
Lamps
110
Lamps
Parking lamps/low beams
0Lights off and daytime driving lamps*
1Parking lamps and daytime driving lamps*
2Low beams and welcome lamps
3 Automatic head lamp control
*, daytime 
driving lamps
*, welcome lamps and Adap-
tive Head Light
*
If you open the driver's door with the ignition 
switched off, the exteri or lighting is automati-
cally switched off when  the light switch is in 
position 0, 2  or  3.
If necessary, switch on the parking lamps, 
switch position 1.
Parking lamps
In switch position 1, the front, rear and side 
vehicle lighting is switch ed on. You can use the 
parking lamps for parking.
The parking lamps drain the battery. Do 
not leave them switched on for long peri-
ods of time, otherwise it may no longer be pos-
sible to start the engine. It  is better to switch on 
the roadside parking lamp s on one side, refer to 
page 112.<
Low beams
The low beams light up wh en the light switch is 
in position  2 and the ignition is on.
Automatic headlamp control*
In switch position 3, the system activates the 
low beams and switches them on or off in 
response to changes in ambient light condi-
tions, for instance, in a tunnel, at dawn and dusk 
and in case of precipitation. Adaptive Head 
Light
* is active. The LED next to the symbol 
lights up when the low beams are on. You can 
activate the daytime driving lamps, refer to 
page 111. In the situations named above, the 
system then automatically  switches over to the 
low beams.
A blue sky with the sun low on the horizon can 
cause the lights to  be switched on.
The low beams remain switched on inde-
pendent of the ambient lighting condi-
tions when you switch on the fog lamps
*. <
The automatic headla mp control cannot 
serve as a substitute for your personal 
judgment in determin ing when the lamps 
should be switched on  in response to ambient 
lighting conditions. For example, the sensors 
cannot detect fog or hazy weather. To avoid 
safety risks, you should always switch on the 
low beams manually un der these conditions.<
Welcome lamps
When parking the vehicle, if you leave the light 
switch in position2 or 3, the parking lamps and 
the interior lamps light up briefly when the vehi-
cle is unlocked.
Activating/deactivating welcome 
lamps
iDrive, for operating pr inciple refer to page16.
1. Press the  button.
This opens the start menu.
2. Press the controller to open the  menu.
3. Select "Settings" an d press the controller.
4. Select "Vehicle / Tire s" and press the con-
troller. 

Controls
 119Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Ventilation in rear
1Serrated dials to smoothly open and close 
air vents
2 Serrated dial for adjusting the temperature 
in the upper body region:
>Turn toward blue: colder
> Turn toward red: warmer
3 Levers to change the air vent direction
BMW X5: heating and ventilation, 
3rd row seats
The air in the area of the 3rd row seats can be 
heated or recirculated. Air vents are located in 
the storage compartmen t area between the 
seats and in the footwell of the 3rd row seats.
1 Serrated dial:
>Activating heating and distributing air in 
footwell: 
Turn toward front
> Distributing air in storage compartment 
area between seats: 
Turn toward rear
2 Button for switching on blower: 
LED lights up
The heating is not ready for operation 
without switching on the blower. After the  heating is switched off, the blower can be used 
to recirculate the air within the vehicle, e.g. at 
high temperatures. To do
 this, turn the serrated 
dial 1 toward the rear and switch on the blower, 
button 2.<
Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter
The microfilter removes dust and pollen from 
the incoming air. The activated-charcoal filter 
provides additional protection by filtering gas-
eous pollutants from the outside air. This com-
bined filter is changed during maintenance by 
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center. 
You can select a display  of more detailed infor-
mation on the Control Display, refer to page 82.
Automatic climate control 
with 4-zone control*
Front operation
Corresponds to the operation of the automatic 
climate control with 2-zone control, refer to 
page 115.
Rear operation
The control unit is located in the center console 
in the rear.
1Temperature, left rear seating area
2 AUTO program
3 Display
4 Temperature, right rear seating area
5 Seat heating, right rear seat
6 Air volume, manual
7 Seat heating, left rear seat 

Controls
 121Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
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. 

