ContentsOperation, maintenance
Owner service procedures
Special operating instructions:
Breaking-in136
General driving notes137
Driving your X5138
Safe braking140
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure141
Tire identification marks143
Wheel/tire condition144
Replacing wheels/tires146
Snow chains147
Under the hood:
Hood148
Engine compartment
essentials149
Washer fluid150
Engine oil150
Coolant152
Brake fluid153Care and maintenance:
The BMW Maintenance
System154
OBD interface socket155Replacement procedures:
Onboard tool kit158
Windshield wiper blades158
Lamps and bulbs159
Changing a tire163
Vehicle battery168
Fuses169
Assistance, giving and
receiving:
Receiving assistance170
Jump starting171
Tow-starting and towing172
9n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Status at time of printing BMW pursues a policy of continuous,
ongoing development that is conceived
to ensure that our vehicles continue to
embody the highest quality and safety
standards combined with advanced,
state-of-the-art technology. Thus in
rare circumstances, the features
described in this Owner's Manual may
differ from those of your vehicle.
For your own safety Maintenance and repair:
Advanced technology, e. g. the
use of modern materials and high-
performance electronics, requires spe-
cially adapted maintenance and repair
methods. Therefore, only have corre-
sponding work on your BMW carried
out by a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
center or a workshop that works
according to BMW repair procedures
with correspondingly trained personnel.
If work is carried out improperly there is
a danger of consequential damage and
the related safety risks.<
California Proposition 65 Warning:
California laws require us to state the
following warning:
Engine exhaust and a wide variety
of automobile components and
parts, including components found in
the interior furnishings in a vehicle, con-
tain or emit chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and
birth defects and reproductive harm.
In addition, certain fluids contained in
vehicles and certain products of com-
ponent wear contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
Battery posts, terminals and related
accessories contain lead and lead com-
pounds. Batteries also contain other
chemicals known to the State of Cali-
fornia to cause cancer. Wash your
hands after handling.
Used engine oil contains chemicals
that have caused cancer in laboratory
animals. Always protect your skin by
washing thoroughly with soap and
water.<
Parts and accessories:
For your own safety, use genuine
parts and accessories approved
by BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested
and approved by BMW and Genuine
BMW Parts, you simultaneously acquire
the assurance that they have been thor-
oughly tested by BMW to ensure opti-
mum performance when installed on
your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free
from defects in material and workman-
ship.
BMW will not accept any liability for
damages resulting from installation of
parts and accessories not approved by
BMW.
Notes
19n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Indicator and warning lamps Technology that monitors itself Indicator and warning lamps that are
identified by
+ are tested for proper
functioning whenever the ignition key is
turned. They each light up once for dif-
ferent periods of time.
If a fault should occur in one of the
monitored systems, the corresponding
lamp does not go out after the engine is
started or it lights up while the vehicle is
moving. You will see how to react to
this in the following section.
Red: stop immediately
Battery charge current
+
The battery is not being
charged. There is a malfunction
of the alternator drive belt or in the
charging circuit of the alternator. Have
the system checked immediately.
If the drive belt is defective, do not
continue driving. The engine could
be damaged due to overheating. If the
drive belt is defective, increased steer-
ing effort is also required.<
Engine oil pressure
+
Stop immediately and switch off
the engine. Check the engine oil
level; top up as required. If the oil level
is correct: have the system checked
immediately.
Do not continue driving. The
engine could be damaged
because of inadequate lubrication.<
Handbrake
*/
brake hydraulic system
+
Lights up with handbrake
engaged.
For additional information, refer to
page66
Comes on although the handbrake is
released: stop immediately. The brake
fluid in the reservoir has fallen to below
the minimum level. At the same time, a
considerably longer brake pedal travel
may be noticeable. Have the system
checked immediately.
During continued driving
increased brake pedal pressure
may be necessary, and considerably
longer braking distances may result.
