Driving
60
Displays in instrument cluster
P R N D DS M1 to M6
The transmission position is indicated, and in
the manual mode, the gear currently engaged.
Engaging transmission position
>You can only engage transmission posi-
tions D, R or N when the engine is running.
>With the vehicle stationary, depress the
brake pedal before shifting out of P or N;
otherwise the shift command will not be
executed.
>To prevent the vehicle from creeping after
you select a driving position, maintain pres-
sure on the brake pedal until you are ready
to drive off.
The engaged transmission position is displayed
on the selector lever.
Engaging D, R or N
Move the selector lever in the desired direction.
The selector lever immediately returns to the
center position when released.
>N Neutral:
Up to pressure point, arrowN.
>D Drive:
Depending on the driving position, press back up to the pressure point, arrowD, or
beyond.
>R Reverse:
Depending on the driving position, press
forward up to the pressure point, arrowR, or
beyond. Press the release button1 at the
same time.
Engaging P
Press buttonP.
Press the brake pedal before shifting out of N;
the shift command will not be executed unless
the brake is applied.
Also observe the additional information on the
automatic transmission.
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
An interlock prevents inadvertent gearshifts
into transmission position R. To deactivate the
interlock, press the release button1.
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
The rear wheels are locked.
P is engaged automatically as soon as
you switch off the engine unless N is
engaged and on vehicles with comfort access
the remote control is inserted in the ignition
lock, refer to page56.<
Engaging N, D or R
With transmission position P engaged, an inter-
lock prevents accidentally shifting into trans-
mission positions N, D and R. To deactivate the
interlock, press the release button1.
N Neutral
Can, for example, be engaged in automatic car
washes. The vehicle can roll.
N remains engaged even after the engine
is switched off whenever you leave the
remote control in the ignition lock. This function
is used, for example, in a car wash, refer to
page57. After approx. 30 minutes P is auto-
matically engaged.<
Controls
61Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for-
ward gears are available.
Under normal operating conditions, the fuel
consumption is lowest when driving in posi-
tion D.
Kick-down
The kick-down mode provides maximum accel-
eration.
Depress the accelerator pedal past the
increased resistance point at the full-throttle
position.
Sport program and manual mode M/S
Move selector lever from transmission posi-
tion D toward the left into the M/S shifting slot:
The selector lever remains in the M/S shifting
slot, the sport program is activated and DS is
shown in the instrument cluster. This position is
recommended for a performance-oriented driv-
ing style.
When the selector lever is pressed forward or
back, the manual mode is activated and the
Steptronic shifts the gear. The instrument clus-
ter shows M1 through M6.
>Press selector lever forward:
The transmission downshifts.
>Press selector lever back:
The transmission upshifts.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combination
of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example,
a downshift that would cause the engine to
overrev will not be executed by the system. The
selected gear is briefly displayed in the instru-
ment cluster, followed by the current gear.To use the automatic function again, move the
selector lever to the right into position D.
If transmission position P is engaged, the
selector lever automatically returns to the
center position of the automatic slot.<
Manually releasing transmission lock
In case of a power failure, e.g. when the
battery is drained or disconnected, or an
electrical malfunction, the transmission lock
must be manually released, as otherwise the
rear wheels are blocked and the vehicle cannot
be towed.<
When manually releasing the transmis-
sion lock, depress the brake pedal, as
otherwise there is a danger of the vehicle rolling
when the transmission lock is manually
released.<
The transmission lock should only be released
for towing. Reengage the transmission lock
after parking the vehicle at its destination.
If it also becomes necessary to manually
release the parking brake, follow this sequence:
1.Secure the vehicle against rolling.
2.Manually release the parking brake, refer to
page58.
3.Manually release the transmission lock of
the automatic transmission.
Information on jump starting and towing from
page237.
Releasing
1.Slide back the cover of the cup holder and
remove the floor mat on the bar between
the cup holders.
2.Open the cover in the bottom of the cup
holder with the releasing tool.
Driving
62 3.Insert the releasing tool, contained in the
onboard tool kit under the floor panel, refer
to page228, into the opening, arrow1.
4.Turn the releasing tool as far as possible,
arrow2, and then press downward. The
transmission lock is released.
Lock the transmission lock after parking
the vehicle at its destination. Otherwise
there is a danger of the vehicle rolling.<
Locking
1.Pull out the releasing tool.
The transmission lock is locked again.
2.Close the cover in the bottom of the cup
holder and lay in the mat again.
3.Close the cover of the cup holder and stow
the releasing tool.
The display in the instrument cluster
must change from N to P after locking the
transmission lock. Otherwise there is a danger
of the vehicle rolling.<
Information on jump starting and towing from
page237.
Turn signals/headlamp
flasher/high beams
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Turn signals
Using turn signals
Press the lever beyond the resistance point.
To switch off manually, press the lever up to the
resistance point.
