2003 BMW X5 4.4I service

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Overview
Controls and features
Operation, maintenance
Owner service procedures
Index Technical data
Mainte-

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Break-in proceduresTo ensure that your vehicle provides
maximum economy throughout a long
service life, we request that you
observe the following instructions: Engine and differential Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km:
Drive at varying engine speeds and
road speeds, but do not exceed
4,500 rpm and the following road
speeds during this initial period:
6-cylinder engines: 100 mph/160 km/h
8-cylinder engines: 106 mph/170 km/h
Obey your local and state maximum
speed limits.
Refrain from using full throttle and avoid
pressing the accelerator beyond the
kickdown point.
Once you have driven 1,200 miles/
2,000 km, engine and vehicle speeds
can gradually be increased.
You should also comply with these
break-in procedures should the engine
or one of the differentials be replaced
later in the course of the vehicle's ser-
vice life.
TiresDue to technical factors associated
with their manufacture, tires do not
achieve their full traction potential until
an initial break-in period has elapsed.
For this reason, drive with extra care
during the initial 200 miles/300 km.
Obey your local and state maximum
speed limits.
When the vehicle is operated on
wet or slushy roads, a wedge of
water may form between the tire and
the road surface. This phenomenon is
referred to as aquaplaning, or hydro-
planing, and can lead to partial or com-
plete loss of traction, vehicle control
and braking effectiveness. Reduce your
speed on wet roads.<
Brake systemApprox. 300 miles/500 km must elapse
before the brake pads and rotors
achieve the optimal pad-surface and
wear patterns required for trouble-free
operation and long service life later on.
To break in the separate parking brake
drums, apply the parking brake lightly
when coasting to a standstill at a traffic
signal, for instance, provided that traffic
conditions allow you to do so.
To avoid corrosion, repeat this proce-
dure from time to time.
The brake lamps do not light up
when the parking brake is applied.
Vacuum for the brake system servo unit
on your BMW is available only when the
engine is running. When you move the
vehicle with the engine switched off Ð
when towing, for instance Ð substan-
tially higher levels of pedal force will be
required to brake the vehicle.<

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Information for your safety The factory-approved radial tires are
matched to the vehicle and have been
selected to provide optimum safety and
driving comfort on your vehicle when
used correctly.
It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and Ð above all else
Ð driving safety which depend on the
condition of the tires and the mainte-
nance of the specified tire pressure.
Incorrect inflation pressure is a
frequent cause of tire damage. It
also significantly influences the road-
holding ability of your BMW. Check tire
inflation pressures Ð including the spare
wheel Ð regularly, refer to page 26, at
least every two weeks and before
beginning a longer trip. If this is not
done, incorrect tire pressures can
cause driving instability and tire
damage, ultimately resulting in an
accident.<
Tire tread Ð Tire damage Inspect your tires frequently for tread
wear, signs of damage and for foreign
objects lodged in the tread. Check the
tread pattern depth.
Tread depth should not be allowed to
go below 0.12 in/3 mm, even though,
the legally specified minimum tread
depth, for example in Europe, is only
0.063 in/1.6 mm. Below a tread depth
of 0.12 in/3 mm there is an increased
risk of hydroplaning, even at relatively
moderate speeds and with only small
amounts of water on the road.
Tread wear indicators, refer to arrow,
are embedded around the tire circum-
ference in the base of the tire tread.
Their locations are indicated on the tire
sidewall with TWI Ð Tread Wear Indi-390de331
cator. At a tread depth of 0.063 in/
1.6 mm these indicators, signal that the
tires have reached the legally permis-
sible wear limit.
Do not drive on a deflated Ð flat Ð
tire. A flat tire greatly impairs
steering and braking response, and can
lead to complete loss of control over
the vehicle.
Avoid overloading the vehicle so that
the permitted load on the tires is not
exceeded. Overloading leads to over-
heating and causes damage inside the
tires. The ultimate result can assume
the form of a sudden air loss.
Unusual vibrations encountered during
normal vehicle operation, e.g. caused
by contact with curbs, etc., can indicate
a flat tire or some other vehicle mal-
function. This is also true for irregulari-
ties in the vehicle's handling character-
istics, such as a pronounced tendency
to pull to the left or right. Should this
occur, respond by immediately
reducing your speed.
Tire inflation pressures Tire condition

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Tire condition Tire replacement Proceed carefully to the nearest
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center or
professional tire center, or have the
vehicle towed in to have it, its wheels
and tires inspected.
Tire damage up to and including blow-
outs can endanger the lives of both the
vehicle occupants and other road
users.<
DOT Quality GradesTread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must con-
form to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades.< Tread wearThe tread wear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified government test
course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and one-half Ð 1g Ð times as
well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due
to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road char-
acteristics and climate.
TractionThe traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on speci-
fied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests, and does
not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.<

