2003 BMW X5 4.6IS check engine

76n
Coolant temperature gauge Service Interval Display Blue The engine is still cold. Drive at mod-
erate engine and vehicle speeds.Red When you switch on the ignition, the
warning lamp comes on briefly to con-
firm that the system is operational.
If the warning lamp comes on while
driving or the message Ð COOLANT
TEMPERATURE Ð appears in the Check
Control: the engine is overheated.
Switch off the engine immediately and
allow it to cool down.
Checking coolant level, refer to
page 143. 390de007
Between the blue and red zones Normal operating range. It is not
unusual for the needle to rise as far as
the edge of the red zone.
The range of available displays varies
according to your individual vehicle's
equipment.
Green lamps The number of illuminated lamps
decreases as the time for your next
maintenance visit approaches.Yellow lamp This field appears together with
OILSERVICE or INSPECTION.
Maintenance is due. Please contact
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
center for an appointment.Red lamp The maintenance deadline has been
passed.390us008

77n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Check Control Graphic display
*
The following alerts or status messages
are displayed with icons from ignition
key position 2 and up until the defects
are corrected:
1 Check low beams
2 Add washer fluid (goes out after
approx. 1 minute)
3 Door open
4 Tailgate open
5 Check brake and tail lamps. A defec-
tive center brake lamp is indicated by
the upper symbol.
When you open the door after stopping,
a warning signal sounds without a
visual indicator for:
>LIGHTS ON
>KEY IN IGNITION LOCK. 390de121
Alphanumeric display
*
Text messages are used to alert the
driver to system malfunctions when the
ignition key is turned to position 2. The
alert is accompanied by an acoustic
signal.
1 Status messages symbol
2 Display
3 CHECK button
Messages concerning system faults are
differentiated based on two priorities: 390us111
Priority 1
These defects are immediately indi-
cated by an acoustic signal and a
flashing warning symbol 1. Simulta-
neous defects will be displayed con-
secutively. These status messages
remain in the display until the defects
are corrected. They cannot be deleted
by pressing the CHECK button 3:
>RELEASE PARKINGBRAKE
>COOLANT TEMPERATURE
The coolant is overheated. Stop the
vehicle immediately and switch off
the engine, refer to pages 76 and 143
>STOP!ENGINE OILPRESS
The oil pressure is too low. Stop the
vehicle immediately and switch off
the engine, refer to pages 19 and 141

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

79n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Check Control >CHECK LOWBEAM LIGHTS
CHECK SIDE LIGHTS
CHECK REAR LIGHTS
CHECK FRONT FOGLAMPS
CHECK LICPLATE LIGHT
CHECK HIGHBEAM LIGHT
CHECK BACK UP LIGHTS
Defective bulb or circuit, refer to
page 151 or consult a BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center
>TRANS. FAILSAFE PROG
*
Please consult the nearest
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center,
refer to page 67
>CHECK BRAKE LININGS
Have the brake pads inspected by
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
center, refer to page 133
>CHECK COOLANT LEVEL
Coolant too low, top off at the next
opportunity, refer to page 143
>ENGINE FAILSAFE PROG
There is a fault in the engine's elec-
tronic control system.
You can continue to drive with
reduced engine output or engine
speed.
Have the system checked by your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center.
Displays after completion of trip All of the malfunctions registered during
the trip appear consecutively when the
ignition key is turned to position 0.
The following displays will appear when
appropriate:
>LIGHTS ON
>KEY IN IGNITION LOCK
>CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV
Add engine oil at the next opportu-
nity, e.g. next stop to refuel, refer to
page 141.
This display appears when you open
the driver's door after parking the
vehicle. A supplementary acoustic
signal is also heard.
Status messages remain available for a
period of approx. three minutes after
the display goes out and the key is
removed from the ignition lock. Press
the CHECK button 3. If there were mul-
tiple messages, press the CHECK
button repeatedly to view them all in
sequence.
To check the Check Control Press the CHECK button 3 with the
ignition key in position 2:
CHECK CONTROL OK appears in the
display.
No malfunctions are present in the
monitored systems.Computer You can find a description of the com-
puter on pages 80 and 85 as well as in
the Owner's Manual for the Onboard
Computer.
You can have the Check Control
and computer messages dis-
played in a different language.<

