2008 BMW X5 3.0Si suspension

Notes
6
Parts and accessories
For your own safety, use genuine parts
and accessories approved by BMW.
When you purchase accessories tested and
approved by BMW and Genuine BMW Parts,
you simultaneously acquire the assurance that
they have been thoroughly tested by BMW to
ensure optimum performance when installed
on your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free from
defects in material and workmanship.
BMW will not accept any liability for damage
resulting from installation of parts and accesso-
ries not approved by BMW.
BMW cannot test every product made by other
manufacturers to verify if it can be used on a
BMW safely and without risk to either the vehi-
cle, its operation or its occupants.
Genuine BMW Parts, BMW Accessories and
other products approved by BMW, together
with professional advice on using these items,
are available from all BMW Sports Activity Vehi-
cle Centers.
Installation and operation of non-BMW
approved accessories such as alarms, radios,
amplifiers, radar detectors, wheels, suspension
components, brake dust shields, telephones,
including operation of any mobile phone from
within the vehicle without using an externally
mounted antenna, or transceiver equipment
such as CBs, walkie-talkies, ham radios or sim-
ilar accessories, may cause extensive damage
to the vehicle, compromise its safety, interfere
with the vehicle's electrical system or affect the
validity of the BMW Limited Warranty. Refer to
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center for
additional information.<
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of
the emission control devices and sys-
tems may be performed by any automotive
repair establishment or individual using any cer-
tified automotive part.<
California Proposition 65 Warning
California laws require us to issue the following
warning:
Engine exhaust and a wide variety of
automobile components and parts,
including components found in the interior fur-
nishings in a vehicle, contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to cause cancer
and birth defects and reproductive harm. In
addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles and
certain products of component wear contain or
emit chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and birth defects or other
reproductive harm.
Battery posts, terminals and related accesso-
ries contain lead and lead compounds. Wash
your hands after handling.
Used engine oil contains chemicals that have
caused cancer in laboratory animals. Always
protect your skin by washing thoroughly with
soap and water.<

Controls
29Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Settings for the display on the Control Dis-
play:
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer
to page82
>Measuring units for consumption, route/
distances, temperature, and pressure,
refer to page82
>Language on Control Display, refer to
page83
>12h/24h mode of the clock, refer to
page82
>Date format, refer to page82
>Showing optical warning for PDC Park Dis-
tance Control
*, refer to page85
>Selection, brightness and position of dis-
play in Head-Up Display
*, refer to page99
>Settings of automatic climate control, refer
to page107
>Positions of driver's seat, exterior mirrors,
and steering wheel
*, refer to page44
>With Adaptive Drive
*, last selected chassis
and suspension tuning setting, refer to
page91
>Audio sources, volume and tone settings,
refer to page163
>Radio, displaying stored stations, refer to
page166
>Telephone, setting volume, refer to
pages214,220
>Pathway lighting, refer to page103, and
daytime running lamps
*, refer to page103
>Triple turn signal activation, refer to
page67
>With rear view camera
*, selection of func-
tions, refer to page86, and type of display,
refer to page88
>With programmable memory/direct selec-
tion buttons, selection of stored functions,
refer to page21
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system is ready for opera-
tion whenever the driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and
releases the locks on the following:
>Doors
>Liftgate
>Fuel filler door
Operating from outside
>via the remote control
>via the door lock
>with comfort access
* via the door handles
At the same time, the anti-theft system is also
operated. It prevents the doors from being
unlocked using the lock buttons or door han-
dles. The interior lamps and the courtesy
lamps
* are also switched on and off with the
remote control. The alarm system
is armed/dis-
armed at the same time.
You can find more detailed information on the
alarm system
on page35.
Operating from inside
Via the button for central locking, refer to
page32. The fuel filler door is not locked.
In an accident of sufficient severity, the central
locking system automatically unlocks the vehi-
cle. In addition, the hazard warning flashers and
interior lamps come on.
Opening and closing:
Using remote control
Persons or animals left unattended in a
parked vehicle can lock the doors from
the inside. Always take along the remote control
when leaving the vehicle so that the vehicle can
then be opened from the outside.<

