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6.Clip the trim piece into the cover panel,
arrow 1. Then fold the cover panel forward
until it audibly clicks into place, arrow 2.
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Adjusting
48
Adjusting
Sitting safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital con-
tribution to relaxed, fatigue-free driving. In the
interaction with the safety belts, the head
restraints and the airbags, the seat position
plays an important role in an accident. To
ensure that the safety systems operate with
optimal efficiency, we strongly urge you to
observe the instructions contained in the fol-
lowing section.
For additional information on transporting chil-
dren safely, refer to page 61.
Airbags
Always maintain an adequate distance
between yourself and the airbags. Always
hold the steering wheel by its rim with hands at
the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions, to mini-
mize the risk of injuries to your hands and arms
in the event of airbag deployment.
No one and nothing is to come between the air-
bags and the seat occupant.
Do not use the cover of the front airbag on the
front passenger side as a storage area. Make
sure that the front passeng er is sitting correctly
and does not rest feet or legs on the instrument
cluster, otherwise leg in juries can occur if the
front airbag is triggered.
Make sure that occupants do not rest their head
on the side or head airbag, otherwise injuries
can occur if the airbags are triggered. <
Even if you adhere to all the instructions, inju-
ries resulting from contact with airbags cannot
be fully excluded, depending on the circum-
stances. The ignition and inflation noise may
provoke a mild hearing loss in extremely sensi-
tive individuals. This e ffect is usually only tem-
porary.
For airbag locations and additional information
on airbags, refer to page 105.
Head restraint
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of spinal injury in the event of an accident.
Adjust the head restraint so that its center
is approx. at ear level. Otherwise there is
increased danger of inju ry in the event of an
accident. <
BMW X5: push the head restraints of the 3rd
row seats
* into the top position.
Head restraints, refer to page 52.
Safety belts
Before every drive, make sure that safety belts
are being worn at all of the occupied seats. Air-
bags complement the safety belt as an addi-
tional safety device, but they do not represent a
substitute.
BMW X5: depending on its equipment, your
vehicle has either five or seven seats, which are
all provided with a safety belt.
Never allow more than one person to
wear a single safety belt. Never allow
infants or small children to ride in a passenger's
lap. Make sure that the belt lies low around the
hips in the lap area and does not press on the
abdomen. The safety belt may not lie across the
neck, rub on sharp edges, be routed over solid
or breakable objects or be pinched. Wear the
safety belt without twisting, snugly across the
lap and shoulders, as close to the body as pos-
sible. Otherwise the belt can slip over the hips
in the lap area in a fronta l impact and injure the
abdomen. Avoid wearing clothing that prevents
the belt from fitting prop erly and pull the belt in
the upper body area period ically to readjust the
tension, in order to avoid a reduction in the
restraint of the safety belt.
If the center safety belt in the rear is used, the
larger backrest half mu st be locked, refer to
page 132, otherwise the center safety belt has
no restraining action. <
Safety belts, refer to page 54.
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Seats
Note before adjusting
Never attempt to adjust or calibrate your
seat while the vehicle is moving. The seat
could respond with unexpected movement, and
the ensuing loss of vehicl e control could lead to
an accident.
Never adjust manually adjustable seats while
the vehicle is moving, as otherwise the restrain-
ing effect of these seats during accidents could
be reduced.
Also on the passenger side, do not incline the
backrest too far to the re ar while the vehicle is
being driven, otherwise there is a danger in the
event of an accident of sliding under the safety
belt, eliminating the protection normally pro-
vided by the belt. <
Also observe the information on damage to
safety belts on page 55 and on the height of the
head restraints on page 52.
Adjusting manually*
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection,
observe the adjustment instructions on
page 48.<
Pull the lever and slide th e seat to the desired
position. After you releas e the lever, move the
seat forward or backward slightly so that it
engages fully.
Thigh support*
Pull the lever and adjust the thigh support in the
longitudinal direction.
Adjusting electrically
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection,
observe the adjustment instructions on
page 48.<
1 Longitudinal direction
2 Height
3 Seat tilt
4 Backrest
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Adjusting
50
Differs depending on seat:
1
Backrest
2 Height
Additional depending on seat:
1 Backrest width
*
2Shoulder support*
3Thigh support*
4Lumbar support*
Backrest width*
The width of the backrest can be changed with
the side wings to adjust the side support to your
own needs.
Shoulder support*
This also supports the back in the shoulder
area, provides a relaxed sitting position and
helps relieve stress on the shoulder muscles.
The shoulder support is also used to adjust the
distance of the head restraint from the back of
the seat occupant's head.
Lumbar support*
You can also adjust the contour of the backrest
to obtain additional support in the lumbar
region.
The upper hips and spinal column receive sup-
plementary support to help you maintain a
relaxed, upright sitting position.
> Increase or decrease curvature: press front
or rear section of switch.
> Shift curvature up or down: press upper or
lower section of switch.
Seat, mirror and steering
wheel memory*
You can store and request two different posi-
tions for the driver's seat and passenger seat
*,
exterior rearview mirror s, and steering wheel.
The adjustment of the backrest width and lum-
bar support is not stored in the memory.
Storing
1. Switch on radio readiness or ignition, refer
to page 65.
2. Set the desired seat, exterior mirror and
steering wheel positions.
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3.Press the button:
The LED in the button lights up.
4. Press the desired memory button 1 or 2:
The LED goes out.
The positions of the driver's seat, the exte-
rior rearview mirrors, and steering wheel are
stored for the remote control currently in
use.
