2004 BMW X3 3.0I ignition

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
45
Everything under control
Odometer
1Odometer
2Trip odometer
Odometer
You can activate the displays shown in the
illustration in ignition key position 0 or with
the ignition key removed by pressing the
button in the instrument cluster.
Trip odometer
To reset to zero:
1.Ignition key in position 1
2.Press the button until the trip odometer
is reset to zero.
Tachometer
Engine speeds in the red warning field
must be avoided.
In this range, the fuel supply is interrupted
to protect the engine.
Fuel gauge
If the indicator lamp 1 starts to light up con-
tinuously, there are approx. 2 gallons /
8 liters of fuel in the tank.
Fuel tank capacity:
approx. 17.7 gallons/67 liters.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies, when you are
driving in mountainous areas, for example,
the indicator may fluctuate slightly.
Refuel well before the tank is empty,
as otherwise engine functions will not
be ensured and damage can occur if you
drive down to the last drop.<
When you switch on the ignition, the indi-
cator lamp comes on briefly to confirm that
the system is operational.
Coolant temperature gauge
Blue
The engine is still cold. Drive at moderate
engine and vehicle speeds.

Everything under control
46
Between the blue and red fields
Normal operating range. The dial may wan-
der into the red field.
Red
Comes on while driving:
The engine is overheated. Switch off the
engine immediately and allow it to cool
down.
Checking coolant level, refer to page 96.
When you switch on the ignition, the warn-
ing lamp 1 comes on briefly to confirm that
the system is operational.
Service Interval Display
Remaining distance until next
service due
The displays shown in the illustration
appear for a few seconds as of ignition key
position 1 or after starting the engine.
Together with the lettering OILSERVICE or
INSPECTION, the next scheduled service
and remaining distance to this service is
shown in miles/kilometers.
The remaining distance is determined on
the basis of the past driving style.
A flashing display and a Ð before the
numerical value mean that the service
interval has been passed by the displayed
number of miles/kilometers. Please make
an appointment with your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center.
Replacing brake fluid
You can have the month and year for the
scheduled brake fluid replacement dis-
played by pressing the right button in the
instrument cluster while the next sched-
uled service is being displayed. With each
button touch, the display switches
between the scheduled service and
scheduled brake fluid replacement.
When the brake fluid replacement is due,
the clock symbol also lights up. Please
make an appointment with your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
Immobilization periods in which the
battery is disconnected are not taken
into account by the display. Please remem-
ber that brake fluid should be changed
every two years at the latest, even if the
display does not yet indicate that service is
required, refer to page 96.<
Clock
If you want to have a permanent clock dis-
play, you can also have the time displayed
in the display of the car radio, refer to the
Owner's Manual for Radio.
You can adjust the clock, also for display in
the radio, as follows.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
47
Setting the time
As of ignition key position 1:
Hours
1.Hold button 2 pressed for a few sec-
onds until the hours are displayed and
the colon flashes
2.Press button 1 repeatedly until the
desired hour is set
Minutes
3.Press button 2 to change to the minute
display
4.Press button 1 repeatedly until the
desired minutes are set
5.Press button 2 to confirm the time.
The set time is transferred to the display of
the radio or displayed in the instrument
cluster.
Display mode
Ignition key in position 0 or removed:
Press button 1.
The time and display of the miles/kilome-
ters appear for a few seconds.
Computer*
Mode selection
As of ignition key position 1, you can call
up information from the computer using the
button in the turn signal indicator lever. By
pressing the button briefly in the direction
of the steering column, you can call up a
new function for display.
The displays appear in the following order:
Time, outside temperature, average fuel
consumption, cruising range, average
speed.
As of ignition key position 1, the last active
setting is displayed.
If you desire, you can display the fol-
lowing functions in a different unit.<
Outside temperature
Changing the unit of measure 7/6
During the display, hold down the button in
the turn indicator lever until the display
changes.
Ice warning
If the outside temperature falls below
approx. +37.57 /+36, the computer
switches automatically to the outside tem-

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
52
Activating the system
Press the button; the indicator lamp comes
on.
The indicator lamp flashes when the brakes
are applied automatically.
Deactivating the system
Press the button again; the indicator lamp
goes out.
Above approx. 35 mph/60 km/h HDC is
immediately deactivated, and when the
ignition is switched off after approx.
10 seconds.
Using HDC
On manual transmission vehicles:
Use HDC in first gear and in reverse gear,
as in the higher gears the engine braking
effect diminishes.
On automatic transmission vehicles:
You can use HDC in every drive position.
Malfunction
If the indicator lamp in the button goes out
in the HDC mode or fails to light up when
the button is pressed:
HDC is temporarily not available, as the
brake temperature is too high.
Malfunctions of the driving stability
control systems
The red brake warning lamp lights
up together with the warning lamps
for ABS and DSC/xDrive. In addi-
tion, a warning signal sounds:
ABS, DSC and xDrive have failed.
Drive may then only be carried out
via the rear axle. Please have it checked by the nearest BMW Sports Activ-
ity Vehicle Center.
Proceed cautiously and defensively.
When driving on poor roads, refrain
from using full throttle and avoid pressing
the accelerator beyond the kickdown point.
Otherwise the drive train may be damaged
or accidents can occur.<
If the brake warning lamp lights up yellow in
the described combination, the Electronic
brake-force distribution EBV is still avail-
able.
Indicator and warning lamps for
Canadian models.
The warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up in yellow.
Dynamic Brake Control DBC is
defective. Have the system checked and
repaired at your BMW Sports Activity Vehi-
cle Center as soon as possible.
Warning lamp for Canadian models.
The warning lamp lights up continu-
ously and a warning signal sounds:
DSC or the xDrive all-wheel system
has failed.
The stabilizing interventions of DSC or the
all-wheel drive system xDrive are no longer
available. Drive may then only be carried
out via the rear axle. Please have it
checked by the nearest BMW Sports Activ-
ity Vehicle Center.
Proceed cautiously and defensively.
When driving on poor roads, refrain
from using full throttle and avoid pressing
the accelerator beyond the kickdown point.
Otherwise the drive train may be damaged
or accidents can occur.<
The warning lamp lights up:
Malfunction in the driving stability
control systems. HDC is no longer

