
Air conditioner
62
Air volume
You can vary the air volume in
steps 1 through 4. The heating or
cooling output is more effective
with a higher air volume.
Switching system on/off
Turn air volume rotary switch to 0. This com-
pletely shuts off the blower and air conditioning
system and stops the flow of air.
To switch on the air conditioning system, set an
arbitrary air volume.
Temperature
To increase the temperature, turn
to the right, toward red.
For a lower temperature, turn the
rotary switch counterclockwise
toward blue.
Air distribution
You can direct air to flow onto the
windows , toward the upper
body and into the footwell .
Intermediate settings are possible.
Rear window defroster
The rear window heating switches
off automatically after a certain
amount of time. Depending on
your equipment package, the upper wires are
used as an antenna and are not part of the rear
window defroster.
Switching cooling function on/off
When the cooling function is on,
the air is cooled, dehumidified, and
then reheated depending on the
temperature setting.
Depending on the weather, the windshield may
fog over briefly when the engine is started.
Recirculated-air mode
You can respond to unpleasant
odors outside the vehicle by tem-
porarily suspending the supply of
outside air. The system then recirculates the air
currently within the vehicle.
If condensation starts to form on the
inside window surfaces during operation
in recirculated-air mode, you should switch it off
and increase the air supply as needed.
The recirculated-air mode should not be used
over a sustained period of time; otherwise, the
air quality inside the vehicle will steadily deteri-
orate.<
Defrosting windows and removing
condensation
1.Air volume 1 at level 4.
2.Temperature 2 toward right, red.
3.Air distribution 3 in position .
4.Deactivate recirculated-air mode 5.
5.Switch on the rear window heating 4 to
defrost the rear window.
6.Switch on cooling function.

Air conditioner
64
Automatic climate control*
1Airflow directed toward windshield and
side windows
2Airflow toward upper body66
3Airflow to footwell66
4Manually varying air distribution65
5Adjusting temperature65
6Temperature display65,
Air volume65
7Manually varying air volume658Defrosting windows and removing
condensation65
9Rear window defroster66
10Switching cooling function on/off65
11Outside air/AUC Automatic recirculated-air
control/recirculated-air mode66
12AUTO program65

