2004 BMW X3 3.0I Owner's Manual

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.

Lamps
58
Activating the Adaptive Head Light
In ignition key position 2, turn the
light switch to the position 'Auto-
matic headlamp control'.
When the vehicle is backing up, the
Adaptive Head Light is inactive; when
the vehicle is at a standstill, it is only active
in one direction.<
Malfunction
The LED above the symbol for automatic
headlamp control flashes. Please have it
checked by your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center.
Instrument lighting
Turn the serrated dial to adjust the illumina-
tion intensity.
High beams/standing lamps
1High beams Ð blue indicator lamp
2Headlamp flasher Ð blue indicator lamp
3Standing lamps
Standing lamps, left or right*
You also enjoy the option of lighting up just
one side of your vehicle when parking.
When using this function, comply with
national regulations:
In ignition key position 0 or with ignition key
removed:
Allow the lever to engage in the corre-
sponding turn signal indicator position.
Fog lamps*
A green indicator lamp appears in
the instrument cluster to indicate
that the front fog lamps are on.
If the automatic headlamp control is
activated, the low beams will come on
automatically when you switch on the fog
lamps.<
Interior lamps
The interior lamps operate automatically.
If you desire, the interior lamps are
switched on after mechanical unlock-
ing of the vehicle. You may have this func-
tion activated/deactivated if you wish.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
59
Switching the interior lamps on and
off
Briefly press button 1.
If you want the interior lamps to remain off
all the time, press and hold the button for
approx. 3 seconds.
Press the button briefly to revert to normal
operation.
You can have soft dimming of the
interior lamps set.<
Front reading lamps*
Switch on and off with the buttons 2.
Rear reading lamps*
Switch on and off with the button.

A congenial climate
60
A congenial climate
Air conditioner
1Airflow directed toward the windshield
and side windows
2Airflow for the upper body61
3Front footwell ventilation61
4Air supply/blower615Outside air/recirculated-air mode61
6Temperature61
7Air distribution61
8Rear window defroster61
9Air conditioner61

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
61
Air supply/blower
You can select blower speeds 1
to 4. The heating and ventilation
become more and more effec-
tive as the air supply settings
are increased. In position 0, the
blower and heater are switched off. The air
supply is blocked in position 0.
Temperature
To increase the temperature of
the interior, turn to the right.
Air distribution
You can direct air to flow onto
the windows , toward the
upper body and into the
footwell . All intermediate
settings are possible. In the
setting, there is a low flow of air onto the
windows to keep them free of condensa-
tion.
Rear window defroster
When the rear window
defroster is activated,
the indicator lamp comes on.
The rear window defroster switches off
automatically.
You can have your vehicle pro-
grammed in such a way that the rear
window defroster switches on automati-
cally. It is then switched on at outside tem-
peratures of less than approx. +46/397
within 5 minutes of the engine start.<
Air conditioning
The air is cooled and dehumidi-
fied 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. You can reduce conden-
sation forming on the windows by switch-
ing on the air conditioning.
During air conditioning condensation
forms, which then exits under the vehicle. Traces of condensed water of this
kind are thus normal.<
Outside air/recirculated-air mode
You can respond to unpleasant
odors outside the vehicle by
temporarily switching off the
outside air supply. The system then recir-
culates the air currently within the vehicle.
If condensation starts to form on the
inside window surfaces during opera-
tion in the recirculated-air mode, you
should switch it off while also increasing air
supply as required. The recirculated-air
mode should not be used over a sustained
longer period of time, as the air quality
inside the vehicle deteriorates.<
Ventilation
The air vents for the upper body area can
be adjusted:
1Serrated dials 1 for steplessly opening
and closing the air vents
2Selector levers for airflow direction
3Use the serrated dial 3 to adjust the
amount of cool air that is added to the
airflow emerging from the vent outlets
for the upper body
Ventilation for cooling
Adjust the vents to direct the flow of cool
air in your direction, for instance, if the inte-
rior has become too warm, etc.
Draft-free ventilation
Set the vent outlets so that the air flows
past you and is not directed straight at you.

A congenial climate
62
Microfilter
The built-in microfilter removes dust and
pollen from the incoming outside air. it is
replaced when maintenance is performed
by your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Cen-
ter. A substantial reduction in air supply
indicates that the filter must be replaced
before normal maintenance.
Defrosting windows and removing
condensation
1Fan blower rotary switch for air supply
at setting 4
2Turn the rotary temperature switch as
far to the right as it will go
3Rotary switch for air distribution in posi-
tion
4Switch on the rear window defroster to
defrost the rear window