2003 BMW X5 3.0I sport mode

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About this Owner's Manual

We have made every effort to ensure
that you are able to find what you need
in this Owner's Manual as quickly as
possible. The fastest way to find certain
topics is by using the detailed index at
the end. If you desire an initial overview
of your vehicle, this can be found in the
first chapter.
Should you wish to sell your BMW at
some time in the future, please
remember to hand over the Owner's
Manual to the new owner; it is an
important part of the vehicle.
If you have any questions, your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center
will be glad to advise you.

Symbols used

Indicates precautions that must
be followed precisely in order to
avoid the possibility of personal injury
and serious damage to the vehicle.
Contains information that will
assist you in gaining the optimum
benefit from your vehicle and enable
you to care more effectively for your
vehicle.
Refers to measures that can
be taken to help protect the
environment.

<

Marks the end of a specific item of
information.

*
Indicates special equipment,
country-specific equipment and
optional extras.
Identifies systems or components,
which can be activated or adapted
to suit an individual driver's require-
ments Ð Vehicle Memory, Key Memory,
refer to page 61.
Activation and adjustments on some of
these systems can be performed at
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
center.

The individual vehicle

On buying your BMW, you have
decided in favor of a model with individ-
ualized equipment and features. This
Owner's Manual describes all models
and equipment that BMW offers within
the same group.
We hope you will understand that
equipment and features are included
that you might not have chosen for your
vehicle. Any differences can easily be
identified, since all optional extras and
special equipment are marked with an
asterisk

*
.
If your BMW features equipment which
is not described in this Owner's
Manual, Supplementary Owner's Man-
uals are enclosed. We ask you to read
these manuals as well.

Notes
Symbols
The individual vehicle

Notes

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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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

Indicator and warning lamps

Automatic transmission

*
Because of a malfunction, the
automatic transmission shifts
only in the emergency program. Please
consult the nearest BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center.
For additional information: refer to
page 67.
Brake pads

*
l
Have the brake pads checked.
For additional information: refer
to page 132.
Self-leveling suspension
* l
Self-leveling suspension is inac-
tive. Please consult the nearest
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center.
For additional information: refer to
page 94.
Dynamic Brake Control DBC l
Fault in the DBC system.
Conventional braking perfor-
mance remains available with no loss of
efficiency.
Please have the system checked and
repaired by your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center.
For additional information: refer to
page 92.
Dynamic Brake Control DBC
warning lamp for Canadian
models.
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC
l
Indicator lamp flashes:
The system is active and governs drive
and braking force.
The warning lamp comes on and stays
on while driving:
DSC has been switched off with the
button. If, after repeatedly pressing the
DSC button, the warning lamp still does
not go off, then that means that the
DSC, HDC and the vehicle's road-
holding ability are defective.
Please have the system checked by the
nearest BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
center.
For additional information: refer to
pages 91 and 93.
Engine electronics
*
There is a fault in the engine's
electronic control system. You
can continue to drive with reduced
engine output or engine speed. Please
have the system checked by your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center.
Tire Pressure Monitor RDC
* l
Check tire inflation pressures,
refer to pages 26, 97.
Service Engine Soon l
If the indicator lamp comes on
either continuously or intermit-
tently, this indicates a fault in the
emissions-related electronic systems.
Although the vehicle remains opera-
tional, you should have the systems
checked by your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center at the earliest possible
opportunity.
For additional information: refer to
page 147.
Service Engine Soon warning
lamp for Canadian models.
Check Filler Cap
* l
This indicator lamp comes on
when the fuel filler cap is loose
or missing.
Close the filler cap tightly: refer to
page 25.

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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

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Seat, mirror and steering wheel memory
*
Seat heating
*
Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
center can adjust your vehicle's
systems in such a manner that your
personalized settings are automatically
called up for the seat, mirror and
steering wheel positions when you
unlock the vehicle with your personal
remote control key.<
If you make use of this adjustment
,
be sure that the footwell behind
the driver's seat is unobstructed before
unlocking the vehicle. If you fail to do
so, persons or objects could be injured
or damaged if the seat should move
backward.<
Passenger side exterior mirror tilt
functionAutomatic curb monitor
1. Select the driver's mirror via the
switch
2. When the gearshift lever or the
selector lever is placed in Reverse,
the passenger-side mirror tilts down-
ward to help the driver monitor the
area directly adjacent to the vehicle
during parking Ð curbs, etc.
You can deactivate this automatic fea-
ture by setting the mirror selector
switch to the passenger side position.530us214
Front The seat cushion and backrest can be
heated when the ignition key is in posi-
tion 2.
You can call up different heating modes
by repeatedly pressing the button.
You can also switch the higher heating
modes off directly:
Press the button and hold it slightly
longer.530de233

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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