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Driving
Ignition lock
Inserting remote control into ignition
lock
Insert the remote control as far as possible into
the ignition lock.
Radio readiness switches on. Some electronic
systems/consumers are ready for operation.
Comfort access*
With comfort access, only insert the remote
control into the ignition lock in exceptional
cases, refer to page 39.
Removing remote control from ignition
lock
Do not pull the remote control out of the
ignition lock using force, as otherwise
damage may result. <
Before removing the remo te control, first press
it in as far as possibl e to release the locking
device.
The ignition is switched off if it was still
switched on.
Start/Stop button
Pressing the Start/Stop button switches the
radio readiness or the ignition on and off.
Pressing the Start/Stop button with the
brake pedal depre ssed starts the
engine. <
Radio readiness
Some electronic systems/consumers are ready
for operation. The time and outside tempera-
ture are displayed in the instrument panel.
Radio readiness is auto matically switched off:
> when the remote control is removed from
the ignition lock
> with comfort access
* by touching the sen-
sitive surface above the door lock, refer to
Locking on page 40
Ignition on
All electronic systems/consumers are ready for
operation. The odometer and the trip odometer
are displayed in the instrument panel, refer to
page78.
Please switch off the ignition and the
electronic systems/consumers which are
not required when the engine is not running to
save the battery. <
Radio readiness and ignition off
All indicator lamps, warning lamps, and displays
in the instrument panel go out.
Driving
66
The ignition switches off automatically
* if the
driver's door is opened. Pressing the start/stop
button again switches the ignition back on.
For example, the ignition is not switched off in
the following situations:
> the brakes are actuated
> the low beams are switched on
Starting engine
Do not run the engine in closed rooms,
otherwise the inhalati on of toxic exhaust
gases can cause uncons ciousness and death.
The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide,
an odorless and colorless, but highly toxic gas.
Never leave an unattend ed vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle represents a
potential safety hazard.
To prevent the vehicle from rolling, always
engage transmission position N or P and set the
parking brake before le aving the vehicle with
the engine running. <
Do not allow the engine to warm up by leaving it
running while the vehicl e remains stationary.
Instead, begin to drive at a moderate engine
speed.
The engine starts when you depress the
brake pedal while pressing the Start/Stop
button. <
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion or repeated starting attempts in
which the engine does no t start. Otherwise, the
fuel is not burned or inadequately burned and
there is a danger of overheating and damaging
the catalytic converter. < Remote control in ignition lock or with comfort
access in vehicle, refer to page
39.
1. Depress brake pedal.
2. Press the Start/Stop button.
The system responds by automatically engag-
ing the starter for a cert ain period and automat-
ically disengaging it as soon as the engine
starts.
Diesel engine
When the engine is cold and outside tempera-
tures are below approx. 32 7/06 , the starting
process may be briefly delayed by an automatic
preglow phase. The pr eglow indicator lamp
lights up in the instrument panel and a message
appears on the Control Display.
Switching off engine
When leaving the vehicle, always take
along the remote control.
Set the parking brake firmly when parking; oth-
erwise, the vehicle could roll. <
Procedure
1.Engage transmission position P with the
vehicle stationary.
2. Press the Start/Stop button.
3. Set the parking brake.
4. Remove the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page 65.
Before driving into a car wash
The vehicle can roll if yo u proceed according to
the following steps:
1. With comfort access
*: insert the remote
control into the ignition lock.
2. Depress brake pedal.
3. Engage transmission position N.
4. Release the parking brake or deactivate
Automatic Hold.
5. Switch off the engine.
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>the vehicle is braked to a stop during driv-
ing.
In the instrument panel, the indicator
lamp changes from green to red and
the indication AUTO H goes out.
Indicator lamp on Canadian models.
Before you start to driv e, either release the
parking brake manually, refer to page 67, or
reactivate Automatic Hold, refer to page68.
