2006 BMW X5 4.8IS ground clearance

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
HDC Hill Descent Control Self-leveling suspension
*
Using HDC With manual transmission:
Use HDC in first gear and in Reverse
since the engine's braking action is
diminished in the higher gears.
With automatic transmission:
You can use HDC in every drive posi-
tion. In case of a malfunction If the LED in the button goes out during
HDC operation or does not light up
when the HDC is activated:
HDC is temporarily unavailable due to
excessive brake temperature. The warning lamp for the self-
leveling suspension comes on,
or the message SELFLEVEL
SUSP.INACT appears in the Check
Control: there is a malfunction in the
self-leveling suspension.
Stop and inspect the vehicle. If the rear
of the vehicle is visibly lower than the
front, possibly accompanied by a tilt
noticeable when you compare the left
rear with the right rear, please respond
by immediately proceeding to the near-
est BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center.
Drive with appropriate caution in the
meantime. The vehicle has reduced
ground clearance and driving comfort
may be noticeably reduced.
Even when the position of the vehicle is
normal, have the system checked as
soon as possible when a malfunction is
indicated.

96n
2-axle self-leveling suspension
*
The concept Your vehicle is equipped with 2-axle
self-leveling suspension acting on both
the front and rear suspension. This sys-
tem combines automatic self-leveling,
which compensates for variations in
front-to-rear load-distribution patterns,
with a selection feature allowing drivers
to choose from among several ride-
height options.
You may choose from among the fol-
lowing ride heights:
>Normal
The standard setting is intended for
most operating conditions, including
trailer towing
>Off-Road
Increased level for more ground
clearance
>Access
Lowers vehicle for more convenient
cargo handling or easier passenger
entries and exits.
Changes in ride height are initiated
either manually, using the control but-
ton, refer to page 97, or automatically in
response to specific speeds. When the
ride height is selected manually, the
driver has the additional option of revis-
ing the ride-height selection by entering a new command during the adjustment
process.
When the vehicle is stationary, the sys-
tem executes ride-height changes in
both directions – up and down – when-
ever the doors are closed. The tailgate/
liftgate may be open. The system raises
the vehicle only when the engine is run-
ning.
The system's automatic self-leveling
feature automatically compensates for
variations in the vehicle's load.
The ground clearance of the vehicle
6.5-9 in/16.5-22 cm, depending on the
level selected.
Frequent changes in ride height
initiated at short intervals can
overheat the compressor, causing the
system to briefly suspend active opera-
tion.<
Self-leveling suspension display 1 Off-Road
2Standard
3 Access
The LEDs not only show the current ride
height, but also indicate changes:
>LED on: indicates the vehicle's cur-
rent ride height
>Ride-height LED flashes while the
LED for the earlier level remains on:
the ride height is being adjusted to a
new level, either automatically or in
response to driver input at the button.
When the suspension reaches the new
ride height the flashing LED reverts to
continuous operation, and the LED for
the earlier level goes out.530de218

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OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Driving your X5>Please note that it is possible for the
undercarriage to touch the ground,
for example on crests and bumpy
roads. The ground clearance of the
vehicle is:
– without self-leveling suspension
X5 3.0i, 4.4i: 8 in/20 cm
X5 3.0d: 7 in/17.5 cm
– with 2-axle self-leveling suspen-
sion
*
6.5-9 in/16.5-22 cm, depending on
the level selected.
>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 page97.
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 Our recommendation that you observe
the following points after driving on
adverse road surfaces is not intended
as a beauty treatment for your BMW.
Instead, it is intended to maintain driv-
ing 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.

Everything from A to Z
191n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Fastening seat belts
refer to Safety belts49
Fasten safety belts
warning lamp21,49
Fault displays, refer to Check
Control77
Filter, refer to
Microfilter106
Microfilter/activated-
charcoal filter112
First aid, refer to First-aid
kit24
First-aid kit24
Flashlight119
Flat, compact wheel167
Flat tire165
compact wheel167
Flat Tire Monitor98
refer to Changing a
wheel165
refer to Tire inflation
pressure141
spare wheel167
Flat Tire Monitor98
false alarms98
initializing system99
limits of system98
show chains149
warning lamp99
Flooding, refer to Driving
through water138Floor mats, refer to Caring
for your vehicle brochure
Fluid level, indicator lamp21
Fog lamps, indicator lamp22
Folding floor cover up128
Folding rear backrest124
Folding rear seat back124
Footbrake, refer to General
driving notes137
Footwell lamps103
For information on breaking
in the differential, refer to
Engine and differential136
Four-wheel drive system,
refer to xDrive94
Front airbags55
Front fog lamps102
replacing bulbs163
Fuel
average
consumption80,87
display75
quality26
volume, refer to
Capacities183
Fuel display, refer to Fuel
gauge75
Fuel filler door24
manual operation24
Fuel gauge75Fuel-saving driving, refer to
Energy control74
Fuel tank capacity, refer to
Capacities183
Full preparation package
mobile phone, refer to
separate Owner's Manual
Fuses172
G
Garage-door opener, refer to
Integrated universal
remote control114
Gasoline, refer to Fuel
quality26
Gasoline display, refer to
Fuel gauge75
Gear display65
Gearshift lever, manual
transmission64
General driving notes137
Glove box, refer to Glove
compartment119
Glove compartment119
Grills, refer to
Ventilation106,111
Gross weight, refer to
Weights182
Ground clearance139H
Handbrake64
indicator lamp19,21
Hand lamp, refer to
Rechargeable
flashlight119
Hands-free microphone,
refer to Telephone116
Hands-free system116
refer to Microphone116
Hazard warning flashers14
HDC Hill Descent Control94
Head airbags55
Headlamp control,
automatic100
Headlamp cover, care, refer
to Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Headlamp flasher68
indicator lamp22
Headlamps
care, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
replacing bulbs161
Headlamp washer
reservoir152
volume, refer to Filling
capacities183
Headlamp washer system
headlamp washing70
washer fluid152