
 
5n
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
 
Controls and features
 
Passenger safety systems: 
 
Airbags55
Transporting children safely58
Vehicle Memory, Key 
Memory61
 
Driving: 
 
Ignition lock62
Starting the engine62
Switching off the engine63
Parking brake64
Manual transmission64
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic65
Indicator/Headlamp flasher68
Washer/Wiper system/Rain 
sensor68
Cruise control71
 
Everything under control: 
 
Odometer, outside temperature 
display73
Tachometer74
Energy control74
Temperature gauge75
Fuel gauge75
Coolant temperature gauge76
Service Interval Display76
Check Control77
Computer80
Multi-Information Display 
MID81
Digital clock in the MID82
Computer in the MID85
 
Technology for safety and 
driving convenience: 
 
Park Distance Control PDC90
Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC91
Hill Descent Control HDC93
Self-leveling suspension94
2-axle self-leveling 
suspension94
Tire Pressure Monitor RDC97
Adaptive brake light98
 
Lamps: 
 
Parking lamps/Low beams99
Instrument lighting100
High beams/Standing 
lamps100
Fog lamps100
Interior lamps101
 
Controlling the climate for 
pleasant driving: 
 
Air conditioner102
Automatic climate control105
Roller sun blinds111
Independent ventilation 
system111
 
Cabin convenience: 
 
BMW Universal Transmitter112 
Glove compartment115 
Storage compartments116 
Cellular phone116 
Beverage holder116
Glasses compartment117
Ashtray, front117 
Ashtray, rear118 
Cigarette lighter, rear118
 
Loading and transporting: 
 
Ski bag119 
Cargo area 
Fold the rear backrests 
down120 
Cargo area cover121 
Partition net122 
Cover panels in the cargo 
area123 
Power outlets124 
Pull-out cargo floor124 
Cargo loading126 
Roof-mounted luggage rack127  

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 an unintentional alarm 
from being triggered, in garages with 
elevator ramps, for instance, or when 
the vehicle is transported by trailer or 
train: 
Lock the vehicle twice, i. e. arm the 
system. Press button of the remote 
control twice in succession or actuate 
the locks twice with the key.
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 Ð refer to the 
previous column Ð 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 

41n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Electric power windows After the ignition has been switched off:
>You can still operate the windows as 
long as neither of the front doors has 
been opened. To open the windows, 
press the switch beyond the pressure 
point.
Remove the key from the ignition 
lock and close the doors when 
you leave the vehicle so that children 
cannot operate the power windows and 
possibly injure themselves.< 
For the convenience mode via the 
remote control or the door lock, refer to 
pages 32 and 34. Safety featureA contact strip is integrated into the 
inner side of each of the upper window 
frame sections. If pressure is exerted 
against this contact strip while a 
window is being raised, the system will 
respond by stopping the window and 
then retracting it a small distance. 
Despite this safety feature, be 
extremely careful that the closing 
path of the window is not obstructed 
whenever it is closed. Otherwise, an 
object might not touch the contact strip 
in some situations, with very thin 
objects, for instance.
You can override this safety feature by 
pulling the switch beyond the pressure 
point and holding it.
Because the power windows are sealed 
at high pressure to prevent wind noise 
when closed, a powerful motor is 
required for efficient closing. When 
closing the windows, always ensure 
that they are not obstructed in any way. 
Unsupervised use of these systems can 
result in serious personal injury. 
Remove the ignition key to deactivate 
the electric power windows whenever 
you leave the vehicle. Never leave the 
keys in the vehicle with unsupervised 
children. Never place anything that 
could obstruct the driver's vision on or 
next to the windows.< 
Safety switch With the safety switch, you can prevent 
the rear windows from being opened or 
closed via the switches in the rear 
passenger area, by children, for 
example. You can also prevent adjust-
ments of the power rear-seat backrests 
from the rear passenger area, refer to 
page 48. 
Press the safety switch whenever 
children are riding in the rear of 
the vehicle. Careless use of the power 
windows can lead to injury.< 530us209 

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.< 
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.<530de247
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. 
For the convenience mode via the 
remote control or the door lock, refer to 
pages 32 and 34. 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. 

