2004 BMW X5 4.8IS ESP

44n
SeatsNote before adjusting
Never try to adjust your seat while
operating the vehicle. The seat
could respond with unexpected move-
ment, and the ensuing loss of vehicle
control could lead to an accident. On
the front passenger side as well, do not
tilt the backrest too far toward the rear
while driving. Failure to observe this
precaution can prevent the belt from
providing effective protection against
injury, as the passenger could slide
under the belt in an accident.<
Seat adjustment>Mechanical seat adjustment, refer to
following columns
>Power seat adjustment, refer to
page 46
>Head restraints, refer to page 47
>Power rear-seat backrest adjustment,
refer to page 48.

55n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
MirrorsInterior and exterior mirrors,
automatic dimming feature
*
These mirrors dim steplessly during for-
ward driving when struck by light. There
are two photocells located in the inte-
rior rearview mirror for this purpose.
One photocell is in the mirror glass,
refer to arrow, while the other is offset
somewhat on the back of the mirror.
For trouble-free operation, keep the
photocells clean and do not cover the
area between the interior rearview mir-
ror and the windshield. Do not attach
any kind of stickers on the windshield in
front of the mirror, either. 530us245
Compass interior mirror
* with
automatic dimming feature

1Setting button
2Display
The direction in which you are currently
driving is indicated.
The respective compass zone must be
set depending on where you are with
your vehicle. To do this, press the set-
ting button on the lower edge of the
interior mirror approx. 3 – 4 seconds.
The number of the current compass
zone appears in the display.530de409
To change the zone setting, press the
setting button repeatedly until the num-
ber of the compass zone which corre-
sponds to your location is displayed.
Refer to the following world map with
compass zones.
The compass is ready for use again
after approx. 10 seconds.
For instructions on the automatic anti-
glare control, refer to Interior and exte-
rior mirrors, automatic dimming feature.

57n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Airbags1Front airbag for driver and front pas-
senger
2Side Impact Head Protection System
for front and rear
3Side airbags for front and rear
*
Protective effect The front airbags supplement the safety
belts by helping to provide additional
protection for the front-seat occupants
in the event of a severe frontal impact in
which the protection afforded by the
safety belts alone may no longer be suf-
ficient. The Side Impact Head Protec-
tion System and the side airbags help
provide protection in the event of a side
impact. Each of the side airbags is
designed to help support the upper
body. The respective head airbag sup-
ports the head.530us035
For information on the correct sitting
position, refer to page 43.
The airbags do not deploy in
response to minor accidents or
rear collisions, nor do they respond to
certain kinds of vehicle rollover.<
Do not apply adhesive materials to
the cover panels of the airbags,
cover them or modify them in any other
way. Do not attempt to remove the air-
bag restraint system from the vehicle. If
you note any indication of system mal-
function, if you desire to have an airbag
deactivated, or if the airbag retention
system is triggered in response to an
accident, you should always entrust all
inspection, repair and dismantling oper-
ations to your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center. Do not modify or tamper
with either the wiring or the individual
components in the airbag system.
These include the padded steering
wheel hub, the instrument cluster, the
side trim panels of the front or rear
doors and the roof pillars or the sides of
the headliner. Do not remove or dis-
mantle the steering wheel yourself.
To ensure compliance with official
safety regulations, entrust disposal of
airbag generators to a BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center. Unprofessional
attempts to service the system could
lead to failure in an emergency or
undesired airbag activation, either of
which could result in personal injury.
Do not touch the individual components
directly after the system has been trig-
gered, as otherwise there is a danger of
burns.<
At all times, occupants should sit
upright and be properly restrained
– infants and small children in appropri-
ate child-restraint systems; larger chil-
dren and adults using the safety belts.
Never let an occupant's head rest near
or on a side airbag because the inflating
airbag could cause a serious or fatal
injury. Please note that the word Airbag
imprinted on the door trim panel indi-
cates the airbag's location.
Accident research shows that the saf-
est place for children in an automobile
is in the rear seat. However, a child sit-
ting 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 – even though belted –
may fall asleep with his or her head
against the side airbag. It may be diffi-
cult for a driver to ensure that children
in the rear seat will remain properly

