2004 BMW X5 4.4I page 24

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Driving your X5 On bad roads When you are driving on bad roads,
there are a few points which you should
strictly observe — for your own safety,
for that of your passengers, and for the
safety of the vehicle:
Driving on unpaved terrain can
cause damage to the vehicle.<
>Always adapt the driving speed to the
road conditions. The rougher or
steeper the road surface is, the lower
the speed should be
>You can operate your vehicle on
uphill and downhill gradients with a
maximum slope of 50 %. If you want
to drive on uphill or downhill gradi-
ents of this kind, make sure before-
hand that the engine oil and coolant
levels are near the max mark. Refer
to pages 148 and 150.
Use the HDC Hill Descent Control on
steep downhill gradients, refer to
page 96.
It is possible to start off on gradients
of up to 32 %.
The permitted side tilt is also 50 %
>While driving, watch carefully for
obstacles such as rocks or holes. Try
to avoid these obstacles whenever
possible
>Please note that, for example on
crests and bumpy roads, the body
can make ground contact.
The ground clearance of the vehicle
is:
– 8 in/200 mm with up to four persons
– 7 in/180 mm fully loaded, without
self-leveling suspension
>Only drive through water up to a
maximum depth of 20 in/50 cm and
only at walking speed, making sure
not to stop in the process.
After leaving the water, press on the
footbrake gently several times while
driving at a low speed. The brake
applications will help to dry the
brakes, thus preventing a reduction in
braking performance caused by the
moisture.
Back onto paved road In recommending that you observe the
following points after driving on adverse
road surfaces, it is not as a beauty
treatment for your BMW. Instead, it is
intended for the maintenance of driving
safety:
>Clean the largest accumulations of
dirt from the body and check the
underbody for damage
>Clean mud, snow, ice etc. from the
wheels and tires and check the
wheels for damage
>Check to determine whether rocks,
gravel or accumulations of dirt on the
brake rotors and calipers could influ-
ence braking performance. Remove
all such foreign objects
>In order to clean the brake rotors,
apply the footbrake gently several
times while driving at a low speed.
Be sure that following traffic is not
endangered by this
>For cleaning the handbrake, apply
the lever slightly at approx. 25 mph/
40 km/h and continue to drive for
approx. 200 yards/200 meters, pro-
vided that traffic conditions allow you
to do so.

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General driving notesHot exhaust system
Extreme temperatures occur at
the catalytic converter on this and
every catalyst-equipped vehicle. Do not
remove the heat shields installed adja-
cent to various sections of the exhaust
system, and never apply undercoating
to them. When driving, standing at idle
and while parking take care to avoid
possible contact between a hot exhaust
system and any highly flammable mate-
rials such as hay, leaves, grass etc.
Such contact could lead to a fire, and
with it the risk of serious property dam-
age as well as personal injury.<
Parking vehicle Condensation forms in the air condi-
tioner system during operation, and
then exits under the vehicle. Traces of
condensed water under the vehicle are
thus normal.Brakes
Do not drive with your foot resting
on the brake pedal. Even light but
consistent pedal pressure can lead to
excessively high temperatures, brake
wear and possibly even brake failure.<
Road hazards
If road hazards, obstacles or
curbs are unavoidable, only drive
over them very slowly and carefully, as
otherwise the wheels and suspension
parts, especially on vehicles fitted with
low profile tires, can be damaged.<
For more information on wheels and
tires, refer to page 143.
Before driving into a car washFold in the door mirrors, refer to
page 54, as otherwise they could be
damaged due to the width of the vehi-
cle.Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy
roads, reduce road speed. If you
do not, a wedge of water can form
between tires and road surface. This
state can cause a partial or total loss of
contact with the road surface, of brak-
ing control and of control over the vehi-
cle.<
Driving through water
Do not drive through water on
the road if it is deeper than 20 in/
50 cm, and then only at walking speed
at the most. Otherwise, the vehicle's
engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.<

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Information for your safety It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and – to a great
extent – driving safety that depend on
the condition of the tires and the main-
tenance of the specified tire pressure.
Check the tire inflation pressure
regularly, including on the spare
wheel: at least every two weeks and
before beginning a longer trip. If this is
not done, incorrect tire pressures can
cause driving instability and tire dam-
age, ultimately resulting in an accident.
Do not drive with a depressurized, i.e.
flat, tire. A flat tire greatly impairs steer-
ing and braking response, and can lead
to complete loss of control over the
vehicle.<
Checking inflation pressureOnly check tire inflation pressure when
the tires are cold. i.e. after driving a
maximum of 1.25 miles/2 km or when
the vehicle has been parked for at least
2 hours. When tires are warm, the tire
inflation pressure increases.
Inflation pressure for original
equipment tiresYou will find tire inflation pressures on
the inside door pillar.Inflation pressure for other tire
sizesThe table on the next page provides the
correct inflation pressures for tires at
ambient temperature, in psi/kilopascal.
After correcting the inflation pres-
sure(s), always reinitialize the Flat
Tire Monitor, refer to page 100.< 530de225
Tire inflation pressure

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Tire inflation pressureBMW Tires
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires,
cold = ambient temperature
X5 3.0i
X5 4.4i235/65 R 17 104 H M+S
255/55 R 18 105 H, V M+S
255/55 R 18 105 V
235/65 R 17 104 Q M+S
255/55 R 18 105 Q M+S32/220 32/220 32/220 39/270
Front: 255/50 R 19 103 V
Rear: 285/45 R 19 107 V
Front: 275/40 R 20 102 W
Rear: 315/35 R 20 106 W32/220
–
32/220
––
32/220
–
32/22032/220
–
32/220
––
39/270
–
39/270
X5 4.8is255/55 R 18 105 Q M+S
Front: 275/40 R 20 102 W
Rear: 315/35 R 20 106 W32/220
32/220
–35/240
–
35/24033/230
33/230
–39/270
–
39/270
You will find additional information on permissible loads and weights on page 180.