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
65
A congenial climate
For almost all conditions, the AUTO program 12
offers the optimum air distribution and air vol-
ume, refer to AUTO program below. You need
only select an interior temperature 5 that you
find pleasant.
The following sections contain more detailed
information on the available setting options.
Your vehicle has been designed to auto-
matically select your personal climate-
control settings whenever you unlock the doors
using your individually programmed remote
control.<
AUTO program
The AUTO program handles the
adjustment of air distribution to the
windshield and side windows, in
the direction of the upper body, and in the foot-
well. It also adapts your instructions for the air
volume and temperature to outside influences
throughout the year, e.g. solar radiation or win-
dow condensation.
The cooling function is switched on automati-
cally along with the AUTO program.
Manually switching air distribution on/
off
You can direct air to flow onto the
windows , toward the upper
body and into the footwell .
You can reactivate the automatic
air distribution mode by selecting
the AUTO button.
Temperature
Set the desired temperature.
The automatic climate control
assures that this temperature is
reached as quickly as possible any
time of year, using maximum cool-
ing or heating capacity as needed, and then
keeps this temperature constant.The highest setting produces the maximum
heat output regardless of the outside tempera-
ture. The lowest setting activates maximum air
conditioning.
When you change between different tem-
perature settings in rapid succession, the
system does not have enough time to achieve
the desired temperature.<
Manually adjusting air volume
By pressing the lower button, you
can reduce the air volume. You can
increase it by pressing the upper
button.
You can reactivate the automatic
air volume mode by pressing the AUTO button.
Switching system on/off
At the lowest fan speed, press the lower button
to turn off the automatic climate control com-
pletely. All displays disappear.
Press any button to turn the automatic climate
control back on again.
Defrosting windows and removing
condensation
Quickly removes ice and conden-
sation from the windshield and
front door windows.
Also switch on the cooling function.
Switching cooling function on/off
When the cooling function is on,
the air is cooled, dehumidified, and
then reheated depending on the
temperature setting. Depending on the
weather, the windshield may fog over briefly
when the engine is started.
The cooling function is automatically switched
on along with the AUTO program. It is only pos-
sible to cool the passenger compartment when
the engine is running.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
81
2.Greatly increase the air supply of the air
conditioning system or automatic climate
control, refer to page62 or65.
Hot exhaust system
High temperatures occur in the exhaust
system of every vehicle. Do not remove
the heat shields installed adjacent to various
sections of the exhaust system, and never apply
undercoating to them. When driving, standing
at idle, and parking, take care to avoid possible
contact between the hot exhaust system and
any highly flammable materials such as hay,
leaves, grass, etc. Such contact could lead to
a fire, resulting in serious personal injury and
property damage. Do not touch hot exhaust
pipe, it can cause burns.<
Mobile communications devices in
vehicle
BMW does not recommend using mobile
communications devices, e.g. mobile
phones, on the interior of the vehicle without a
direct connection to an outside antenna. Other-
wise, the vehicle electronics and mobile com-
munications device can affect each other. In
addition, there is no assurance that the radia-
tion which results during transmission will be
dissipated from the vehicle interior.<
When the vehicle is parked
Condensation forms in the air conditioner/auto-
matic climate control system during operation,
and then exits under the vehicle. Traces of con-
densed water under the vehicle are therefore
normal.
Before driving into a car wash
Fold in the exterior mirrors, refer to page32;
otherwise, they could be damaged due to the
width of the vehicle.
Deactivate the rain sensor; otherwise, damage
could result from undesired wiper activation,
refer to page41.
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 sur-
face. This phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
planing, and is characterized by a partial or
complete loss of contact between tires and
road surface, ultimately undermining your abil-
ity to steer and brake the vehicle.<
The danger of hydroplaning increases as tire
tread depth decreases, also refer to Minimum
tread depth on page94.
Driving through water
Do not drive through water on the road if it
is deeper than 20 in/50 cm, and then only
at walking speed. Otherwise, the vehicle's
engine, the electrical systems, and the trans-
mission may be damaged.<
Using handbrake on inclines
Do not hold the vehicle in place on slopes
by slipping or riding the clutch, use the
handbrake instead. Otherwise, greater clutch
wear will result.<
Safe braking
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as standard
equipment. In situations in which it is required, it
is best to apply the brakes fully. Since the vehi-
cle maintains steering responsiveness, you can
nevertheless avoid possible obstacles with a
minimum 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.
Wet roads
On wet roads or in heavy rain, briefly apply light
pressure to the brake pedal every few miles.
Watch traffic conditions to ensure that this
maneuver does not endanger other road users.
The heat that is generated by the brake applica-
tions helps to dry the brake pads and rotors.
The full braking force will then be available
when you need it.

Things to remember when driving
82
Hills
To prevent overheating and reduced effi-
ciency of the brake system, drive long or
steep downhill grades in the gear in which the
least braking is required. Otherwise, even light
but continuous pressure on the brake can lead
to high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.<
The braking action of the engine can be further
intensified by downshifting, all the way down to
first gear if need be. This strategy helps you
avoid placing excessive loads on the brake sys-
tem. Downshifting in manual mode of automatic
transmission, refer to page40. When descend-
ing hills slowly, use HDC Hill Descent Control,
refer to page51.
Never drive with the clutch depressed,
with the transmission in neutral, or with
the engine switched off; otherwise, you will
have neither the braking action of the engine or
nor its power assistance to the brakes or steer-
ing.
Never allow floor mats, carpeting, or other arti-
cles to protrude into the area around the brake
or accelerator pedals and obstruct their move-
ment.<
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally,
during extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all, and in operating conditions where
brake applications 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
during brake applications to clean the rotors is
not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating
effect that even extended application will fail to
cure.
Brake pads
The warning lamp lights up.
The brake pads have reached their min-
imum pad thickness. Have brake pads
replaced immediately.
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overloading can lead to over-
heating of the tire and increases the rate at
which damage develops inside the tires. The
ultimate result can assume the form of a sudden
blow-out.<
Determining load limit
1.Locate the following statement on your
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX lbs. or YYY kg. Otherwise, the vehicle
may be damaged and unstable driving con-
ditions 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 lbs. or YYY kg.
4.The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the XXX amount equals
990 lbs. and there will be five 150-lb. pas-
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is
240 lbs.:
990 lbs. minus 750 lbs. = 240 lbs.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
89
Fuel tank capacity
Approx. 17.7 US gal/67 liters, including the
reserve capacity of approx. 2 US gal/8 liters.
Never attempt to continue driving until
the tank is completely empty; this can
negatively affect engine function and can dam-
age the vehicle.<
Fuel specifications
Never use leaded gasoline. Otherwise,
you will damage the catalytic converter.
Do not use flex fuel or E85, i.e. fuel that is com-
prised of 85 % ethanol as these can damage the
engine and fuel supply system.<
Required fuel
Super Premium Gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with a
lower AKI rating. The minimum AKI rating is 87.
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI rat-
ing, the engine may produce knocking sounds
when starting at high outside temperatures.
This has no effect on the engine life.
Do not use any gasoline below the speci-
fied minimum fuel grade. Otherwise, the
engine could be damaged.<
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant dif-
ferences in fuel quality: volatility, composition,
additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale
in the United States and Canada. Fuels contain-
ing up to and including 10 % ethanol or other
oxygenates with up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight,
that is, 15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an
equivalent amount of co-solvent, will not void
the applicable warranties with respect to
defects in materials or workmanship.The use of poor-quality fuels may result in
stalling, starting and drivability problems
especially under certain environmental condi-
tions such as high ambient temperature and
high altitude.
Should you encounter drivability problems that
you suspect could be related to the fuel you are
using, we recommend that you respond by
switching to a recognized high-quality brand
such as gasoline that is advertised as Top Tier
Detergent Gasoline.
Failure to comply with these recommendations
may also result in unscheduled maintenance.<