Please remember to adapt your driving
style accordingly.<
Before continuing your journey, be sure
to read the notes on pages140
and153.
Also comes on in the Check Control
with the message CHECK BRAKE
LININGS.
Indication of the malfunction in
Canadian models described
above.
30n
Keys Central locking system The key set 1 Each master key with remote control
contains a long-life battery as power
supply, which is automatically
recharged in the ignition lock while
driving. It is therefore necessary to
use each master key at least twice
per year in order to maintain the
charge. Depending on which master
key the vehicle detects during
unlocking, different settings will be
requested and executed in the vehi-
cle, refer to Vehicle and Key memory
on page63.530de367
2 Spare key for storage in a safe place,
such as in your wallet.
This key does not fit in the lock of the
glove compartment. This is an advan-
tage in a hotel, for example. The key
is not intended for continuous use.Replacement keys Additional or replacement keys are
available at your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center.
The concept The central locking system is ready for
operation as soon as you close the front
doors. The system engages or releases
the locks on the
>doors
>liftgate/tailgate
>fuel filler door.
The central locking system can be
operated
>from outside via the remote control
as well as via the driver's door lock
>from inside via the button for the cen-
tral locking system.
If the system is locked from inside, the
fuel filler door remains unlocked, refer
to page34.
When the system is actuated from out-
side of the vehicle, the anti-theft system
is actuated simultaneously. This pre-
vents the doors from being unlocked via
lock buttons or door handles. The alarm
system is also armed or disarmed.
In an accident of sufficient severity the
central locking system automatically
unlocks, but only doors which have not
been locked separately with the lock
buttons, refer to page34. In addition,
the hazard warning flashers and the
interior lamps are switched on.
32n
Opening and closing: from outside
If the vehicle is locked, the tail-
gate/liftgate is also locked again
when closed.
Before and after a trip, be sure that the
tailgate/liftgate was not opened unin-
tentionally.<
Panic modeBy pressing and holding the button for
more than two seconds, you can start
the alarm system if there is an impend-
ing danger if it is armed.
To switch off the alarm
Press button.
Malfunction The remote control can be subjected
to malfunctions by local radio waves.
Should the remote control fail to oper-
ate owing to interference of this kind,
unlock and lock the vehicle via the door
lock using the master key.
If it is no longer possible to lock the
vehicle via the remote control, the bat-
tery is discharged. Use this remote con-
trol during an extended drive; this will
recharge the battery, refer to page30.
For US owners onlyThe transmitter and receiver units com-
ply with part 15 of the FCC/Federal
Communication Commission regula-
tions. Operation is governed by the fol-
lowing:
FCC ID: LX8EWS
LX8FZVS
LX8FZVE
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions:
>This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
>this device must accept any interfer-
ence received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications
to these devices could void the
user's authority to operate this equip-
ment.<
38n
Alarm system The concept The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood, or the liftgate
is opened
>To movement in the vehicle interior:
interior protection, refer to Tilt alarm
sensor and interior motion sensor
>To variations in the vehicle tilt angle
such as occur during attempts to
steal the wheels or tow the vehicle
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following:
>Sounding an acoustical alarm for
30 seconds
>The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes
>The high beams flash on and off in
the same rhythm.
Arming and disarming alarm
system When you lock or unlock the vehicle,
either with the remote control or at the
door lock, the alarm system is armed or
disarmed at the same time.
You can have different acknowl-
edgment signals set to confirm
arming and disarming.<
The liftgate can also be opened with the
system armed using the button on the
remote control, refer to page31. The
liftgate is locked again when closed.
Pressing the button longer triggers the
alarm: panic mode, refer to page32.
