5n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Controls and features
Passenger safety systems:
Airbags55
Transporting children safely58
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory61
Driving:
Ignition lock62
Starting the engine62
Switching off the engine63
Parking brake64
Manual transmission64
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic65
Indicator/Headlamp flasher68
Washer/Wiper system/Rain
sensor68
Cruise control71
Everything under control:
Odometer, outside temperature
display73
Tachometer74
Energy control74
Temperature gauge75
Fuel gauge75
Coolant temperature gauge76
Service Interval Display76
Check Control77
Computer80
Multi-Information Display
MID81
Digital clock in the MID82
Computer in the MID85
Technology for safety and
driving convenience:
Park Distance Control PDC90
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC91
Hill Descent Control HDC93
Self-leveling suspension94
2-axle self-leveling
suspension94
Tire Pressure Monitor RDC97
Adaptive brake light98
Lamps:
Parking lamps/Low beams99
Instrument lighting100
High beams/Standing
lamps100
Fog lamps100
Interior lamps101
Controlling the climate for
pleasant driving:
Air conditioner102
Automatic climate control105
Roller sun blinds111
Independent ventilation
system111
Cabin convenience:
BMW Universal Transmitter112
Glove compartment115
Storage compartments116
Cellular phone116
Beverage holder116
Glasses compartment117
Ashtray, front117
Ashtray, rear118
Cigarette lighter, rear118
Loading and transporting:
Ski bag119
Cargo area
Fold the rear backrests
down120
Cargo area cover121
Partition net122
Cover panels in the cargo
area123
Power outlets124
Pull-out cargo floor124
Cargo loading126
Roof-mounted luggage rack127
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
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
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.<
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.
140n
1 Engine oil dipstick141
2 Reservoir for brake fluid Ð under the
microfilter trim panel144 3 Auxiliary terminal for jump
starting162
4 Coolant expansion tank1435 Engine oil filler neck141
6 Reservoir for windshield and
headlamp washer system141
Engine compartment essentials
530de341
143n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Coolant
Do not add coolant to the cooling
system when the engine is hot. If
you attempt to do so, escaping coolant
can cause burns.
To avoid the possibility of damage later
on, never use anything other than
factory-approved, nitrite and amino-
free extended-duty antifreeze with
corrosion inhibitor. Your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center is familiar with
the factory specifications.
Antifreeze and anticorrosion agents are
hazardous to health. You should always
store them in their original container
and in a location which is inaccessible
to children.
Extended-duty antifreeze with corro-
sion inhibitor contains the flammable
substance ethylene-glycol. For this
reason, do not spill antifreeze with
corrosion inhibitor on hot engine parts.
It could ignite and cause serious
burns.<
Checking coolant level and
adding coolant Correct coolant level when the engine
is cold approx. +68 7/+20 6:
1. Start by turning the cap of the expan-
sion tank counterclockwise. Pause to
allow any accumulated pressure to
escape, then open
2. The coolant level is correct when the
end of the red float is aligned with
the upper edge of the filler opening,
refer to the arrow in the illustration,
or max. 0.8 in/2 cm higher, i. e. up to
the mark on the float, refer also to the
schematic diagram, next to the cap530us102
3. If necessary, add coolant. Slowly add
coolant until the correct level is
reached Ð do not overfill.
Comply with the applicable envi-
ronmental laws regulating the
disposal of extended-duty antifreeze
with corrosion inhibitor.<