2008 BMW X6 ABS

Controls
85Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Displays
You can have the picture from the rear view
camera displayed in several formats and in
combination with the PDC Park Distance Con-
trol, refer to page82.
In addition, you also have the option of display-
ing only the PDC Park Distance Control.
>"Camera picture and PDC"
The rear view camera picture is shown in
the main window of the Control Display.
>"Camera view: full screen"
The picture of the rear view camera is
shown on the entire Control Display.
>"Camera view: main window"
The picture of the rear view camera is
shown in the main window of the Control
Display.
>"PDC in main window only"
PDC is shown in the main window of the
Control Display.
Selecting displays
1.Select "Maneuvering aids" and press the
controller, refer to Driver assistance func-
tions.
2.Turn the controller until "View selection" is
selected and press the controller.
3.Select the desired display and press the
controller.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Setting brightness
You can set the brightness of the camera view
with the rear view camera switched on.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.1.Press the controller.
2.Turn the controller until "Brightness" is
selected and press the controller.
3.Set the desired brightness.
Cleaning rear view camera
The lens of the rear view camera is located on
the liftgate.
The picture quality of the rear view camera may
be impaired by dirt. Clean the lens with a moist,
nonabrasive cloth.
The lens is automatically heated in case of frost.
Driving stability control
systems
Your BMW is equipped with an extended array
of systems designed to enhance and maintain
vehicle stability under extreme conditions.
ABS Antilock Brake System
ABS prevents locking of the wheels during
braking. Safe steering response is maintained
even during full braking. Active safety is thus
increased.
ABS is operational every time you start the
engine. Braking safely, refer to page127.
CBC Cornering Brake Control
When braking during curves or when braking
during a lane change, driving stability and steer-
ing response are improved further.
Electronic brake-force distribution
The system controls the brake pressure in the
rear wheels to ensure stable braking behavior.

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
86
Brake assistant
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system
automatically produces the maximum braking
force boost and thus helps to achieve the short-
est possible braking distance during full brak-
ing. This system exploits all of the benefits pro-
vided by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake pedal
for the duration of the full braking.
DSC Dynamic Stability Control
DSC prevents traction loss in the driving wheels
when starting off and accelerating. The system
also identifies unstable driving conditions, such
as a loss of traction at the rear of the vehicle or
sliding of the vehicle in its front wheels. In these
cases, DSC helps the vehicle maintain a safe
course within physical limits by reducing engine
output and through braking actions in the indi-
vidual wheels.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed,
even with DSC. An appropriate driving
style remains the responsibility of the driver.
Therefore, do not restrict the additional safety
margin with a risky driving style, as otherwise
there is a risk of an accident.<
Deactivating DSC
Press the button until the DSC indicator lamp in
the instrument panel lights up, but not longer
than approx. 10 seconds. DTC Dynamic Trac-
tion Control and DSC are deactivated together.
Stabilizing interventions are now not carried
out.
A message appears on the Control Display.
Please note any supplementary information
that appears there.To increase vehicle stability, activate DSC again
as soon as possible.
Activating DSC
Press the button; the indicator lamp in the
instrument panel goes out.
For better control
The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC controls the drive forces and
brake forces.
The indicator lamps light up:
DSC is deactivated.
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 panel lights up.

Driving tips
127Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Avoiding high engine speeds
Driving at a low engine speed reduces fuel con-
sumption and minimizes wear.
Taking advantage of coasting
The flow of fuel is interrupted when coasting.
Switching off engine during longer
stops
Switch off the engine at longer stops such as
traffic signals, railroad crossings, or in traffic
jams. Even having the engine switched off for
approx. 4 seconds results in fuel savings.
Switch off functions currently not
required
Functions such as air conditioning, seat heat-
ing, or rear window defrosting consume a lot of
energy and require additional fuel. Their influ-
ence is particularly pronounced in city traffic
and stop & go operation. For this reason, it is a
good idea to switch these functions off when
they are not really needed.
Having maintenance carried out
Have the vehicle serviced regularly in order to
achieve the optimum economy and service life
of your vehicle. BMW recommends having the
maintenance performed by a BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center. Also please pay atten-
tion to the BMW maintenance system, refer to
page243.
General driving notes
Closing liftgate
Operate the vehicle only when the liftgate
is completely closed. Otherwise, exhaust
fumes could enter into the passenger compart-
ment. gate open:
1.Close all windows and the glass sunroof.
2.Increase the air volume of the automatic
climate control to a high level, refer to
page105.
Hot exhaust system
As in all vehicles, extremely high temper-
atures are generated on the exhaust sys-
tem. Do not remove the heat shields installed
adjacent to it, and never apply undercoating to
them. When driving, standing at idle and while
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, and with it
the risk of serious property damage as well as
personal injury. Do not touch hot tailpipes, as
otherwise there is a danger of burns.<
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 the tires and
the road surface, ultimately undermining your
ability to steer and brake the vehicle.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases as the tread
depth of the tires decreases, also refer to Mini-
mum tread depth on page236.
Driving through water
Do not drive through water on the road if it
is deeper than 18 in/45 cm, and then only
at walking speed at the most. Otherwise, the
vehicle's engine, the electrical systems and the
transmission may be damaged.<
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature. In situations that require it, it is best to
brake with full force. Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid

Things to remember when driving
128 possible obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal, combined with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits, indicate that
ABS is in its active mode.
Do not drive with your foot resting on the
brake pedal. Even light but consistent
pedal pressure can lead to high temperatures,
brake wear and possibly even brake failure.<
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain,
briefly exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal
every few miles. Monitor traffic conditions to
ensure that this maneuver does not endanger
other road users. The heat generated in this
process helps dry the pads and rotors to ensure
that full braking efficiency will then be available
when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and the resulting
reduced efficiency of the brake system,
drive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear in which the least braking is required. Even
light but consistent pressure on the brake pedal
can lead to high temperatures, brake wear and
possibly even brake failure.<
The braking effect of the engine can be further
increased by downshifting in the manual mode
of the automatic transmission, if necessary into
first gear, refer to page62. This prevents an
excessive strain on the brakes.
Do not drive in idle or with the engine
stopped, otherwise there will be no
engine braking action or support of the braking
force and steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area of movement
of the pedals and impair their operation.<
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 minimum
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.
When vehicle is parked
Condensation forms in the automatic climate
control system during operation, and then exits
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed water
under the vehicle are therefore normal.
Before driving into a car wash
Fold in the exterior mirrors, refer to page50,
otherwise they could be damaged due to the
width of the vehicle.
Release the parking brake, particularly when
you have activated Automatic Hold, refer to
page58.
General information on the care and mainte-
nance of your BMW is contained in the Caring
for your vehicle brochure.
Mixed tires*
Before driving into a car wash, make sure
that the vehicle width is not too large for
the car wash, as otherwise the vehicle and the
car wash could be damaged.<
With comfort access*
Insert the remote control into the ignition lock.
The engine can be switched off in transmission
position N, also refer to page38.
Loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage
develops inside the tires. The ultimate result
can assume the form of a sudden blow-out.<

Mobility
237Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Run-flat tires
You will recognize run-flat tires by the circular
symbol containing the letters RSC on the side
of the tire.
Run-flat tires consist of partially self-contained
tires and special rims. The sidewall reinforce-
ment ensures that the tire retains some residual
safety in the event of pressure drop and driving
remains possible to a restricted degree.
To continue driving with a damaged tire:
>With Flat Tire Monitor, refer to Indication of
a flat tire page90
>With Tire Pressure Monitor, refer to Mes-
sage with low tire inflation pressure page92
New wheels and tires
Have new wheels and tires installed only
by your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center or a tire shop that works according to
BMW repair procedures with correspondingly
trained personnel. If this work is not carried out
properly, there is a danger of subsequent dam-
age and related safety hazards. Make sure that
the new wheels are balanced.<
Retreaded tires
BMW does not recommend that you use
retreaded tires, as driving safety may be
impaired. The causes for this include the possi-
bly different tire casing structures and the often
wide variations in their age, which can result in a
limited service life.<
The right wheels and tires
When mounting new tires or changing over
from summer to winter tires and vice versa,
mount Run-Flat Tires for your own safety. Your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center will be
happy to advise you.
BMW recommends that you use only
wheel and tire combinations that BMW
has tested and approved for your particular
vehicle. Variations in factors such as manufac-
turing tolerances mean that even wheels and
tires with identical official size ratings could
actually have different dimensions than the
approved units – these differences could lead to
body contact, and with it the risk of severe acci-
dents. If non-approved wheels and tires are
used, BMW cannot evaluate their suitability,
and therefore cannot be held liable for driving
safety.<
When changing to larger wheels and tires,
it may be necessary to make changes to
the wheelwell trim piece, as otherwise road
users could be endangered or the vehicle could
be damaged. Only have this work carried out by
a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center or a
workshop that works in accordance with BMW
guidelines and uses appropriately trained per-
sonnel.<
You can ask your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center for the correct wheel/tire combination.
The correct wheel/tire combination also affects
various systems whose function would other-
wise be impaired, e.g. ABS, DSC, xDrive,
Dynamic Performance Control, or Flat Tire
Monitor.
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single tread config-
uration from a single manufacturer. Following
tire damage, have the original wheel and tire
combination remounted on the vehicle as soon
as possible.

