2004 BMW X3 2.5I tow

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
63
Automatic climate control*
1Airflow directed toward the windshield
and side windows
2Airflow for the upper body65
3Air to footwell65
4Individual air distribution64
5Temperature64
6Display for temperature 64
and air supply64
7Air supply/blower 648Defrosting windshield and windows
and removing condensation 64
9Rear window defroster 65
10Air conditioner 64
11Outside air/AUC Automatic recircu-
lated-air control/Recirculated-air
mode 64
12Automatic air distribution and
supply 64

A congenial climate
64
A congenial climate
Use the automatic facility by operating the
AUTO button 12. Select an interior tem-
perature that is comfortable for you.
Detailed setting options are described for
you in the following section.
Your vehicle has been designed to
automatically select your personal cli-
mate-control settings whenever you unlock
the doors using your individually pro-
grammed remote control.<
If you want, you can have this function
deactivated.<
Automatic air distribution and supply
The AUTO program adjusts the
airflow and distribution patterns
for you while also using your
preselected temperature setting as the
basis for adjusting the interior climate to
adapt to external influences Ð summer, win-
ter.
Individual air distribution
You can cancel the AUTO pro-
gram by selecting specific air
distribution patterns for your
personal comfort, the auto-
matic air supply remains in
operation. You can direct air to
flow onto the windows , toward the
upper body , and into the footwell .
You can reactivate the automatic air distri-
bution mode by selecting the AUTO button.
Temperature
The figures in the display pro-
vide a general indication of inte-
rior temperature. When you
start the vehicle, this system
ensures that the selected tem-
perature is achieved as quickly
as possible. It then maintains this tempera-
ture, regardless of the season.
Air supply/blower
You can vary the air supply by
pressing the upper or lower
button. This switches off the
automatic program for the air
supply, and the word AUTO
goes out in the display. The automatic
mode for air distribution remains in opera-
tion as before. You can reactivate the auto-
matic air supply mode by selecting the
AUTO button.
If you press the lower button when at the
lowest blower speed, all displays go out:
the blower, heating and air conditioner are
switched off. The outside air supply is
closed. You can restart the automatic cli-
mate control by pressing any of its buttons.
Defrosting windows and removing
condensation
This program quickly removes
ice and condensation from the
windshield and door windows.
Air conditioner
The air is cooled and dehumid-
ified and Ñ depending on the
temperature setting Ñ warmed
again. Depending on the weather, the
windshield may fog over briefly when the
engine is started. The window mist is
reduced during A/C operation.
The air conditioner comes on automatically
when you select the AUTO program.
During air conditioning condensation
forms, which then exits under the
vehicle. Traces of condensed water of this
kind are thus normal.<
Outside air/AUC Automatic
recirculated-air control/
Recirculated-air mode
You can respond to unpleasant
odors or pollutants in the imme-
diate environment by tempo-
rarily suspending the supply of outside air.
The system then recirculates the air cur-
rently within the vehicle. Press the button

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
71
Removing the ski bag
Pull the handle forward and remove the ski
bag upward.
Do not position cargo at the opening.
If you do, it can endanger the passen-
gers during braking or evasive maneu-
vers.<
Cargo area
When loading, observe the information on
page 78.
Folding rear seat back
Reach into the opening and pull forward,
refer to arrow.
When you fold back the backrest, be
sure that the catch engages securely.
The red warning indicator disappears in the
recess when the catch is engaged.<
Ski bag*
To create a flat load area floor, you can
remove the ski bag before folding the rear
seat back and replace it with a cover. You
will find the cover in the cargo area under
the floor cover.
Cargo area cover
Pull the cargo area cover out by the handle
and hook it in the rear holders.
You can carry light objects such as articles
of clothing on the cargo area cover.
Do not place heavy and hard objects
on the cover. If you do so, they could
endanger occupants during braking
maneuvers. Do not allow the cover to snap
back into place, as otherwise it could be
damaged.<
Removal
1.Press the side buttons, refer to arrow 1
2.Pull the cassette towards the rear, refer
to arrow 2.
Installation
Push the cassette forward into the two side
holders until it locks in place.

