2005 BMW X3 2.5I light

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
65
Storage compartment in the
instrument panel*
Opening
Press the button in the direction of the arrow.
Closing
Fold the cover down.
Storage package*
Your convenience is enhanced by:
>Armrest, front
>Sliding lashing eyes in cargo area, refer to
page69
>Floor cover in cargo area that can be used in
two positions, refer to page69
>Nets in cargo area, on rear side of front seat,
and in passenger footwell
Clothes hooks
When suspending clothing from the
hooks ensure that it will not obstruct the
driver's vision. Do not hang heavy objects on
the hooks. If you do so, they could cause endan-
ger passengers during braking or evasive
maneuvers.<
Ashtray*
Press the edge of the opened cover: the ashtray
moves up and can be removed.
On vehicles with the non-smoking package, the
insert is removed in the same way.
Lighter*
Press in the cigarette lighter1.
The lighter can be removed as soon as it pops
out.
Hold or touch the hot cigarette lighter by
the knob only. Holding or touching it in
other areas could result in burns.
The cigarette lighter remains operational when
the ignition key has been removed. For this rea-
son, do not leave unsupervised children in the
vehicle.<
Power socket
The cigarette lighter socket can be used as a
power socket to plug in hand flashlights, car
vacuum cleaners, etc., with power ratings of up
to approx. 200 W at 12 V. Avoid damage to the
socket caused by inserting plugs of a different
shape or size. With the non-smoker's equip-
ment package the socket is covered with a
removable cap.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
67
Inserting ski bag
The ski bag is located in the cargo area under
the floor cover.
1.Fold down the center armrest and pull off
the cover.
2.Remove the tray behind the cover with a
screwdriver by applying it at the application
point in the center of the tray.
3.Position the ski bag on the lower edge of the
opening, refer to arrow 1, then insert it, refer
to arrow 2.
Removing ski bag
Pull the handle forward and remove the ski bag
upward.
Do not position cargo at the opening. If
you do, it can endanger the passengers
during braking or evasive maneuvers.<
Cargo area
When loading, follow the instructions on
page74.
Folding rear seat back
Reach into the opening and pull forward, refer
to arrow.
When you fold back the backrest, be sure
that the catch engages securely. Proper
engagement causes the red warning field in the
recess to disappear.<
Ski bag*
To create a flat load area floor, you can remove
the ski bag and replace it with a tray before fold-
ing the rear backrest forward. The tray is
inserted in the same way as inserting the ski
bag, refer to Inserting ski bag.
Cargo area cover
Pull the cargo area cover out by the handle and
hook it into the rear holders.
You can carry light objects such as articles of
clothing on the cargo area cover.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
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Mobility
69
Floor cover
Opening
For access to the jack etc.
To open, raise the cover by the handle, refer to
arrow.
If required, you can remove or raise the floor
cover.
Raising
Swing up the floor cover and hook it onto the
handle of the cargo area cover by its catch.
Lashing eyes, rail*
You can secure load-securing devices to the
lashing eyes on the cargo area floor. The lashing eyes are located in the cargo area
under the floor cover. They can be inserted at
the openings in the rails. To slide the lashing
eyes, press the button.
Read and comply with the information
enclosed with the load-securing
devices.<
Power socket
Access to power socket:
Fold the cover upward.
The socket can be used to plug in hand flash-
lights, car vacuum cleaners etc., with power rat-
ings of up to approx. 200 W at 12 V. Do not
damage the socket with unsuitable plugs, also
refer to page65.

Things to remember when driving
72
Things to remember when driving
Breaking-in
Moving parts should be allowed to adjust to one
another. To ensure that your vehicle provides
maximum economy throughout a long service
life, we request that you observe the following
instructions.
Engine and differential
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km:
Drive at varying engine and driving speeds,
however do not exceed 4,500 rpm or 100 mph/
160 km/h in the process:
Always obey all official speed limits.
Refrain from using full throttle and avoid press-
ing the accelerator beyond the kick-down point.
Once you have driven 1,200 miles/2,000 km,
the engine and vehicle speeds can be gradually
increased.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac-
tion potential until after an initial break-in
period. For this reason, drive with extra care
during the initial 200 miles/300 km.
Obey your local and state maximum speed lim-
its.
When the vehicle is operated on wet or
slushy roads, a wedge of water may form
between the tire and the road surface. This phe-
nomenon is referred to as hydroplaning and can
lead to partial or complete loss of traction, vehi-
cle control and braking effectiveness. Reduce
your speed on wet roads.<
Brake system
Approx. 300 miles/500 km must elapse before
the brake pads and rotors achieve the optimal
pad-surface and wear patterns required for
trouble-free operation and long service life later
on. To break in the separate handbrake drums,
apply the handbrake lightly when coasting to a
stop – at a traffic signal, for instance; use cau-
tion to avoid posing a danger to other road
users.
To avoid corrosion, repeat this procedure from
time to time.
The brake lamps do not come on when the
handbrake is applied.
Vacuum for the brake system servo unit
on your BMW is available only when the
engine is running. When you move the vehicle
with the engine off – e.g. by towing – substan-
tially higher levels of pedal force will be required
to brake the vehicle.<
Clutch
The functio n of the clutch is als o only at its o pti-
mized level after a distance driven of approx.
300 miles/500 km. During this break-in period,
engage the clutch gently.
Following component replacements
Observe the break-in instructions again if previ-
ously addressed components must be replaced
again during driving later.
General driving notes
Closing tailgate
Operate the vehicle only when the tail-
gate is completely closed, as otherwise
exhaust fumes could enter the interior of the
vehicle.<
If special circumstances should make it abso-
lutely necessary to operate the vehicle with the
tailgate open:
1.Close all windows and the panorama glass
sunroof.
2.Greatly increase the air supply of the air
conditioner or automatic climate control,
refer to page56 or59.