Before leaving the vehi cle with the engine
running, shift the selector lever into posi-
tion P of the automatic transmission and make
sure that the parking brake is set. Otherwise,
the vehicle may begin to roll. <
Malfunction
If the parking brake fails or malfunctions, secure
the vehicle against rolling, e.g. with a wheel
chock, if you leave the vehicle.
Releasing parking brake manually
In the event of an electrical power loss or elec-
trical malfunction, you can release the parking
brake manually.
Before manually re leasing the parking
brake and each time you park the vehicle
without setting the park ing brake, make sure
that the automatic transmission is in position P,
refer to page 71. Be sure to pay attention to the
information in the instrument panel.
In addition, secure the vehicle against rolling,
e.g. with a wheel chock. Otherwise there is a
danger that the vehicle could roll if parked on a
steep slope. <
If it becomes necessary to also release the
transmission lock of the automatic transmission
manually, follow this sequence:
1. If necessary, start by releasing the parking
brake manually.
2. Then release the auto matic transmission's
transmission lock manually, refer to
page 72.
Jump starting and towing , refer to information
starting on page 280.
Releasing
1.Open the left-hand side panel in the cargo
bay.
2. Remove the first-aid kit
* and the warning
triangle
* if necessary. Close the bracket of
the warning triangle.
3. Insert the releasing tool, contained in the
onboard tool kit under the floor panel, refer
to page 269, at the releasing point.
4. Firmly pull the releasing tool upward against
the mechanical resistance, refer to arrow,
until a considerable incr ease in force is felt
and the parking brake is then clearly heard
to release.
5. Stow the releasing tool, warning triangle
*
and first-aid kit* and close the left side
panel in the cargo bay.
Only have a malfunction corrected by the
nearest BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center or a workshop that works in accordance
with BMW guidelines an d uses appropriately
trained personnel. If the parking brake has been
released manually in response to a malfunction,
only technicians can re turn it to operation.<
Following manual release, the actual sta-
tus of the parking brake may deviate from
that displayed by the indicator lamp. <
Operation after interruptions in power
supply
The parking brake can only be used again
if it was manually rele ased due to an inter-
ruption in the supply of electrical power. Other-
wise the operation of the parking brake is not
ensured and there is a danger of the vehicle roll-
ing despite the parking brake being set. <
Driving
70
Procedure
1.Switch on the ignition.
2. Press the button with the brake depressed.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
panel goes out as soon as the parking
brake is ready for operation again.
Indicator lamp on Canadian models.
Any noises which occur are normal. Start-up
may take several seconds.
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
In addition to fully auto matic operation, you can
also manually shift with the Steptronic, refer to
page 71.
Transmission positions
P R N D M/S + –
To prevent the vehicle from creeping
after you select a driving position, main-
tain pressure on the brake pedal until you are
ready to start. <
Displays in instrument panel
P R N D, DS*, S1* through S6*, M1 through M6
The transmission position and the currently
engaged gear are displayed.
Engaging transm ission 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: shiftlock.
To prevent the vehicle from creeping
after you select a driving position,
maintain pressure on the brake pedal until
you are ready to start. <
Shifting into D, R, N
Briefly press the selector lever in the desired
direction, beyond a resi stance point if neces-
sary. When shifting out of P or into R, simulta-
neously press button 1.
The engaged transmission position is displayed
on the selector lever.
The selector lever imme diately returns to the
center position when released.
Engaging P
Press button P.
Also observe the additional information on the
automatic transmission.
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The transmission automatically shifts into
park if you release the driver's safety belt
and open the driver's door with the engine run-
ning while in re verse or drive.
The picture from the rear view camera
* and
PDC Park Distance Control
* on the Control
Display is hidden. <
R Reverse
Select only with the vehicle stationary.
An interlock prevents inadvertent gearshifts
into transmission position R. To deactivate the
interlock, press the release button 1.
P Park
Select only with the vehicle 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 page 65.<
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
page 66. After approx. 30 minutes P is auto-
matically engaged. <
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehi cle 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.
Press the accelerato r pedal beyond the
increased resistance at full throttle.
