2004 BMW X3 2.5I tow

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
99
Replacing components
Onboard tool kit
The onboard tool kit is located in a com-
partment on the left under the cargo area.
Replacing wiper blades
Front
1.Move the wiper to a fold-out position,
refer to page 42
2.Lift the wiper arm and press the secur-
ing spring, refer to arrow
3.Pull the wiper blade off toward the
wiper arm
4.Insert the new blade and snap it into
place.
Fold the wipers back down onto the
windshield before you turn the igni-
tion key to position 1 or 2 again. If you do
not, they could be damaged.<
Rear
1.Lift the wiper arm
2.Pull off the wiper blade, refer to arrow
3.Insert a new wiper blade.
Lamps and bulbs
The lamps and bulbs make essential contri-
butions to the safety of your vehicle. There-
fore, comply fully with the following instruc-
tions during bulb replacement. If you are
not familiar with the specified procedures,
BMW recommends having the replace-
ments carried out at your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center.
Never touch the glass of new bulbs
with your bare fingers, as even minute
amounts of contamination will burn into the
bulb's surface and reduce its service life.
To install, use a clean cloth, napkin etc. or
hold the bulb by its metal socket.<
A replacement bulb set is available from
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
To prevent short circuits, before
working on any electrical system,
equipment or accessory you should always
switch it off and disconnect the cable from
the battery's negative terminal before start-
ing.
To avoid possible injury or equipment dam-
age when changing bulbs, observe any
instructions provided by the bulb manufac-
turer.<

Replacing components
104 1.Unscrew bolt, refer to arrow 1
2.Fold up lifting handle, refer to arrow 2
3.Turn the handle to the left as far as pos-
sible, refer to arrow 3
Turning the handle releases the
compact wheel. Weight approx.
18 lbs/8 kg. It must be held with the
handle.<
4.Slowly lower the handle as far as possi-
ble, refer to arrow 4
5.Take out the compact wheel towards
the back
6.Refit the compact wheel holder in
reverse order.
The defective wheel cannot be fitted
in the compact wheel holder in place
of the compact wheel.<
Preparing wheel change
Observe the safety precautions on
page 103.<
1.Secure the vehicle to prevent it from
rolling:
Place the wheel chock against the rear
surface of the front tire on the side
opposite the side being raised. If the
vehicle is parked on a downward slope,
place the wheel chock securely in front
of the tire. If the wheel must be changed
on a surface with a more severe slope,
take additional precautions to secure
the vehicle from rolling
2.Loosen the lug bolts by a g turn.
Jacking up vehicle
1.Position the vehicle jack at the jacking
point closest to the wheel so that the
entire surface of the jack base perpen-
dicularly contacts the ground under the
jacking point
2.Guide the jack head into the rectangular
recess of the jacking point when crank-
ing up, refer to section of illustration
3.Jack the vehicle up until the wheel you
are changing is raised from the ground.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
105
Mounting compact wheel
1.Unscrew the lug bolts and remove the
wheel
2.Remove accumulations of mud or dirt
from the mounting surfaces of the
wheel and hub. Clean the lug bolts
3.Position the new wheel or compact
wheel. Secure the wheel by turning at
least two lug bolts into opposite bolt
holes
4.Screw in the remaining lug bolts.
Tighten all the bolts securely in a diag-
onal pattern
5.Lower the jack and remove it from
beneath the vehicle
6.Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pat-
tern
7.Check and correct the tire inflation
pressure at the earliest opportunity.
Protect valve stems and valve stem
seal caps against dirt and contamina-
tion. Dirt in valve stems is a frequent source
of gradual air loss.<
After mounting the compact wheel or cor-
recting the inflation pressure, reinitialize
the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to page 53.
The vehicle jack is designed for
changing wheels only. Do not attempt
to raise another vehicle model with it or to
raise any load of any kind. To do so could
cause accidents and personal injury.
To ensure safety, always have the lug bolts
checked with a calibrated torque wrench to
ensure that they are tightened to the spec-
ified torque of 101 lb ft/140 Nm as soon as
possible.<
Stow the defective wheel in the luggage
compartment.
When you mount wheels other than Genu-
ine BMW light-alloy wheels, different lug
bolts may also be required.
