Reference
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Driving tips
Mobility
97
4.Place the lamp base with the lower edge
against the bracket and press it in until the
lamp base locks in place.
Make sure that the cover does not fall into
the engine compartment, as otherwise
the vehicle can be damaged or other road users
can be endangered.<
Front passenger side
Before replacing the bulb, remove the reservoir
of the windshield washer system from the
bracket, refer to Halogen low beams on
page96.
For bulb replacement procedure, refer to
Driver's side.
Xenon lamps*
The service life of these bulbs is very long and
the probability of a failure is very low, provided
that they are not switched on and off an unusual
number of times. If one of these bulbs should
nevertheless fail, it is possible to continue driv-
ing with great caution using the fog lamps, pro-
vided traffic laws in your area do not prohibit
this.
To avoid risk of potentially fatal injuries:
owing to the extremely high voltages at
which these units operate, service work should
always be entrusted to qualified personnel.<
Parking and roadside parking lamps
5 Watt bulb
In case of a malfunction, please contact your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
Turn signal, front
21 watt bulb Access to the turn signal is at the edge of the
lamp unit, refer to arrow.
Make sure that the lamp base does not fall
into the engine compartment, as other-
wise the vehicle can be damaged or other road
users can be endangered.<
1.Turn the lamp base and remove it.
2.Replace the bulb.
3.Insert the lamp base. If it does not snap in
place immediately, turn the lamp base until
it does.
Side-mounted turn signals
5 Watt bulb
1.Use finger pressure against the rear end of
the lamp, refer to arrow, to press it forward
for removal.
2.Apply gentle pressure to the bulb while
turning it to the left and pull it out.
3.Install in the reverse order.
Front fog lamps
H11 bulb, 55 watts
Always wear gloves and eye protection –
the atmosphere within the bulb is pres-
surized. Failure to observe this precaution can
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Do not remove the covers, and never
stare into the unfiltered light for several
hours, as irritation of the retina could result.<
Changing a wheel
Safety precautions to observe in the
event of a flat tire and during all tire
changes:
Park the vehicle as far as possible from passing
traffic. Park on a firm, flat, surface. Switch on the
hazard warning flashers.
Lock the steering wheel in straight-ahead set-
ting of the wheels. Engage the handbrake and
engage first gear, reverse gear or selector-lever
setting P.
All passengers should be outside the vehicle
and well away from your immediate working
area, behind a guardrail, for instance.
If a warning triangle or portable hazard warning
lamp is required, set it up on the roadside at an
appropriate distance from the rear of the vehi-
cle. Comply with all safety guidelines and regu-
lations.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm surface
which is not slippery. The vehicle or the jack
could slip to the side if you attempt to raise the
vehicle on a soft or slippery surface such as
snow, ice, tiles, etc.
Position the jack on a firm support surface.
Do not use a wooden block or similar object as a
support base for the jack, as this would prevent
it from extending to its full support height and
reduce its load-carrying capacity.
To avoid serious or fatal injury: never lie under
the vehicle, and never start the engine while it is
supported by the jack.<
What you will need
Open tailgate and raise or remove floor cover,
refer to page69.
1Vehicle jack
2Chock
3Lug wrench
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.
Compact wheel
The compact wheel is located under the cargo
area on the floor of the vehicle.
1.Unscrew bolt, refer to arrow1.
2.Fold up lifting handle, refer to arrow2.
3.Turn the handle to the left as far as possible,
refer to arrow3 on next page.
Turning the handle releases the com-
pact wheel. Weight approx. 18 Ibs./
8 kg. It must be held by the handle.<
Reference
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101
light-alloy wheels, different lug bolts may
also be required.
4.Screw in the remaining lug bolts. Tighten all
the bolts securely in a diagonal pattern.
5.Lower the jack and remove it from beneath
the vehicle.
After mounting
1.Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pattern.
To ensure safety, always have the lug
bolts checked with a calibrated
torque wrench as soon as possible to
ensure that they are tightened to the speci-
fied torque. The tightening torque is
101lbft/140Nm.<
2.Stow the defective wheel in the cargo area.
3.Check and correct the tire inflation pressure
at the earliest opportunity.
Protect valve stems and valve stem
seal caps against dirt and contamina-
tion. Dirt in valve stems is a frequent source
of gradual air loss.<
4.Reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page49.
Do not initialize the system when driv-
ing with the compact wheel.<
5.Replace the damaged tire with a new one as
soon as possible and have the new wheel
balanced.