44n
The condition for relaxed, fatigue-free 
driving is a seating position adjusted to 
your needs. Together with the safety 
belts and the airbags, the seating posi-
tion is very important for the passive 
safety of the occupants in the case of 
an accident. Therefore, observe the 
following instructions, as otherwise the 
protective function of the safety 
systems may be impaired.
For additional information on trans-
porting children safely, refer to 
page 58.
Sitting safely with airbags
Maintain a distance to the airbags. 
Always hold the steering wheel by 
the rim with the hands at the 9 and 
3-o'clock positions to keep any chance 
of injury to hands or arms to an abso-
lute minimum, should the airbag be 
deployed. No one and nothing is to 
come between the airbags and the seat 
occupant. Do not use the cover of the 
front airbag on the front passenger side 
as a storage area for objects, or as a 
rest for feet or legs.<
For the location of the airbags and 
additional information, refer to page 55.
Sitting safely with safety belts
Never allow more than one person 
to wear a single safety belt. Never 
allow infants or small children to ride in 
a passenger's lap. Avoid twisting the 
belt while routing it firmly across the 
pelvis and shoulder, wear it as snugly 
against your body as possible. Do not 
allow the belt to rest against hard or 
fragile objects in your pockets. Never 
route the belt across your neck, do not 
run it across sharp edges and ensure 
that the belt does not become caught 
or jammed. Avoid wearing bulky 
clothing and pull on the lap belt periodi-
cally to retension it over your shoulders. 
In the event of a frontal impact, a loose 
lap belt could slide over your hips, 
leading to abdominal injury. In addition, 
the safety belt's restraint effectiveness 
is reduced if the belt is worn loosely. 
Expectant mothers should always wear 
their safety belts, taking care to position 
the lap belt against the lower hips, 
where it will not exert pressure against 
the abdominal area.<
For instructions on operating the safety 
belts, refer to page 49.
Observe the following before 
adjusting
Never try to adjust your seat while 
operating the vehicle. The seat 
could respond with unexpected move-
ment, and the ensuing loss of vehicle 
control could lead to an accident. Never 
ride with the backrest reclined to an 
extreme horizontal angle Ð especially 
important for front passengers to 
remember. 
If you do so there is a risk that you will 
slide under the safety belt in an acci-
dent, thus reducing the protection 
provided by the safety belt
.< 
Seat adjustment>Mechanical seat adjustment, refer to 
page 45
>Power seat adjustment, refer to 
page 46
>Head restraints, refer to page 47
>Power rear-seat backrest adjustment, 
refer to page 48
Safe seating position Seats 

60n
Transporting children safelyChild-restraint system securityAll of the rear belt retractors and the 
front passenger's safety belt can be 
locked for mounting and securing child-
restraint systems. Information regarding 
this is located near the buckle latch of 
each safety belt. Lock the safety belt Pull the entire length of the belt from 
the belt retractor. Allow the reel to 
retract the belt somewhat and engage 
the buckle, then tighten the belt against 
the child-restraint system. The retrac-
tion mechanism is now locked. Release the safety belt Release the buckle, remove the child-
restraint device and allow the belt 
retractor to reel the belt completely in. 530us104
LATCH child-restraint systemLATCH: Lower Anchors and Tethers for 
CHildren
 
The rear outer seating positions are 
provided with anchorage points for a 
LATCH child-restraint system. The 
illustration shows the anchorage points 
in the left rear seat as an example. 
Canadian models only:
The anchorage points for the LATCH 
child-restraint system are indicated by 
buttons, refer to illustration.
Remove cover panel by pulling it off 
toward the front. 
Simply put it back on to reattach it. 
To install a LATCH child-restraint 
system, please follow the manu-
facturer's operating instructions and 
safety precautions.<530ue229
Child-safety locksSlide the safety lever on the rear doors 
downward:
The door can now be opened from the 
outside only. 530de226 

