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Maintenance
BMW maintenance system
The BMW maintenance system supports the
preservation of the traffic and operating safety
of your BMW. The service schedule also
includes operations related to the vehicle's
comfort and convenience features, such as
replacement of the filters for the inside air.
The ultimate objective is to ensure economical
maintenance by providing the ideal service for
your vehicle.
Should the day come when you decide to sell
your BMW, a complete dealer service history
will prove to be an asset of inestimable value.
CBS Condition Based Service
Sensors and special algo rithms take the differ-
ent driving conditions of your BMW into
account. Condition Based Service uses this to
determine the current and future service
requirements. By letting you define a service
and maintenance regimen that reflects your
own individual requirements, the system builds
the basis for trouble-free driving.
You can set the Contro l Display to show
remaining distances and times of selected
maintenance intervals and legally mandated
deadlines, refer to page 82:
> Engine oil
> Brake pads, front and rear separately
> Brake fluid
> Vehicle check >
Legally mandated inspections depending
on local regulations
Service data in remote control
Your vehicle stores the information required for
maintenance continuously in the remote con-
trol during driving. After accessing the data
stored in the remote co ntrol, your BMW Service
Advisor can suggest precisely the right array of
service procedures for yo ur own individual vehi-
cle. You should therefore hand over the remote
control you last used to drive to the BMW Ser-
vice Advisor when you take your vehicle in for
service.
Make sure the date is set correctly, refer
to page 89, otherwise the effectiveness
of CBS Condition Based Service is not
ensured. <
Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models and
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet
for Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US models and Warranty
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models
for additional information on service require-
ments.
BMW recommends that you have service
and repair operations performed at your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
Take the time to ensure that these service pro-
cedures are confirmed by entries in your vehi-
cle's Service and Warranty Information Booklet
for US models and Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models. These entries
verify that your vehicle has received the speci-
fied regular maintenance.<
Maintenance
264
Socket for OBD Onboard
Diagnostics interface
Components which are decisive for the
exhaust-gas composition can be checked via
the OBD socket with a device.
This socket is located to the left on the driver's
side, on the underside of the instrument cluster
under a cover.
Exhaust-gas values
The warning lamp lights up:
The vehicle is producing an elevated
amount of exhaust emissions. Contin-
ued driving is possible. Have it checked at your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center as soon as
possible.
Display of the previously described
malfunction in Canadian models.
The lamp flashes under ce rtain conditions. This
is a sign of excessive misfiring of the engine. In
this case, you should reduce your speed and
proceed to the nearest BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center. Heavy engine misfiring causes
serious damage to the emission-relevant com-
ponents, especially th e catalytic converter,
within a short time.
If the fuel filler cap is not properly tight-
ened, the OBD system will assume that
fuel vapor escapes. Then a display lights up. If
the cap is then tightened, the display will go out
within a few days. <
Event Data Recorders
Your vehicle may be equipped with one or sev-
eral measuring and diagnosis modules, or with
a device for recording or transmitting certain
v e hi c l e d a t a o r i n f o r m a t i o n . I f y o u h a v e a l s o s u b -
scribed to BMW Assist, ce rtain vehicle data can
be transmitted or reco rded to enable corre-
sponding services.
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Care
Car-care products
For the cleaning and care of your vehicle, BMW
recommends using only products that BMW
has approved for this purpose.
Regular cleaning and care make a significant
contribution to retain ing your BMW's value.
The BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center will be
happy to consult you on products and services
for the cleaning and care of your BMW.
Genuine BMW Care Products are materi-
als tested, laboratory tested, and tested in
actual use. They offer optimum care and pro-
tection for your vehicle. <
Do not use cleaners that contain alcohol
or solvents; they can damage your vehi-
cle. <
Cleaning agents can contain substances
that are dangerous or pose health risks.
