2003 BMW X5 4.6IS ignition

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The concept PDC provides extra safety and conve-
nience during parking maneuvers by pro-
viding an acoustic signal to indicate the
distance between your front and rear
bumpers and the nearest object. To do
this, four ultrasonic sensors in the front
and rear bumpers each measure the dis-
tance to the nearest object. The detection
range of the front sensors and the two
sensors located at the ends of the rear
bumper is approx. 2 ft/60 cm, while the
rear center sensors can detect objects to
a distance of approx. 5 ft/1.50 m.
PDC is a parking aid which regis-
ters objects when approaching
slowly, as is the case during usual
parking maneuvers. Avoid approaching
objects too fast, otherwise the system
may give warning of physical obstacles
too late. cally approx. one second after you
select reverse or move the selector
lever into the R position with the igni-
tion key in position 2.
Wait for this brief period before
you start reversing.<
Manual activation Press the button; the indicator lamp
comes on. Manual deactivationPress the button again; the indicator
lamp goes out.Automatic deactivationAfter driving a distance of more than
approx. 160 ft/50 m or exceeding a
speed of approx. 20 mph/30 km/h, the
system switches off and the indicator
lamp goes out. Switch the system on
again as required. 530de229
Acoustical signals The distance from an object is indicated
in front with a higher intermittent tone,
and at the rear with a lower intermittent
tone. As the distance between vehicle
and object decreases, the intervals
between the tones become shorter.
A continuous tone indicates the pres-
ence of an object less than approx. 1 ft/
30 cm away.
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. 3 seconds if you are moving
parallel to a wall.
If there is a malfunction of the system:
The indicator lamp flashes and a short
steady signal tone is sounded
>if you activate PDC with the button
>when you select reverse for the first
time after switching on the ignition
>if a malfunction occurs while the PDC
system is active.
Switch the system off and have the
cause of the malfunction corrected by
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
center.
Park Distance Control PDC
*

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
PDC
* Dynamic Stability Control DSC
The PDC system does not remove
the driver's personal responsibility
for evaluating the distance between the
vehicle and any objects. Even when
sensors are involved, there is a blind
spot in which objects cannot be
detected. This applies especially in
those cases where the system
approaches the physical constraints of
ultrasonic measurement, as occurs with
tow bars and trailer couplings, and in
the vicinity of thin or wedge-shaped
objects. Similarly, low objects that have
already been detected - e.g. a curb-
stone - may disappear out of the range
of the sensors before a continuous tone
is emitted.
Loud sources of sound, inside and out-
side the vehicle, could drown out the
PDC signal tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free
of ice or snow in order to ensure
that they continue to operate effectively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the
sensors for a prolonged period of time.
Maintain an adequate distance of more
than 4 in/10 cm.<
The concept DSC maintains vehicle stability, even in
critical driving situations.
The system optimizes vehicle stability
during acceleration and when starting
from a full stop, as well as optimizing
traction. In addition, it recognizes
unstable vehicle conditions, such as
understeering or oversteering, and, as
far as is possible within the laws of
physics, keeps the vehicle on a steady
course by adapting the rpms and brake
applications to the individual wheels.
The system starts up automatically
each time you start the engine.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out shortly
after you switch on the ignition,
refer to page 21.
Indicator lamp ßashes:
The system is active and governs drive
and braking force.
If the indicator lamp fails to go out after
the engine is started, or comes on
during normal driving and stays on:
The system is either defective or was
switched off with the button: the stabi-
lizing applications described to the left
are no longer available. The vehicle will
remain completely operational, how-
ever, without DSC.
Consult your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center to have the system
repaired.

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Hill Descent Control HDC The concept HDC is a system for driving downhill in
steep terrain. This system reduces
vehicle speed on steep downhill gradi-
ents, thus allowing you to maintain con-
trol of your BMW under these condi-
tions.
The vehicle moves at slightly more than
walking speed without active interven-
tion from the driver.
HDC is available for activation at
vehicle speeds below approx. 20 mph/
35 km/h. When driving down steep hills
with a speed below approx. 20 mph/
35 km/h, the vehicle reduces speed
automatically down to slightly more
than walking speed (approx. 5 mph/
8 km/h) and then maintains this speed
at a constant.
You can use the accelerator or brakes
to vary this automatically controlled
speed within a range extending from
approx. 3 mph/5 km/h to 15 mph/
25 km/h.
You can specify a target speed
within the same range by using the
+/Ð buttons of the cruise control.
HDC is automatically deactivated once
vehicle speed again exceeds approx.
35 mph/60 km/h.
To switch the system onPress the button. The indicator lamp
comes on.
The indicator lamp flashes when the
brakes are applied automatically. To switch the system offPress the button again; the indicator
lamp goes out.
HDC is deactivated automatically above
a road speed of approx. 35 mph/
60 km/h and when the ignition is
switched off. 530de231
To use HDC With manual transmission:
Use HDC in first gear and in Reverse
since the engine's braking effect is
diminished in the higher gears.
With automatic transmission:
You can use HDC in every drive
position. In the event of a faultThe indicator lamp goes out in the HDC
mode or does not come on when HDC
is switched on:
HDC is temporarily not available if
brake temperature is too high.
If the DSC indicator lamp also
lights up:
There is a fault in the HDC and
DSC systems. Have your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center inspect this
system as soon as possible.

