
Controls
121Reference
At a glance
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Communications
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Mobility
Ventilation in rear
1Serrated dials to smoothly open and close
air vents
2 Serrated dials to adjust temperature in
upper body region; ca n be adjusted sepa-
rately for left and right:
> Turn toward blue: colder
> Turn toward red: warmer
3 Levers to change the air vent direction
BMW X5
1Levers to change the air vent direction
2 Serrated dial to smoothly open and close air
vents
For information on the ventilation of the 3rd row
seats, refer to page 119.
Parked-car ventilation*
The concept
The parked-car ventilation blows air into the
passenger compartment to lower interior tem-
peratures.
It is ready to use in the parked car mode at any
outside temperature.
You can set two different times for the system
to start. The parked-car ventilation can also be
switched on and off directly. It remains
switched on for 30 minutes.
Since the system uses a substantial amount of
electrical current, you should refrain from acti-
vating it twice in succ ession without allowing
the battery to be rechar ged in normal operation
between use.
The air emerges through the upper body region
air vents in the instrument cluster. Therefore,
please open the air vents.
The parked-car ventilation is operated via
iDrive.
Switching on and off directly
iDrive, for operating pr inciple refer to page16.
1. Open the start menu.
2. Move the controller to the left to open "Cli-
mate".
3. Select "Parked car operation" and press the
controller.
4. Select "Automatic ventilation" and press
the controller.
5. Select "Parked car ventilation" and press
the controller.
The parked-car ventila tion is switched on.

Practical interior accessories
126
Calibrating digital compass
Calibrate the digital compass In the following
situations:
>The wrong cardinal direction appears on
the display.
> The cardinal direction displayed does not
change despite a change in the direction of
travel.
> Not all cardinal directions are displayed.
Procedure
1.Make sure that there are no large metal
objects or overhead power lines in the vicin-
ity of your vehicle and that you have enough
space to drive in a circle.
2. Input the currently applicable compass
zone.
3. Press the adjustment button for approx.
6-7 seconds to display C. Then drive in a
complete circle at least once at a maximum
speed of 4 mph/7 km/h.
If the calibration is successful, display C is
replaced with the points of the compass.
Setting right/left-hand drive vehicle
Your digital compass is already set to right or
left-hand drive vehicle to match your vehicle at
the factory.
Setting language
You can set the langua ge of the display.
Press the adjustment button for approx.
12-13 seconds. Briefly press the adjustment
button again to change between English "E"
and German "O".
The setting is automatica lly stored after approx.
10 seconds.
Roller sun blinds for rear side
windows*
Pull the loop of the roller sun blind and hook
onto bracket.
Do not open the window with the roller
blind raised, as otherwise there is a dan-
ger of damage, and therefore a danger of inju-
ries at higher speeds. <
Glove compartment
Opening
Press the button. The covers open upward and
downward and the lighting in the glove com-
partment switches on.
To prevent injury in the event of an acci-
dent while the vehicle is being driven,
close the glove compartment immediately after
use. <
Closing
Press one of the two covers closed.

Controls
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Mobility
Center armrest front
A storage compartment is located under the
armrest between the front seats and, depend-
ing on the vehicle's equipment, also a cover for
the mobile phone bracket or the snap-in
adapter. Also refer to page 220.
Opening cover
Push cover down slightly and press the button.
The cover folds upward.
Connection for external audio device
You can connect an external audio device such
as a CD or MP3 player and play audio tracks
over the vehicle's speaker system:
>AUX-In connection, refer to page 200
> USB audio interface, refer to page 201
Storage compartments
Compartments are located in the doors, in the
center console in the front and rear
* as well as
in the rear console in the X6.
Storage nets
* are located on the backrests of
the front seats.
Do not stow hard or sharp-edged objects
in the storage nets; otherwise there is an
increased risk of injury in the event of an acci-
dent. <
Clothes hooks
When hanging clothing on the hooks,
ensure that it will not obstruct the driver's
vision. Do not hang heavy objects on the hooks. If you do so, they could cause personal injury to
occupants during brak
ing or evasive maneu-
vers. <
BMW X5
Clothes hooks are located near the grab han-
dles in the rear.
BMW X6
To fold out, press against upper edge.
Cup holders
Use lightweight, unbreakable containers
and do not transport hot beverages; oth-
erwise, there is an increased risk of injury in the
event of an accident. Do not force unsuitable
containers into the cup holders, as otherwise
damage can result. <
Front
Slide the cover back.