Replace the defective tire as soon as pos-
sible and have the new wheel/tire bal-
anced.
Driving with the compact wheel
Drive reservedly and do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. Do not
deactivate DSC, as otherwise unstable
driving conditions may result.<
The driving characteristics change, for
example reduced track stability on braking,
extended braking distance, and altered
self-steering characteristics in the limit
range. In conjunction with winter tires,
these characteristics are more pro-
nounced.
Only one compact wheel may be
mounted. You should re-equipping to
wheels and tires of the original size as
quickly as possible.<
Battery
Battery care
The battery is 100% maintenance-free, i.e.,
the electrolyte will last for the life of the bat-
tery when the vehicle is operated in a tem-
perate climate.
Please contact your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center with any ques-
tions concerning the battery.<
Do not disconnect the battery when
the engine is running. If you do so, the
ensuing voltage surge will damage the
vehicle's onboard electronics.<
Indicator lamp
The battery charge-current indica-
tor lamp lights up:
The battery is no longer being
charged. There is a defect on the alternator
V-belt or charge current circuit of the alter-
nator. Contact the nearest BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center.
Do not continue driving if the V-belt is
defective. The engine could be dam-
aged due to overheating.
Moreover, an increased amount of force is
required for steering if the onboard supply
voltage falls dramatically.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
109
on page 93. The symbol + is embossed on
the cover.
1.Open the cover of the BMW auxiliary
terminal for jump-starting, refer to
arrow 1
2.Connect one terminal clamp of the pos-
itive/+ jumper cable to the positive ter-
minal of the battery or a auxiliary termi-
nal of the vehicle providing starting
assistance
3.Connect the second terminal clamp of
the positive/+ jumper cable to the posi-
tive terminal of the battery or to a auxil-
iary terminal of the vehicle to be started.
On your BMW, there is a special nut as
body ground or negative terminal on the
suspension strut dome, refer to arrow 2
4.Attach one end of the jumper cable
minus/Ð to the negative terminal of the
battery or to an engine or body ground
of the vehicle providing assistance
5.Connect the second terminal clamp of
the negative/Ð jumper cable to the neg-
ative terminal of the battery or to the
engine or body ground of the vehicle to
be started.
Starting the engine
1.Start the support vehicle's engine and
let it run at an increased idling speed for
a few minutes
2.Start the engine on the other vehicle in
the usual way.
If the first start attempt is not success-
ful, wait a few minutes before another
attempt in order to allow the discharged
battery to recharge
3.Allow the engines to run for several
minutes
4.Disconnect the jumper cables by
reversing the connection sequence.
If necessary, have the battery checked and
recharged at a BMW Sports Activity Vehi-
cle Center.
Never use spray fluids to start the
engine.<
Towing
Always observe all applicable towing
laws and regulations. Do not tow the
BMW X3 with the axle raised, as otherwise
the transfer case can be damaged.<
Towing with a commercial tow truck
>Use only a flatbed carrier
>Do not tow with sling-type equipment
>Do not use a wheel lift.
Never allow passengers to ride on a
towed vehicle for any reasons.<
Tow fitting
The threaded tow fitting is stored in the tool
kit mounted on the inside of the compart-
ment and should always remain in the vehi-
cle. This fitting is designed for installation in
the tow sockets located at the front and
rear of the vehicle.
Access to tow sockets
Front
Use a screwdriver to lever out the cover
upward at the recess.

Giving and receiving assistance
110
Rear
Use a screwdriver to lever out the cover
upward at the recess.
Only use the tow fitting that comes
with the vehicle and screw it in as far
as it will go. Only use the tow fitting to tow
on the roadway. Adhere to these specifica-
tions, as otherwise the tow fitting can be
torn out and damage the vehicle.