Calling up automatically
You can choose when the stored positions of
the driver's seat, exterior rearview mirrors, and
steering wheel are activated.
> Calling up when unlocking vehicle
> Calling up when opening driver's door
When using this feat ure, always make
sure that the footwell behind the driver's
seat is empty and unobstructed. Failure to do
so could cause injury to persons or damage to
objects behind the seat as a result of a rearward
movement of the seat. <
The system cancels the adjustment procedure
when you briefly press one of the seat adjust-
ment switches or one of the memory buttons.
Selecting calling up automatically
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page 16.
1. Open the start menu.
2. Press the controller to open the menu.
3. Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4. Select "Vehicle / Tire s" and press the con-
troller.
5. Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the
controller until "Door locks" is selected and
press the controller. 6.
Select "Central locking" and press the con-
troller.
7. Select "Last seat pos." and press the con-
troller.
8. Select "After unlock ing" or "After door
opened".
9. Press the controller.
Deactivating calling up automatically
Select "Deactivated" an d press the controller.
Calling up manually
Do not call up a position from the memory
while the vehicle is moving. There is a risk
of accident from unexpected movement of the
seat or steering wheel. <
Comfort mode
1.Open the driver's door after unlocking or
switch on radio readiness.
2. Briefly press the de sired memory button 1
or 2.
The system cancels the adjustment procedure
when you briefly press one of the seat adjust-
ment switches or one of the memory buttons.
Safety feature
1. Close the driver's door and switch the igni-
tion on or off.
2. Press the desired memory button 1 or 2
and maintain pressure until the adjustment
process has been completed.
If the button was pressed inadvertently:
press the button again; the LED goes out.
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52
Head restraints
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of spinal injury in the event of an accident.Adjust the head restraint so that its center
is approx. at ear level. Otherwise there is
increased danger of inju ry in the event of an
accident. Only remove the head restraints if the
respective seat is not occupied. Reinstall the
head restraints before transporting passen-
gers, as otherwise the head restraint cannot
provide its protective function. <
Active front head restraints
In the event of a rear-end collision of sufficient
severity, the active head restraint reduces the
distance to the head.
Do not use seat covers or head restraint
covers that could impede the proper
functioning of the active head restraint. Other-
wise, there is no assuranc e that the active head
restraint will perform its protective function and
it is not possible to take advantage of its injury-
reducing potential in th e event of a rear-end
collision.
Have the active head rest raints reset after they
are triggered in a rear-end collision. Have this
work carried out only at a BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center or at a workshop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel. Otherwise,
correct operation of this safety equipment is not
guaranteed. <
Removal and installation of the front head
restraints should be performed by a BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center. <
Front seats: height adjustment
You can adjust the height of the head restraints
electrically.
Front seats: adjust ing distance from
back of head
> Forward: pull up.
> Back: press the button and slide the head-
rest cushion toward the rear.
Do not place any objects behind the
headrest cushion. Otherwise, you can
impair the proper function of the head
restraint. <
Comfort seat*
You can adjust the distance from the back of the
seat occupant's head using the shoulder sup-
port, refer to page 50.
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Adjusting side extensions
You can fold the side extensions on the head
restraint forward for increased lateral support in
the resting position.
BMW X5: rear seats and 3rd row seats*,
adjusting height
> To raise: pull up.
> To lower: press the button, arrow 1, and
push the head restraint downward.
In vehicles equipped with 3rd row seats, the
height of the middle head restraint is not adjust-
able.
Removing
1. Pull the head restraint upward to the stop.
2. Press the button, arro w 1, and pull the head
restraint all the way out.
BMW X5: rear seats
2nd row seats
With a divided* row of seats you can adjust
both sides individually.
Never adjust the 2nd row seats while the
vehicle is moving, as otherwise the pas-
sengers on the 3rd row seats could be injured.
Make sure that the locking devices of the 2nd
row seats engage properly. Otherwise the
restraining effect of the safety belts during an
accident could be reduced. <
Longitudinal direction*
1.Pull the lever and slide the seat into the
desired position.
2. Release the lever and move the seat slightly
forward or back so that it engages properly.
Backrest*
The backrests can be adjusted in four steps.
Pull the lever and apply weight to or remove
weight from the backrest as needed.
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54
Access to 3rd row seats*
Pull the lever and fold the seat forward.The handle recess on th e interior trim of
the door pillar makes climbing in easier. <
When folding back the 2nd row seats,
make sure that the footwell under the
2nd row seats is clear. Otherwise persons in the
3rd row seats could be injured or objects dam-
aged.<
Warning lamp for 2nd row seats:
Lights up when the 2nd row seats are
not locked. A message also appears
on the Control Display.
3rd row seats*
The 3rd row seats are divided and offer space
for two persons.
Folding up backrest
Before folding the seats up, remove the roll-up
cover, refer to page 130, and if need be, slide
the 2nd row seats slightly forward.
1. Pull the lever, refer to arrow. The backrest is
unlocked.
2. Fold up and engage the backrest. Make sure that the catch engages
securely. If it is no
t properly engaged,
transported cargo could enter the passen-
ger compartment during braking or evasive
maneuvers and endanger the vehicle occu-
pants. <
3. Push the head restraints into the top posi-
tion.
Folding backrest down
1.Push down the head restraint, refer to
page 53.
2. Pull the lever, refer to arrows. The backrests
are released.
3. Fold the backrest down.
Safety belts
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection,
observe the adjustment instructions on
page 48.<
Before every drive, make sure that safety belts
are being worn at all of the occupied seats. Air-
bags complement the safety belt as an addi-
tional safety device, but they do not represent a
substitute.