2003 BMW X5 4.6IS belt

57n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
AirbagsThis is the right way a larger child
should sit wearing the safety belt when
rear side airbags, refer to arrow, are
provided. 530us099
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster shows the opera-
tional status of the airbag
system from ignition key position 1
and up.
System operational:
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
then goes out.
System malfunction:
>The indicator lamp fails to come on
>The indicator lamp comes on briefly
before going out and then lighting up
again.
If there is a system malfunction, have
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
center inspect the system immediately.
If you do not, there is a risk that the air-
bags will not be triggered within their
normal response range, even if the level
of impact would normally have trig-
gered them.

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Transporting children safelyCommercially-available child-restraint
systems are designed to be secured
with a lap belt or with the lap belt
portion of a combination lap/shoulder
belt. Improperly or inadequately
installed restraint systems can increase
the risk of injury to children. Always
read and follow the instructions that
come with the system.
Child-restraint system with tether
strap If you use a child-restraint system with
a tether strap, three additional tether
anchorage points have been provided Ð
refer to the arrows in the illustration.
Depending on the location selected for
seating in the rear passenger area,
attach the tether strap to the corre-
sponding anchorage point to secure the
child-restraint system, as shown in the
illustration below. 530us037
Each seating position is fitted with a
head restraint.
Outer seating positions:
Lift the head restraint and pass the
tether strap between the head restraint
and the seat back. It is recommended
to readjust the head restraint into the
lowest possible position. 530au003

59n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Transporting children safely

Center seating position:
The head restraint must be adjusted
into the lowest possible position. Pass
the tether strap over the head restraint.
Adjust the tether strap according to the
child restraint manufacturer's instruc-
tions.530au002
Before installing any child-
restraint device or child seat,
please read the following:
Never install a rearward-facing child-
restraint system in the front passenger
seat of this vehicle.
Your vehicle is equipped with an airbag
supplemental restraint system for the
front passenger. Because the backrest
on any rearward-facing child-restraint
system, of the kind designed for infants
under 1 year and 20 Ibs/9 kg, would be
within the airbag's deployment range,
you should never mount such a device
in the front passenger seat, since the
impact of the airbag against the child
restraint's backrest could lead to
serious or fatal injuries.
If it is necessary for a child, not an
infant, to ride in the front seat, certain
precautions should be taken. First,
move the passenger seat as far away
from the instrument panel as possible.
This important precaution is intended to
maximize the distance between the
airbag and the child. Older children
should be tightly secured with a safety
belt, after they have outgrown a booster
seat that is appropriate for their age,
height and weight.
Younger children should be secured in
an appropriate forward-facing child-
restraint system that has first been
properly secured with a safety belt.
Never install a rearward-facing child-
restraint system in the front passenger
seat.
We strongly urge you to carefully read
and comply with the instructions for
installation and use provided by the
child restraint's manufacturer when-
ever you use such a device.
Be sure that all occupants, of all ages,
remain properly and securely restrained
at all times.<
All rear seating positions in your
vehicle meet the recommendations of
SAE J1819, an industry-recommended
practice for securing child-restraint sys-
tems in motor vehicles.

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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

78n
Check Control>CHECK BRAKE FLUID
Indicates that brake fluid is down to
approximately the minimum level.
Top off the brake fluid at the next
opportunity, refer to page 144. Have
the cause of the brake fluid loss diag-
nosed and corrected by your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle center
>TIRE LOW/FLAT
*
Reduce vehicle speed immediately
and stop the vehicle. Avoid hard
brake applications. Do not oversteer,
refer to page 98
>SELFLEVEL SUSP.INACT
*
Please consult the nearest
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center
>SELFLEVEL SUSP.INACT
*
max. 35 mph/max. 60 km/h
*
These displays appear consecutively.
Do not exceed a maximum speed of
35 mph/60 km/h.
Please consult the nearest BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle center
>LIMIT
*
You will see this message if the pro-
grammed speed limit has been
exceeded, refer to page 85.Priority 2
These displays appear for 20 seconds
when the ignition key is turned to posi-
tion 2. The warning symbols remain
after the message disappears. You can
call up the messages again for display
by pressing the CHECK button.
>TRUNKLID OPEN
This message appears only at the
start of a trip
>DOOR OPEN
This message appears after a min-
imal defined road speed has been
exceeded
>FASTEN SEAT BELTS
*
In addition to this message, an indi-
cator lamp with the safety belt icon
appears and an acoustical signal is
sounded
>WASHER FLUID LOW
The fluid level is too low; top off at
the next opportunity, refer to
page 141
>CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV
The oil level is at the absolute min-
imum; refill as soon as possible, refer
to page 141. Do not drive more than
approx. 30 miles/50 km until you add
oil >CHECK FILLER CAP
Check to see whether the fuel filler
cap has been closed properly, refer
to page 25
>OUTSIDE TEMP. +23 7/Ð5 6
This display is only an example. The
current temperature is displayed at
outside temperatures of +37.5 7/
+3 6 and below, refer also to
page 73
>TIRE PRESSURE SET
*
The RDC has imported the current
inflation pressure in the tires as the
target values which the system will
monitor, refer to page 97
>CHECK TIRE PRESSURE
*
Check and correct the tire inflation
pressure to specifications at the ear-
liest opportunity, e.g. next stop to
refuel, refer to page 97
>TIRECONTROL INACTIVE
*
A temporary interference of the RDC
or a system fault, refer to page 98
>CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS
A lamp has failed or the electrical
circuit has a fault, refer to page 153
or consult a BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center