Wheels and tires
90
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressure
Information for your safety
The condition of the tires and the maintenance
of the specified tire pressure are crucial not only
to the tire's service life, but also to driving com-
fort and most importantly, driving safety.
Checking pressure
Only check tire inflation pressure when the tires
are cold. This means after a maximum of
1.25 miles/2 km driving or when the vehicle has
been parked for at least 2 hours. When tires are
warm, the tire inflation pressure increases.
Check the tire inflation pressure regularly
and correct it as needed, even on the
compact wheel: at least twice a month and
before starting long trips. If you fail to observe
this precaution, you may be driving on tires with
incorrect tire pressures, a condition that can not
only compromise your vehicle's driving stability,
but also lead to tire damage and the risk of an
accident.
Do not drive with deflated, i.e. flat tires. A flat tire
will seriously impair your vehicle's handling and
braking response. Attempts to drive on a flat tire
can lead to loss of control over the vehicle.<
After correcting the tire inflation pressure,
reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor
* or reset
the Tire Pressure Monitor
*, refer to pages53,
54.<
Pressure specifications
The table on the next page provides all the cor-
rect inflation pressures for the specified tire
sizes at ambient temperature.
The inflation pressures in the table apply
to BMW-approved tire sizes and recom-
mended tire brands. Your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center will be glad to supply this infor-
mation.
lowing:
>Tire size for your vehicle
>Load status
>Maximum permissible driving speed
Tire inflation pressures for speeds
up to 100 mph/160 km/h
For normal driving at speeds of up to 100 mph/
160 km/h and to achieve optimum driving com-
fort, take note of the tire inflation pressures
listed on the following page in the column for
speeds up to max. 100 mph/160 km/h and
adjust your tire pressure as needed.
These tire inflation pressures are also listed on
the door pillar and can be seen with the driver's
door open.
The maximum permissible speed for
these tire inflation pressures is 100 mph/
160 km/h. Do not exceed this speed; failure to
heed this limit can lead to tire damage and acci-
dents.<
Tire inflation pressures for speeds
above 100 mph/160 km/h
In order to drive at maximum speeds
above 100 mph/160 km/h, take note of
the tire inflation pressures listed in the column
for speeds above 100 mph/160 km/h in the
table on the following page and adjust your tire
pressure as needed. Failure to due so can lead
to tire damage and accidents.<

Wheels and tires
92
X3 3.0i, 3.0si
Tire sizePressure specifications in psi/kPa
Traveling speeds
of up to max.
100 mph/160 km/hTraveling speeds
including those above
100 mph/160 km/h
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires.
Cold = ambient temperature
235/55 R 17 99 H M+S 32/220 32/220 32/220 32/220 32/220 38/260
235/50 R 18 97 H M+S 32/220 35/240 32/220 35/240 35/240 41/280
Front: 235/50 R 18 97 V
Rear: 255/45 R 18 99 V32/220
––
32/22032/220
––
32/22035/240
––
38/260
Front: 235/45 R 19 95 W
Rear: 255/40 R 19 96W32/220
––
35/24032/220
––
35/24035/240
––
41/280
Compact wheel:
T 135/90 R 17 104 M61/420 61/420 61/420 61/420 61/420 61/420
More details on the permissible load and weights can be found on page122