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2-axle self-leveling suspension
*
LoweringAvailable with ignition key in position 2.
From Standard to Access:
1. Press button 2 while traveling at less
than approx. 50 mph/80 km/h. The
system enters its preselection mode.
The preselection mode is canceled
>by pressing button 1
>automatically once the vehicle
exceeds a speed of approx.
50 mph/80 km/h or roughly
60 seconds after button 2 is
pressed
2. Reduce speed to below approx.
15 mph/25 km/h within roughly
60 seconds after pressing button 2.
When you press button 2 at
speeds below approx. 15 mph/
25 km/h the system automatically
lowers the vehicle to the Access level.<
From Off-Road to Standard:
>Press button 2 or
>automatically once you exceed a
speed of approx. 30 mph/50 km/h.

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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.<

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Parking lamps Ð side marker
lamps
The front, rear and side vehicle
lighting is switched on. You can
use the parking lamps for
parking. For lighting on one side for
parking as an additional feature, refer to
page 100.
Low beams
When the ignition is switched off
and the low beams are on, only
the parking lamps Ð side marker
lamps Ð remain on.
530us215
Follow me home lamps:
When you activate the headlamp
flasher after parking the vehicle and
switching off the lamps, the low beams
will come on for a brief period. You may
also have this function deactivated if
you wish.<
LIGHTS ON warningWhenever you open the driver's door,
after having turned the ignition key to
position 0, you will hear an acoustic
signal for a few seconds to remind you
that the lamps have not been switched
off.
On vehicles with alphanumeric Check
Control
*:
The reminder is given through the
Check Control.
Daytime driving lamps
*
The headlamps are automatically
switched on for daylight driving at
ignition key position 2.
Automatic headlamp control
*
When the switch is set to this
position the system automati-
cally activates or deactivates the
low beams in response to changes in
ambient light, e. g. in tunnels, at dusk,
as well as rain and snow.
The vehicle's external lamps
remain on constantly when you
switch on the fog lamps after the head-
lamps have come on automatically.<
Automatic headlamp control
cannot serve as a substitute for
the driver's judgement in determining
when the vehicle lamps should be
switched on. For example, the sensors
are not able to detect fog. To avoid
safety risks, you should respond to
these kinds of low-visibility situations
by switching the headlamps on manu-
ally.<
You can have the sensitivity of
your vehicle's automatic head-
lamp control adjusted.<
Parking lamps/Low beams

100n
Instrument lighting
High beams/Standing lamps
Fog lamps
Turn the rotary dial to adjust the illumi-
nation intensity. 530us216
1 High beams Ð blue indicator lamp
2 Headlamp flasher Ð blue indicator
lamp
3 Standing lamps Standing lamps, left or right
*
As an additional feature, you can
illuminate your vehicle on either side
for parking, if you wish to do so:
With the ignition key in position 0,
engage the lever in the appropriate
turn signal position. 530de265
Fog lamps
A green indicator lamp appears
in the instrument cluster to indi-
cate that the front fog lamps are
on.
If the high beams are switched on, the
fog lamps go out.
If the automatic headlamp control
is activated, the low beams will
automatically be switched on when the
front fog lamps are switched on.<
530us210

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Interior lamps The interior lamps operate automati-
cally. Switching the interior lamps on
and off manuallyPress the button briefly.
If you want the interior lamps to remain
off all the time, press and hold the
button for approx. 3 seconds.
Press the button briefly to revert to
normal operation.
The button for the interior lamps in the
rear passenger area only switches
these lamps on and off. Front reading lamps
*
Switched on and off with the button 2
next to each lamp.530de337
Rear reading lamps
*
Switched on and off with the button
next to each lamp, refer to arrows.530us057
Footwell and cargo area lampsThe lamps are controlled in the same
manner as the front interior lamps.Front area lighting
*
This lighting system in the two exterior
mirrors illuminates the ground in the
area near the two front doors. It is also
controlled in the same manner as the
front interior lamps, but it does not
function while the vehicle is moving.
In order to prevent battery dis-
charge, all of the lamps in the
vehicle are switched off automatically
approx. 15 minutes after the ignition
key is turned to position 0.<