You should therefore heed the warnings and
hazard indications on the packaging. Open the
doors or windows on your vehicle whenever
cleaning the interior. Make sure there is suffi-
cient ventilation in enclosed spaces. Use only
products that are formul ated for vehicle clean-
ing. <
Exterior care
Washing your vehicle
In the winter months, it is especially
important to ensure that the vehicle is
washed on a regular basis. Otherwise, signifi-
cant soiling and road salt can cause damage to
the vehicle.<
After washing the vehicle, apply the
brakes briefly to dry th em. Failure to do so
may lead to a reduction in braking efficiency and
also to corrosion of the brake rotors. <
Car washes
Give preference to cloth car washes.
Before driving into the car wash, make sure that
it is suitable for your BMW. Pay attention to the
following points:
> Dimensions of your vehicle, refer to
page 287.
> If necessary: fold in door mirror, refer to
page 57.
> Maximum permissible tire width.
Preparations for driving into the car wash:
> Deactivate rain sensor
* to prevent
unwanted wiper activation.
> BMW X5: deactivate rear window wiper and
protect it from damage. Take appropriate
protective measures; inquiring with the car
wash operator as needed.
> Remove additional add- on parts, e.g. spoil-
ers or phone antennas, if they could be
damaged.
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
Before driving into the car wash, observe the
following so that the vehicle is able to roll:
1. Insert the remote cont rol into the ignition
lock, even with comfort access.
2. Shift into transmission position N.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Deactivate Automatic Hold, refer to
page 68.
5. Switch off the engine.
6. Leave the remote control in the ignition lock
so that the vehicle can roll.
Replacing components
276
far as possible from passi
ng traffic and on solid
ground. Switch on the ha zard warning flashers.
Set the parking brake and engage transmission
position P.
Have all vehicle occupants get out of the vehicle
and ensure that they remain outside the imme-
diate area in a safe place, such as behind a
guardrail.
If a warning triangle
* or portable hazard warning
lamp
* is required, set it up on the roadside at an
appropriate distance from the rear of the vehi-
cle. Comply with all safe ty guidelines and regu-
lations.
Change the wheel only on a level, firm surface
which is not slippery. Th e vehicle or the jack
could slip to the side if you attempt to raise the
vehicle on a soft or slippery surface such as
snow, ice, tiles, etc.
Position the jack on a firm support surface.
Do not use a wooden block or similar object as a
support base for the jack, as this would prevent
it from extending to its full support height and
reduce its load-carrying capacity.
To avoid serious or fata l injury: never lie under
the vehicle, and never start the engine while it is
supported by the jack. <
What you will need
To avoid rattling noises later on, note the posi-
tions of the tools before removing them, then
return them to their in itial positions after com-
pleting work.
The tools are located in the mount under the
floor panel flap.
1 Vehicle jack
*
2Vehicle jack crank*
3Lug wrench*
Removing compact wheel
The compact wheel is lo cated in the cargo bay
under the floor panel.
1. Remove the tool mount.
2. Unscrew the wing nut 1 .
3. Remove the washer 2 laterally.
4. Remove the compact wheel.
Preparing wheel change
1.Observe the safety precautions above.
2. Loosen the lug bolts a half turn.
Jacking up vehicle
1.Position the vehicle jack at the jacking point
closest to the wheel so that the entire sur-
face of the jack base rests on the ground
perpendicularly beneat h the jacking point.
The vehicle jack is designed for
changing wheels only. Do not attempt
to raise another vehicle model with it or to
raise any load of any kind. To do so could
cause accidents and personal injury. <
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2.Guide the jack head into the rectangular
recess of the jacking point when cranking
up, refer to illustration detail.
3. Jack the vehicle up until the wheel you are
changing is raised from the ground.
Mounting a wheel
1.Unscrew the lug bolts and remove the
wheel.
2. Remove accumulations of mud or dirt from
the mounting surfaces of the wheel and
hub. Also clean the lug bolts.
3. Position the new wheel or compact wheel.
Secure the wheel by sc rewing at least two
lug bolts into opposite bolt holes.