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Replacing wheels/tires Snow chains
*
The right wheels and tires
BMW recommends that you use
only wheel and tire combinations
that BMW has tested and approved for
your particular vehicle. Variations in
factors such as manufacturing toler-
ances mean that even wheels and tires
with identical official size ratings could
actually have different dimensions than
the approved units – these differences
could lead to body contact, and with it
the risk of severe accidents. If non-
approved wheels and tires are used,
BMW cannot evaluate their suitability,
and therefore cannot be held liable for
driving safety.<
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single
tread configuration from a single manu-
facturer. After a flat tire, always remem-
ber to have the original wheel and tire
combination remounted on the vehicle
as soon as possible.
Special features of winter tires BMW recommends winter tires for use
in cold winter driving conditions.
Although all-season M+S tires provide
better winter traction than summer
tires, they generally fail to provide the
same levels of cold-weather perfor-
mance as winter tires.
When switching to winter tires, observe
the description under Tire condition,
page 143, and Replacing wheels/tires.
Observing speed ratings:
Never exceed the maximum
speed for which the winter tires
are rated. Unprofessional attempts by
laymen to service tires can lead to dam-
age and accidents. Have this work per-
formed by skilled professionals only.
The technicians at your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center will be glad to
assist you with the required profes-
sional knowledge and specialized
equipment. place, protecting them against light
whenever possible. Always protect tires
against all contact with oil, grease and
fuels.
Do not exceed the maximum tire infla-
tion pressure indicated on the side wall
of the tire.
Only certain snow chains have been
tested by BMW and classified and
approved as safe. Consult your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle center for
details. BMW recommends only using
these approved, narrow-link snow
chains. Use is only permitted in pairs on
the rear wheels with the following tire
sizes:
X5 4.8is: 255/55 R 18
All other models: 235/65 R 17
Observe the manufacturer's instruc-
tions when installing snow chains.
Do not exceed a maximum speed of
30 mph/50 km/h.
After mounting snow chains, do
not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor.
When you are driving with snow chains,
it can be beneficial to switch off DSC
briefly, refer to page 95.<

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Brake fluidBrake fluid level
If the warning lamp lights up
or the message "CHECK
BRAKE FLUID" appears in the
Check Control: stop immedi-
ately. The brake fluid in the res-
ervoir has fallen to below the
minimum level.
Add brake fluid The brake fluid reservoir is located
under the microfilter housing trim panel
on the driver's side of the vehicle. For
adding brake fluid or for determining
and correcting the cause of brake fluid
loss, consult your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center. Your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center is familiar with
the specifications for factory-approved
DOT 4 brake fluids.
Brake fluid loss may result in extended
brake pedal travel. For this situation,
refer to the notes on page 139.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, that is,
it absorbs moisture from the air
over time.
In order to ensure the safety and reli-
ability of the brake system, have the
brake fluid changed every two years by
a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center.
Refer also to the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models or
the Warranty and Service Guide Book-
let for Canadian models.
Brake fluid is toxic and also damages
vehicle paintwork. Always store these
agents in tightly-closed original con-
tainers kept well away from the reach of
children.
Do not spill the fluid and do not refill the
brake fluid reservoir to beyond the MAX
mark. The brake fluid could ignite upon
contact with hot engine parts and
cause serious burns.<
Always observe all applicable
environmental rules and regula-
tions when disposing of used brake
fluid.<

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Under the cargo floor cover in a pocket.
530us106
Front 1. Move the wiper to a fold-out posi-
tion, refer to page 71
2. Lift the wiper arm and press the
securing 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
ignition key to position 1 or 2 again. If
you do not, they could be damaged.< 530de300
Rear 1. Hold the wiper blade on the window
and remove/unclip the wiper arm at
the articulated joint, refer to arrow
2. Insert a new wiper blade and press it
on/clip it into the wiper arm.
Use only wiper blades approved
by BMW.< 530de301
Onboard tool kit Windshield wiper blades

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Changing a tire What you will need In order to avoid rattling noises later,
note the position of the tools when you
remove them and return them to their
original position when you are through
using them.
>Two wedges – wheel chocks
Open the liftgate and tailgate.
Raise floor panel flap or pull-out
cargo-area floor panel extension,
refer to pages 127, 128, 129.
Remove the chocks, refer to arrow,
next to the spare tire 530us117
>Lug wrench
Located beside the spare wheel 530us120
>Handle for the jack
Remove from its holder530de405