Things to remember when driving
76
Things to remember when driving
Break-in procedures
To ensure that your vehicle provides maxi-
mum economy throughout a long service
life, we request that you observe the fol-
lowing instructions:
Engine and differential
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km:
During this initial period you should attempt
to avoid constant, steady-state operation
and vary both vehicle and engine speeds
as often as possible. Until the break-in
period has been completed you should
also refrain from exceeding the following:
>4,500 rpm or 100 mph/160 km/h.
Always obey all official speed limits.
Refrain from using full throttle and avoid
pressing the accelerator beyond the kick-
down point.
Once you have driven 1,200 miles/
2,000 km, the engine and vehicle speeds
can be gradually 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 service life.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with
their manufacture, tires do not achieve their
full traction potential until after an initial
break-in period. 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
hydroplaning and can lead to partial or
complete loss of traction, vehicle control
and braking effectiveness. Reduce your
speed on wet roads.<
Brake system
Approx. 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 handbrake drums,
apply the handbrake lightly when coasting
to a standstill Ð at a traffic signal, for
instance; use caution to avoid posing a
danger to other road users.
To avoid corrosion, repeat this procedure
from time to time.
The brake lamps do not come on when the
handbrake is set.
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 off Ð e.g.
by towing Ð substantially higher levels of
pedal force will be required to brake the
vehicle.<
Clutch
The function of the clutch is also only at its
optimized level after a distance driven of
approx. 300 miles/500 km. During this
break-in period, engage the clutch gently.
General driving notes
High temperatures
Extreme temperatures occur at the
catalytic converter on this and every
catalyst-equipped vehicle. Do not remove
the heat shields installed adjacent to vari-
ous sections of the exhaust system, and
never apply undercoating to them. When
driving, standing at idle and while parking
take care to avoid possible contact
between the hot exhaust system and any
highly flammable materials such as hay,
leaves, grass, etc. Such contact could lead

Things to remember when driving
78 less frequent, there is an increased ten-
dency for corrosion to form on rotors, while
contaminants accumulate on the brake
pads. This occurs because the minimal
pressure which must be exerted by the
pads during brake applications to clean the
rotors is not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors,
the brakes will tend to respond with a pul-
sating effect that even extended applica-
tion will fail to cure.
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond
their approved carrying capacity,
never overload the vehicle. Overloading
can lead to overheating and increases the
rate at which damage develops inside the
tires. The ultimate result can assume the
form of a sudden air loss.<
Determining the load limit
1.Locate the following statement on the
driver's door pillar:
The combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo should never
exceed XXX lbs or YYY kg. Failure to
observe this can compromise your
vehicle's driving stability and cause
vehicle damage.<
2.Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding
in your vehicle
3.Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from XXX
pounds or YYY kilograms4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity.
For example, if the XXX amount equals
1,400 lbs and there will be five 150-lbs
passengers in your vehicle, the amount
of available cargo and luggage load
capacity is 650 lbs:
1,400 lbs minus 750 lbs = 650 lbs
5.Determine the combined weight of lug-
gage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. That weight should never
exceed the available cargo and luggage
load capacity calculated in Step 4
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,
part of the load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult the
manual for transporting a trailer to
determine how this may reduce the
available cargo and luggage load
capacity of your vehicle.
Load
The permitted load is the total of the weight
of occupants and cargo/luggage. The
greater the weight of occupants, the less
cargo/luggage can be transported.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
79
Stowing cargo
>Load heavy cargo as far forward and as
low as possible, placing it directly
behind the bulkhead behind the rear
seats
>Cover sharp edges and corners
>Pull out the partition net, refer to
page 72, making sure that objects can-
not penetrate the partition net
>For very heavy cargo when the rear seat
is not occupied, secure each safety belt
in the opposite buckle.
Cargo, securing
>Use the luggage net* to hold down
small and lightweight luggage and
cargo, refer to page 72
>For larger and heavier pieces, load
securing equipment
* is available from
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Cen-
ter. Lashing eyes for attaching these
heavy-duty straps have been provided
in your vehicle's luggage compartment,
refer to page 73
>Read and comply with the information
enclosed with the load-securing
devices.Always position and secure the load
correctly. If you do not, it can even
endanger the passengers during braking or
evasive maneuvers.
Never exceed either the approved gross
vehicle weight or either of the approved
axle loads, refer to page 116, as excessive
loads can pose a safety hazard, and may
also place you in violation of freeway safety
laws.
You should never transport heavy or hard
objects unsecured in the passenger com-
partment, as they could fly around and
pose a safety hazard to the vehicle's occu-
pants even during abrupt braking or eva-
sive maneuvers .<
Roof-mounted luggage
rack*
Because roof racks raise the vehicle's cen-
ter of gravity when loaded, they have a
major effect on its handling and steering
response.
You should therefore always remember not
to exceed the approved roof weight, the
approved gross vehicle weight or the axle
loads when loading the rack.
You can find the specified weights in the
Technical data section on page 116.
Make sure that the load is not too heavy,
and that it does not extend outward to
beyond the limits of the loading surface.
Always load the heaviest pieces first Ð on
the bottom. Be sure that adequate clear-
ance is maintained for raising the glass
roof, and that objects do not project into
the opening path of the tailgate.
Secure roof-mounted cargo correctly and
securely to prevent it from shifting or being
lost during the trip.
Drive smoothly. Avoid sudden acceleration
and braking maneuvers. Take corners gen-
tly.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
89
resistance to the generation of heat and its
ability to dissipate heat when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and
reduce tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C
corresponds to a level of performance
which all passenger car tires must meet
under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard No. 109. Grades B and A repre-
sent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive load-
ing, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire
failure.<
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than
summer tires.
Tire condition
Inspect your tires frequently for treadwear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects
lodged in the tread. Check the tread pat-
tern depth.
Tire tread
The tread depth should not drop below
0.12 in/3 mm, although, for example, Euro-
pean legislation only specifies a minimum
tread depth of 0.063 in/1.6 mm. At tread
depths below 0.12 in/3 mm, there is an
increased risk of high-speed hydroplaning,
even when only small amounts of water are
present on the road surface.
As winter tires display a noticeable loss in
their ability to cope with cold-weather driv-
ing conditions once the tread wears to
below 0.16 in/4 mm, to ensure continued safety you should always have such tires
replaced.
Wear indicators at the tread-groove base,
refer to arrow, are distributed over the tire's
circumference and are marked on the tire
sidewall with TWI Ð Tread Wear Indicator.
At a tread depth of 0.063 in/1.6 mm these
indicators, signal that the tires have
reached the legally permissible wear limit.
Tire damage
Unusual vibrations encountered dur-
ing normal vehicle operation can indi-
cate tire failure or some other vehicle
defect. This can, for example, be caused by
driving over curbs. These kinds of prob-
lems may also be signaled by other
changes in vehicle response, such as a
strong tendency to pull to the left or right.
Should this occur, respond by immediately
reducing your speed. 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, extending to sudden and
complete loss of pressure in extreme
cases, can pose a potentially lethal safety
hazard for the vehicle's occupants and
other road users alike.<
Replacing wheels/tires
Unprofessional attempts by laymen to
service tires can lead to damage and
accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled pro-
fessionals only. All BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Centers will be happy to help you