When you mount wheels other than Genu-
ine BMW light-alloy wheels, different lug
bolts may also be required.
4. Screw in the remaining lug bolts. Tighten all
the bolts securely in a diagonal pattern.
5. Lower the vehicle and remove the jack from
beneath the vehicle.
After mounting
1.Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pattern.
To ensure safety, always have the
lug bolts checked with a calibrated
torque wrench as soon as possible to
ensure that they are tightened to the speci-
fied torque. Otherwis e, incorrectly tight-
ened lug bolts are a hidden safety risk. The
tightening torque is 101 lb ft/140 Nm. <
2. Stow the defective wheel in the cargo bay.
The defective wheel cannot be stored
under the floor panel flap due to its
size. < 3.
Check and correct the ti re inflation pressure
at the earliest opportunity.
Protect valve stems with valve screw
caps against dirt and contamination.
Dirt in valve stems is a frequent source of
gradual air loss. <
4. Initialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page 100, or reset the Tire Pressure Moni-
tor, refer to page 102.
5. Replace the damaged tire as soon as possi-
ble and have the new wheel/tire balanced.
Driving with compact wheel
Drive reservedly and do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. Otherwise,
changes in the driving characteristics could
result, for example reduced track stability on
braking, extended brakin g distance, and altered
self-steering characterist ics in the limit range.
In conjunction with wint er tires, these charac-
teristics are more pronounced. <
Only one compact wheel may be
mounted. Restore the wheels and tires to
their original size as quickly as possible. Failure
to do so is a safety risk. <
Vehicle battery
Battery care
The battery is 100 % main tenance-free, i.e., the
electrolyte will last for the life of the battery
when the vehicle is operated in a temperate cli-
mate. Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center
will be glad to advise in all matters concerning
the battery.
Charging battery
Only charge the battery in the vehicle via the
terminals in the engine compartment with the
engine switched off. Connections, refer to
Jump starting on page 280.
Disposal
Have old batteries disposed of following
replacement at your BMW Sports Activity
Giving and receiving assistance
280
replace the contents conc
erned in good time if
necessary.
BMW X5
BMW X6
The first aid kit is stored in the cargo bay,
behind the left side panel.
Roadside Assistance*
The BMW Roadside Assistance offers you
assistance in the event of a breakdown around
the clock, including on weekends and public
holidays.
The phone numbers of the Roadside Assis-
tance in your home country can be found in the
Contact brochure.
With BMW Assist or BMW TeleServices, you
can contact BMW Roadside Assistance for
assistance in the event of a breakdown directly
via iDrive, refer to page 236.
Jump starting
When your battery is discharged, you can use
two jumper cables to start your BMW with
power from the battery in a second vehicle. You can also use the same
method to help start
another vehicle. Use only jumper cables with
fully-insulated clamp handles.
To avoid the risk of po tentially fatal injury,
always avoid all contact with electrical
components while the engine is running. Care-
fully adhere to the following sequence, both to
prevent damage to one or both vehicles, and to
guard against possible personal injuries.<
Preparation
1. Check whether the battery of the other
vehicle has a voltage of 12 Volts and
approximately the same capacitance in Ah.
This information can be found on the bat-
tery.
2. Switch off the engine of the assisting vehi-
cle.
3. Switch off any electrical systems and com-
ponents in both vehicles.
There must not be any contact between
the bodies of the tw o vehicles, otherwise
there is a danger of shorting. <
Connecting jumper cables
To avoid personal injury from sparks, fol-
low this sequence when connecting
jumper cables. <
On your BMW the so-called starting-aid termi-
nal in the engine compar tment acts as the bat-
tery positive terminal, al so refer to the engine
compartment overview on page 259. The cover
cap is marked with +.
1. Fold open the cover of the BMW starting-
aid terminal. To do so, pull the tab.
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2.Attach one end of the jumper cable plus/+
to the positive terminal of the battery or a
starting-aid terminal of the vehicle provid-
ing assistance.