Telephoning
220
Telephoning
The concept
Your BMW is equipped with a full mobile phone 
preparation package. After pairing a suitable 
mobile phone in the vehicle once, you can oper-
ate the mobile phone via  iDrive, with the buttons 
on the steering wheel and by voice.
Once a mobile phone has  been paired in your 
vehicle, it is automatically recognized as soon 
as it is inside the vehicl e while the engine is run-
ning or the ignition is switched on. The pairing 
data of up to four mobile phones can be stored 
simultaneously. If seve ral mobile phones are 
detected simultaneously, the respective last 
mobile phone paired can be operated via the 
vehicle.
Using a phone in your vehicle
Using snap-in adapter*
The so-called snap-in adapter, a mobile phone 
cradle, enables the batte ry to be charged and 
the mobile phone to be connected to the exter-
nal antenna of your vehicle. This ensures 
improved network reception and a consistent 
voice reproduction qu ality. Ask your BMW 
Sports Activity Vehicle Center which mobile 
phones snap-in adapters are offered for.
For your safety
A car phone makes life more convenient in 
many ways, and can even save lives in an emer-
gency. While you should consult your mobile 
phone's separate operating instructions for a 
detailed description of  safety precautions and 
information, we request that you direct your 
particular attention to the following:
Only make entries when the traffic situa-
tion allows you to do  so. Do not hold the 
mobile phone in your hand while you are driving; 
use the hands-free system instead. If you do 
not observe this precau tion, your being dis- tracted can endanger vehicle occupants and 
other road users.
<
Suitable mobile phones
Ask your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center 
which mobile phones wi th Bluetooth interface 
are supported by the mo bile phone preparation 
package and which mobile phones are compat-
ible with the snap-in adapter. By virtue of their 
particular software ve rsions, these mobile 
phones support the functions described in this 
Owner's Manual. Malfunctions can occur with 
other mobile phones.
Care instructions
You can find everything you need to know on 
this topic by consulting  the separate operating 
instructions for the mobile phone.
Operating options
You can operate the mobile phone* using:
> Buttons on steering  wheel, refer to page11
> iDrive, refer to page 226
> Voice commands, refer to page 231
> Programmable memory  buttons, refer to 
page 21
Avoid operating a mobile phone detected by 
the vehicle with the keypad of the mobile 
phone, otherwise malf unctions can occur.
Placing phone calls with BMW Assist 
system*: BMW Assist calls
You can use the BMW Assist system via the 
hands-free unit for BMW Assist calls.
When the status information "Communication" 
or "BMW Assist" is displayed in "BMW Ser-
vice", only BMW Assi st calls are possible.
* 

 221
Entertainment
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Mobility
It may not be possible  to establish a telephone 
connection using the mobile phone while a con-
nection is being estab lished to BMW Assist or 
while a call to BMW Assist is already in 
progress. If this happens, you must log off the 
mobile phone from the vehicle if you wish to 
place a call with the mobile phone.
Commissioning
Pairing mobile phone in vehicle
The following prerequisites must be met:
> Suitable mobile phone: the mobile phone is 
supported by the full  mobile phone prepara-
tion package. Information on this subject is 
also provided on the Internet at: 
www.bmw.com
> The mobile phone is ready to operate.
> The Bluetooth link on th e vehicle, refer to 
page 225, and on the mobile phone is 
active.
> Depending on the mobile phone, it may be 
necessary to adjust the presets of the 
mobile phone, e.g. via the following menu 
items:
>Bluetooth activated
> Connection not with confirmation
> Reconnect
> Depending on the mobile phone model, the 
setting energy saving mode can, for exam-
ple, result in vehicle failing to detect the 
paired mobile phone.
> For pairing, specify any desired number as 
the Bluetooth passkey, e.g. 1. This Blue-
tooth passkey is no longer required follow-
ing successful pairing.
> The ignition is switched on.
Only pair the mobile phone with the vehi-
cle stationary, otherwise the passengers 
and other road users can be endangered due to 
a lack of attentiveness on the part of the 
driver. <
Switching on ignition
1.Insert the remote control as far as possible 
into the ignition lock.
2. Switch on the ignition by pressing the Start/
Stop button without depressing the brake 
pedal.
Preparation via iDrive
iDrive, for operating pr inciple refer to page16.
3. Press the  button to open the start 
menu.
4. Press the controller to open the  menu.
5. Select "Settings" and press the controller.
6. Select "Bluetooth" an d press the controller. 

