
X5 xDrive30i
X5 xDrive48i
X5 xDrive35d
X6 xDrive 35i
X6 xDrive 50iOwner's Manual for Vehicle
Congratulations, and than k you for choosing a BMW.
Thorough familiarity with your  vehicle will provide you with 
enhanced control and security when you drive it. We therefore 
have this request:
Please take the time to read th is Owner's Manual and familiarize 
yourself with the information  that we have compiled for you 
before starting off in your new vehicle. It contains important data 
and instructions intended to a ssist you in gaining maximum use 
and satisfaction from your BMW' s unique range of technical fea-
tures. The manual also contai ns information on maintenance 
designed to enhance operating safety and contribute to main-
taining the value of your BMW throughout an extended service 
life.
This manual is supplemented by  a Service and Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet for US models or  a Warranty and Service Guide 
Booklet for Canadian models.
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW AG  

Controls
 43Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Raising, opening, closing
Raising
Press the switch.
The closed sunroof is raised and the sliding 
visor opens slightly.Do not use force to close the sliding visor 
with the glass sunroof in its raised posi-
tion, otherwise the mechanism will be dam-
aged. <
Opening, closing
Sliding visor
You can move the sliding visor independently 
with the sunroof closed or raised.
>Slide the switch back to the resistance 
point.
The sliding visor opens as long as you keep 
the switch in this position.
> Briefly press the switch back beyond the 
resistance point.
The sliding visor will  open automatically. 
Briefly pressing the switch stops the 
motion.
You can close the sliding visor in a similar man-
ner by sliding the switch forwards.
Panorama glass sunroof
With the sliding visor open, proceed as 
described under Sliding visor.
For information on using convenience opera-
tion at the door lock or  with the remote control, 
refer to page 30 or32.
For information on comfort closing with comfort 
access, refer to page 40.
Opening and closing sunroof and 
sliding visor together
Briefly press the switch beyond the resistance 
point twice consecutively.
Briefly pressing the switch stops the motion.
Comfort mode
>Press the switch twice with the sunroof 
open:
The sunroof is raised.
> When the sunroof is raised, briefly press the 
switch twice in the opening direction:
The sunroof is opened all the way.
Comfort position
In the comfort position,  the sunroof is not com-
pletely open; this reduces wind noise in the 
passenger compartment.
Each time the panorama glass sunroof is com-
pletely opened or closed, it stops in the comfort 
position. If desired, co ntinue the motion follow-
ing this with the switch.
After switching off ignition
You can still operate the roof for approx. 
1 minute, as long as no door has been opened.
Pinch protection system
If the panorama glass su nroof or sliding visor 
encounter resistance when closing from 
roughly one third of the sunroof opening or 
when closing from the raised position, the clos-
ing action is interrupted and the panorama 
glass sunroof and slidin g visor reopen a little.
Despite the pinch protection system, 
inspect the sunroof's tr avel path prior to 
closing it, as the safety system might fail to 
detect certain kinds of obstructions, such as 
very thin objects, an d the sunroof would con-
tinue closing. < 

Adjusting
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. 