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
55
To ensure compliance with official safety
regulations, please also entrust disposal of
airbag generators to a BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center.<
Airbag warning information is also provided
on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of the front
passenger airbags
Your BMW has a seat occupation detection
system. By evaluating the weight on the
front passenger's seat, the system detects
whether or not the seat is occupied by a
child in the child-restraint system or an
adult.
>When a child is seated in the child-
restraint system or with an empty seat,
the front and side airbags are deacti-
vated on the passenger's side
>When an adult is traveling in the front
seat, the front and side airbags remain
active on the passenger side.
With heavier children, the front pas-
senger airbags can remain active, or
with very light adults or teenagers the front
passenger airbags can be deactivated
unintentionally.
The condition of the front passenger air-
bags is indicated via the telltale lamp, refer
to Indicator lamps in the following. In this
case transport the corresponding persons
on the rear seat.
Except when persons to be transported, do
not increase the load on the front passen-
ger seat with additional items. Do not fit
seat covers, seat cushion padding, ball
mats or other items to the front passenger
seat unless they are specifically recom-
mended by BMW. Do not place any items
under the seat. Otherwise, the function of
the seat occupation detection could be
impaired.<
Indicator/warning lamp
Airbag system operational
The airbag indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster indicates the operational readiness
of the entire airbag system and the safety
belt tensioners as of ignition key position 1.
The indicator lamp goes out after a few
seconds.
The telltale lamp above the interior rear-
view mirror indicates whether the passen-
ger airbag system is activated or deacti-
vated as of ignition key position 1.
The telltale lamp refers exclusively to
the passenger airbag system.<
>The telltale lamp goes out after a few
seconds.
The front passenger airbags are active,
e.g. when transporting an adult
>The telltale lamp lights up continuously.
The front passenger airbags are deacti-
vated, e.g. when a child is traveling in
the vehicle in the child-restraint system
or when the seat is empty.
For more information on the operating prin-
ciple of the front passenger airbag system
and seat occupation detection, refer to
Automatic deactivation of the front passen-
ger airbags.

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
56
Airbag system malfunction
A system malfunction could prevent
the system from responding in the
expected manner to an impact occurring
within its normal response range.
Please have the airbag system checked
immediately by a BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center.<
There is a fault in the airbag system
if the airbag indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster behaves as fol-
lows:
>Indicator lamp does not light up as of
ignition key position 1
>Indicator lamp remains lit continuously
>Indicator lamp lights up while the vehi-
cle is being driven.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
57
Lamps
Parking lamps/low beams
Parking lamps
The front, rear and side vehicle
lighting is switched on. You can use
the parking lamps for parking. For
lighting on one side for parking as an addi-
tional feature, refer to page 58.
Low beams
When you switch on the ignition
with the headlamps on, the head-
lamps go out and only the parking
lamps remain on.
Lamp defective
The indicator lamp lights up:
At least one bulb of the exterior
lighting on the vehicle is defective.
Replacing the bulbs, refer to page 99.
Pathway lighting
When you activate the headlamp flasher
after parking the vehicle and switching off
the lamps, the low beams will come on for
a brief period.
You may also have this function deac-
tivated if you wish.<
Lights on warning
If you turn the ignition key to position 0, an
acoustic signal sounds when you open the
driver's door for a few seconds to remind
you that the light has not yet been switched
off
.
Daytime driving lamps*
You can leave the light switch in the second
position: all external lamps go out when
you switch off the ignition.
Always observe all applicable laws govern-
ing the use of daytime driving lamps.
You can switch on the parking lamps when
needed using the standard procedure
described under Parking lamps.
You can have the daytime driving
lamp circuit activated on your vehi-
cle.<
Automatic headlamp control*
When you set the switch to this
position, the system activates and
switches on and off the low beams
in response to changes in ambient light
conditions, for instance, in tunnels, at dawn
and dusk, and in rain and snow.
Following automatic activation the
vehicle's external lighting remains on
when you switch on the fog lamps.<
Automatic headlamp control cannot
serve as a substitute for the driver's
judgment in determining when the vehicle
lamps should be switched on. For example,
the system cannot detect fog. To avoid
safety risks, you should always switch on
the lamps manually under these condi-
tions.<
You can have the sensitivity of the
headlamp control adjusted.<
Adaptive Head Light*
The concept
Adaptive Head Light is a variable headlamp
control system that enables dynamic illumi-
nation of the road surface. Depending on
the steering angle and other assumptions,
the light from the headlamp follows the
course of the road.