Never attempt to tow or tie down the vehi-
cle using suspension components, as this
could lead to damage that might ultimately
result in an accident.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
119
Everything from A to Z
Index
A
A/C operation
Ð air conditioner 60
Ð automatic climate
control 63
ABS Antilock Brake
System 50
Ð indicator lamp 50
Accessories 6
Activated-charcoal filter 65
Adaptive Head Light 57
Adding engine oil 95
Adjusting seats 27
Ð electric 29
Ð mechanical 28
Air, drying, refer to A/C
operation 61, 64
Airbags 54
Ð deactivating 34
Ð indicator lamp 55
Ð sitting safely 27
Air circulation, refer to
Recirculated-air
mode 61, 64
Air conditioner 60, 63
Air distribution
Ð air conditioner 61
Ð automatic climate
control 64
Airing, refer to
Ventilation 61, 65
Air outlets, refer to
Ventilation 61, 65
Air pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure 86
Air supply
Ð air conditioner 61
Ð automatic climate
control 64
Air vents, refer to
Ventilation 61, 65
AKI, refer to Fuel
specifications 85Alarm system 24
Ð avoiding unintentional
alarms 25
Anchorages 73
Antifreeze
Ð coolant 95
Ð washer fluid 94
Antifreeze protection
Ð coolant 95
Anti-theft alarm system 18
Ð refer to Alarm system 24
Anti-trapping mechanism
Ð panorama glass roof 24
Ð power windows 22
Approved engine oils 95
Approved gross vehicle
weight 116
Armrest 68
Ð front 68
Ð rear 68
Artificial leather, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Ashtray 69
Ð front 69
Ð rear 69
AUC Automatic
recirculated-air
control 64
Automatic
Ð air distribution 64
Ð air supply 64
Automatic car wash, refer
to Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Automatic climate
control 63
Automatic cruise control 43
Automatic curb monitor 32
Automatic headlamp
control 57
Automatic program, refer to
automatic air-
distribution 64Automatic rear window
cleaning 43
Automatic recirculated-air
control AUC 64
Automatic transmission
Ð malfunction 41
Automatic transmission
with Steptronic 39
Ð indicator lamp 41
Ð interlock 37
Ð selector lever interlock 40
Ð shiftlock 40
Average fuel
consumption 48
Average speed 48
Avoiding unintentional
alarms 25
Axle load, permitted 116
B
Backrests, refer to
Adjusting seats 28
Backup lamps 39
Ð replacing bulbs 102
Bad roads 80
Bar, towing 109
Batteries, disposal 106
Battery 105
Ð indicator lamp 12, 105
Ð jump-starting 108
Belts, refer to Safety
belts 30
Beverage holders 67
Black ice, refer to Ice
warning 47
Blower
Ð air conditioner 61
Ð automatic climate
control 64
BMW maintenance
system 97
BMW sports seat 28
Bore, refer to Engine
data 114

Everything from A to Z
122 US models, Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
ESP Electronic Stability
Program, refer to DSC
Dynamic Stability
Control 50
Exhaust system, refer to
High temperatures 76
Exterior mirror
Ð automatic dimming
feature 32
Exterior mirrors 31
F
Fan, refer to Air
supply 61, 64
Filling the windshield
washer reservoir 94
Filter
Ð refer to Microfilter 62
Ð refer to Microfilter/
Activated charcoal
filter 65
First-aid kit 108
Fittings, tow-starting and
towing 109
Flat tire 103
Ð compact wheel 103
Ð Flat Tire Monitor 53
Flat Tire Monitor 53
Ð indicator lamp 53
Flooding, refer to Driving on
bad roads 80
Floor cover 72
Fluid level
Ð indicator lamp 94
Fog lamps 58
Ð replacing bulbs 102
Folding rear seat back 71
Folding rear seat
backrest 71
Footbrake, refer to Brake
system 77, 96
Footbrake, refer to General
driving notes 77, 96
Front/rear reading
lamps 58
Front airbags 54
Front center armrest 68Front seat adjustment 27
Fuel 85
Ð average
fuel consumption 48
Ð capacity 117
Ð gauge 45
Ð quality 85
Ð volume 48
Fuel capacity 117
Fuel clock, refer to Fuel
gauge 45
Fuel display, refer to Fuel
gauge 45
Fuel filler cap 84
Fuel filler door 84
Ð releasing in the event of
electrical defect 84
Fuses 106
G
Garage-door opener, refer
to Integrated universal
remote control 66
Gasoline, refer to Fuel
quality 85
