Contents© 2004 Bayerische Motoren Werke
Aktiengesellschaft
Munich, Germany
Reprinting, including excerpts,
only with the written consent of
BMW AG, Munich.
Order No. 01 41 0 158 701
US English IX/04
Printed in Germany
Printed on environmentally friendly paper,
bleached without chlorine, suitable for recycling.Notes
Overview
Controls and features
About this Owner's Manual8
Symbols used8
Your individual vehicle8
Status at time of printing9
For your own safety9
Symbol on vehicle parts10
Service and Warranty10
Reporting safety defects11Cockpit14
Instrument cluster15
Indicator and warning lamps19
Buttons on steering wheel23
Warning triangle24
First-aid kit24
Refueling24
Fuel specifications26Locks and security systems:
Keys30
Central locking system30
Opening and closing:
from outside31
Opening and closing:
from inside34
Liftgate35
Tailgate36
Alarm system38
Windows39
Panorama glass sunroof41
Adjustments:
Sitting safely43
Seats44
Mechanical seat adjustment45
Power seat adjustment46
Head restraints47
Power rear-seat backrest
adjustment48
Safety belts49
Seat, mirror and steering wheel
memory50
Heated seats52
Steering wheel52
Steering wheel heater53
Mirrors54
5n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Controls and features
Passenger safety systems:
Airbags57
Transporting children safely59
Vehicle Memory,
Key Memory63
Driving:
Ignition lock64
Starting engine64
Switching off engine65
Handbrake66
Manual transmission66
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic67
Turn signals/
headlamp flasher70
Washer/wiper system/
rain sensor71
Cruise control74
Everything under control:
Odometer, outside temperature
display76
Tachometer77
Energy control77
Engine oil thermometer78
Fuel gage78
Coolant temperature gage79
Service Interval Display79
Check Control80
Computer82
MID Multi-Information
Display84Digital clock in MID85
Computer in MID88
Technology for safety and
driving convenience:
PDC Park Distance Control 93
Antilock Brake System94
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control95
xDrive97
HDC Hill Descent Control97
Self-leveling suspension98
2-axle self-leveling
suspension99
Brake Force Display101
Flat Tire Monitor101
Lamps:
Parking lamps/low beams103
Adaptive Head Light104
High beams/roadside parking
lamps104
Front fog lamps105
Instrument lighting105
Interior lamps105
Controlling the climate for
pleasant driving:
Air conditioner107
Automatic climate control110
Roller sun blinds115
Independent ventilation116Cabin convenience:
Integrated universal remote
control117
Portable phone119
Glove compartment120
Storage compartments120
Cup holders121
Ashtray, front122
Ashtray, rear122
Cigarette lighter, rear123
Loading and transporting:
Ski bag124
Cargo area
Folding rear backrests
down126
Roll-up cover126
Partition net127
Flaps in cargo area128
Power outlets129
Pull-out floor in cargo
area130
Cargo loading131
Roof-mounted luggage rack133
8n
About this Owner's ManualWe have made every effort to ensure
that you are able to find what you need
in this Owner's Manual as quickly as
possible. The fastest way to find certain
topics is by using the detailed index at
the end. If you desire an initial overview
of your vehicle, this can be found in the
first chapter.
Should you want to sell your BMW
some day, please remember to hand
over the Owner's Manual as well; it is
an important component of your vehi-
cle.
Additional sources of information:
If you have any questions, your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle center will be
glad to advise you.
You can find information on BMW, e.g.
technology, on the Internet at
www.bmwusa.com.
Symbols used
Indicates precautions that must
be followed precisely in order to
avoid the possibility of personal injury
and serious damage to the vehicle.
Indicates information that will
assist you in gaining the optimum
benefit from your vehicle and enable
you to care more effectively for your
vehicle.
Refers to measures that can be
taken to help protect the environ-
ment.
< Marks the end of a specific item of
information.
*Indicates special equipment, country-
specific equipment and optional extras,
as well as equipment and functions not
yet available at the time of printing.
Vehicle Memory, Key Memory,
refer to page63. Identifies func-
tions that can be specifically adapted
for a particular key or vehicle. These
adjustments can be performed by your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center.
Your individual vehicle On buying your BMW, you have
decided in favor of a model with individ-
ualized equipment and features. This
Owner's Manual describes all models
and equipment that BMW offers within
the same group.
We hope you will understand that
equipment and features are included
that you might not have chosen for your
vehicle. Sections describing options
and special equipment are marked by
an asterisk
* to assist you in identifying
possible differences between the
descriptions in this manual and your
own vehicle's equipment.
Should equipment of your BMW not
be described in this Owner's Manual,
please refer to the included Supple-
mentary Owner's Manuals.
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.
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
31n
Opening and closing: from outsideUsing remote control When you engage/release the vehicle
locks, you also activate/deactivate the
anti-theft system, arm/disarm the alarm
system, and switch the interior lamps
on/off.
Protect the remote control against
unauthorized use by handing over
only the spare key, for example when
using hotel valet parking.<
You can find more detailed information
on the alarm system on page38.
Since passengers or animals
remaining in the vehicle might be
able to lock the doors from the inside,
take the vehicle's keys with you so that
the vehicle can be opened again from
the outside at any time.<
Unlocking vehiclePress button.
Press the button once to unlock the
driver's door and the fuel filler door
only; press a second time to unlock all
remaining doors as well as the tailgate/
liftgate. Convenience opening modePress the button briefly and then hold
down.
The windows and the panorama glass
sunroof open. Locking and securing Press button.
As a confirmation that the vehicle is
correctly locked, the hazard warning
flashers light up.
If you so desire, you can have this
function deactivated if your vehi-
cle is not equipped with an alarm sys-
tem.<
Switching on interior lamps If the vehicle is locked, press button.
With this function, you can also search
for your vehicle, e.g. when parked in an
underground garage.Switching off tilt alarm sensor and
interior motion sensor
Press button once again directly after
locking.
For more detailed information, refer to
page39. Opening liftgate Briefly press the button.
The liftgate will open slightly, regardless
of whether it was previously locked or
unlocked.
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.<
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
33n
Opening and closing: from outsideUsing door lock One turn of the key in the driver's door
lock unlocks the driver's door only.
Turning the key a second time unlocks
all of the remaining doors, the liftgate/
tailgate and the fuel filler door.
As a confirmation that the vehicle is
correctly locked, the hazard warning
flashers light up.
If you so desire, you can deacti-
vate this function if your vehicle is
not equipped with an alarm system.< 530de244
Convenience operation You also have the option of operating
the windows and the panorama glass
sunroof from the door lock.
>To open: with the door closed, turn
the key to the Unlock position and
hold it.
>To close: with the door closed, turn
the key to the Lock position and hold
it.
Watch during the closing process
to be sure that no one is injured.
Releasing the key stops the operation.< Manual operation In the event of an electrical malfunction,
turn the key to the extreme left or right
to unlock/lock the door.