Telephoning
222
7.
Change into the second field from the top, 
select "Phone" and press the controller.
8. Select "Pair new phone" and press the con-
troller.
9. Select "Start pairing"  and press the control-
ler.
The Bluetooth name of the vehicle is dis-
played.
Preparation with mobile phone
10. Additional operations must be carried out 
on the mobile phone and differ depending 
on the model, refer to the operating instruc-
tions of your mobile phone, e.g. find, con-
nect or pair under Bluetooth device.
The Bluetooth name of the vehicle is also 
shown on the mobile phone display.
11. Select the Bluetooth name of the vehicle on 
the mobile phone display.
Pairing
Depending on your mobile  phone, you will first 
be requested consecutively via the display of 
your mobile phone or iD rive to enter the Blue-
tooth passkey you specified.
12. Enter the Bluetooth passkey.
Depending on the mobile phone, approx. 
30 seconds are available for entering the 
Bluetooth passkey on the mobile phone 
and on the Control Display.
13. Change into the third field from the top, 
select "Confirm passkey" and press the 
controller.
14. Wait a few seconds until the "Communica-
tion" menu appears.
The next time you use the mobile phone in the 
vehicle interior, it will be  detected within a max-
imum of 2 minutes with the engine running or 
the ignition switched on.
With some mobile phone models it may 
be necessary to make  certain settings for 
a permanent Bluetooth link, e.g. via the menu 
item Authorization or Secure connection, refer 
to the operating instructions of your mobile 
phone. < 

 223
Entertainment
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Mobility
As soon as a mobile phone is detected by the 
vehicle, the phone book entries stored on the 
SIM card or on your mobile phone are transmit-
ted to your vehicle. This transmission is depen-
dent on your mobile phone, refer to the operat-
ing instructions of your mobile phone if 
necessary, and can take several minutes.
If not all phone book entries are displayed:
> Transfer all phone book entries from the 
SIM card to the mobile phone if necessary.
> It may not be possible to display phone 
book entries with special characters.
Up to four mobile phones can be paired consec-
utively. When you pair a fifth mobile phone, the 
pairing data of the mob ile phone for which the 
pairing data were stored first in the vehicle will 
be deleted.
Checking if pairing is unsuccessful
> Is the mobile phone supported by the 
mobile phone preparation package? Infor-
mation on this subject  is also provided on 
the Internet at: www.bmw.com.
> Do the Bluetooth pass keys on the mobile 
phone and the vehicle match? The same 
Bluetooth passkey must be entered both on 
the mobile phone display and via iDrive.
> Have you required lo nger than 30 seconds 
to enter the Bluetooth passkey?
> Only a limited number of devices can be 
connected to the mobile phone. Delete the 
connection to other devices if necessary.
> The mobile phone no longer reacts? Switch 
the mobile phone off and then on again or 
disconnect the power supply. To repeat pairing:
1.
Select "Restart pairing" and press the con-
troller.
2. Repeat steps 9 to 14.
If pairing was repeatedly unsuccessful, contact 
BMW Customer Relations.
To call BMW Customer Relations:
Select "Help" and press the controller.
The phone number of BMW Customer Rela-
tions and information required for pairing is 
shown on the display. With mobile phones 
already paired, you can select the phone num-
ber of BMW Customer Relations to establish 
the connection. 

Telephoning
224
List of paired mobile phones
The mobile phones for which the vehicle has 
stored the pairing data can be displayed. If sev-
eral paired mobile phones are detected by the 
vehicle simultaneously, you can operate the 
mobile phone highest up in the list via the vehi-
cle.
You can change the order of the mobile phones 
in the list. As long as a  mobile phone is selected 
in this list, the mobile  phones cannot be oper-
ated via the vehicle.
iDrive, for operating pr inciple refer to page16.
1. Press the  button to open the start 
menu.
2. Press the controller to open the  menu.
3. Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4. Select "Bluetooth" an d press the controller.
5. Change into the second field from the top, 
select "Phone" and press the controller.
6. Select the desired mobile phone.
With two drives:
>Move the controller to  the rear to change 
to the bottom field.
> Select the desired mobile phone and 
press the controller.
With a single drive:
> Select the desired mobile phone and 
press the controller. 7.
Select "Move device up" and press the con-
troller.
The selected mobile phone is moved upward by 
one position.
Unpairing mobile phone from vehicle
If you no longer want to operate a mobile phone 
via the vehicle, you can  delete the pairing data 
of the mobile phone.
iDrive, for operating pr inciple refer to page16.
1. Switch off the mobile phone.
2. Press the  button to open the start 
menu.
3. Press the controller to open the  menu.
4. Select "Settings" an d press the controller.
5. Select "Bluetooth" and press the controller.
"Bluetooth" is selected.
6. Change into the second field from the top, 
select "Phone" and press the controller.
7. Select the desired mobile phone.
With two drives:
>Move the controller to  the rear to change 
to the bottom field.
> Select the desired mobile phone and 
press the controller.