59n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Airbags Transporting children safely Airbag system operational
The warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster indicates the oper-
ational readiness of the entire
airbag system and the safety belt ten-
sioners as of ignition key position 1.
The warning lamp goes out after a few
seconds.
Airbag system malfunction
Have the airbag system checked
immediately if a malfunction
occurs, as otherwise there is a danger
of the system failing to respond in the
expected manner to an impact occur-
ring within its normal response range.<
A fault has occurred in the air-
bag system:
>Warning lamp does not light up as of
ignition key position 1
>Warning lamp lights up continuously
>Warning lamp lights up while the
vehicle is being driven.
The right place for children Children always in the rear:
Accident research shows that the saf-
est place for children in a vehicle is in
the rear seat.
Older children should be tightly secured
with a safety belt, after they have out-
grown a booster seat that is appropri-
ate 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 –
even though belted – may fall asleep
with his or her head against the side air-
bag. It may be difficult for a driver to
ensure that children in the rear seat will
remain properly positioned at all times
and do not place their heads on or near
the side airbag. Therefore, we recom-
mend that the rear side airbags, if pro-
vided, be deactivated if you plan to
transport children in the rear seat.<
Child-restraint systems in the rearChild-restraint systems appropriate for
every age group and weight are avail-
able at your BMW Sports Activity Vehi-
cle center.
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 secured
with the vehicle's safety belts.<
No universal child-restraint sys-
tems facing the rear of the vehicle
may be mounted on the rear seats.
If you want to use a rearward-facing
child-restraint system in the rear, then
the BMW Baby Seat with or without the
LATCH child-restraint fixing is suitable
for this purpose.<
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 sitting positions in your
vehicle meet the recommendations of
SAE J1819, an industry-recommended
practice for securing child-restraint sys-
tems in motor vehicles.

80n
Check Control >CHECK BRAKE FLUID
Level has dropped approx. to mini-
mum. Have the brake fluid topped up
as soon as possible, refer to
page 151. Have the reason for the
brake fluid loss eliminated by your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center
>DSC/4x4 INACTIVE
DSC and/or 4-wheel drive system
xDrive has failed.
The stabilizing interventions of DSC
and/or the 4-wheel drive system
xDrive are no longer available. Drive
may then only be carried out via the
rear axle.
Have the system checked at the
nearest BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
center.
For additional information, refer to
page 95
>SELFLEVEL SUSP.INACT
*
Please consult the nearest BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle center
>SELFLEVEL SUSP.INACT*
MAX. 35 MPH/MAX. 60 KM/H
*
These messages are displayed con-
secutively.
Do not exceed a maximum speed of
35 mph/60 km/h.
Please consult the nearest BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle center>TRANSMISS'N OVERHEAT
*
Reduce speed immediately and stop
at a suitable location so that the sys-
tem can cool down again. Please
contact the nearest BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center
>LIMIT
*
Display when the programmed road-
speed limit is exceeded, refer to
page 87.
Priority 2
These displays appear for 20 seconds
as of ignition key position 2. The warn-
ing symbols remain after the message
disappears. You can open the mes-
sages again for display by pressing the
CHECK button.
>TRUNKLID OPEN
This message only appears when
starting off
>DOOR OPEN
This message appears after a mini-
mal defined road speed has been
exceeded
>FASTEN SEAT BELTS
*
In addition, the indicator lamp with
the belt symbol lights up and an
acoustic signal sounds
>WASHER FLUID LOW
Too low, top up at the next opportu-
nity, refer to page 148>CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV
The oil level is at the absolute mini-
mum point. Therefore, have the
engine oil topped up as soon as pos-
sible, refer to page 148. Until then,
do not drive more than approx.
30 miles/50 km
>CHECK GAS CAP
Check to see whether the fuel filler
cap has been closed properly, refer
to page 25
>OUTSIDE TEMP. +237/–56
This display is only an example. The
current temperature is displayed at
outside temperatures of +37.57/
+36 and below, refer also to
page 75
>CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS
A lamp has failed or the electrical
circuit has a fault, refer to page 161
or consult a BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center
>CHECK LOWBEAM LIGHTS
CHECK SIDE LIGHTS
CHECK REAR LIGHTS
CHECK FRONT FOGLAMPS
CHECK LICPLATE LIGHT
CHECK HIGHBEAM LIGHT
CHECK BACK UP LIGHTS
The respective lamp may have failed
or the electrical circuit may be defec-