Atypically rapid flashing of the indicator
lamp indicates that a turn signal bulb
needs to be replaced.<
Signaling briefly
Press lever to resistance point and hold for as
long as you wish to signal.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever up to the resistance point; the
turn signal flashes once.
You can switch over this function so that the
turn signal flashes three times. The setting is
stored for the remote control currently in use.
iDrive, for explanation of concept, refer to
page16.
1.Press the button.
This opens the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
Controls
65Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
One lever for all functions
1Storing speed and maintaining or increas-
ing
2Storing speed and maintaining or decreas-
ing
3Deactivating cruise control
4Resuming stored setting
Maintaining current speed
Briefly press, arrow1, or briefly pull, arrow2
lever.
The speed currently being driven is stored and
maintained. It is indicated on the speedometer
and briefly in the instrument cluster.
The controlled speed can drop on uphill grades
if the engine output is insufficient. If the engine
braking effect is not sufficient on a downhill
grade, the system lightly brakes the vehicle.
Increasing desired speed
Repeatedly press the lever up to or beyond the
resistance point, arrow1, until the desired
speed is set.
>Each time the lever is pressed up to the
resistance point, the desired speed
increases by approx. 1 mph or 1 km/h.
>Each time the lever is pressed beyond the
resistance point, the desired speed
increases by a maximum of 5 mph or
10 km/h.
The system stores the setting and maintains
the set speed.
Accelerating with lever
Accelerate slightly:
Press the lever up to the resistance point,
arrow1, until the desired speed is reached.
Accelerate more rapidly:
Press the lever beyond the resistance point,
arrow1, until the desired speed is reached.
The vehicle accelerates without pressure on
the accelerator pedal. The system stores the
setting and maintains the set speed.
Reducing desired speed
Repeatedly pull the lever up to the resistance
point or beyond, arrow2, until the desired
speed is displayed.
>Each time the lever is pulled up to the resis-
tance point, the desired speed decreases
by approx. 1 mph or 1 km/h.
>Each time the lever is pulled beyond the
resistance point, the desired speed is
decreased by a maximum of 5 mph or
10 km/h until the minimum speed of
20 mph or 30 km/h is reached.
The system stores the setting and maintains
the set speed.
If the speed is to be considerably
reduced, depress the brake, as otherwise
a dangerous situation could result due to insuf-
ficient deceleration.<
Deactivating cruise control
Briefly press the lever up or down, arrow3.
The displays in the speedometer go out.
In addition, the system is automatically deacti-
vated:
>when braking
>when transmission position N is engaged
>when DTC is activated or DSC is deacti-
vated
>when HDC is activated
>when DSC or ABS is active
Accelerating does not deactivate the cruise
control. After releasing the accelerator pedal,
Driving
66 the stored speed is reached and maintained
again.
Warning lamp
The warning lamp lights up when the
cruise control has automatically been
deactivated by braking with the park-
ing brake or by a control intervention by DSC.
A message appears on the Control Display.
Resuming stored speed
Briefly press the button, arrow4. The stored
speed is resumed and maintained.
In the following cases the stored speed value is
deleted and can no longer be resumed:
>in case of an intervention of the driving sta-
bility control systems
>when transmission position N is engaged
>when the ignition is switched off
Displays in instrument cluster
1Stored desired speed
2Selected desired speed appears briefly
If the display --- mph or --- km/h appears
briefly in the instrument cluster, then con-
ditions required for operation may not currently
be fulfilled.
Retrieving Check Control messages, refer to
page74.<
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up if the sys-
tem has failed. A message appears on
the Control Display. Detailed informa-
tion is provided from page74.
Controls
81Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
PDC with visual warning*
You can also have the system show distances
to objects on the Control Display. Objects that
are farther away are already shown there before
a signal tone sounds.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
If the vehicle is equipped with a backup camera,
refer to the display of the backup camera on
page83.
iDrive, for explanation of concept, refer to
page16.
1.Open the start menu.
2.Press the controller to open the menu.
3.Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4.Select "Vehicle / Tires" and press the con-
troller.
5.Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the
controller until "PDC" is selected and press
the controller.
6.Select "PDC display on" and press the con-
troller.
The PDC screen is activated.
The display appears on the Control Display as
soon as PDC is activated.
System limits
Even with PDC, final responsibility for
estimating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstructions always remains
with the driver. Even when sensors are pro-
vided, there is a blind spot in which objects can
no longer be detected. The system's detection
of objects is also subject to the physical limits
that apply to all forms of ultrasonic measure-
ment, such as those encountered with tow bars and trailer couplings, thin or wedge-shaped
objects etc. Low objects already displayed, e. g.
a curb, can also disappear from the detection
area of the sensors again before or after a con-
tinuous tone already sounds. Higher, protrud-
ing objects, e.g. ledges, cannot be detected.
