
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.<  

131n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
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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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.<