Everything from A to Z
266
Everything from A to Z
Index
"..." Identifies Control Display
texts used to select
individual functions, and
indicates where to find them
in the text.
A
ABS Antilock Brake
System85
Accessories6
Acoustic signal, refer to Check
Control75
Activated-charcoal filter108
"Activation time" for parked
car ventilation110
Active seat49
Active seat ventilation48
Active steering94
– warning lamp94
Adaptive brake lamps, refer to
Brake force display94
Adaptive Drive88
Adaptive fastening
system120
Adaptive Head Light101
"Add digits" for mobile
phone214
"Address book" for
navigation144
Address for navigation
– deleting145
– entering137,144
– selecting144
– storing144
– storing current position144
"Add to destination list"139
Adjusting confirmation signals
for locking and unlocking31
Adjusting temperature with
expanded-scope automatic
climate control105Adjusting the tone during
audio operation, refer to
Tone control161
Adjusting thigh
support43,44
"After door opened"45
"After unlocking"45
Airbags95
– sitting safely42
– warning lamp96
Air distribution
– automatic104,109
– manual105
Airing, refer to Ventilation107
Air recirculation106
– AUC Automatic
recirculated-air control106
– recirculated-air mode106
"Air recirculation on / off"52
Air vents103
– refer to Ventilation107
Air vents of automatic climate
control
103
Air volume105,109
AKI, refer to Fuel
specifications231
Alarm system35
– avoiding unintentional
alarms36
– interior motion sensor36
– switching off alarm35
– switching off tilt alarm
sensor and interior motion
sensor36
– tilt alarm sensor36
"All channels" on satellite
radio171
"All doors"30
All-season tires, refer to
Winter tires238
"All stations", displaying on
radio164All-wheel drive, refer to
xDrive87
Alterations, technical, refer to
For your own safety5
"AM", reception
range161,164
"Angle of view"
– DVD changer183
– DVD system in rear195
Antenna for mobile phone206
Antifreeze
– coolant242
– washer fluid65
Antilock Brake System
ABS85
Anti-theft system
– refer to Alarm system35
– refer to Central locking
system29
Approved axle loads, refer to
Weights260
Approved engine oils241
Approved gross vehicle
weight, refer to Weights260
Armrest, refer to Center
armrest, front116
Around the center console14
Around the steering wheel10
Arrival time
– refer to Computer70
– refer to Starting destination
guidance148
"Arrow display" for
navigation149
Arrow view for navigation
system149
Ashtray
– front117
– rear117
Assist, refer to separate
operating instructions