Loud sources of sound, inside and outside the
vehicle, could drown out the PDC signal tone.<
Backup camera*
The concept
The backup camera in the liftgate displays the
area behind your vehicle on the Control Display.
Also check the traffic situation around the
vehicle during parking and maneuvering
with direct vision, as otherwise danger of an
accident could result, for example, from road
users or objects located outside the picture
area of the backup camera.<
Switching on
Automatically
Engage transmission position R with the engine
running or the ignition switched on.
Manually
Press the button.
PDC is activated at the same time, refer to
page80.
Controls
85Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
DTC Dynamic Traction Control
DTC is a version of DSC in which the drive out-
put is optimized for particular road conditions,
e.g. unplowed snow-covered roads. The sys-
tem assures the maximal drive output, but with
reduced driving stability. It is therefore neces-
sary to drive with appropriate caution.
You may find it useful to briefly activate DTC
under the following special circumstances:
>When driving in sand, on snowy inclines, in
slush or on unplowed, snow-covered road
surfaces
>When rocking a stuck vehicle free or start-
ing off in deep snow, sand or on loose
ground
>When driving with snow chains
*
Activating DTC
Press the button briefly; the DTC indicator lamp
in the instrument cluster lights up.
For better control
The indicator lamp flashes:
DTC controls the drive forces and
brake forces.
The indicator lamp lights up:
DTC is activated.
Deactivating DTC
Press the button again; the DTC indicator lamp
in the instrument cluster goes out.
xDrive
xDrive is the 4-wheel drive system of your X5.
The combined effects of xDrive and DSC fur-
ther optimize the traction and dynamic driving
characteristics. The 4-wheel drive system
xDrive variably distributes the drive forces to
the front and rear axle depending on the driving
situation and prevailing road conditions.
HDC Hill Descent Control
The concept
HDC is a system for driving downhill in steep
terrain. This system reduces vehicle speed on
steep downhill gradients, thus allowing you to
maintain even better control of your BMW
under these conditions. The vehicle moves at
approximately walking speed without active
intervention from the driver.
HDC is available for activation at vehicle speeds
below approx. 22 mph/35 km/h. When driving
down steep hills with a speed below approx.
22 mph/35 km/h, the vehicle reduces speed
automatically down to approximately walking
speed, approx. 5 mph/8 km/h, and then main-
tains this speed at a constant.
Only use HDC in transmission position D or R.
Increasing or reducing speed
You can use the accelerator or brakes to vary
this automatically controlled speed within a
range extending from approx. 3 mph/5 km/h to
15 mph/25 km/h.
You can specify a target speed within the same
range by using the lever of the cruise control.
1Increasing speed
2Reducing speed
Practical interior accessories
110
Practical interior accessories
Integrated universal remote
control*
The concept
The integrated universal remote control can
replace as many as three hand-held transmit-
ters for various remote-controlled accessories,
such as door openers and house alarm sys-
tems. The integrated universal remote control
registers and stores signals from the original
hand-held transmitters.
The signal of an original hand-held transmitter
can be programmed on one of the three mem-
ory buttons1. Then with the ignition switched
on, this programmed memory button1 can be
used to operate the respective feature. The
LED2 flashes to confirm transmission of the
signal.
Should you sell your vehicle one day, be sure to
delete the stored programs beforehand for your
safety, refer to page111.
To prevent possible damage or injury,
before programming or using the inte-
grated universal remote control, always inspect
the immediate area to make certain that no peo-
ple, animals or objects are within the travel
range of the device. Also, comply with the
safety precautions of the original hand-held
transmitter.<
Checking compatibility
If you see this symbol on the packaging
or in the manual supplied with the orig-
inal hand-held transmitter, it is safe to
assume that it is compatible with the integrated
universal remote control.
Should you have additional questions,
please contact your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center or call: 1-800-355-3515.
Information is also provided on the Internet at:
www.bmwusa.com or
www.homelink.com.HomeLink is a registered trademark of Johnson
Controls, Inc.<
Programming
1Memory buttons
2LED
Fixed-code hand-held transmitters
1.Switch on ignition, refer to page56.
2.When starting operation for the first time:
Press both outer memory buttons1 for
approx. 20 seconds until the LED2 flashes.
All stored programs are deleted.
3.Hold the original hand-held transmitter at a
distance of approx. 2 in/5 cm to 8 in/20 cm
from the memory buttons1.
The required distance between the
hand-held transmitter and the mem-
ory buttons1 depends on the relevant sys-
tem of the original hand-held transmitter
used.<
4.Simultaneously press the transmit button
on the original hand-held transmitter and
the desired memory button 1 on the inte-
grated universal remote control. The LED 2
flashes slowly at first. As soon as the LED2
flashes rapidly, release both buttons. If the
LED2 does not flash rapidly after approx.
15 seconds, alter the distance.
5.To program other original hand-held trans-
mitters, repeat steps 3 and 4.