2005 BMW X5 4.8IS maintenance

125n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Ski bag
*
Securing load After loading, secure the ski bag and its
contents. To do so, tighten the retaining
belt at the buckle.
Secure the ski bag in this way. If
you fail to do so, it could endanger
occupants during braking or evasive
maneuvers.<
When stowing the ski bag, proceed in
the reverse order from loading.530de284
If the cover in the cargo area is
concealed by the pull-out cargo
floor, do not fold the larger rear back-
rest down. If you do so, it will damage
the cover.<

127n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Cargo area Partition net
*
1. Remove the bag with the partition
net from the retainer by releasing the
hooks from the lashing eyes on both
sides530de028
2. Remove the partition net from the
bag, unroll it half way and hook it into
the retaining strap on both sides,
refer to arrow
Note how the partition net is
stored in the bag and secured in
the vehicle so that you can return
everything to its proper place again
after use.
If your vehicle has a pull-out cargo
floor, observe the note on page130.<530de350
3. Slide back the covers on the retain-
ers for the partition net on both sides
of the roof, refer to arrow
4. Insert the curved ends of the partition
net rod in the retainers on both sides
5. Now you can slide the covers toward
the front again, refer to arrow530de289

129n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Cargo area Floor cover To access the spare wheel.
To open: press the recess in the han-
dle, refer to arrow, and raise the cover
with the handle. 530de291
Folding floor cover upDisengage the loop end on the lower
side of the floor cover and hook it in
with the catch no the upper frame of the
liftgate cutout.
Before swinging down the floor cover,
reengage the loop end in the retainer
on the underside of the floor cover.530de355
Power outlets When you fold the cover caps up, you
have access to additional power out-
lets.
You can use the power outlets for flash-
lights, car vacuum cleaners or other
automotive appliances with up to
approx. 200 watts at 12 volts. Be care-
ful not to damage the socket with
unsuitable plugs.
Also refer to page122. 530us084

131n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Cargo loading
Avoid overloading the vehicle so
that the permissible loading
capacity of the tires is not exceeded.
Overloading can lead to overheating
and increases the rate at which damage
develops inside the tires. The ultimate
result can assume the form of a sudden
air loss.<
Determining loading limit1. Locate the following statement on
your vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occu-
pants and cargo should never
exceed XXX Ibs. or YYY kg, as other-
wise the vehicle may be damaged
and unstable driving conditions may
result.<
2. Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle
3. Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from XXX Ibs.
or YYY kg
530de225
4. The resulting figure equals the avail-
able amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity.
For example, if the XXX amount
equals 1350 Ibs. and there will be
five 150 Ibs. passengers in your vehi-
cle, the amount of available cargo
and luggage load capacity is
600 Ibs.:
1350 Ibs. minus 750 Ibs. = 600 Ibs.
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,
load from your trailer will be trans-
ferred 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.

133n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Cargo loading Roof-mounted luggage rack
*
Always position and secure the
load as described above. If you do
not, it can even endanger the passen-
gers during braking or evasive maneu-
vers.
Do not exceed the permissible gross
vehicle weight and the permissible axle
loads, refer to page180. If you do, the
operating safety of the vehicle is no
longer ensured and you are in violation
of the law.
You should never transport heavy or
hard objects unsecured in the passen-
ger compartment, as they could fly
around and pose a safety hazard to the
vehicle's occupants even during abrupt
braking or evasive maneuvers.<
A special rack system is available as an
option for your BMW. Please comply
with the precautions included with the
installation instructions.Mounting pointsAccess to the mounting points:
To fold up the cover, refer to arrow,
please use the tool which is provided
with the rack system.530de293
Loading luggage rackRoof-mounted luggage racks raise the
center of gravity of the vehicle when
they are loaded. For this reason, they
exercise a major effect on the vehicle's
handling and steering response.
You should therefore always remember
not to exceed the approved roof weight,
the approved gross vehicle weight or
the axle loads when loading the rack.
You will find the specifications under
Technical data on page180.
Make sure that the load is distributed
evenly, and that it does not extend out-
ward to beyond the limits of the loading
surface. Always load the heaviest
pieces on the bottom. Be sure that ade-
quate clearance is maintained for rais-
ing the panorama glass sunroof, and
that objects do not project into the
opening path of the liftgate.
Always ensure that roof-mounted
loads are tightly secured, as loose
loads can shift or even fly off the roof,
posing a serious hazard for following
traffic.<
Drive smoothly. Avoid sudden accelera-
tion and braking maneuvers. Take cor-
ners gently.