Everything from A to Z
268 BMW maintenance
system243
"BMW Service settings"227
BMW website4
Bottle holder, refer to Cup
holders117
Brake assistant86
Brake force display94
Brake lamps
– brake force display94
– replacing bulbs246
Brake rotors128
Brakes
– ABS Antilock Brake
System85
– brake assistant86
– brake force display94
– breaking-in126
– CBC Cornering Brake
Control85
– electronic brake-force
distribution85
– parking brake57
– refer to Braking safely127
– warning lamp13
Brake system126
– brake pads126
– breaking-in126
– disk brakes128
Braking safely127
Breakdown, Flat Tire
Monitor89
Breakdown services, refer to
Roadside Assistance253
Breaking-in brake pads126
Breaking-in differential126
Break-in period126
"Brightness"79
– DVD changer182
– DVD system in rear194
Brightness
– of Control Display79
– of the rear view camera85
– on Head-Up Display97
"Brightness / Position"98
Button for starting engine56
Buttons on steering wheel11
Bypassing traffic
congestion155
C
Calibrating driver's seat47
California Proposition 65
Warning6
"Call"214,225
Call
– accepting212
– displaying accepted215
– ending213
– in absence215
– starting213
Calling
– from phone book214
– from Top 8 list215
– redialing215
– refer to telephone operating
instructions
Camera, refer to Rear view
camera83
"Camera picture and PDC"85
"Camera view: full screen"85
"Camera view: main
window"85
Can holder, refer to Cup
holders117
Capacities261
Capacity of cargo bay260
Car battery, refer to Vehicle
battery250
Car care, refer to Caring for
your vehicle brochure
Car-care products, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
"Car Data"70
Care244
– refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Cargo
– refer to Loading128
– securing130
– securing with ski bag122
Cargo area, refer to Cargo
bay119Cargo bay
– capacity260
– emergency operation, refer
to Opening manually33
– expanding120
– opening/closing, refer to
Liftgate33
– opening from inside33
– opening from outside33
– opening with remote
control30
Caring for artificial leather,
refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Caring for leather, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Caring for light-alloy wheels,
refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Caring for the carpet, refer to
Caring for your vehicle
brochure
Caring for the vehicle finish,
refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Car key, refer to Keys/remote
control28
Car phone206
– installation location, refer to
Center armrest, front116
– refer to Mobile phone206
– refer to separate operating
instructions
Car radio, refer to Radio164
Car wash128
– also refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
– before driving in57
– with comfort access38
Catalytic converter, refer to
Hot exhaust system127
"Categories" on satellite
radio171
CBC Cornering Brake
Control85
CBS Condition Based
Service243

Reference 279
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Reverse gear, automatic
transmission with
Steptronic61
Road map150
"Roadside Assistance"222
Roadside Assistance253
Roadside assistance222
Roadside parking lamps101
Roller sun blinds115
Roof load capacity260
Roof-mounted luggage
rack130
Rope, refer to Tow-starting
and towing254
Rotary pushbutton, refer to
iDrive16
Route146
– changing152
– displaying149
– displaying arrow display149
– displaying map view150
– displaying roads and towns/
cities150
– displaying towns/cities150
– list150
– selecting146
– selecting criteria146
RSC Runflat System
Component, refer to Run-
flat tires237
Runflat System Component
RSC, refer to Run-Flat
Tires237
Run-flat tires237
– continuing driving with a
damaged tire90,92
– flat tire90,92
– new wheels and tires237
– tire inflation
pressure90,92,232
– tire replacement237S
Safety5
Safety belts47
– damage47
– sitting safely42
– warning lamp47
Safety belt tensioners
– refer to Airbags95
– refer to Safety belts47
Safety systems
– ABS Antilock Brake
System85
– airbags95
– driving stability control
systems85
– DSC Dynamic Stability
Control86
– safety belts47
Safety tires, refer to Run-flat
tires237
"SAT"161,170
Satellite radio170
– displaying additional
information171
– enabling170
– selecting channel171
– storing channel171
"Scan"
– for DVD system in rear197
– sampling stations with
radio165
– sampling tracks on CD175
Scan
– CD changer175
– CD player175
– radio165
"Scan all"
– DVD system in rear198
– in audio mode175
"Scan directory"
– for DVD system in rear198
– in audio mode175
Screen, refer to iDrive16
Screw thread for tow
fitting254
SDARS, refer to Satellite
radio170
"Seat heater distribution"48Seat heating48
Seats43
– adjusting43
– adjusting electrically43
– adjusting manually43
– backrest width44
– heating48
– lumbar support44
– memory, refer to Seat, mirror
and steering wheel
memory44
– shoulder support44
– sitting safely42
– storing the setting44
– thigh support43,44
– ventilation, refer to Active
seat ventilation and Seat
heating48
Securing load
– refer to Securing cargo130
– with ski bag, refer to
Securing cargo122
"Select as
destination"142,225
"Select current speed"77
Selecting audio source160
Selecting country for
navigation137
Selecting frequency
manually165
Selecting menu items19
Selecting new scale for
navigation150
Selector lever, automatic
transmission with
Steptronic61
Selector lever lock, refer to
Reverse gear61
Self-leveling suspension89
Service, refer to Roadside
Assistance253
Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for
US models243
"Service Info"73,223,240
Service interval indicator, refer
to Service requirements72
"Service Request"216,223