Controls
91Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Displays* in instrument panel
1Display for target speed
2HDC display
Malfunction
HDC is temporarily unavailable in the following
situations due to a high brake temperature:
>The LED in the button and the display HDC
go out during HDC operation.
>The LED in the button and the HDC display
do not light up when the button is pressed.
Malfunction of driving stability control
systems
When driving on poor roads, avoid using
full throttle or pressing the accelerator
beyond the kick-down point and also avoid
heavy braking. Otherwise, the drive train may be
damaged or accidents can occur.<
Adaptive Drive*
The concept
Adaptive Drive reduces the body roll which
occurs when cornering quickly or during fast
evasive maneuvers. In addition, Adaptive Drive
also reduces the steering angle requirement,
improves the running comfort and increases
the dynamic driving characteristics of your X5.
Chassis and suspension tuning
You can choose between two types of chassis
and suspension tuning.>Normal:
The comfortable basic setting offers opti-
mum comfort when traveling.
>Sport:
The sporty basic setting offers increased
driving agility.
Selecting chassis and suspension
tuning
Press the button.
The system switches between the two chassis
and suspension tuning settings.
>Sport:
The LED in the button lights up and SPORT
is displayed in the instrument panel.
>Normal:
The LED in the button goes out.
The selection of the chassis and suspension
tuning setting is stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Starting assistant
The starting assistant enables you to start off
conveniently on slopes. The parking brake is
not required for this purpose.
1.Hold the vehicle with the footbrake.
2.Release the footbrake and immediately
drive off quickly.
The starting assistant holds the vehicle
for approx. 2 seconds after releasing the
footbrake. Depending on the load, the vehicle
may also roll back slightly during this time.
After releasing the footbrake, immediately start
quickly, otherwise the starting assistant no

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
92 longer holds the vehicle after approx. 2 seconds
and it begins to roll back.<
Self-leveling suspension*
Malfunction
The warning lamp for self-leveling
suspension lights up yellow and a
message is shown on the Control
Display. A malfunction has occurred in the self-
leveling suspension. Stop and check the vehi-
cle. If it is considerably lower at the rear than at
the front, and possibly also on one side – rear
left compared to rear right –, proceed to the
nearest BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center or
a workshop that works according to BMW
repair procedures with correspondingly trained
personnel. Drive with appropriate caution in the
meantime. The vehicle has reduced ground
clearance and driving comfort may be notice-
a bly reduced. Even if the orientatio n of the vehi-
cle is normal, when a malfunction is indicated
on the display, you should proceed to the near-
est BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center or a
workshop that works according to BMW guide-
lines and uses appropriately trained personnel.
FTM Flat Tire Monitor*
The concept
The Flat Tire Monitor detects a pressure loss in
one tire by comparing the speeds of the individ-
ual wheels during driving.
In the event of a pressure loss, there is a change
in the rolling circumference and therefore the
rotation speed of the corresponding wheel. The
system detects this change and reports it as a
flat tire.
Function requirements
In order to assure the reliable reporting of a flat
tire, the system must be initialized for the cor-
rect tire inflation pressure.The initialization must be repeated after
each time the tire inflation pressure is cor-
rected and after every tire or wheel change.<
System limits
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot indicate
sudden severe tire damage caused by
outside factors and does not detect a natural,
even pressure drop in all four tires.<
In the following situations, the system could be
delayed or malfunction:
>System has not been initialized
>Driving on snowy or slippery road surface
>Sporty driving style: slip in the drive wheels,
high lateral acceleration
>Driving with snow chains
*
When you are driving with the compact wheel*
the Flat Tire Monitor is unable to function.
Initializing system
The initialization finishes during driving,
which can be interrupted at any time.
When driving resumes, the initialization is con-
tinued automatically. Do not initialize the sys-
tem when driving with snow chains
* or with the
compact wheel
*.<
iDrive, for operating principle 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.