80n
ComputerMode selection From ignition key position 1 and up,
you can call up information from the
computer using the button in the turn
signal lever. By pressing the button
briefly in the direction of the steering
column, you can call up a new function
for display.
The displays appear in the following
order: outside temperature, average
fuel consumption, cruising range,
average speed.
Starting with ignition key position 1,
the last active setting is displayed.
The range of available displays varies
according to your individual vehicle's
equipment.530de228
Outside temperature and average
fuel consumption You can change the units of measure-
ment Ð 6/7 Ð for the outside tempera-
ture display by
1. pressing and holding the trip odo-
meter reset button with the ignition
key in position 1
2. and then turning the ignition key to 0.
At the same time the units of mea-
surement in the temperature display
of the automatic climate control will
be changed, refer to page 105.
Refer also to page 73.390us126
Cruising range and average speed The computer bases its calculations
of the cruising range on the previous
driving style and conditions.
The computer ignores any time spent
with the vehicle stationary and the
engine switched off in its average
speed calculations.To cancel the display If the button in the turn signal lever is
pressed briefly while the average speed
is displayed, the computer display can
be masked out. To restart calculationsIf you continue to press the button in
the turn signal lever, the average values
which were just displayed for fuel con-
sumption and speed will be recalcu-
lated from that point. The engine must
be running for this calculation.Computer with alphanumeric
display
*
If your vehicle has Check Control with
alphanumeric display, the system's
computer is described beginning on
page 85 and in the Owner's Manual for
the Onboard Computer.

94n
Self-leveling suspension
*
2-axle self-leveling suspension
*
The warning lamp for the self-
leveling suspension comes on,
or the message Ð SELFLEVEL
SUSP.INACT Ð appears in the Check
Control: there is a malfunction in the
self-leveling suspension.
Stop and inspect the vehicle. If it is
riding significantly lower in the rear than
in the front, or if it is sitting at an incline
Ð left rear compared to right rear - con-
sult the nearest BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center. Drive with appropriate
caution in the meantime. The vehicle
has reduced ground clearance or
driving comfort is noticeably reduced.
Even if the attitude of the vehicle is
normal, you should consult the nearest
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center if
the warning lamp indicates a system
malfunction.
The conceptYour vehicle is equipped with 2-axle
self-leveling suspension acting on both
the front and rear suspension. This
system combines automatic self-lev-
eling, which compensates for variations
in front-to-rear load-distribution pat-
terns, with a selection feature allowing
drivers to choose from among several
ride-height options.
You may choose from among the fol-
lowing ride heights:
>Standard
The standard setting is intended for
most operating conditions, including
trailer towing
>Off-Road
Higher ride height for increased
ground clearance
>Access
Lowers vehicle for more convenient
cargo handling or easier passenger
ingress and exitsChanges in ride height are initiated
either manually, using the control
button, refer to page 95, or automati-
cally in response to specific speeds.
When the ride height is selected manu-
ally, the driver has the additional option
of revising the ride-height selection by
entering a new command during the
adjustment process.
When the vehicle is stationary, the
system executes ride-height changes in
both directions (up and down) when-
ever the doors are closed. The tailgate/
liftgate may be open. The system raises
the vehicle only when the engine is run-
ning.
The system's automatic self-leveling
feature automatically compensates for
variations in the vehicle's load.
Frequent changes in ride height
initiated at short intervals can
overheat the compressor, causing the
system to briefly suspend active opera-
tion.<

