2005 BMW X5 4.4I brake fluid

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

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.

80n
Check Control Graphic display
*
The following alerts or status messages
are displayed with icons as of ignition
key position 2 until the defects are cor-
rected:
1 Check low beams
2 Add washer fluid, goes out after
approx. 1 minute
3Door open
4 Tailgate open
5 Check brake and tail lamps. A defec-
tive center brake lamp is indicated by
the upper symbol.
When you open the door after stopping,
a warning signal sounds without a
visual indicator for:
>LIGHTS ON
>KEY IN IGNITION LOCK. 390de121
Alphanumeric display
*
Text messages are used to alert the
driver to system malfunctions as of igni-
tion key position 2. The alert is accom-
panied by an acoustic signal.
1 Status messages symbol
2Display
3CHECK button
Messages concerning system faults are
differentiated based on two priorities: 530de254
Priority 1
These defects are immediately indi-
cated by an acoustic signal and a flash-
ing warning symbol 1. Simultaneous
defects will be displayed consecutively.
These status messages remain in the
display until the defects are corrected.
They cannot be deleted by pressing the
CHECK button 3:
>RELEASE PARKINGBRAKE
>COOLANT TEMPERATURE
Temperature too high. Stop the vehi-
cle immediately and switch off the
engine, refer to pages79 and152
>STOP! ENGINE OILPRESS
Oil pressure too low. Stop the vehicle
immediately and switch off the
engine, refer to pages19, 150

81n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Check Control >CHECK BRAKE FLUID
Level has dropped approx. to mini-
mum. Have the brake fluid topped up
as soon as possible, refer to
page153. Have the reason for the
brake fluid loss eliminated by your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center
>DSC/4x4 INACTIVE
DSC and/or four-wheel drive system
xDrive has failed.
The stabilizing interventions of DSC
and/or the four-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
page97
>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
page88.
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 minimal
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 page150>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 page150. 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 page25
>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
page76
>CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS
A lamp has failed or the electrical cir-
cuit has a fault, refer to page161 or
consult a BMW Sports Activity Vehi-
cle 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-
tive, refer to page159 or consult a
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center

140n
Safe braking Emergency stops You brake most effectively when you
apply maximum pedal pressure in situa-
tions requiring it: emergency stops.
Since the vehicle maintains steering
responsiveness, you can nevertheless
avoid possible obstacles with a mini-
mum of steering effort.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combined
with sounds from the hydraulic circuits
indicates to the driver that ABS is in its
active mode.Brake fluid level If the brake fluid level is too low and
brake pedal travel has become longer,
there may be a defect in one of the two
brake system's hydraulic circuits.
Proceed to the nearest BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle center.
Here increased pressure on the brake
pedal may be required, and slight pull-
ing to the side and longer braking dis-
tances may result. Please remember to
adapt your driving style accordingly.<
Disc brakes When the vehicle is driven only occa-
sionally, during extended periods when
the vehicle is not used at all, and in
operating conditions where brake appli-
cations 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 dur-
ing brake applications to clean the
rotors is not reached.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they
will tend to respond to braking with a
pulsating effect which even extended
application will fail to cure.
When driving in wet conditions and in
heavy rain, it is advisable to apply light
pressure to the brake pedal from time
to time. Monitor traffic conditions to
ensure that this maneuver does not
endanger other road users. The heat
generated in this process helps dry the
pads and rotors to ensure that the brak-
ing force is then immediately available
when required.
Extended or steep mountain descents
should be driven in the gear in which
only minimal periodic brake application
is required. This avoids excessive strain on the brakes and possible impairment
of the braking effect.
Do not coast with the clutch
depressed or with the transmis-
sion or selector lever in neutral. Do not
drive with the engine switched off. The
engine provides no braking effect when
the clutch is depressed or the transmis-
sion is in neutral, and there is no power-
assist for braking or steering when the
engine is not running.
BMW recommends having brake
inspections performed at a BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle center only. If
you do not, parts of the 4-wheel drive
system could be damaged.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any
other objects to protrude into the area
around the accelerator, clutch and
brake pedals and obstruct their move-
ment.<
Brake pads
For your own safety: use only
brake pads that BMW has
released for your particular vehicle
model. BMW cannot evaluate non-
approved brake pads to determine if
they are suited for use, and therefore
cannot ensure the operating safety of
the vehicle if they are installed.<

