
 
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  

 
19n
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
 
Indicator and warning lamps 
 
Technology that monitors itself 
 
Indicator and warning lamps that are 
identified by 
 
l
 
 are tested for proper 
functioning whenever the ignition key is 
turned. They each light up once for 
different periods of time. 
If a fault should occur in one of these 
systems, the corresponding lamp does 
not go out after the engine is started or 
it lights up while the vehicle is moving. 
You will see how to react to this in the 
following section.
 
Red: stop immediately
 
Battery charge current 
 
l 
 
The battery is no longer being 
charged. There is a malfunction 
of the alternator drive belt or in the 
charging circuit of the alternator. Please 
contact the nearest BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle center.
If the drive belt is defective, do not 
continue driving. The engine could 
be damaged due to overheating. If the 
drive belt is defective, increased 
steering effort is also required.
 
<
 
 
Engine oil pressure 
 
l 
 
Stop the vehicle immediately 
and switch off the engine. 
Check the engine oil level; top off as 
required. If the oil level is correct: 
please contact the nearest BMW  Sports 
Activity Vehicle center.
Do not continue driving. The 
engine could be damaged 
because of inadequate lubrication.
 
<
 
 
 
Parking brake
 
* 
/
Brake hydraulic system 
 
l
 
Comes on when you engage the 
parking brake. 
For additional information: refer to 
page 64. 
Comes on although the parking brake 
is released: have the brake fluid level 
checked. Before continuing your 
journey, be sure to read the notes on 
pages 132 and 144.
Also comes on in the Check Control 
with the message CHECK BRAKE 
LININGS.
Parking brake warning lamp
 
* 
/
Brake hydraulic system warning 
lamp for Canadian models. 
Tire Pressure Monitor RDC
 
* 
 
 
l
 
In addition, an acoustic signal is 
sounded: a flat tire has 
occurred. Reduce vehicle speed imme-
diately and stop the vehicle. Avoid hard 
brake applications. As you steer the 
vehicle, use caution and avoid overcor-
recting.
For additional information: refer to 
page 96. 

 
20n
 
Indicator and warning lamps 
 
Red or yellow: continue to drive; 
drive cautiously 
 
If the brake warning lamp 
comes on red together with the 
yellow warning lamps for ABS 
and DSC: 
Continue to drive; drive 
cautiously and defensively and 
avoid full brake applications. 
Have the system checked by the 
nearest BMW Sports Activity Vehicle 
center. 
For additional information: refer to 
pages 91 and 132.
If all three warning lamps come on 
yellow:
Continue to drive; drive cautiously and 
defensively and avoid full brake appli-
cations. 
Have the system checked by your 
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center as 
soon as possible. 
Warning lamps for Canadian 
models. 
 
Red: an important reminder
 
Parking brake
 
* 
Comes on when the parking 
brake is engaged. 
For additional information: refer to 
page 64. 
Parking brake
 
* 
 warning lamp
 
  
for 
Canadian models.
Please fasten safety belts 
 
l 
 
Lights up either for a few 
seconds or, depending on 
model, until the belt is engaged. 
Depending on model, together with an 
acoustic signal
 
* 
 or a message
 
* 
 in the 
Check Control. 
For additional information on safety 
belts: refer to page 49. 
Airbags 
 
l 
 
Please have the system 
inspected by your BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle center. 
For additional information: refer to 
page 55. 
 
Yellow: check as soon as possible 
 
Antilock Brake System ABS 
 
l
 
ABS has been deactivated in 
response to system malfunction. 
Conventional braking performance 
remains available with no loss of effi-
ciency. Please have the system 
inspected by your BMW Sports Activity 
Vehicle center.
For additional information: refer to 
page 132.
ABS warning lamp for Canadian 
models.
Engine oil level
Comes on while driving:
The oil level is at the absolute 
minimum; refill as soon as possible. Do 
not drive more than approx. 30 miles/
50 km until you do.
For additional information: refer to 
page 141.
Engine oil level 
Comes on after the engine has 
been switched off: add engine 
oil at your earliest opportunity, e.g. 
when you stop to refuel. 
For additional information: refer to 
page 141.  