Controls
 61Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Do not leave children unattended in the 
vehicle, otherwise they could endanger 
themselves and other persons, e.g. by opening 
the doors. <
Children alwa ys in rear
Accident research shows that the safest place 
for children is on the rear seat.
Children younger than 13 years of age or 
with a height under 5 ft/150 cm may only 
be transported on the 2nd row seats in child 
restraint devices which correspond to the age, 
weight and height of the child. Otherwise there 
is an increased danger of injury in an accident.<
Children 13 years of age or older must wear a 
safety belt as soon as  a suitable child restraint 
device can no longer be used due to their age, 
weight and size.
Exception for front passenger seat
Should it be necessa ry to use a child 
restraint device on the front passenger 
seat, the front and side airbags on the passen-
ger side must be deactivated. Otherwise, there 
is an increased risk of in jury for the child if the 
airbags are triggered, even with a child restraint 
device. <
For more information on automatic deactivation 
of the front passenger airbags, refer to 
page 106.
Installing child restraint 
devices
Follow the child restraint device manufac-
turer's instructions fo r selection, installa-
tion, and use of child restraint devices. Other-
wise, the degree of protection may be 
reduced. <
BMW X5: for equipment with 3rd row 
seats
*, make sure that the seat of the 2nd  row seats on which the ch
ild restraint device is 
mounted is properly locked. Otherwise there is 
an increased risk of inju ry for the child in an 
accident.
Do not mount child rest raint devices on the 
3rd row seats, as otherwise the protection pro-
vided by these child restraint devices may be 
reduced. <
On front passenger seat
After mounting a child  restraint device on 
the front passenger seat, make sure that 
the front and side airbags on the front passen-
ger side are deactivated; otherwise, there is an 
increased risk of injury  if the airbags are trig-
gered. <
Backrest width*
The backrest width adjustment of the 
front passenger seat  must be completely 
open. After installing th e child's seat, no mem-
ory position may be called up; otherwise, the 
stability of the child's se at on the front passen-
ger seat is reduced.<
1. Open backrest width adjustment com-
pletely, refer to page 50.
2. Install child's seat.
Child seat security
The rear safety belts, in the BMW X5 all of the 
safety belts of the 2nd and 3rd
* row seats and 
the passenger safety belt  can be locked to pre-
vent them from being pulled out in order to 
secure child restraint devices. 

Transporting children safely
62
Locking safety belt
1.Secure the child restra int device with the 
belt.
2. Pull out the belt we bbing completely.
3. Allow the belt webbing to be pulled in and 
pull taut against the child restraint device. 
The safety belt is locked.
Unlocking safety belt
1.Open the belt buckle.
2. Remove the child restraint device.
3. Allow the belt webbing to be pulled in com-
pletely.
LATCH child restraint fixing 
system
LATCH: Lower Anchor and Tethers for CHil-
dren.
Follow the system manufacturer's 
instructions on inst allation and use of 
LATCH child restraint devi ces; otherwise, their 
protective function may be reduced. <
Before attaching the child 's seat, pull the belt 
away from the region of  the child restraint fixing 
system.
BMW X5: before installing the child's 
seat, remove the covers
* from the 
mounts for the LATCH anch or fittings, as other-
wise the LATCH anchor  fittings have no 
restraining effect. < Make sure that the 
LATCH mounts have 
properly clicked into  place and that the 
child restraint device is  resting snugly against 
the backrest. Otherwise, the protective action 
may be reduced. <
The mounts for the LATC H anchors are located 
at the points indicated by the arrows.
Child restraint device with tether strap
Only use the top tether mounting points 
to secure child restraint devices, other-
wise the mounting poin ts could be damaged.
Do not mount child restraint devices on the 
3rd row seats in the BMW X5; otherwise the 
protection provided by these child restraint 
devices may be reduced. <
BMW X5
There are three additional mounting points for 
child restraint devices with  a tether strap on the 
2nd row seats, refer to arrows. Fold out before 
using the center mounting point. 

Controls
 63Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
BMW X6
For child restraint devices with tether strap, 
there are two additional attachment points on 
the back of the rear se at backrests, refer to 
arrows.
Placement of tether strap
Make sure that the  tether strap is not 
routed over sharp edges and does not 
twist on its way to the  attachment point; other-
wise, the belt cannot pr operly secure the child 
restraint device in the event of an accident.<
BMW X5
1 Direction of travel
2 Head restraint
3 Tether strap hook
4 Mounting point 5
Backrest
6 Tether strap of child restraint device
When using the cargo bay cover, route the 
tether strap through between the backrest of 
the 2nd row seats and the cargo bay cover.
BMW X6
1 Direction of travel
2 Head restraint
3 Tether strap hook
4 Mounting point
5 Backrest
6 Tether strap of child restraint device
When using the cargo bay cover, route the 
tether strap through between the rear seat 
backrest and the cargo bay cover. 

Controls
 69Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>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.