Driving with compact wheel
Drive reservedly and do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. Do not deacti-
vate DSC, as otherwise unstable driving condi-
tions may result.<
The driving characteristics change, for example
reduced track stability on braking, extended
braking distance, and altered self-steering
characteristics in the limit range. In conjunction
with winter tires, these characteristics are more
pronounced.
Only one compact wheel may be
mounted. You should re-equip with
wheels and tires of the original size as quickly as
possible.<
Vehicle battery
Maintenance
The battery is 100 % maintenance-free, i.e., the
electrolyte will last for the life of the battery
when the vehicle is operated in a temperate cli-
mate. Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center
will be happy to consult you on all questions
concerning the battery.
Warning lamp
The warning lamp lights up. The bat-
tery is no longer being charged. The
alternator V-belt is defective or there is
a malfunction in the charge current circuit of the
alternator. Have the system checked immedi-
ately.
Do not continue driving if the V-belt is
defective. The engine could be damaged
due to overheating.
Moreover, an increased amount of force is
required for steering if there is a sharp drop in
the onboard supply voltage.<
Charging battery
Charge the battery in the vehicle only when the
engine is not running. Use the connections pro-
vided in the engine compartment. For connec-
tions, refer to Jump starting on page104.
Disposal
Have old batteries disposed of following
replacement at your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center or bring them to a collection
point. Maintain the battery in an upright position
for transport and storage. Always secure the
battery to prevent it from tipping over during
transport.<
Giving and receiving assistance
104
First-aid kit*
Beneath the front passenger's seat.
To open: pull the handle and fold the cover
downward.
To close: fold the cover up.
Some of the articles in the first-aid kit may
be used within a limited time only. There-
fore, check the expiration dates of the contents
regularly and replace the contents in a timely
fashion as needed. You can find replacements
in any pharmacy. Always observe all legal regu-
lations requiring a first-aid kit to be carried in the
vehicle.<
Jump starting
When your battery is discharged, you can use
two jumper cables to start your vehicle with
power from the battery in a second vehicle. You
can also use the same method to help start
another vehicle. Use only jumper cables with
fully-insulated clamp handles.
To avoid the risk of potentially fatal injury,
always avoid all contact with electrical
components while the engine is running. Care-
fully observe the following instructions to avoid
personal injury and/or damage to one or both
vehicles.<
Preparing
1.Check whether the battery of the other
vehicle has a voltage of 12 Volts and
approximately the same capacitance in Ah.
This information can be found on the bat-
tery.2.Switch off the engine of the vehicle provid-
ing assistance.
3.Switch off any electrical systems and com-
ponents in both vehicles.
Ensure that no contact exists between
the bodywork on the two vehicles, other-
wise there is a danger of short circuits.<
Connecting jumper cables
To avoid personal injury from sparks,
always follow this sequence when con-
necting jumper cables.<
On your BMW, the auxiliary terminal for jump
starting in the engine compartment serves as
the battery positive terminal, refer also to
engine compartment overview on page89.
The symbol + is embossed on the cover.
1.Open the cover of the BMW auxiliary termi-
nal for jump starting, refer to arrow1.
2.Connect one terminal clamp of the posi-
tive/+ jumper cable to the positive terminal
of the battery or an auxiliary terminal of the
vehicle providing starting assistance.
3.Connect the second terminal clamp of the
positive/+ jumper cable to the positive ter-
minal of the battery or to an auxiliary termi-
nal of the vehicle to be started.
Your BMW has a special nut that serves as the
body ground or negative terminal, refer to
arrow2.
4.Attach one end of the jumper cable minus/–
to the negative terminal of the battery or to
an engine or body ground of the vehicle
providing assistance.
Reference
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Driving tips
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105
5.Connect the second terminal clamp of the
negative/– jumper cable to the negative ter-
minal of the battery or to the engine or body
ground of the vehicle to be started.
Starting engine
1.Start the assisting vehicle's engine and let it
run at an increased idling speed for a few
minutes.
2.Start the engine on the other vehicle in the
usual way.
If the first start attempt is not successful,
wait a few minutes before another attempt
in order to allow the discharged battery to
recharge.
3.Let the engines run for a few minutes.
4.Disconnect the jumper cables by reversing
the connection sequence.
If necessary, have the battery checked and
recharged at a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center.
Never use spray fluids to start the
engine.<
Tow-starting and towing
Use tow fitting
The threaded tow fitting is stored in the
onboard tool kit, refer to page95, and must
always remain in the vehicle. It can be screwed
in at the front or rear of the BMW.