Things to remember when driving
74 Pulsation at the brake pedal combined with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits indicates to
the driver that ABS is in its active mode.
Wet roads
While driving in wet conditions and in heavy
rain, it is a good idea to apply light pressure to
the brake pedal every few miles. Watch traffic
conditions to ensure that this maneuver does
not endanger other road users. The heat which
is generated by the brake applications helps to
dry the brake pads and rotors. The full braking
force will then be available when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and reduced effi-
ciency of the brake system, drive long or
steep downhill gradients in the gear in which
the least braking is required. Otherwise, even
light but consistent pedal pressure can lead to
high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.<
You can further enhance the engine's braking
effect by selecting a lower gear in the automatic
transmission's manual mode, downshifting as
far as first gear on extremely steep stretches,
refer to page37. This strategy helps you avoid
placing excessive loads on the brake system.
During slower downhill driving, use the HDC Hill
Descent Control, refer to page48.
Never drive with the clutch engaged, the
transmission in Neutral or with the engine
switched off, as otherwise there is no engine
braking when the transmission is in neutral, and
no power-assist for brakes and steering with
the engine switched off.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or other objects
to protrude into the area around the brake or
accelerator pedals and obstruct their move-
ment.<
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally,
during extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all, and in operating conditions where
brake applications are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion to form on
rotors, while contaminants accumulate on the
brake pads. This occurs because the minimal
pressure which must be exerted by the pads
during brake applications to clean the rotors is
not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating
effect that even extended application will fail to
cure.
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage
develops inside the tires. The ultimate result
can assume the form of a sudden air loss.<
Determining load limit
1.Locate the following statement on your
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX Ibs. or YYY kg, as otherwise the vehicle
may be damaged and unstable driving con-
ditions may result.<
2.Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
75
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passengers from XXX lbs. or YYY kg.
4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the XXX amount equals
990 lbs. and there will be five 150-lbs. pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is
240 lbs.:
990 lbs. minus 750 lbs. = 240 lbs.
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated
in step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, part of
the load from your trailer will be transferred
to your vehicle. Consult the manual for
transporting a trailer to determine how this
may reduce the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
Load
The permitted load is the total of the weight of
occupants and cargo/luggage. The greater the
weight of occupants, the less cargo/luggage
can be transported.
Stowing cargo
>Load heavy cargo as far forward and as low
as possible, placing it directly behind the
bulkhead behind the rear seats.
>Cover sharp edges and corners.
>Pull out the partition net, refer to page68,
making sure that objects cannot penetrate
the partition net.
>Do not stack cargo higher than the upper
edge of the backrests.
>Items that could bump against the rear win-
dow while driving must be adequately cov-
ered.
>For very heavy cargo when the rear seat is
not occupied, secure each safety belt in the
opposite buckle.
Securing cargo
>Use the luggage net* to hold down small
and lightweight luggage and cargo, refer to
page68.
>For larger and heavier pieces, heavy-duty
cargo straps
* are available from your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center. Lashing
eyes for attaching these heavy-duty cargo
straps have been provided in your vehicle's
cargo area, refer to page69.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
77
to dry the brakes, thus preventing a reduc-
tion in braking performance caused by the
moisture.
For cleaning the handbrake, apply the lever
slightly at approx. 25 mph/40 km/h and con-
tinue to drive for approx. 200 yards/
200 meters, provided that traffic conditions
allow you to do so.
Please bear the following points in mind after
driving on poor roads, in order to preserve the
road safety of your BMW:
>Clean the heavy dirt from the body.
>Clean mud, snow, ice and other materials
from the wheels and tires. Check the tires
for damage.

Refueling
80
Refueling
Fuel filler door
Always switch off the engine before refu-
eling, as it is not possible to add fuel with
the engine running, and attempts to do so may
also trigger the Service Engine Soon lamp.<
To open and close: press the rear edge of the
fuel filler door.
Manual release
In the event of an electrical malfunction in the
system, you can release the fuel filler door man-
ually:
1.Open the cover flap in the cargo area on the
right-hand side panel, refer to page68.
2.Pull the green button.
Always observe all applicable precautions
and regulations when handling fuels.
Never carry spare fuel containers in your vehi-
cle. Whether empty or full, these containers can
leak, cause an explosion, and lead to fire in the
event of a collision.<
Observe the following when refueling
When handling fuels, comply with all of
the applicable safety precautions posted
at the service station.<
Put the filler cap in the bracket attached to the
fuel filler door.
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle com-
pletely into the filler pipe. Lifting the filler nozzle
during refueling
>results in premature pump shutoff
>can lead to reduced efficiency in the fuel-
vapor recovery system
The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle clicks
off the first time.
Closing fuel filler cap
Fit the cap and turn it clockwise until you clearly
hear a click.
Close the filler cap carefully after refueling
until a click is heard. While closing, be
sure not to squeeze the strap which is fastened
to the cap. A loose or missing cap will activate
the Check gas cap lamp
*.<
The warning lamp
* lights up.
The fuel filler cap is not properly closed
or is missing. Check whether the fuel
filler cap is properly closed.
Fuel tank capacity
Approx. 17.7 gallons/67 liters, including the
reserve capacity of approx. 2 gallons/8 liters.