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Winter tires Snow chains
*
Choosing the right tire BMW recommends winter tires Ð M+S
radial tires Ð for operation under
inclement winter driving conditions.
While so-called all-season tires with
M+S designation provide better winter
traction than summer tires with the load
ratings H, V, W, Y and ZR, they gener-
ally do not achieve the performance of
winter tires.
In the interests of safe tracking and
steering response, install radial tires
made by the same manufacturer and
with the same tread configuration on all
four wheels if you elect to mount winter
tires.
Do not exceed specified
maximum speeds
Never exceed the maximum speed
for which the tires are rated.
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. Your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center will be glad to
assist you with both their expertise and
the proper equipment for your vehicle.<
Tire condition, tire pressureWinter tires display a perceptible loss in
their ability to cope with winter driving
conditions once the tread wears to
below 0.16 in/4 mm, and should thus
be replaced.
Comply with the specified tire inflation
pressures Ñ and be sure to have the
wheel and tire assemblies balanced
every time you change the tires.
Only certain snow chains have been
tested by BMW and classified and
approved as safe. Consult your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle center for
details. The use of narrow-link BMW
snow chains is approved only in pairs
on the rear wheels and only with the
following tire sizes.
BMW X5 4.6is: 255/55 R18
All other models: 235/65 R 17.
Comply with all manufacturer's safety
precautions when mounting the chains.
Do not exceed a maximum speed of
30 mph/50 km/h.

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Engine oil To add oilWhile you should wait until the level has
dropped to just above the lower mark
before adding oil, you should never
allow the oil level to fall below this
marking.
BMW engines are designed to
operate without oil additives; the
use of additives could lead to damage
in some cases. This is also true for the
manual transmission, the automatic
transmission, the differential, and the
power steering system.<
Recommendation: have the oil changed
by your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
center. 530de326
Continuous exposure to used oil
has caused cancer in laboratory
testing. For this reason, any skin areas
that come into contact with oil should
be thoroughly washed with soap and
water.
Always store oils, grease and similar
materials so that they are inaccessible
to children. Comply with warning labels
and information on containers.<
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the
disposal of used oil.<
Specified engine oils The quality of the engine oil selected
has critical significance for the opera-
tion and service life of an engine. Based
on extensive testing, BMW has
approved only certain engine oils.
Use only approved BMW High Perfor-
mance Synthetic Oil.
If you are unable to obtain BMW High
Performance Synthetic Oil, you can add
small amounts of synthetic oil in
between oil changes. Use only oils with
the API SH specification or higher.
Ask your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center for details
concerning the specific BMW High
Performance Synthetic Oil or synthetic
oils which have been approved.<
You can also call BMW of North
America at 1-800-831-1117 or visit this
website: www.bmwusa.com to obtain
this information.
Viscosity ratings Viscosity is the oil flow rating as estab-
lished in SAE classes.
The selection of the correct SAE class
depends on the climatic conditions in
the area where you typically drive your
BMW.
Approved oils are in SAE classes
5W-40 and 5W-30.<
These oils may be used for driving in all
ambient temperatures.

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Brake fluidBrake fluid level
If the indicator lamp for the
brake hydraulic system appears
or if the CHECK BRAKE FLUID
warning appears in the Check
Control: the brake fluid level is
too low.
Add brake fluidThe brake fluid reservoir is located
under the microfilter housing trim panel
on the driver's side of the vehicle. For
adding brake fluid or for determining
and correcting the cause of brake fluid
loss, consult your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center. Your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center is familiar with
the specifications for factory-approved
brake fluids Ð DOT 4.
Brake fluid loss may result in extended
brake pedal travel. For this situation,
refer to the notes on page 132.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, that is,
it absorbs moisture from the air
over time.
In order to ensure the safety and reli-
ability of the brake system, have the
brake fluid changed every two years by
a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center.
Refer also to the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models or
the Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models.
Brake fluid is toxic and damages the
vehicle's paint. You should always store
it in its original container and in a loca-
tion which is out of reach of children.
Do not spill the fluid and do not fill the
brake fluid reservoir beyond the
MAX mark. The brake fluid could ignite
upon contact with hot engine parts and
cause serious burns.<
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the
disposal of brake fluid.<

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
The BMW Maintenance System has
been designed as a reliable means of
providing maximum driving and oper-
ating safety Ð and as cost-effectively as
possible for you.
Please keep in mind that regular main-
tenance is not only necessary for the
safety of your vehicle, but also plays a
significant role in maintaining the resale
value of the vehicle. 390us008
Service Interval Display Conventional systems rely solely on
distance traveled to determine when
service is due. The BMW Maintenance
System, on the other hand, began many
years ago to take the actual conditions
under which the vehicle is driven into
consideration. After all, different drivers
can accumulate mileage in very
different ways.
From the point of view of maintenance,
62,000 miles/100,000 km accumulated
in short-distance urban driving are not
the equivalent of the same distance
covered at moderate speeds in long-
distance highway travel.
The BMW Maintenance System
includes the Engine Oil Service and
Inspections I and II.
Determining the maintenance intervals
according to the actual loads on the
vehicle covers every kind of operating
situation. However, even those who
drive only short distances Ð significantly
less than 6,000 miles/10,000 km annu-
ally Ð should have the engine oil
changed at least every 2 years since oil
deteriorates over time, regardless of
use.
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet Ð US models/Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet Ð
Canadian models For additional information on mainte-
nance intervals and procedures, please
refer to the Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US models or the
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models.
As a precaution against corrosion, it is
advisable to have the body checked for
damage from rocks or gravel at the
same time, depending upon operating
conditions.
Have your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center do the mainte-
nance and repair.
Be sure that all maintenance work is
confirmed in the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models or
the Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models.
These entries will constitute your proof
that the vehicle has received regular
maintenance. They are also required for
warranty claims. to the Caring for your vehicle manual.
The BMW Maintenance System