To avoid damage to the tow fitting and the
vehicle, observe the following: only use
the tow fitting that comes with the vehicle and
screw it in as far as it will go. Only use the tow
fitting to tow on roads. Avoid lateral loading of
the tow fitting, e.g. do not lift the vehicle by the
tow fitting.<
Access to screw thread
Press out the cover in the front or rear bumper
at the notch at the bottom with a screwdriver.
Being towed
Make sure that the ignition key is in posi-
tion 1, as otherwise the steering lock will
engage, making it impossible to steer the vehi-
cle. There is no power assist with the engine
stopped. It is then necessary to exert increased
effort for braking and steering.<
Switch on the hazard warning flashers depend-
ing on the local regulations. If the electrical sys-
tem fails, mark the vehicle to be towed, e.g. with
a sign or warning triangle in the rear window.
Do not exceed a towing speed of 30 mph/
50 km/h and a towing distance of
95 miles/150 km, as otherwise the drive train
may be damaged.<
Vehicles with manual transmission
Gear lever in neutral.
Vehicles with automatic transmission
Selector lever in N.
Towing methods
In some countries, towing with tow bars or
ropes on public roads is not permitted.
Familiarize yourself with the regulations on tow-
ing in the respective country.
With tow bar
The towing vehicle may not be lighter
than the vehicle to be towed, as otherwise
it will not be possible to control vehicle
response.<
Giving and receiving assistance
106 The tow fittings used should be on the same
side on both vehicles. Should it prove impossi-
ble to avoid mounting the tow bar at an offset
angle, please observe the following:
>Clearance and maneuvering capability will
be strictly limited in corners.
>When mounted at an angle, the tow bar will
exert lateral forces, tending to push the
vehicle sideways.
Secure the tow bar to the tow fitting only.
Otherwise damage could result on other
vehicle parts.<
With tow-rope
When starting off in the towing vehicle, make
sure that the tow-rope is taut.
To avoid jerking and the associated
stresses on vehicle components when
towing, always use nylon ropes or nylon straps.
Secure the tow-rope on the tow fitting only.
Otherwise damage could result on other vehicle
parts.<
With tow truck
Do not tow the X3 with only the front or
rear axle raised, as otherwise the wheels
could lock and the transfer case could be dam-
aged.<
Only have the X3 transported on a load bed.
Tow-starting
Do not tow-start vehicles with an auto-
matic transmission.
Jump starting, refer to page104.<
Vehicles with a catalytic converter should only
be tow-started when the engine is cold. It is bet-
ter to jump start the engine, refer to page104.
1.Switch on the hazard warning flashers,
comply with country-specific regulations.
2.Turn the ignition key to position 2.
3.Engage the 3rd gear.
4.Have the vehicle tow-started with the clutch
pedal completely depressed and slowly
release the clutch. After the engine starts,
immediately depress the clutch pedal com-
pletely again.
5.Stop at a suitable location, remove the tow
bar or rope and switch off the hazard warn-
ing flashers.
6.Have the vehicle checked.
Do not activate the HDC Hill Descent
Control during tow-starting, refer to
page48.<
Technical data
110
Technical data
Engine specifications
X3 2.5iX3 3.0i
Displacement
Number of cylinderscu in/cmµ152,2/2,494
6181,8/2,979
6
Maximum output
at engine speedhp
rpm184
6,000225
5,900
Maximum torque
at engine speedlb-ft/Nm
rpm175/237
3,500214/290
3,500
An engine performance test is authorized only on an appropriate chassis dynamometer.
Technical data
112
Weights
Capacities
X3 2.5iX3 3.0i
Curb weight
with manual transmission
with automatic transmissionlbs./kg
lbs./kg4,001/1,815
4,045/1,8354,023/1,825
4,067/1,845
Approved gross vehicle weight
with manual transmission
with automatic transmissionlbs./kg
lbs./kg4,993/2,265
5,049/2,2905,049/2,290
5,104/2,315
Payload
with manual transmission
with automatic transmissionlbs./kg
lbs./kg992/450
1,003/4551,025/465
1,036/470
Approved front axle load lbs./kg 2,425/1,100 2,425/1,100
Approved rear axle load lbs./kg 2,756/1,250 2,778/1,260
Approved roof load capacity lbs./kg 165/75 165/75
Cargo area capacity cu ft/l 71/2,011 71/2,011
Never exceed either the approved axle loads or the gross vehicle weight.
Notes
Fuel tank
Reserve gal./liters
gal./litersapprox. 17.7/67
approx. 2/8Fuel specification:
page81
Windshield washer/
headlamp washer systemquarts/liters approx. 3.2/3.0
approx. 6.9/6.5For details: page90
Engine oil and filter change quarts/liters approx. 6.6/6.2 For details: page90