97n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Tire Pressure Monitor RDC*The conceptRDC monitors the tire pressures at all
four tires, even when the vehicle is
moving. The system provides an alert
whenever the inflation pressure drops
significantly below the specified pres-
sure in one or more tires.
In order for the system to learn the cor-
rect tire inflation pressure, check the
inflation pressures in all tires, refer to
the table on page 27 and make any
necessary corrections. Then activate
the system.
This indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster or the Check Con-
trol will inform you if the tire
pressure is different from the learned
values.
To switch the system on1. Turn the ignition key to position 2, do
not start the engine
2. Maintain pressure on the button until
the yellow indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster comes on for sev-
eral seconds or the message Ð TIRE
PRESSURE SET Ð appears in the
Check Control
3. After you have driven for a few min-
utes, the RDC will import the current
inflation pressure in the tires as the
reference values which the system
will monitor.
You will only have to repeat this proce-
dure if the tire inflation pressure must
be corrected. Otherwise, the RDC func-
tions automatically when the ignition
key is in position 2, and thus operates
whenever the vehicle is driven.530de232
Loss of tire pressureIf, after a certain period of time, the
inflation pressure has gone down sig-
nificantly, which is normal for any tire,
the yellow indicator lamp comes on or
the message Ð CHECK TIRE PRES-
SURE Ð appears in the Check Control.
This alerts you that you should have the
tires inflated to the specified pressures
as soon as possible.
If you are prompted to check the
tire pressure shortly after a cor-
rection has been made, this indicates
that the corrected values were not
accurate. Please check the inflation
pressure again and make corrections
according to the inflation pressure
table. After that reactivate the system.<

131n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Driving your BMW X5 Your BMW is right at home on all roads
and byways Ð even where the pavement
ends. It combines permanent four-
wheel drive with the agility of a typical
passenger vehicle. On bad roadsWhen you are driving on bad roads,
there are a few points which you should
strictly observe Ñ for your own safety,
for that of your passengers, and for the
safety of the vehicle:
>Familiarize yourself with the vehicle
before you begin driving. Do not take
risks with the vehicle under any cir-
cumstances
>Always adapt vehicle speed to road
conditions Ð the steeper and more
uneven the road surface is, the
slower the vehicle's speed should be
>You can operate your vehicle on
uphill and downhill gradients with a
maximum slope of 50 %. If you intend
to drive on either an uphill or downhill
gradient of this steepness, check to
be sure in advance that the engine oil
and coolant levels are both near the
MAX mark, refer to pages 141
and 143.
When driving down steep slopes, use
the Hill Descent Control HDC, refer to
page 93. Starting from a full stop is possible on
uphill gradients of up to 32 %.
The permitted side tilt is also 50 %
>While driving, watch carefully for
obstacles such as rocks or holes. Try
to avoid these obstacles whenever
possible
>On hill crests and bumpy roads, for
example, be careful to prevent the
body from bottoming Ð contact
between the body and the ground.
The ground clearance of the vehicle
is:
8 in/200 mm with up to four
passengers
7 in/180 mm fully loaded Ð without
self-leveling suspension
>Do not drive in water that is deeper
than 20 inches/50 cm. If you must
drive through water up to that depth,
drive at a walking speed and do not
stop.
After leaving the water, press on the
footbrake gently several times while
driving at a low speed. The brake
applications will help to dry the
brakes, thus preventing a reduction in
braking performance caused by the
moisture.
Back onto the paved road In recommending that you observe the
following points after driving on adverse
road surfaces, it is not as a beauty
treatment for your BMW. Instead, it is
intended for the maintenance of driving
safety:
>Clean accumulations of dirt from the
body and check the undercarriage for
damage
>Clean mud, snow, ice and other
materials from the wheels and tires.
Check the tires for damage
>Check to determine whether rocks,
gravel or accumulations of dirt on the
brake rotors and calipers could influ-
ence braking performance. Remove
all such foreign objects
>In order to clean the brake rotors,
apply the footbrake gently several
times while driving at a low speed. Be
sure that following traffic is not
endangered by this
>For cleaning the parking brake, apply
the lever slightly at approx. 25 mph/
40 km/h and continue to drive for
approx. 200 yards/200 meters, pro-
vided that traffic conditions allow you
to do so.