120n
Ski bag
*
Cargo area
Securing the load
Secure the bag's contents by
tightening down the retaining
strap at the buckle.<
Please be sure that the skis are clean
before loading them into the bag. Be
careful to avoid damage from sharp
edges.
530de284
If the cover in the cargo area is
concealed by the pull-out cargo
floor, do not fold the larger rear back-
rest down. If you do so, it will damage
the cover.<
Fold the rear backrests downReach into the recess and pull forward,
refer to arrow.
When you fold back the backrest,
be sure that the catch engages
securely. The red warning indicator dis-
appears in the recess when the catch is
engaged.
The center safety belt can be retracted
only when the larger backrest is
engaged.< 530de285

126n
Cargo loadingStowing cargo >Position heavy cargo as far forward
as possible Ð directly behind the
backrests Ð and as low as possible
>Cover sharp edges and corners
>Do not pile objects higher than the
top edge of the backrest
>Fasten the partition net, refer to
page 122, and ensure that carried
items cannot pass through the parti-
tion net
>If you are transporting very heavy
loads when the rear seat is not occu-
pied, secure the outer safety belts in
the opposite buckles. 530de032
Securing the load >Secure smaller, light pieces with the
retaining straps or a luggage net
*, or
use elastic straps, refer to page 38
>For large, heavy pieces, see your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center
for load-securing devices
*. The
lashing eyes provided at the corners
of the cargo area serve for mounting
these load-securing devices
>Read and comply with the informa-
tion enclosed with the load-securing
devices.
530us090
Always position and secure the
load correctly. If you do not, it can
endanger the passengers, e.g. simply
during braking or evasive maneuvers.
Do not exceed the permissible gross
vehicle weight and the permissible axle
loads, refer to page 170. If you do, the
operating safety of the vehicle is no
longer ensured and you are in violation
of the law.
Do not carry hard or heavy objects
unsecured in the passenger compart-
ment. If you do so, they may be pro-
jected through the air, e.g. simply
during braking and evasive maneuvers,
thus endangering vehicle occupants.<

137n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Wheel and tire combinations The right choice
Use only wheels and tires
approved by BMW for the corre-
sponding vehicle model, as otherwise
the tires may make contact with the
body as the result of tolerances despite
the same nominal size being used,
resulting in serious accidents. If non-
approved wheels and tires are used,
BMW cannot evaluate their suitability,
and therefore cannot be held liable for
driving safety.<
BMW tests certain tire brands for each
tire size, classifies them as road-safe
and approves them. Consult your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center for
more information. Observe any regula-
tions applicable in the country of use,
e.g. requiring entry in the vehicle docu-
ments.
The correct wheel and tire combi-
nation affects different systems
such as ABS, ATC and DSC. The func-
tion of these systems is impaired if
improper wheel and tire combinations
are used.
For this reason, use only tires of the
same brand and tread pattern on the
vehicle and, for example, restore the
approved wheel and tire combination
following a flat tire as soon as
possible.<
The use of rims and lug bolts that
do not meet the specifications of
the original factory-installed equipment
will affect the safe operation of your
vehicle and may cause an accident and
personal injury.
Never mix tires of different design, such
as steel-belted radials with radial bias
belted or bias-ply tires, etc. Mixing tire
types will adversely affect roadholding
and can lead to loss of vehicle
control.<
Storage Store wheels or tires in a cool, dry
place, protecting them against light
whenever possible. Protect the tires
against contact with oil, grease and
fuel.