2004 BMW X3 2.5I trailer

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
25
>The high beams, which flash on and off
in the same rhythm.
Arming and disarming the alarm
system
When the vehicle is locked or unlocked
with the key or the remote control, the
alarm system is also simultaneously armed
or disarmed.
If the alarm system has been properly
armed, the hazard warning flashers light up
once.
You can have different acknowledg-
ment signals set to confirm arming
and disarming.<
You can also open the tailgate with the sys-
tem armed using the button on the
remote control, refer to page 19. When you
close the tailgate, the system is rearmed.<
Switching off the alarm
>Unlock the vehicle using the remote
control, refer to page 19
>Turn the ignition key to position 1.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp below the interior
rearview mirror flashes continuously:
the system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes during arm-
ing: door(s), the hood or tailgate are not
completely closed. Even if you do not
close the alerted area, the system
begins to monitor the remaining areas,
and the indicator lamp flashes continu-
ously after 10 seconds. However, the
interior motion sensor is not activated >If the indicator lamp goes out when the
system is disarmed: no manipulation or
attempted intrusions have been
detected in the period since the system
was armed
>If the indicator lamp flashes for 10 sec-
onds after the system is disarmed: an
attempted entry has been detected in
the period since the system was armed.
Following triggering of an alarm, the indica-
tor lamp will flash continuously.
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion
sensor may be switched off at the same
time. You can do this to prevent a false
alarm from being triggered in garages with
elevator ramps, for instance, or when the
vehicle is transported by trailer or train:
Lock twice:
>Press the button on the remote
control twice consecutively
>Lock using the door lock twice.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and
then flashes continuously. The tilt alarm
sensor and the interior motion sensor are
deactivated as long as the system is
armed.
If you wish, the tilt alarm sensor and
interior motion sensor are perma-
nently switched off. You can have this set
at your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Cen-
ter.<
Interior motion sensor
In order for the interior motion sensor to
function properly, the windows and pan-
orama glass roof must be completely
closed.
However, be sure to switch off the interior
motion sensor Ð refer to Avoiding uninten-
tional alarms Ð when you
>leave children or animals in the vehicle
>the windows or panorama glass roof
are to remain open.
The tilt alarm sensor and interior
motion sensor are switched off inad-

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
49
Technology for comfort, convenience
and safety
Park Distance Control PDC*
The concept
PDC provides extra safety and conven-
ience during parking maneuvers. Signal
tones indicate the current distance to an
object behind or in front of your vehicle.
Four ultrasonic sensors in both the
bumpers monitor the distance to the near-
est object.
The front and rear sensors on the corners
have a range of approx. 2 ft/60 cm. The
two rear middle sensors have a range of
approx. 5 ft/1.50 m and the two front mid-
dle sensors of approx. 2.6 ft/80 cm.
PDC is a parking aid that can indicate
objects when they are approached
slowly, as is usually the case when parking.
Avoid approaching objects too fast, other-
wise the system may give warning of phys-
ical obstacles too late.<
If you are driving with a trailer, the rear sen-
sors are unable to make proper measure-
ments Ð so they do not switch on.
Automatic mode
As of ignition key position 2, the system
automatically assumes operational status
after a few seconds each time you engage
reverse gear or selector-lever position R.
Wait this short period before park-
ing.<
You can have a signal tone pro-
grammed into the system to verify
that the PDC is active.<
Automatic deactivation
After 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. You can reactivate the system manu-
ally as needed.
Manual mode
Press the button; the indicator lamp comes
on.
Manual deactivation
Press the button again; the indicator lamp
goes out.
Signal tones
The distance to an object behind the vehi-
cle is signaled in accordance with the posi-
tion by an intermittent tone from a loud-
speaker in the rear-end.
The distance to an object in front of the
vehicle is signaled by an intermittent tone
from a loudspeaker beneath the instrument
cluster.
As the distance between vehicle and object
decreases, the intervals between the tones
become shorter. The signal tone becomes
continuous once the distance to the near-
est object falls to below roughly 1 ft/30 cm.
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. 3 seconds when the distance to an
object remains constant during this time,
if you are moving parallel to a wall, for
instance.
Malfunction
The indicator lamp flashes and a short
steady signal tone is sounded.
Switch the system off and have the cause
of the malfunction corrected by your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center.