Under the engine hood
94
Washer fluid
Windshield and headlamp washer
system
Antifreeze agent for the washer sys-
tems is inflammable. For this reason,
keep it away from sources of flame and
store it only in its original containers. Store
it so that it is inaccessible to children.
Always observe the instructions for use
provided on the containers.<
We recommend that you mix the
washer ßuid before adding it to the
reservoir.<
Capacity:
approx. 6.9 US quarts/6.5 liters.
Fill with water and, if required, with an anti-
freeze additive according to manufac-
turer's recommendations.
Engine oil
Indicator lamp
Engine oil pressure
The indicator lamp lights up red:
Stop the vehicle immediately and
switch off the engine. Check the
engine oil level; top up as required. If the oil
level is correct: contact the nearest BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
Do not continue driving. The engine
could be damaged because of inade-
quate lubrication.<
Engine oil level
The indicator lamp lights up yellow
while driving:
The oil level is at the absolute mini-
mum. Add engine oil as soon as possible.
Until then, do not drive more than
approx. 30 miles/50 km.
The indicator lamp lights up yellow
after the engine is switched off:
Top up engine oil at the earliest
opportunity Ð when refueling.
Engine oil sensor
The indicator lamp lights up yellow
within 20 seconds after starting the
engine:
The oil level sensor is defective. Please
have it checked by a BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center.
Checking oil level
1.Park the vehicle on a level surface
2.Switch the engine off after it has
reached normal operating temperature
3.After approx. 5 minutes, pull the dip-
stick out and wipe it off with a clean lint-
free cloth, paper towel, or similar mate-
rial
4.Carefully push the dipstick all the way
into the guide tube and pull it out again
5.The oil should extend to between the
two marks on the dipstick.
As is the case with fuel economy, the rate
at which the engine uses oil is strongly
influenced by driving style and operating
conditions.
The oil quantity between the two marks of
the dipstick is approx. 1.1 US quarts/1 liter.