Wheels and tires
238
Temperature
The temperature grades are A, the highest, B,
and C, representing the tire's resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability to dissipate
heat when tested under controlled conditions
on a specified indoor laboratory test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. The grade C corresponds to
a level of performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehi-
cle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the minimum
required by law.
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive loading, either sep-
arately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.<
RSC – run-flat tires
You will recognize run-flat tires by a circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the side
of the tire, refer to page239.
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than sum-
mer tires.
XL
Indicates specially reinforced tires.
Tire condition
Inspect your tires frequently for tread wear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects lodged
in the tread. Check the tread depth.
Minimum tread depth
The tread depth should not drop below 0.12 in/
3 mm, although, for example, European legisla-
tion only specifies a minimum tread depth of 0.063 in/1.6 mm. At tread depths below 0.12 in/
3 mm there is an increased risk of high-speed
hydroplaning, even when only small amounts of
water are present on the road surface.
When winter tires wear down past a tread depth
of 0.16 in/4 mm, they become perceptibly less
suitable for winter conditions. For the sake of
safety, new tires should be installed.
Wear indicators at the tread-groove base, refer
to arrow, are distributed over the tire's circum-
ference and are marked on the side of the tire
with TWI – Tread Wear Indicator. If the tire tread
has been driven down to the wear indicators, a
tread depth of 0.063 in/1.6 mm has been
reached.
Wheel/tire damage
Please note that low-profile tires cause wheels,
tires and suspension parts to be more suscep-
tible to road hazards and consequential dam-
ages.
Unusual vibrations encountered during normal
vehicle operation can indicate tire failure or
some other vehicle defect. This can, for exam-
ple, be caused by driving over curbs. These
kinds of problems may also be signaled by other
changes in vehicle response, such as a strong
tendency to pull to the left or right.
In these cases, reduce speed immedi-
ately and have wheels and tires thor-
oughly checked. To do so, drive carefully to the
nearest BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center or
tire shop that works according to BMW repair
procedures with correspondingly trained per-
sonnel. If necessary, have the vehicle towed
there. Otherwise, tire damage can be extremely
dangerous to vehicle occupants and other road
users.<

Reference 283
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
"Return" for DVD system in
rear185,197
Reverse
– CD changer178
– CD player178
– DVD changer183
Reverse gear, automatic
transmission with
Steptronic64
Road map152
"Roadside Assistance"224
Roadside Assistance256
Roadside assistance224
Roadside parking lamps104
Roller sun blinds118
Roll-up cover122
Roof load capacity264
Roof-mounted luggage
rack132
Rope, refer to Tow-starting
and towing257
Rotary pushbutton, refer to
iDrive16
Route148
– changing154
– displaying151
– displaying arrow display151
– displaying map view152
– displaying roads and towns/
cities152
– displaying towns/cities152
– list152
– selecting148
– selecting criteria148
RSC Runflat System
Component, refer to Run-
flat tires239
Runflat System Component
RSC, refer to Run-Flat
Tires239
Run-flat tires239
– continuing driving with a
damaged tire93,95
– flat tire93,95
– new wheels and tires239
– tire inflation
pressure93,95,234
– tire replacement239S
Safety5
Safety belts48
– damage49
– sitting safely42
– warning lamp49
Safety belt tensioners
– refer to Airbags97
– refer to Safety belts48
Safety systems
– ABS Antilock Brake
System88
– airbags97
– driving stability control
systems88
– DSC Dynamic Stability
Control89
– safety belts48
Safety tires, refer to Run-flat
tires239
"SAT"163,172
Satellite radio172
– displaying additional
information173
– enabling172
– selecting channel173
– storing channel173
"Scan"
– for DVD system in rear199
– sampling stations with
radio167
– sampling tracks with CD177
Scan
– CD changer177
– CD player177
– radio167
"Scan all"
– for DVD system in rear200
– in audio mode177
"Scan directory"
– for DVD system in rear200
– in audio mode177
Screen, refer to iDrive16
Screw thread for tow
fitting257
SDARS, refer to Satellite
radio172
"Seat heater distribution"50Seat heating50
Seats43
– adjusting43
– adjusting electrically43
– adjusting manually43
– backrest width44
– heating50
– in rear47
– lumbar support44
– memory, refer to Seat, mirror
and steering wheel
memory44
– shoulder support44
– sitting safely
42
– storing the setting44
– thigh support43,44
– ventilation, refer to Active
seat ventilation and Seat
heating50
2nd row seats47
Securing load
– refer to Securing cargo132
– with ski bag, refer to
Securing cargo125
"Select as
destination"144,227
"Select current speed"80
Selecting audio source162
Selecting country for
navigation139
Selecting frequency
manually167
Selecting menu items19
Selecting new scale for
navigation152
Selector lever, automatic
transmission with
Steptronic64
Selector lever lock, refer to
Reverse gear64
Self-leveling suspension92
Service, refer to Roadside
Assistance256
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for
US models245
"Service Info"76,225,242
Service interval indicator, refer
to Service requirements75