Practical interior accessories
130
In rear center console
Depending on your vehicle's equipment pack-
age, the socket in the rear is covered with a cap
or equipped with a lighter. Refer to Cigarette
lighter, front, page 129.
Access to socket:
Remove cap or lighter.
In storage compartment under center
armrest
Access to socket*:
Pull off the cover.
BMW X6: in rear console
Slide the cover back.
Access to socket:
Pull off the cover.
Rear center armrest
BMW X6 and BMW X5 with 3rd row
seats*
Pull on the loop and fold down the center arm-
rest.
BMW X5 without 3rd row seats*
Unlock the center armrest with the button in the
lower section of the opening and fold down.
Cargo bay
BMW X5: roll-up cover
Pull out the roll-up cover and hook it into the
brackets.

Practical interior accessories
132
Installing
When installing, proceed in the opposite order
of removal.
1.Set the cargo bay cove r into place on the
left and right sides.
2. Lift the back of the co ver slightly and slide
forward until it snaps into the two side
brackets.
Expanding cargo bay
The rear seat backrest is divided. You can fold
down both sides separate ly in order to expand
the cargo bay.
BMW X6: before folding the rear seat
backrest forward or using the ski bag,
remove beverage containers from the cup
holder and close the cup holder. <
Reach into the recess an d pull toward the front.
When you fold back the backrest, be sure
that the catch engages securely. The red
warning indicator disappears in the recess
when the catch is engaged. If it is not properly
engaged, transported cargo could enter the
passenger compartment during braking or eva-
sive maneuvers and endanger the vehicle occu-
pants. <
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection,
observe the safety belt information on
page 48.<
Storage compartments in
cargo bay
Depending on the vehicle's equipment, the fol-
lowing storage compartments are provided in
the cargo bay.
> Storage compartments behind the remov-
able side panels on the right and left side of
the cargo bay
* and under the floor panel
flap, storage compartment
* right side of
cargo bay.
> Storage tray
* under the floor panel flap,
capacity approx. 21 US gal/80 liter.
> Retaining straps
* on the left and right side
panel for securing small objects.
> Hooks
*, e.g. for hanging up shopping bags
or carrier bags on the left and right in the
cargo bay.
> Net
* on the left side pa nel of the cargo bay
for smaller objects.
> Lashing rail with lashing eyes
*. You can
secure heavy-duty cargo straps on the lash-
ing eyes.
They can be removed at the notches in the
rails. To move the lashing eyes, press the
button.
Read and comply with the information
enclosed with the heavy-duty cargo
straps. <
Floor panel flap
To access the onboard toolkit etc.
To open, swing up the flap by the handle, refer
to arrow.
The floor panel flap can be locked
*.