143n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Coolant 
Do not add coolant to the cooling 
system when the engine is hot. If 
you attempt to do so, escaping coolant 
can cause burns.
To avoid the possibility of damage later 
on, never use anything other than 
factory-approved, nitrite and amino-
free extended-duty antifreeze with 
corrosion inhibitor. Your BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle center is familiar with 
the factory specifications.
Antifreeze and anticorrosion agents are 
hazardous to health. You should always 
store them in their original container 
and in a location which is inaccessible 
to children.
Extended-duty antifreeze with corro-
sion inhibitor contains the flammable 
substance ethylene-glycol. For this 
reason, do not spill antifreeze with 
corrosion inhibitor on hot engine parts. 
It could ignite and cause serious 
burns.< 
Checking coolant level and 
adding coolant Correct coolant level when the engine 
is cold approx. +68 7/+20 6:
1. Start by turning the cap of the expan-
sion tank counterclockwise. Pause to 
allow any accumulated pressure to 
escape, then open
2. The coolant level is correct when the 
end of the red float is aligned with 
the upper edge of the filler opening, 
refer to the arrow in the illustration, 
or max. 0.8 in/2 cm higher, i. e. up to 
the mark on the float, refer also to the 
schematic diagram, next to the cap530us102
3. If necessary, add coolant. Slowly add 
coolant until the correct level is 
reached Ð do not overfill.
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the 
disposal of extended-duty antifreeze 
with corrosion inhibitor.<  

Everything from A to Z
175n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Central locking system30
button35
Changing a wheel155
CHECK button77
Check Control77
Check tire pressures26
Checking
engine oil level142
Child-safety locks60
Cigarette lighter
front117
rear118
socket118
Clean the windshield69
Climate control in the rear 
passenger area109
Clock82
refer also to the Owner's 
Manual for the Onboard 
Computer
Cockpit14
Code88
activating88
deactivating88
selecting88
Comfort seat46
Compartments116
Computer80, 81, 85
refer also to the Owner's 
Manual for the Onboard 
Computer
remote control89Configuring individual 
settings via Vehicle and 
Key Memory61
Consumption, fuel87
Convenience operation of 
windows and sliding/tilt 
sunroof34
Convenience starting 
feature63
Coolant143
temperature gauge76
Copyright notice4
Correct sitting posture44
seat adjustment44
Cruise control71
Cruising range80, 87
Cup holder116
Curb weight170
DData link connector for On-
board Diagnostics147
Date
calling up82
changing82
refer also to the Owner's 
Manual for the Onboard 
Computer
Daytime driving lamp99
DBC Dynamic Brake 
Control21, 92Deactivating the interior 
motion sensor32, 40
Deep water131
Defrosting the 
windows104, 107
Digital clock82
refer also to the Owner's 
Manual for the Onboard 
Computer
Dimensions169
Dipstick, engine oil142
Disc brakes133
Displacement168
Display lighting100
Displays15, 16, 17, 18
Disposal
used batteries160
used oil142
Disposal of battery160
Distance from 
destination86
Distance warning90
Divided rear backrest120
Door keys30
Doors
convenience operation34
manual operation34
remote control32
unlocking and locking34
DOT Quality Grades135Drink holder, refer to 
beverage holder116
Driving notes132
Driving through water131
Driving with spare 
wheel159
Driving your BMW X5131
DSC Dynamic Stability 
Control21, 91
Dynamic Brake Control 
DBC21, 92
Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC21, 91
EElectric power windows40
Electrical malfunction
liftgate36
sliding/tilt sunroof43
tailgate38
Elements of operation14
Emergency operation
doors34
liftgate36
sliding/tilt sunroof43
tailgate38
Energy control74
Engine
output168
power rating168
specifications168