Page 6 of 183
 
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 
     
        
        Page 69 of 183

69n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Washer/Wiper system/Rain sensor
* 
Intermittent mode
 
Not on vehicles with rain sensor.
You can set the wipe interval to four 
stages with rotary dial 7. 
In addition, the wipe interval is varied 
automatically depending on road 
speed. Rain sensor The rain sensor is positioned on the 
windshield, directly in front of the inte-
rior rearview mirror. 
To activate the rain sensor:
Move the lever to position 1 with the 
ignition key in position 1 or higher. The 
wipers travel once across the wind-
shield, regardless of the weather 
conditions. 
You can leave the lever permanently in 
position 1. It is then only necessary to 
activate the rain sensor from ignition 
key position 1 and up. 
To do this, turn rotary dial 7 briefly.
To adjust the sensitivity of the rain 
sensor:
Turn rotary dial 7.
Deactivating the rain sensor:
Move lever to position 0.Switch the rain sensor off in auto-
matic car washes. If you do not, 
damage may occur if the wipers switch 
on unintentionally.< 
Normal wipe The system switches automatically to 
intermittent mode when the vehicle is 
not moving, not on vehicles with rain 
sensor. Fast wipe The wipers operate at normal speed 
when the vehicle is not moving, not on 
vehicles with rain sensor. Clean the windshield The system sprays washer fluid against 
the windshield and activates the wipers 
for a brief period. 
Special wash program
* 
As at 5; there are also several additional 
wash cycles, and the headlamps are 
cleaned
*. 
This program is recommended after you 
have driven on extremely dirty roads.
Clean the headlamps
* 
>With the special wash program 6
>With every actuation of clean the 
windshield 5 when the vehicle's 
lighting is switched on, the head-
lamps will be cleaned at appropriate 
intervals.  
     
        
        Page 70 of 183

70n
Washer/Wiper system/Rain sensor
*
Do not use the washers if there is 
any danger that the fluid will 
freeze on the windshield. If you do so, 
your vision could be obscured. For this 
reason, use an antifreeze agent, refer to 
page 141.
Do not use the washers when the reser-
voir is empty. This could cause damage 
to the washer pump.< 
Windshield washer jetsThe windshield washer jets are warmed 
automatically when the ignition key is in 
position 2. 
Rear window wiper 0 Retracted position of the rear window 
wiper
1 Rear window wiper in intermittent 
mode. When reverse gear is 
engaged, continuous operation is 
switched on automatically
2 Clean the rear window
You can also program the interval: 
>Switch briefly from position 0 to posi-
tion 1
>The time until reactivation Ð from 
position 0 to 1 Ð is the programmed 
interval, max. 30 seconds. 530de266
Programming is deleted:
>Approx. 10 seconds after the lever is 
placed in position 0 or
>after the engine is switched off.
For changing the wiper blade, refer to 
page 150. 
     
        
        Page 180 of 183

Everything from A to ZTraction Control System, 
refer to DSC91
Transmission64, 65
Transporting children 
safely58
Tread depth, tires134
Trip odometer73
Turn signal indicator68
bulb replacement152
Turning circle169
Two-axle self-leveling 
suspension94
display95
lowering96
raising95UUniform Tire Quality 
Grading136
Universal Transmitter112
Used batteries, 
disposal160
Used oil, disposal142VVacuum cleaner
power outlet124
socket118Valve caps159
Variable Ride Height94
Vehicle battery160
Vehicle jack155
Vehicle keys30
Vehicle Memory61
Vehicle vacuum cleaner
power outlet124
socket118
Ventilation102, 104, 109
draft-free104, 109
in the rear104, 109
while parked111
Viscosity142
Voice entry23
WWarm feet Ð cool head104
Warning lamps19
Warning messages77
Warning triangle24
Warranty and Service Guide 
Booklet for Canadian 
models145
Washer fluid141
Washer reservoir, filling141
Washer/wiper system68
Weights170Wheel and tire 
combinations137
Wheel, changing155
Wheelbase169
Wheels and tires137
Width169
Windows40
convenience operation34
remote control32
Windshield
intensive cleaning 
program68
special wash program68
Windshield washer
filling reservoir141
Windshield wiper68
blade replacement150
Winter tires138
Wiper blade 
replacement150
Wipers68
Work in the engine 
compartment139
XXenon lamps152