Sport program and manual mode M/S
Press selector lever out of transmission
position D toward the left:
The sport program is activated and DS is
displayed in the instru ment cluster; in the
BMW X6, S1 through S6 are displayed. This
position is recommend ed for a performance-
oriented driving style.
When the selector lever is pressed forward or
back, the manual mode is activated and the
Steptronic shifts the gear. The instrument
panel shows M1 through M6.
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 panel, followed by the current gear.
To use the automatic func tion again, press the
selector lever to the right into position D.
BMW X6: changing gears using shifting
paddles on steering wheel
The shifting paddles make it possible to quickly
change gears since both hands can remain on
the steering wheel.
> In automatic mode D, if you shift using the
shifting paddles on the steering wheel, then
the system switches into manual mode.
> If, after a certain amount of time, you neither
shift with the shifting paddles nor acceler-
ate, then the system switches back into
automatic mode D.
With the transmission position M/S
selected, the manual mode remains
active.<
Driving
72
>
Upshifting: pull on one of the shifting pad-
dles, arrows +.
> Downshifting: press on one of the shifting
paddles, arrows –.
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 panel, followed by the current gear.
Manually releasing and engaging
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 rele ased, as otherwise the
rear wheels are blocked and the vehicle cannot
be towed. <
Step on the brake when manually releas-
ing the transmission lock; otherwise,
there is a danger of the vehicle rolling. <
The transmission lock sh ould only be released
for towing. Reengage th e transmission lock
after parking the vehicle at its destination.
If it also becomes ne cessary to manually
release the parking brake, follow this sequence:
1. Secure the vehicle against rolling.
2. Manually release the parking brake, refer to
page 69.
3. Manually releas e the transmission lock of
the automatic transmission.
Releasing
1. Slide back the cover of the cup holder and
remove the floor mat on the bar between
the cup holders, arrow 1.
2. Open the cover in th e bottom of the cup
holder with the rele asing tool from the
onboard tool kit, page 269, refer to arrow 2.
3. If necessary, unlock the lock
* with the inte-
grated key of the remote control, refer to
page 28, and remove it.
4. Insert the releasing tool into the opening,
arrow 3.
5. Turn the releasing tool as far as possible,
arrow 4, and then press downward and
leave it in. The transmission lock is
released.
Engage the transmission lock after park-
ing the vehicle at its destination. Other-
wise there is a danger of the vehicle rolling.<
Driving
76
One lever for all functions
1Storing speed and main taining or increas-
ing
2 Storing speed and maintaining or decreas-
ing
3 Deactivating cruise control
4 Resuming stored speed
Maintaining current speed
Briefly press, arrow 1, or briefly pull, arrow 2
lever.
The speed currently being driven is stored and
maintained. It is indica ted on the speedometer
and briefly in the instrument panel.
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 speed
Repeatedly press the leve r up to or beyond the
resistance point, arrow 1, until the desired
speed is set.
> Each time the lever is pressed to the resis-
tance point, the speed is increased 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,
arrow 1, until the desired speed is reached.
Accelerate more rapidly:
Press the lever beyond the resistance point,
arrow 1, 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 speed
Repeatedly pull the lever up to the resistance
point or beyond, arrow 2, 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.
Deactivating cruise control
Briefly press the leve r 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 activate d or DSC is deacti-
vated
> when HDC is activated
> when the parking brake is set
> when driving stability control systems inter-
vene
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Accelerating does not deactivate the cruise
control. After releasing the accelerator pedal,
the stored speed is reached and maintained
again.
Warning lamp
The warning lamp lights up if the
cruise control has been deactivated
automatically, e.g. by a control inter-
vention of the DSC. A message appears on the
Control Display.
Resuming stored speed
Briefly press the button, arrow 4. The stored
speed is resumed and maintained.
With the ignition switched off, the stored speed
value is deleted and cannot be resumed again.
Displays in instrument panel
1 Stored desired speed
2 Selected desired speed appears briefly
If --- mph or --- km/h temporarily appears
in the instrument panel display, it is possi-
ble that the system prerequisites for operation
are currently not met. <
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 page 85.