2004 BMW X3 2.5I height

Adjustments
28 the ensuing loss of vehicle control could
lead to an accident.
Especially on the passenger's side, do not
incline the backrest too far to the rear while
the vehicle is being driven, as otherwise
there is a danger in the event of an accident
of sliding under the safety belt, eliminating
the protection normally provided by the
belt.<
Please observe the information on using
safety belts provided on page 30 and the
information on the head restraints on
page 28.
Seat adjustment
To ensure that the safety systems
continue to provide optimized protec-
tion, please observe the adjustment
instructions above.<
1Longitudinal direction
Pull the lever and slide the seat into the
desired position.
After you release the lever, move the
seat forward or backward slightly so
that it engages fully
2Height
Pull the lever and apply weight to or
remove weight from the seat as
required3Backrest angle
Pull the lever and apply weight to or
remove weight from the backrest as
requiredAdjusting the BMW sports seat*
You can also adjust the tilt and the thigh
support:
1Upward tilt:
Pull the lever as many times as required
to set the desired tilt
2Downward tilt:
Press the lever as many times as
required to set the desired tilt
3Thigh support:
Pull the lever and move the thigh sup-
port in the longitudinal direction
Head restraints
Align the head restraints so that their
center is approximately at ear level,
as otherwise the risk of spinal injuries is
increased in the event of an accident.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
29
Adjustments
Height adjustment: pull or press.
To reach the lowest positions, press
button 1.<
To adjust the front head restraint tilt angle:
adjust by tilting.
Removal Ð front
1.Pull the head restraint upward to the
stop
2.Press button 1 and remove the head
restraint.
Installation Ð front
1.Press button 1 and slide the head
restraint into its supports
2.Adjust the head restraint.
Power seat*
To ensure that the safety systems
continue to provide optimal protec-
tion, please observe the adjustment
instructions on page 27.<
1Angle
2Longitudinal direction
3Height
4Backrest angle Set the head restraint manually, refer to left
column.
Lumbar support*
You can also adjust the contours of the
backrest to obtain additional support in the
lumbar region.
The upper hips and spinal column receive
supplementary support to help you main-
tain a relaxed, upright sitting position.
>Press the front or rear of the switch:
Increase or decrease curvature
>Press the upper or lower end of the
switch:
Increase the upper or lower curvature.
Seat and mirror memory*
You can store and select three different
adjustment settings for the driver's seat
and exterior mirrors.
The adjustment of the lumbar support is not
stored in the memory.
Storing
1.Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 2
2.Set the desired seat and exterior mirror
position

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
31
Releasing
1.Press the red button in the buckle
2.Hold the belt
3.Guide the belt back into its reel.
The upper shoulder strap's anchorage
point will be in the correct position for seat
occupants of every build if the seat is cor-
rectly adjusted, refer to page 27.
The two rear safety belt buckles integrated
in the rear seat are for passengers sitting
on the left and right. The belt buckle
embossed with the word CENTER is
intended exclusively for use by passengers
riding in the center position.<
Damage to safety belts
If the safety belts are damaged or
stretched in an accident: have the
entire belt system, including the tensioning
mechanisms, replaced at your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center. Have the belt
anchorage points inspected for damage at
the same time. Failure to observe this pre-
caution may prevent the safety belts from
effectively providing optimal protection
when needed. If a child-restraint system
was in the vehicle during an accident, con-
sult the manufacturer's instructions regard-
ing replacement.<
Steering wheel
Adjustments
Do not adjust the steering wheel while
the vehicle is moving. There is a risk
of accident from unexpected movement.< 1.Fold the clamping lever downward
2.Adapt the steering wheel in the longitu-
dinal direction and height of the seat
position
3.Fold the clamping lever back up.
Steering wheel heating*
The button for steering wheel heating is
located in the steering wheel, refer to
page 14.
Steering wheel heating: switching on/off.
The steering wheel heating operates from
ignition key position 2.
Press the button to activate or deactivate
this system.
The indicator lamp within the button lights
up when the steering wheel heating is in
operation.
Mirrors
Adjusting exterior mirrors
1Mirror switch for 4-way adjustment
2Left/right selector switch