Driving tips
143Reference
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Mobility
Securing cargo
BMW X5
BMW X6
>Use the luggage net*, retaining straps*, or
securing straps to hold down small and
lightweight luggage and cargo.
> For larger and heavier pieces, heavy-duty
cargo straps
* are available from your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicl e Center. Four lashing
eyes
* mounted in the cargo bay are used to
secure these heavy-duty cargo straps, refer
to illustrations.
> Observe the special instructions supplied
with the heavy-duty cargo straps.
Position and secure the cargo as
described above, so that it cannot endan-
ger the car's occupants, for example if sudden
braking or evasive maneuvers are necessary.
Never exceed either the approved gross vehicle
weight or either of the approved axle weights,
refer to page 289, as excessive loads can pose
a safety hazard, and may also place you in viola-
tion of traffic safety laws.
You should never transport unsecured heavy or
hard objects in the passenger compartment, as
they could fly around and pose a safety hazard to the vehicle's occupants during abrupt brak-
ing or evasive maneuvers.
Use only the lashing eyes pictured to fasten the
heavy-duty cargo straps. Do not secure cargo
with the attachment points for the top tether,
refer to page
62; otherwise they could be dam-
aged. <
Roof-mounted luggage rack*
A special rack system is available as an option
for your BMW. Please co mply with the precau-
tions included with the installation instructions.
Loading roof-mounted luggage rack
Because roof racks raise the vehicle's center of
gravity when loaded, they have a major effect on
its handling and steering response. You should
therefore always remember not to exceed the
approved roof load capacity, the approved
gross vehicle weight or the axle weights when
loading the rack.
You can find the specified weights under
Weights on page 289.
The load on the roof must be evenly distributed
and must not extend outward beyond the limits
of the loading surface. Always stow the heaviest
pieces on the bottom. Be sure that adequate
clearance is maintained for raising the glass
sunroof
*/panorama glass sunroof* and that
objects do not project into the opening path of
the liftgate.
Secure roof-mounted cargo correctly and
securely to prevent it fr om shifting or falling off
during the trip.
Drive smoothly. Avoid su dden acceleration and
braking maneuvers. Take corners gently.

CD player and CD changer
188
4.
Change to the second field from the top if
necessary. Select the desired CD and press
the controller.
At the end of the last tr ack, the next CD will be
selected.
Via programmable memory buttons
You can store a CD compartment of the CD
changer on the programmable memory but-
tons. To start the CD changer, refer to page 21.
Selecting a track
Buttons on CD player
Press the button for the corresponding
direction repeatedly until you reach the desired
track.
The track is displayed on the Control Display.
You can also change tracks using the buttons
on the steering wheel, refer to page 11.
Via iDrive
Select a track by turning the controller.
Compressed audio files
1.Select the directory if necessary and press
the controller.
2. Select the track and press the controller.
To change the directory:
Select the directory and press the controller.
To exit from the menu: Select the arrow and press the controller.
For equipment with two drives, you can save a
certain track on the programmable memory
buttons, refer to page 21.
Displaying information on track
With compressed audio files, you can display
any information stored on the current track, e.g.
the name of the artist.

Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
191Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
CD changer
The BMW CD changer for six CDs is installed in
the glove compartment.
Controls and displays
1LEDs on CD bay
Flash when the CD can be inserted.
2 Buttons for CD compartments
LED lights up when CD compartment is
filled.
Filling CD changer
1.Press the button.
The LED on the first empty compartment
flashes.
2. Select another CD compartment if neces-
sary:
Press the ... button.
3. When the LEDs 1 o n t h e C D b a y f l a s h , i n s e r t
an individual CD.
The CD is automatica lly pulled in and
inserted into the selected CD compartment.
Do not push in the CD until the
LEDs 1 on the CD bay are flashing;
otherwise, the CD or the CD changer may
be damaged. Do not continue to push on the CD; this may
cause it to jam and prevent it from being
able to eject again.
<
4. To fill additional CD compartments:
Repeat steps 1 to 3.
Filling empty CD compartments
1.Hold down the button.
The LEDs on the empty CD compartments
flash.
2. When the LEDs 1 o n t h e C D b a y f l a s h , i n s e r t
an individual CD.
The CD is automati cally pulled in and
inserted into the first available CD compart-
ment.
Do not push in the CD until the
LEDs 1 on the CD bay are flashing;
otherwise, the CD or the CD changer may
be damaged.
Do not continue to push on the CD; this may
cause it to jam and prevent it from being
able to eject again. <
3. Wait until the CD has been pulled in.
4. To fill additional CD compartments:
Repeat steps 2 and 3.
Removing CDs from CD changer
1.Press the button.
2. Press the ... button to select the
CD compartment.
The CD is pushed partially out of the CD
changer.
3. Remove the CD.
Removing all CDs from CD changer
1.Hold down the button.
The CDs are pushed partially out of the CD
changer in sequence.
2. Remove the CDs.