135n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Overview
Controls and features
Operation, maintenance
Owner service procedures
Index Technical data
Mainte-

137n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
General driving notesClosing liftgate/tailgate
Operate the vehicle only when the
tailgate and liftgate are completely
closed. Otherwise, exhaust fumes
could enter into the passenger com-
partment.<
However, if special circumstances
should make it absolutely necessary
to operate the vehicle with the liftgate/
tailgate open:
1. Close all windows and the panorama
glass sunroof
2. Increase the air supply for the air
conditioner or automatic climate
control to a high level, refer to
page108 or112.
Hot exhaust system
Extreme temperatures occur at
the catalytic converter on this and
every catalyst-equipped vehicle. Do not
remove the heat shields installed adja-
cent to various sections of the exhaust
system, and never apply undercoating
to them. When driving, standing at idle
and while parking take care to avoid
possible contact between a hot exhaust
system and any highly flammable mate-
rials such as hay, leaves, grass etc.
Otherwise there is a danger of ignition
and of a fire with the risk of serious inju-
ries and damage. BMW advises against using
mobile radio devices such as por-
table phones inside the vehicle unless
they are directly connected to the
external antenna. Otherwise, it is
impossible to prevent a mutual interfer-
ence of the vehicle electronics with the
portable phone device. Also, there is no
guarantee that the radiation generated
by the transmission will be conveyed
out from the interior of the vehicle.<
When vehicle is parked Condensation forms in the air condi-
tioner system during operation, and
then exits under the vehicle. Traces of
water on the ground are therefore nor-
mal.Brakes
Do not drive with your foot resting
on the brake pedal. Even light but
consistent pedal pressure can lead to
excessively high temperatures, brake
wear and possibly even brake failure.<
Road hazards
If road hazards, obstacles or curbs
are unavoidable, only drive over
them very slowly and carefully, as oth-
erwise the wheels and suspension
parts, especially on vehicles fitted with
low profile tires, can be damaged.<
For more information on wheels and
tires, refer to page144.
Before driving into a car washFold in the exterior mirrors, refer to
page54, as otherwise they could be
damaged due to the width of the vehi-
cle.Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy
roads, reduce road speed. If you
do not, a wedge of water can form
between tires and road surface. This
state can cause a partial or total loss of
contact with the road surface, of brak-
ing control and of control over the vehi-
cle.<

139n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Driving your X5>Please note that, for example on
crests and bumpy roads, the body
can make ground contact.
The ground clearance of the vehicle
is:
– 8 in/20 cm with up to four persons
– 7 in/18 cm fully loaded, without
level control
>Only drive through water up to a max-
imum depth of 20 in/50 cm and only
at walking speed, making sure not to
stop in the process. When equipped
with 2-axle self leveling suspension
*,
switch the vehicle to the Off-Road
setting before driving through, refer
to page100.
After leaving the water, apply the
footbrake lightly several times while
driving at low speeds so as to dry
the brakes by braking and to prevent
decreased braking action due to wet-
ness.
Back onto paved road In recommending that you observe the
following points after driving on adverse
road surfaces, it is not as a beauty
treatment for your BMW. Instead, it is
intended for the maintenance of driving
safety:
>Clean the worst of the dirt from the
body and inspect the undercarriage
for damage
>Clean mud, snow, ice etc. from the
wheels and tires and check the
wheels for damage
>Check to determine whether rocks,
gravel or accumulations of dirt on the
brake rotors and calipers could influ-
ence braking performance. Remove
all such foreign objects
>In order to clean the brake rotors,
apply the footbrake gently several
times while driving at a low speed.
Be sure that following traffic is not
endangered by this
>For cleaning the handbrake, apply
the lever slightly at approx. 25 mph/
40 km/h and continue to drive for
approx. 200 yards/200 meters, pro-
vided that traffic conditions allow you
to do so.