Indicator lamp displays >The indicator lamp below the interior
rearview mirror flashes continuously:
the system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes when the
vehicle is locked: door(s) or liftgate
are not completely closed. Even if
you do not close the alerted area, the
system begins to monitor the remain-
ing areas, and the indicator lamp
flashes continuously after 10 sec-
onds. However, the interior motion
sensor is not activated
>The indicator lamp goes out when the
vehicle is unlocked: no manipulation
or attempted intrusions have been
detected in the period since the sys-
tem was armed530us241
42n
Panorama glass sunroof
*
Anti-trapping mechanism If the panorama glass sunroof or sliding
visor encounter resistance when clos-
ing from roughly one third of the roof
opening or when closing from the
raised position, the closing action is
interrupted and the panorama glass
sunroof and sliding visor reopen a little.
Despite the anti-trapping mecha-
nism inspect the roof's travel path
prior to closing it, as the safety system
might fail to detect certain kinds of
obstructions, such as very thin objects,
and the roof would continue closing.
The anti-trapping mechanism for clos-
ing the panorama glass sunroof is
deactivated if the switch is pressed
beyond the resistance point and held
there. The closing action is interrupted
when you release the switch.<
Following a power failure Following interruptions in electrical
power, for instance, when the battery
is disconnected, it is possible that the
panorama glass sunroof will extend to
its tilt-up position, but fail to respond to
other commands. The system must be
initialized. BMW recommends having
this work carried out by your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle center.
Manual operation In the event of an electrical malfunction,
you can operate the panorama glass
sunroof manually.
1. Take Allen wrench and screwdriver
from onboard tool kit, refer to
page158
2. Remove cover panel on headliner.
To do so, insert the screwdriver from
behind slightly off-center and care-
fully pry the cover out
3. Insert the Allen wrench into the
opening provided and turn the pan-
orama glass sunroof in the desired
direction.530de410
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
65n
Starting engine Switching off engineDo not allow the engine to warm up
by leaving it running while the vehicle
remains stationary. Instead, begin to
drive immediately at a moderate engine
speed.
X5 3.0i:
Do not end the starting procedure
too soon, however at the latest after
approx. 20 seconds. Release the igni-
tion key immediately as soon as the
engine starts.
X5 4.4i, 4.8is:
Your BMW is equipped with the conve-
nience starting feature. Here, it is suffi-
cient to turn the ignition key only briefly
to position 3 'Start engine' and to let go
of it right away. The starter actuation
continues to operate automatically for a
certain period of time and is stopped
automatically as soon as the engine has
started.
The automatic starting mode will not
operate or will be canceled if the bat-
tery voltage is insufficient. The engine
can be jump started, refer to page171.Should the engine fail to start on the
first attempt, if it is very hot or cold, for
instance:
>Press the accelerator pedal halfway
down while engaging the starter.
Cold starts at altitudes above 3,300 ft/
1,000 meters and at very low tempera-
tures, from approx. +57/–156:
>For the initial starting attempt, allow
the starter to remain engaged some-
what longer, approx. 10 seconds.
Engine idle speed is controlled by the
engine computer system. Increased
speeds at startup are normal and
should decrease as the engine warms
up. If engine speed does not decrease,
service is required.
To prevent the battery from discharg-
ing, always switch off electrical devices
that are not in use. Switch the ignition
off when the vehicle is not being driven.
Extended starting attempts, char-
acterized by excessively frequent
or long periods with the starter
engaged, can lead to damage of the
catalytic converter.<
Manual transmission:
1. Turn the ignition key to position 1
or 0.
2. Shift into first gear or reverse.
Automatic transmission:
1. Shift into selector lever position P.
2. Turn the ignition key to position 1
or 0.
Do not remove the ignition key
when the vehicle is moving, as
otherwise the steering could lock.
When leaving the vehicle, always
remove the ignition key and lock the
steering.
Vehicles with manual transmission:
Always engage the handbrake when
parking on slopes and inclined sur-
faces. Even placing the gearshift lever
in 1st gear or reverse may not provide
adequate resistance to rolling.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Place the selector lever in Park.<
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
The vehicle must be stationary and the
selector lever in Park before you can
remove the ignition key.