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
50
Limits of the system
Even with PDC, final responsibility for
estimating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstructions always
remains with the driver. Even when sensors
are involved, there is a blind spot in which
objects cannot be detected. The system is
also subject to the physical limits that apply
to all forms of ultrasonic measurement,
such as those encountered with tow bars
and trailer couplings, or thin and wedge-
shaped objects etc. Low objects already
displayed, e.g. a curb, can also disappear
from the detection area of the sensors
again before a continuous tone sounds.
Loud sources of sound, inside and outside
the vehicle, could drown out the PDC sig-
nal tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free of ice
or snow in order to ensure that they
will continue to operate effectively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the
sensors for a prolonged period of time.
Keep the spray at least 4 in/10 cm away
from the sensors.<
Driving stability control
systems
Your BMW is equipped with an extended
array of systems designed to enhance and
maintain vehicle stability under extreme
conditions. The following section describes
these functions based on ABS, DSC, HDC
and xDrive.
Antilock Brake System ABS
ABS enhances active safety by preventing
the wheels from locking under braking. The
vehicle continues to be steerable during
hard braking.
ABS also includes Electronic brake-force
distribution EBV.
Safe braking, refer to page 77.
Electronic brake-force distribution
EBV
EBV controls the brake system's applica-
tion pressure at the rear wheels to ensure
stable deceleration.
Dynamic Brake Control DBC
The Dynamic Brake Control actively sup-
ports the driver in dangerous braking situa-
tions. Quickly pumping the brake pedal
increases the braking effect with low pedal
pressure so that the shortest possible
braking distance is achieved. This system
exploits all of the benefits provided by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake
pedal for the duration of the brake applica-
tion. DBC is deactivated when you release
the brake pedal.
Dynamic Stability Control DSC
The concept
DSC maintains vehicle stability, even in
critical driving situations.
The DSC is operational every time you start
the engine.
The system optimizes the driving stability
during acceleration and when starting from
a standstill. The system recognizes any
tendency for the vehicle to assume an
unstable attitude such as oversteer or
understeer; it then counteracts this ten-
dency with a combination of graduated
reductions in engine torque and selective
braking intervention at individual wheels.
DSC provides optimal stability within the
limits defined by the laws of physics.
The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with DSC. An appro-
priate driving style always remains the
responsibility of the driver. Avoid using the
additional safety margin provided by the
system as an excuse for taking unneces-
sary risks.
Do not make any modifications to the DSC
system. Never allow anyone other than
authorized professional technicians to
carry out service or repairs on the system.<

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.

Everything from A to Z
126 Starting assistance, refer to
Jump-starting 108
Starting difficulties
Ð temperature 38
Starting-off assistance,
DSC 50
Starting the engine 38
Startup difficulties
Ð jump-starting 108
Status of this Owner's
Manual at time of
printing 5
Steering lock 37
Steering wheel 10, 14
Ð adjustment 31
Ð lock 37
Steering wheel heater 31
Steering wheel with
buttons 14
Steptronic 39
Storage compartments 68
Storage package 68
Storage package nets 68
Storage space, refer to
Cargo area 71
Storing seat position, refer
to Seat and mirror
memory 29
Storing the seat
adjustment 29
Straps, refer to Loading 78
Stroke, refer to Engine
data 114
Supply reservoir cleaning
systems 94
Switches, refer to
Cockpit 10
Switching off the engine 38
Symbols 4
T
Table of contents 3
Tachometer 45
Tailgate
Ð closing 21
Ð emergency operation 21
Ð opening from the
outside 21
Ð remote control 19Tailgate lamp
Ð bulb replacement 103
Tail lamps
Ð bulb replacement 102
Ð indicator lamp 57
Tank capacity 117
Technical modifications 6
Telephone, refer to
separate Owner's Manual
Temperature
Ð air conditioner 61
Ð automatic climate
control 64
Temperature, tires 88
Temperature display
Ð ice warning 47
Ð outside temperature 47
Ð setting the units 47
Temperature gauge 45
Thigh support
adjustment 28, 29
Three-point belt 30
Tightening torque 105
Tilt alarm sensor 25
Ð switching off 25
Tilt function, passenger-
side mirror 32
Tire inflation pressures 86
Tire pressure monitoring,
refer to Flat Tire
Monitor 53
Tires
Ð age 88
Ð break-in procedure 76
Ð changing 89
Ð condition 89
Ð DOT Quality Grades 88
Ð flat 103
Ð inflation pressure 86, 87
Ð replacing 89
Ð storage 90
Ð temperature 88
Ð traction 88
Ð treadwear 88
Ð Uniform Tire Quality
Grading 89
Ð wear indicators, refer to
Tire tread/damage 89
Ð wheel change 103
Tools, refer to Onboard tool
kit 99Torque of lug bolts 105
Tow bar 109
Tow fittings 109
Towing 109
Towing the vehicle 109
Tow rope 109
Tow sockets for tow
fitting 109
Tow-starting 109
Track width, refer to
Dimensions 115
Traction 88
Traction control
Ð DSC 50
Trailer loads 116
Transmission 39
Ð automatic transmission
with Steptronic 39
Ð manual transmission 39
Transmission lockout, refer
to P Parking 40
Transmission
malfunction 41
Transporting children 34
Transporting children
safely 34
Tread depth, refer to Tire
tread 89
Treadwear 88
Trip-distance counter, refer
to Trip odometer 45
Trip odometer 45
Trunk, refer to Cargo
area 71
Trunk lid, refer to
Tailgate 21
Turning circle, refer to
Dimensions 115
Turn signal indicators 41
Ð bulb replacement 101
Turn signal indicators, side
Ð bulb replacement 101
U
Underbody protection,
refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading 89