AUC108
Automatic steering wheel 
adjustment52
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic65
Average fuel 
consumption80
Average speed80, 88
Avoiding unintentional 
alarms40
Axle loads170
BBackup lamps65
bulb replacement153
Battery160
charge160
discharged163
Battery charge indicator 
lamp19
Battery, disposal160
Belts49
Beverage holder116
Blower103, 107
BMW comfort seat46
BMW High Performance 
Synthetic Oil142
BMW Maintenance 
System145
BMW sports seat45
BMW Universal 
Transmitter112
Brake fluid144
Brake fluid level144
Brake lamps
bulb replacement153
Brake light, adaptive98Brake system132
brake fluid144
brake fluid level133
brake pads indicator21
disc brakes133
hydraulic system 
indicator19
malfunctions132
Break-in procedures130
Bulbs and lamps151
CCalifornia Proposition
65 Warning146
Can holder, refer to 
beverage holder116
Capacities171
Cargo area38, 120
capacity170
cover120
lamps101
partition net122
Cargo floor, pull-out124
Cargo loading126
Cellular phone116
hands-free system116
Center Ð high-mount Ð brake 
lamp153
Center (high-mount) brake 
lamp153