Transporting children safely
34
Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Children always in the rear
Accident research shows that the safest
place for children in a vehicle is in the rear
seat.
Older children should be tightly secured
with a safety belt, after they have outgrown
a booster seat that is appropriate for their
age, height and weight.
A child sitting in the rear seat and not
properly restrained may place his or
her head on or near the airbag, if so
equipped. For example, a child Ñ even
though belted Ñ may fall asleep with his or
her head against the side airbag. It may be
difficult for a driver to ensure that children
in the rear seat will remain properly posi-
tioned at all times and do not place their
heads on or near the side airbag. There-
fore, we recommend that the rear side air-
bags, if provided, be deactivated if you plan
to transport children in the rear seat.<
Deactivation of the rear seat side
airbags
The rear seat side airbags may already
have been deactivated by a BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center. Labels in the rear
door opening should indicate the status of
your rear seat side airbags. If you are
uncertain of their status, or wish to have the
airbags activated or deactivated, please
contact your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center.
Child-restraint system in rear
Children under 13 years of age and
children less than 5 ft/150 cm tall
should always ride in the rear and the
restraint systems should be properly
adjusted.<
Younger children should be secured in an
appropriate forward-facing child-restraint system that has first been properly secured
with a safety belt.
All rear seating positions in your vehicle
meet the recommendations of SAE J1819,
an industry-recommended practice for
securing child-restraint systems in motor
vehicles.
Exception for the front passenger
seat
Should it become necessary to use a
child-restraint system on the front
passenger seat, the airbags on the passen-
ger's side must be deactivated. The pas-
senger airbag indicator lamp above the
interior rearview mirror must light up con-
tinuously. Otherwise, the front passenger
airbags remain active and there is consid-
erable risk of injury to children if the airbags
are triggered, even with a child-restraint
system. In this case, children should be
seated in the rear and the system should be
checked at your BMW Sport Activity Vehi-
cle Center.<
Never install a rearward-facing child-
restraint system in the front passen-
ger seat of this vehicle if the passenger air-
bag is not deactivated. If you do so, the
child could be severely injured when the
airbag is triggered.
Your vehicle is equipped with an airbag
supplemental restraint system for the front
passenger. Because the backrest on any
rearward-facing child-restraint system Ð of
the kind designed for infants under 1 year
and 20 Ibs/9 kg Ð would be within the air-
bag's deployment range, you should never
mount such a system in the front passenger
seat, since the impact of the airbag against
the child restraint's backrest could lead to
serious or fatal injuries.<
More information on automatic deactiva-
tion of the front passenger airbags, refer to
page 55.

Under the engine hood
96
Checking coolant level and topping
up coolant
Check the coolant level with the engine
cold, approx. 687/206:
1.Turn the cap of the expansion tank
counterclockwise to allow any accumu-
lated pressure to escape, then continue
turning to open
2.The coolant level is correct if the upper
end of the red float bar is at least at the
same height as the top edge of the filler
neck, refer to arrow. The bar end may
only protrude by a maximum of i in/
2 cm, i.e. up to the second mark on the
float bar, refer also to sketch beside the
filler neck
3.If necessary, add coolant. Slowly add
coolant until the correct level is reached
Ð do not overfill.
Always observe all applicable rules
and regulations for environmental
protection when disposing of used anti-
freeze and anticorrosion agents.<
Brake system
Malfunction
Brake fluid
The warning lamp lights up red
despite the handbrake being
released: stop immediately.
The brake fluid in the reservoir has fallen to
below the minimum level. At the same time,
a considerably longer brake pedal travel
may be noticeable. Contact the nearest
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center.During continued driving increased
brake pedal pressure may be neces-
sary, and considerably longer braking dis-
tances may result. Please adapt your driv-
ing style accordingly.<
Warning lamp for Canadian models.
Brake pads
The indicator lamp comes on.
The brake pads have reached their
minimum pad thickness. See your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center imme-
diately to have the pads replaced.
For your own safety: use only brake
pads that BMW has released for your
particular vehicle model. As BMW cannot
assess the suitability of other brake pads
for use on your vehicle, we are unable to
assume continued responsibility for the
vehicle's operating safety if non-approved
pads are installed.<
For additional information on the brake sys-
tem, refer to page 77.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
103
Tailgate lamp
5 Watt bulb
1.Pull off the bulb holder
2.Replace the bulb.
Light-emitting diodes LEDs
Light-emitting diodes installed behind
translucent lenses serve as the light source
for many of the controls and displays in
your vehicle. These light-emitting diodes,
which operate using a concept similar to
that applied in conventional lasers, are offi-
cially designated as Class 1 light-emitting
diodes.
Do not remove the covers, and never
stare into the unfiltered light for sev-
eral hours, as irritation of the retina could
result.<
Changing a wheel
Safety precautions to observe in the
event of a flat tire and during all tire
changes:
Park the vehicle as far as possible from
passing traffic. Park on a firm, flat, surface.
Switch on the hazard warning flashers.
Lock the steering wheel in straight-ahead
setting of the wheels. Set the handbrake
and engage first gear, reverse gear or
selector-lever position P.
All passengers should be outside the vehi-
cle and well away from your immediate
working area, behind a guardrail, for
instance.
If a warning triangle or portable hazard
warning lamp is required, set it up on the
roadside at an appropriate distance from
the rear of the vehicle. Comply with all safety guidelines and regulations.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm sur-
face which is not slippery. The vehicle or
the jack could slip to the side if you attempt
to raise the vehicle on a soft or slippery sur-
face such as snow, ice, tiles, etc.
Position the jack on a firm support surface.
Do not use a wooden block or similar
object as a support base for the jack, as
this would prevent it from extending to its
full support height and reduce its load-car-
rying capacity.
To avoid serious or fatal injury: never lie
under the vehicle, and never start the
engine while it is supported by the jack.<
What you will need
Open tailgate and raise or remove floor
cover, refer to page 72.
1Vehicle jack
2Chock
3Lug wrench
In order to avoid rattling noises later, note
the position of the tools when you remove
them and return them to their original posi-
tion when you are through using them.
Compact wheel
The compact wheel is located under the
cargo area on the floor of the vehicle.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
115
Dimensions
All dimensions in inches/millimeters. Smallest turning circle dia.: 38.4 ft/11.7 m.
Height with roof railing
*: 66.0 in/1,674 mm.

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