Page 3 of 183

 
Congratulations, and thank you for choosing a BMW.
Thorough familiarity with your vehicle will provide you with enhanced control and 
security when you drive it. We therefore have this request:
Please take the time to read this Owner's Manual and familiarize yourself with the 
information that we have compiled for you before starting off in your new BMW. The 
manual contains important data and instructions intended to assist you in obtaining 
maximum satisfaction from your BMW's unique array of advanced technical fea-
tures. It also contains information on vehicle maintenance designed to enhance 
operating safety while simultaneously helping you to maintain your BMW's value 
throughout an extended service life. For additional information refer to the supple-
mental manuals.
This Owner's Manual should be considered a permanent part of this vehicle. It 
should stay with the vehicle when sold to provide the next owner with important 
operating, safety and maintenance information.
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW AG 
 
Vorwort 
     
        
        Page 4 of 183

 
Contents
 © 2002 Bayerische Motoren Werke 
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts, only with the 
written consent of BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 157 098
US English IX/2002
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper Ð
bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling. 
Notes
Overview
Controls and features
 
About this Owner's Manual 8
Symbols used 8
The individual vehicle 8
Status at time of printing 9
For your own safety 9
Symbol on vehicle parts 10
Service and Warranty 10
Reporting safety defects 10Cockpit
14 
Instrument cluster 15 
Indicator and warning lamps 19 
Steering wheel with multifunction  buttons 23
Warning triangle 24
First-aid kit 24
Refueling 24
Fuel specifications 26
Tire inflation pressures 26
 
Locks and security systems: 
 
Keys30
Central locking system 30
Opening and closing  Ð via the remote control 31 
Opening and closing  Ð via the door lock 34
Opening and closing  Ð from the inside 35 
Liftgate 36
Tailgate 37
Alarm system 39
Electric power windows 40
Sliding/tilt sunroof with glass  moonroof 42
 
Adjustments: 
 
Safe seating position 44
Seats 44
Mechanical seat 45
Power seat 46
Head restraints 47
Power rear-seat backrest  adjustment 48
Safety belts 49
Seat, mirror and steering wheel 
memory 50
Seat heating 51
Steering wheel 52
Steering wheel heating 53
Mirrors 53
 
Inhalt 
     
        
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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  
     
        
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Contents
 
Operation, maintenance
Owner service procedures
 
Special operating instructions: 
 
Break-in procedures130
Driving your BMW X5131
General driving notes132
Antilock Brake System132
Brake system132
 
Wheels and tires: 
 
Tire inflation pressures134
Tire condition134
Tire replacement135
Wheel and tire 
combinations137
Winter tires138
Snow chains138
 
Under the hood: 
 
Hood139
Engine compartment 
essentials140
Washer fluid141
Engine oil141
Coolant143
Brake fluid144
 
Care and maintenance: 
 
The BMW Maintenance 
System145
 
Laws and regulations: 
 
Technical modifications146
California Proposition 
65 Warning146
OBD interface socket147
 
Replacement procedures: 
 
Onboard tool kit150
Windshield wiper blades150
Lamps and bulbs151
Changing a wheel154
Battery160
Fuses160
 
Assistance, giving and 
receiving: 
 
Jump-starting162
Towing the vehicle164 
     
        
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10n
 
Notes
 
Installation and operation of non-BMW 
approved accessories such as alarms, 
radios, amplifiers, radar detectors, 
wheels, suspension components, brake 
dust shields, telephones Ð including 
operation of any portable cellular phone 
from within the vehicle without using an 
externally mounted antenna Ð or trans-
ceiver equipment such as CB, walkie-
talkie, ham radio or similar accessories, 
may cause extensive damage to the 
vehicle, compromise its safety, interfere 
with the vehicle's electrical system or 
affect the validity of the BMW Limited 
Warranty. Contact your BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle center for additional 
information.
 
<
 
 
Maintenance, replacement, or 
repair of the emission control 
devices and systems may be performed 
by any automotive repair establishment 
or individual using any certified auto-
motive part.
 
<
 
 
 
Symbol on vehicle parts 
 
Indicates that you should consult 
the relevant section of this 
Owner's Manual for information on a 
particular part or assembly. 
 
Service and Warranty
 
This manual is supplemented by a Ser-
vice and Warranty Information Booklet 
for US models or a Warranty and Ser-
vice Guide Booklet for Canadian 
models. 
We recommend that you read this 
publication thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following 
warranties:
 
>
 
New Vehicle Limited Warranty
 
> 
Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
 > Federal Emissions System Defect 
Warranty >
 Federal Emissions Performance War-
ranty
 
>
 
California Emissions Control System 
Limited Warranty
Detailed information about these 
warranties is listed in the Service and 
Warranty Information Booklet for US 
models or in the Warranty and Service 
Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
 
Reporting safety defects
 
The following only applies to vehicles 
owned and operated in the US.
If you believe that your vehicle has a 
defect which could cause a crash or 
could cause injury or death, you should 
immediately inform the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration 
NHTSA in addition to notifying BMW of 
North America, LLC, P.O. Box 1227, 
Westwood, New Jersey 07675-1227, 
Telephone 800-831-1117.
If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it 
may open an investigation, and if it 
finds that a safety defect exists in a 
group of vehicles, it may order a recall 
and remedy campaign. However, 
NHTSA cannot become involved in indi-
vidual problems between you, your 
dealer, or BMW of North America, LLC.
To contact NHTSA, you may either call 
the Auto Safety Hotline toll-free at 
1-800-424-9393 Ð or 366-0123 in 
Washington, D.C. area Ð or write to: 
NHTSA, U.S. Department of Transpor-
tation, Washington, D.C. 20590. You 
can also obtain other information about 
motor vehicle safety from the Hotline.
 
For your own safety 
     
        
        Page 13 of 183
 
13n
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
 
Overview
Controls and features
Operation, maintenance
Owner service procedures
Index Technical data
 
Overview 
     
        
        Page 16 of 183
 
16n
 
Instrument cluster BMW X5 3.0i, 4.4i 
 
7 Indicator and warning 
lamps19 to 22
8 Reset button for trip odometer73
9 Indicator for Check Control77
10 Odometer and trip odometer7311 Computer display Ð
operation via the turn signal lever, 
refer to page 80: 
 
>
 
Outside temperature 
 
>
 
Average fuel consumption 
 
>
 
Cruising range 
 
>
 
Average speed 12 Service Interval Display76
13 Selector lever and program display 
for automatic transmission
 
* 
65
14 Indicator and warning 
lamps19 to 22
530us225 
     
        
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17n
 
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
 
Instrument cluster BMW X5 3.0i, 4.4i
 
* 
1 Fuel gauge75
2 Indicator lamp for turn signal 
indicators22
3 Speedometer
4 Indicator and warning 
lamps19 to 22
5 Tachometer and Energy Control74
6 Coolant temperature gauge767 Indicator and warning 
lamps19 to 22
8 Reset button for trip odometer73
9 Service Interval Display76
10 Display for
 
>
 
Trip odometer73
 
>
 
Outside temperature display7311 Indicator for Check Control77
12 Selector lever and program display 
for automatic transmission
 
* 
65
13 CHECK button77
14 Indicator and warning 
lamps19 to 22
530us226530us226