93n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
PDC Park Distance Control
* Antilock Brake System
Signal tones The distance from an object is indicated
in front with a higher intermittent tone,
and at the rear with a lower intermittent
tone. 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 nearest object
falls to below roughly 1 ft/30 cm.
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. 3 seconds if you are moving
parallel to a wall.
If there is a malfunction of the system:
The indicator lamp flashes and a short
steady signal tone is sounded
>if you activate PDC with the button
>when you select reverse for the first
time after switching on the ignition
>if a malfunction occurs while the PDC
system is active.
Switch the system off and have the
cause of the malfunction corrected by
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle cen-
ter. Even with PDC, final responsibility
for estimating the distance
between the vehicle and any obstruc-
tions always remains with the driver.
Even when sensors are involved, there
is a blind spot in which objects cannot
be detected. This applies especially in
those cases where the system
approaches the physical constraints of
ultrasonic measurement, as occurs with
tow bars and trailer couplings, and in
the vicinity of thin or wedge-shaped
objects. 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 out-
side the vehicle, could drown out the
PDC signal 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.
The concept The ABS Antilock Brake System keeps
the wheels from locking during braking,
thereby enhancing active driving safety.
The vehicle continues to be steerable
during hard braking.
ABS also includes EBV Electronic
brake-force distribution.
Safe braking, refer to page 139.EBV Electronic brake-force
distributionEBV controls the brake system's appli-
cation pressure at the rear wheels to
ensure stable deceleration.DBC Dynamic Brake ControlThe Dynamic Brake Control actively
supports the driver in dangerous brak-
ing situations. When you apply the
brake pedal rapidly, the system
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 application. DBC is deactivated
when you release the brake pedal.

94n
Antilock Brake System DSC Dynamic Stability Control MalfunctionBe sure to observe the information on
the lamp combination which may light
up on page 20.
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 stabil-
ity during acceleration and when start-
ing from a standstill. The system recog-
nizes any tendency for the vehicle to
assume an unstable attitude such as
oversteer or understeer; it then coun-
teracts this tendency with a combina-
tion of graduated reductions in engine
torque and selective braking interven-
tion at individual wheels. DSC provides
optimized stability within the limits
defined by the laws of physics.
The laws of physics cannot be
repealed, even with DSC. An
appropriate driving style always
remains the responsibility of the driver.
We therefore urge you to avoid using
the additional safety margin of the sys-
tem as an excuse for taking risks.
Do not make any modifications to the
DSC system. Never allow anyone other
than authorized professional techni-
cians to carry out service or repairs on
the system.<
Indicator lamps The indicator lamps in the instrument
cluster goes out shortly after you switch
on the ignition,
The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC is active and governs drive
and braking force.
The indicator lamp stays lit:
DSC has been switched off using the
button and the stabilizing interventions
are no longer available.

97n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Self-leveling suspension
*
2-axle self-leveling suspension
*
The warning lamp for the self-
leveling suspension comes on,
or the message "SELFLEVEL
SUSP.INACT" appears in the Check
Control: there is a malfunction in the
self-leveling suspension.
Stop and inspect the vehicle. If the rear
of the vehicle is visibly lower than the
front, possibly accompanied by a tilt
noticeable when you compare the left
rear with the right rear, please respond
by immediately proceeding to the near-
est BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center.
Drive with appropriate caution in the
meantime. The vehicle has reduced
ground clearance and driving comfort
may be noticeably reduced.
Even when the position of the vehicle is
normal, have the system checked as
soon as possible when a malfunction is
indicated.
The concept Your vehicle is equipped with 2-axle
self-leveling suspension acting on both
the front and rear suspension. This sys-
tem combines automatic self-leveling,
which compensates for variations in
front-to-rear load-distribution patterns,
with a selection feature allowing drivers
to choose from among several ride-
height options.
You may choose from among the fol-
lowing ride heights:
>Normal
The standard setting is intended for
most operating conditions, including
trailer towing
>Off-Road
Increased level for more ground
clearance
>Access
Lowers vehicle for more convenient
cargo handling or easier passenger
entries and exits.
Changes in ride height are initiated
either manually, using the control but-
ton, refer to page 98, or automatically in
response to specific speeds. When the
ride height is selected manually, the
driver has the additional option of revis-
ing the ride-height selection by entering a new command during the adjustment
process.
When the vehicle is stationary, the sys-
tem executes ride-height changes in
both directions – up and down – when-
ever the doors are closed. The liftgate/
tailgate may be open. The system
raises the vehicle only when the engine
is running.
The system's automatic self-leveling
feature automatically compensates for
variations in the vehicle's load.
Frequent changes in ride height
initiated at short intervals can
overheat the compressor, causing the
system to briefly suspend active opera-
tion.<