3. Attach the second end of the cable to the
positive terminal of th e battery or to a start-
ing-aid terminal of the vehicle to be started.
4. Attach one end of the jumper cable minus/–
to the negative terminal of the battery or to
an engine or body ground of the assisting
vehicle.
Your BMW has a special nut as body ground
or negative pole.
5. Attach the second end of the cable to the
negative terminal of the battery or to the
engine or body ground of the vehicle to be
started.
Starting engine
1. Start the engine on the assisting vehicle
and allow it to run at idle for several minutes
at slightly increased speed.
2. Start the engine on the other vehicle in the
usual way.
If the first starting attempt is not successful,
wait a few minutes be fore another attempt
in order to allow the discharged battery to
recharge.
3. Let the engines run for a few minutes.
4. Disconnect the jumper cables by reversing
the connection sequence.
Check the battery and recharge if necessary.
Never use spray fluids to start the
engine. <
Tow-starting and towing
Observe applicable la ws and regulations
for tow-starting and towing. <
Do not transport any passengers other
than the driver in a vehicle that is being
towed. <
Using tow fitting
The screw-on tow-fitting must always be car-
ried in the vehicle. It can be screwed in at the
front or rear of the BMW.
It is located in the tool kit under the floor panel
flap in the cargo bay, refer to page 269.
Use only the tow fitting provided with the
vehicle and screw it all the way in. Use the
tow fitting for towing only on roads. Avoid lateral
loading of the tow fitting, e.g. do not lift the vehi-
cle by the tow fitting. Ot herwise damage to the
tow fitting and the vehicle can occur. <
Access to screw thread
Cover panel on left and right side of bumper:
press on the arrow symbol on the cover panel.
Front
Rear
Giving and receiving assistance
282
Being towed
Make sure that the ignition is switched on,
refer to page65, otherwise the low
beams, tail lamps, turn signals and windshield
wipers would not be available. When the engine
is stopped, there is no power assist. This then
requires increased effort for braking and steer-
ing. Active steering is deactivated and larger
steering wheel movements are required.<
Switch on the hazard wa rning flashers depend-
ing on the local regulations. If the electrical sys-
tem fails, mark the vehicle to be towed, e.g. with
a sign or warning triangle in the rear window.
Before towing, manua lly unlock the trans-
mission lock, refer to page 72; failure to
do so can result in damage to the transmis-
sion. <
Do not exceed a towing speed of 45 mph/
70 km/h and a towing distance of
90 miles/150 km, otherwise the automatic
transmission may be damaged. <
Towing methods
Do not lift vehicle by tow fitting or body
and chassis parts, otherwise damage may
result. <
In some countries, towi ng with tow bars or
ropes in public traffic is not permitted. Familiar-
ize yourself with the regu lations on towing in the
respective country.
With tow bar
The towing vehicle may not be lighter
than the vehicle to be towed, otherwise it
will not be possible to reliably control vehicle
response. <
The tow fittings used sh ould be on the same
side on both vehicles. Should it prove impossi-
ble to avoid mounting the tow bar at an offset
angle, observe the following:
> Clearance and maneuvering capability will
be sharply limited during cornering.
> When mounted at an angle, the tow bar will
exert lateral forces, tending to push the
vehicle sideways. Only attach the tow bar to the tow fittings,
as attachment to other vehicle parts can
lead to damage. <
With tow rope
When starting off in the towing vehicle, make
sure that the tow rope is taut.
To avoid jerking and the associated
stresses on vehicle components when
towing, always use nylon ropes or nylon straps.
Only attach tow ropes to the tow fittings, as
attachment to other vehi cle parts can lead to
damage. <
With tow truck
Do not tow your BMW with the front or
rear axle raised indi vidually; otherwise,
the wheels may lock and the transfer case may
be damaged. <
Have the BMW transported only on a flatbed
surface.
Tow-starting
The engine cannot be started by tow-starting.
Start the engine by jump starting it, refer to
page 280.
Have the cause of the st arting difficulties elimi-
nated.