149n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
1Engine oil dipstick150
2 Brake fluid reservoir, located
beneath the microfilter cover1533 Auxiliary terminal for jump
starting171
4 Coolant expansion tank1525 Engine oil filler neck150
6 Reservoir for windshield and
headlamp washer system150Engine compartment essentials
530de341

153n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Coolant Brake fluid4. When necessary, slowly add coolant
until the correct level is reached; do
not overfill
5. Close the cap and tighten snugly
6. Have the cause of the coolant loss
corrected as soon as possible.
Brake fluid level
If the warning lamp lights up or
the message CHECK BRAKE
FLUID appears in the Check
Control: stop immediately.
The brake fluid in the reservoir
has fallen to below the minimum
level.
Add brake fluid The brake fluid reservoir is located
under the microfilter housing trim panel
on the driver's side of the vehicle. For
adding brake fluid or for determining
and correcting the cause of brake fluid
loss, consult your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center. Your BMW Sports Activ-
ity Vehicle center is familiar with the
specifications for factory-approved
DOT 4 brake fluids.
Brake fluid loss may result in extended
brake pedal travel. For this situation,
refer to the notes on page140.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, that is,
it absorbs moisture from the air
over time.
In order to ensure the safety and reli-
ability of the brake system, have the
brake fluid changed every two years by
a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center.
Refer also to the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models or
the Warranty and Service Guide Book-
let for Canadian models.
Brake fluid is toxic and also damages
vehicle paintwork. Always store these
agents in tightly-closed original con-
tainers kept well away from the reach
of children.
Do not spill the fluid and do not refill the
brake fluid reservoir to beyond the MAX
mark. The brake fluid could ignite upon
contact with hot engine parts and cause
serious burns.<
Always observe all applicable
environmental rules and regula-
tions when disposing of used brake
fluid.<

Everything from A to ZA
Ability to climb, refer to
Driving on poor roads138
ABS Antilock Brake
System94
warning lamp20
Accessories, refer to For
your own safety9
Accident, refer to
Emergency call170
Roadside Assistance170
Activated-charcoal filter115
Adaptive Head Light104
Adjusting cooling capacity of
rear climate control115
Adjusting seats44
electric46
electric comfort seat46
mechanical45
mechanical sports seat45
Air circulation, refer to
Recirculated-air mode108
Air conditioner107
Air conditioning
air conditioner108
automatic climate
control113
Air distribution
air conditioner108
automatic climate
control112
individual112Air outlets, refer to
Ventilation109,114
Air pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure141
Air recirculation, refer to
Automatic recirculated-air
control AUC113
Air supply
air conditioner108
automatic climate
control112
rear climate control114
Air vents, refer to
Ventilation107,110
Air, drying, refer to Air
conditioning108,113
Airbags57
sitting safely43
warning lamp21
Airing, refer to
Ventilation109,114
Alarm system38
avoiding unintentional
alarms39
All-season tires, refer to
Special features of winter
tires146
Antenna, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Antifreeze
coolant152
washer fluid150Antilock Brake System
ABS94
warning lamp20
Anti-theft alarm system30
refer to Alarm system38
Anti-trapping mechanism
panorama glass
sunroof42
power windows40
Armrest, refer to Storage
compartments120
Artificial leather, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Artificial wood trim, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Ashtray
front122
rear122
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control113
AUTO program, refer to
Automatic air distribution
and air flow112
Automatic
air distribution112
air supply112
cruise control74
headlamp control103
steering wheel
adjustment53Automatic car wash, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Automatic climate
control110
Automatic cruise control74
Automatic curb monitor51
Automatic headlamp
control103
Automatic rear window
washer73
Automatic recirculated-air
control AUC113
Automatic Soft Close
function, liftgate36
Automatic speed reduction
for descents, refer to HDC
Hill Descent Control97
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic67
interlock64
selector lever interlock68
shiftlock68
towing173
tow-starting173
warning lamp20,21
Average fuel
consumption83,90
Average speed83,91
Avoiding alarms39
Axle loads, refer to
Weights180