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.  

31n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Opening and closing Ð via the remote controlThe conceptThe remote control makes opening and 
locking the doors of your vehicle very 
convenient. Furthermore it provides 
three additional functions that can only 
be executed via the remote control: 
>Switch on the interior lamps, refer to 
page 32.
With this function, you can also 
search for your vehicle Ñ when 
parked in an underground garage, for 
instance
>Open the liftgate, refer to page 32.
The liftgate will open slightly, regard-
less of whether it was previously 
locked or unlocked
>Panic mode, refer to page 32.
In case of danger, you can trigger an 
alarm. 
Whenever you unlock or lock the 
vehicle, you simultaneously deactivate/ 
activate the anti-theft system, disarm/ 
arm the alarm system and switch the 
interior lamps on/off.
You can have an acknowledgment 
signal set to confirm that the 
vehicle is correctly locked.< 
Since passengers or animals 
remaining in the vehicle might be 
able to lock the doors from the inside, 
take the vehicle's keys with you so that 
the vehicle can be opened again from 
the outside at any time.< 
If it is no longer possible to lock 
the vehicle via the remote control, 
the battery is discharged. Use this key 
while driving for an extended period in 
order to charge the battery. To prevent 
unauthorized use of the remote control, 
surrender only the door and ignition key 
or the spare key when leaving the 
vehicle for valet parking, for example, 
refer to page 30.
In the event of a system malfunction, 
please contact your BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle center. You can also 
obtain replacement keys there.< 
1 Unlock and convenience opening 
2 Lock and secure, switching on inte-
rior lamps, switching off tilt alarm 
sensor and interior motion sensor
3 Open the liftgate, panic mode390de793 

32n
Opening and closing Ð via the remote controlTo unlock Press button. 
Press the button once to unlock the 
driver's door and the fuel filler door 
only; press a second time to unlock all 
remaining doors as well as the tailgate/
liftgate. Convenience opening mode Press and hold button. The power 
windows and sliding/tilt sunroof are 
opened. 
To lock and secure Press button. To switch on the interior lamps After locking the vehicle, press button 
again. To switch off the tilt alarm sensor 
and interior motion sensorPress button a second time immedi-
ately after locking. 
For additional information: refer to 
page 40. 
To open the liftgate Press button. 
The luggage compartment lid/liftgate 
will open slightly, regardless of whether 
it was previously locked or unlocked.
Before and after a trip, be sure 
that the tailgate/liftgate was not 
opened unintentionally.< Panic modeBy pressing and holding the button for 
more than two seconds, you can trigger 
an alarm via the alarm system if there is 
an impending danger (the alarm system 
must be armed).
To switch off the alarm 
Press button. 

36n
LiftgateTo open from the outside Press the button, refer to arrow: 
The liftgate opens slightly.
The cargo area is illuminated whenever 
the liftgate is opened, refer also to 
page 101.
When the liftgate is opened, the 
clearance from the ground to the 
upper edge is more than 6.6 ft/2 m. 
Please keep this in mind when opening 
the liftgate (in a garage, for example).<530de245
Opening from inside the vehiclePress this button to open the liftgate 
when the vehicle is stationary. 
If pointed or sharp-edged objects 
could strike the rear window while 
driving, be sure to provide protection 
around all edges. If you do not do this, 
the heating conductors of the rear 
window could be damaged.< 
For information on the cargo area cover 
and on other details in the cargo area, 
refer to Cargo area, beginning on 
page 120.530de221
Manual release In the event of an electrical malfunction, 
you can release the liftgate manually: 
1. Remove the plastic plug from inside 
the cargo area and pull toward the 
interior, refer to arrow. The liftgate 
will be released 
2. Reinstall the plug. 530de316 

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