Gasoline consumption,
refer to Average fuel
consumption 48
Gasoline display, refer to
Fuel gauge 45
Gear changes, refer to
Automatic transmission
with Steptronic 40
Gear display 41
Gear lever
Ð automatic transmission
with Steptronic 39
Ð manual transmission 39
General driving notes 76
Glove compartment 68
Grills, refer to
Ventilation 61, 65
Ground clearance 80
H
Halogen lamps 100
Handbrake
Ð indicator lamp 38Hands-free microphone,
refer to Car phone
preparation 70
Hands-free system 70
Hazard warning flashers 10
HDC Hill Descent
Control 51
Headlamp control,
automatic 57
Headlamp flasher 41
Ð indicator lamp 41
Headlamps 100
Ð bulb replacement 99
Headlamps, care, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Headlamp washer
reservoir 94
Headlamp washer
system 94
Ð cleaning headlamps 42
Ð tank capacity, refer to
Filling capacities 117
Ð washer fluid 94
Head restraints 28
Heated mirrors 32
Heated rear window
Ð air conditioner 61
Ð automatic climate
control 65
Heated seats 30
Heated steering wheel 31
Heated windshield,
automatic climate
control 64
Heating
Ð exterior mirror 32
Ð rear window 61, 65
Ð seats 30
Ð steering wheel 31
Heating and
ventilation 60, 63
Heavy cargo, refer to Cargo
loading 78
Height, refer to
Dimensions 115
Height adjustment
Ð seats 28
Ð steering wheel 31

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
123
High beams
Ð bulb replacement 100
Ð headlamp flasher 58
Ð indicator lamp 12
High Performance
Synthetic Oil 95
Hill-climbing ability, refer to
Driving on bad roads 80
Hill descent assistance,
refer to HDC 51
Hill Descent Control
HDC 51
Hills 77
Holder for beverage
cans 67
Horn 10
Hydraulic Brake Assistant,
refer to DBC 50
Hydroplaning 77
I
Ice warning 47
Ignition 37
Ignition key 18
Ignition lock 37
Imprint 2
Indicator/warning lamp
Ð airbags 55
Ð alarm system 25
Ð brake system 96
Ð DSC 51
Ð Flat Tire Monitor 53
Ð fog lamps 58
Ð reserve 45
Ð safety belt warning 30
Indicator/warning lamps 12
Individual settings, refer to
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory 33
Inflation pressure, tires 86
Inflation pressure
monitoring, refer to Flat
Tire Monitor 53
Instrument cluster 10, 11
Instrument illumination 58
Instrument lighting 58
Integrated universal remote
control 66
Interior lamps 58Interior mirror
Ð automatic dimming
feature 32
Interior motion
sensor 22, 25
Ð switching off 19
Interior rearview mirror 32
Interlock, refer to Ignition
lock 37
Intermittent
Ð operation, wipers 41
J
Jacking points 104
Jumping, refer to Jump-
starting 108
Jump-starting 108
K
Key Memory 33
Keys 18
Kickdown 40
L
Lamps and bulbs 99
Lashing eyes, refer to
Securing the load 79
Leather care, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
LEDs light-emitting
diodes 103
License plate lamp
Ð bulb replacement 102
Lifting handle, compact
wheel 104
Light-alloy wheels, care,
refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Light-emitting diodes
LEDs 103
Lighter 69
Lighter socket 69
Lighting of instruments 58
Lighting of the instruments,
refer to Instrument
lighting 58Lights, refer to Parking
lamps/low beams 57
Lights on warning 57
Load, refer to Loading 78
Loading
Ð securing the load 79
Ð stowing cargo 79
Ð vehicle 78
Loading area
Ð lid, refer to Tailgate 21
Load securing devices 79
Locking
Ð from inside 20
Ð from outside 18
Locking and unlocking
doors
Ð from inside 20
Ð from outside 18
Longlife oils
Ð approved oils 95
Low beams 57
Ð automatic 57
Ð bulb replacement 100
Ð indicator lamp 57
Low-fuel warning light,
refer to Fuel gauge 45
Lug bolts 104
Luggage compartment,
refer to Cargo area
Luggage rack, refer to
Roof-mounted luggage
rack 79
Lumbar support 29
M
Maintenance 97
Maintenance system,
BMW 97
Malfunction in automatic
transmission system 41
Manual operation
Ð doors 20
Ð driver's door 20
Ð fuel filler door 84
Ð glass roof 24
Ð panorama glass roof 24
Ð tailgate 21
Manual transmission 39
Master keys with remote
control 18