
 
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  

22n
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 100. 
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 100.  

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.<  

99n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Parking lamps Ð side marker 
lamps 
The front, rear and side vehicle 
lighting is switched on. You can 
use the parking lamps for 
parking. For lighting on one side for 
parking as an additional feature, refer to 
page 100. 
Low beams 
When the ignition is switched off 
and the low beams are on, only 
the parking lamps Ð side marker 
lamps Ð remain on. 
530us215
Follow me home lamps:
When you activate the headlamp 
flasher after parking the vehicle and 
switching off the lamps, the low beams 
will come on for a brief period. You may 
also have this function deactivated if 
you wish.<
LIGHTS ON warningWhenever you open the driver's door, 
after having turned the ignition key to 
position 0, you will hear an acoustic 
signal for a few seconds to remind you 
that the lamps have not been switched 
off. 
On vehicles with alphanumeric Check 
Control
*:
The reminder is given through the 
Check Control. 
Daytime driving lamps
*
The headlamps are automatically 
switched on for daylight driving at 
ignition key position 2. 
Automatic headlamp control
* 
When the switch is set to this 
position the system automati-
cally activates or deactivates the 
low beams in response to changes in 
ambient light, e. g.  in tunnels, at dusk, 
as well as rain and snow.
The vehicle's external lamps 
remain on constantly when you 
switch on the fog lamps after the head-
lamps have come on automatically.< 
Automatic headlamp control 
cannot serve as a substitute for 
the driver's judgement in determining 
when the vehicle lamps should be 
switched on. For example, the sensors 
are not able to detect fog.  To avoid 
safety risks, you should respond to 
these kinds of low-visibility situations 
by switching the headlamps on manu-
ally.< 
You can have the sensitivity of 
your vehicle's automatic head-
lamp control adjusted.< 
Parking lamps/Low beams  

100n
Instrument lighting
High beams/Standing lamps 
Fog lamps
Turn the rotary dial to adjust the illumi-
nation intensity. 530us216
1 High beams Ð blue indicator lamp 
2 Headlamp flasher Ð blue indicator 
lamp
3 Standing lamps Standing lamps, left or right
* 
As an additional feature, you can 
illuminate your vehicle on either side 
for parking, if you wish to do so:
With the ignition key in position 0, 
engage the lever in the appropriate 
turn signal position. 530de265
Fog lamps
A green indicator lamp appears 
in the instrument cluster to indi-
cate that the front fog lamps are 
on. 
If the high beams are switched on, the 
fog lamps go out. 
If the automatic headlamp control 
is activated, the low beams will 
automatically be switched on when the 
front fog lamps are switched on.<
530us210 

152n
Lamps and bulbs Xenon lamps
* 
The operating life of these lamp units is 
extremely long and the likelihood of 
failure very low, provided that they are 
not switched on and off a very great 
number of times. If one of these bulbs 
should nevertheless fail, it is possible to 
continue driving with great caution 
using the fog lamps, provided traffic 
laws in your area do not prohibit this. 
Because of the extremely high 
voltages involved, any work on the 
xenon lighting system should be carried 
out by technically-qualified personnel 
only. Failure to comply with this creates 
a risk of fatal injury.< Turn signal indicators/Standing 
lamps Ð side marker lamps Ð front Dual-filament bulb, 28/8 watts 
Please contact a BMW Sports Activity 
Vehicle center in case of a malfunction. 
Side turn signal indicators5 watt bulb 
1. Use finger pressure against the rear 
end of the lamp, refer to arrow, to 
press it forward for removal 
2. Press gently on the bulb and turn it to 
the left to remove it 
3. Replace the bulb.530de304
Front fog lamps H3 bulb, 55 watts 
The bulb is pressurized. There-
fore, wear safety glasses and 
protective gloves. Failure to comply 
with this precaution could lead to injury 
if the bulb is accidentally damaged 
during replacement.< 
1. Pull the cover in front of the fog lamp 
forward 
2. Loosen the two screws, refer to 
arrows, and remove the fog lamp 
3. Turn the cover cap on the rear of the 
fog lamp to the left and remove 
4. Unhook the wire clamp, remove the 
contact base and replace the bulb. 530de344 

Everything from A to ZEngine compartment 
essentials140
Engine coolant143
Engine oil141, 142
consumption141
grades142
level20
pressure19
Estimated time of arrival87
Exterior mirrors53
Exterior rearview mirrors, 
automatic dimming 
feature54FFailure of an electrical 
accessory160
Filling the windshield washer 
reservoir141
First-aid kit24
Fittings, tow-starting and 
towing164
Flashlight115
Flat tire98, 134, 155
Fog lamps100
bulb replacement152
Folding rear backrest120
Footbrake133
Front area lighting101
Front fog lamps100
Front seat adjustment44Frost protection, 
radiator143
Fuel26
capacity171
display75
gauge75
quality26
specifications26
Fuel consumption87
average87
Fuel filler door24
electrical malfunction24
Fuses160
GGarage-door opener112
Gasoline26
General driving notes132
Glasses compartment117
Glove compartment115
Gross vehicle weight170
Ground clearance131HHandbrake64
Hands-free system116
Hazard warning flashers14
Hazard warning triangle24
HDC Hill Descent 
Control93Head restraints47
Headlamp flasher68
Headlamp washer 
system69, 141
Heated seats51
Heated steering wheel53
Heating and 
ventilation102, 105
Heating while stopped109
Heavy cargo126
Height169
Height adjustment
seats46
steering wheel52
High beams22, 100
bulb replacement151
High-mount brake lamp153
Hill Descent Control 
HDC93
Holder for cans, refer to 
beverage holder116
Hood139
Hood release139
Hydraulic Brake Assistant
refer to DBC21
Hydroplaning132, 134
IIce warning73
Identification, tires137
Ignition key30
Ignition lock62
Imprint4
Independent ventilation 
system84, 111
switching on and off84
Indicator lamps19
Inflation pressures, 
tires134
monitoring97
INSPECTION76
Instrument 
cluster15, 16, 17, 18
Instrument lighting100
Instrument 
panel15, 16, 17, 18
Intensive cleaning 
system69
Interior lamps101
remote control32
Interior mirrors54
Interior motion sensor40
Interior rearview mirror, 
automatic dimming 
feature54
Interlock62
Intermittent wipe68