
Controls
 59Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Steering wheel heating*
Press the button.
When the steering wheel heater is switched on, 
the LED in the button lights up.
Programmable buttons on steering 
wheel
You can program the buttons individually.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page16.
1. Press the  button.
This opens the start menu.
2. Press the controller to open the  menu.
3. Select "Settings" and press the controller. 4.
Select "Steering wheel buttons" and press 
the controller.
A list of different functions appears:
>"Navigation voice instructions"
Voice instructions for the navigation 
system
*
>"Air recirculation on / off"
Permanently shutting off outside air, 
refer to AUC Automatic recirculated-air 
control
* on page 117
> "Mute on / off" 
Mutes the audio sources
> "Monitor on / off" 
Switches the Control Display on/off
> "Telephone list"
*
Display/hide phone book or last list of 
stored phone numbers
> "Next entertainment source"
Changes audio source
5. Select the desired function and press the 
controller.
6. Select the button if ne cessary and press the 
controller.
You can operate the selected function using the 
corresponding button. 

Adjusting
60
Operating function
Press the corresponding button on the steering 
wheel.
If you have programmed "Navigation voice 
instructions" for one of the buttons:
>To switch voice instructions on/off: 
Hold the button down.
> To repeat the last  voice instruction: 
Press the button. 

Controls
 61Reference
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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. 

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. 

Controls
 69Reference
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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. < 

Everything under control
78
Everything under control
Odometer, outside 
temperature display, clock
1Knob in the instrument panel
2 Time, outside temperature, and date
3 Odometer and trip odometer
Knob in the instrument panel
>With ignition switched on
Press knob: 
Resetting trip odometer
Press the knob for approx. 5 seconds: 
Displaying service requirements, refer to 
page 82
> With ignition switched off
Press knob:
Briefly displaying time, outside temperature 
and odometer
Units of measure
To select the respective units of measure, miles 
or km for the odometer as well as 7  or 6 for 
the outside temperat ure, refer to page89.
The setting is stored fo r the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Time, date, outside temperature
From radio readiness the outside temperature 
and the time are displayed.
Setting the time, refer to page 88.
Retrieving date
Press the button on turn signal lever upward; 
the date appears.
To set the date, refer to page 89.
Pressing the button upward or downward sev-
eral times changes the display between clock, 
outside temperature, da te, and Check Control 
messages, refer to page 86.
Outside temperature warning
If the display drops to +37 7/+3 6, a signal 
sounds and a warning lamp lights up. A mes-
sage appears on the Control Display. There is 
an increased danger of ice.
Even at temperatures above +37 7/
+3 6 ice can form. Therefore, drive care-
fully, e.g. on bridges and  sections of road in the 
shade, otherwise there is an increased accident 
risk.<
Odometer and trip odometer
Resetting trip odometer:
Press knob  1 in the instrument panel with the 
ignition switched on.
When vehicle is parked
To briefly display the time, outside temperature 
and mileage after the re mote control has been 
removed from the ignition lock:
Press knob  1 in the instrument panel. 

Controls
 81Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Without navigation system*:
Open "Car Data".
3. Select "Car Data" and press the controller.
4. Select "Onboard info" and press the con-
troller.
> Estimated time of arrival at destination and 
remaining distance:
>Entering a distance manually in the com-
puter, see below.
> Entering a destination in the navigation 
system
*, refer to page 150.
> Cruising range
> Average speed
> Average fuel consumption
Resetting values
You can reset the values for the average speed 
and average fuel consumption:
1.Select the respective menu item and press 
the controller.
2. To confirm your selection, press the con-
troller again.
Entering a distance manually
1.Select "Distance to dest. " and press the 
controller.
2. Turn the controller to se lect the distance to 
your destination.
3. Press the controller to  apply the setting.
The distance is automati cally preset during the 
destination guidance of the navigation sys-
tem
*.
Trip computer*
The trip computer is suitable, for example, for a 
vacation trip.
1. Open the start menu.
2. Open "Navigation".
Without navigation system
*:
Open "Car Data".
3. Select "Car Data" and press the controller.
4. Select "Trip computer" and press the con-
troller.
> Departure time
> Driving time
> Distance traveled
> Average speed
> Average fuel consumption 

Controls
 85Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Check Control
The concept
The Check Control monitors functions in the 
vehicle and issues a message if there is a mal-
function in the monitored systems. This kind of 
Check Control message co nsists of indicator 
and warning lamps in the instrument cluster, 
and if necessary an acoustic signal and text 
messages at the bottom of  the Control Display.
Indicator and warning lamps
The indicator and warning lamps can light up in 
different combinations and colors.
 means that a Check Control message has 
been generated. The symbol continues to be 
visible even when the Check Control message 
disappears after a short time. The warning 
lamps and text messages are stored and can be 
displayed later, also refer to page 86.
Explanatory text messages
Text messages at the  bottom edge of the Con-
trol Display explain the meaning of the dis-
played indicator and warning lamps.
You can display additional information on most 
Check Control messages later, e.g. on the 
cause of the malfunction and on corresponding 
need for action, see below.
In the case of corresponding urgency, this infor-
mation is displayed immediately when the 
related lamp lights up.
Exit the displayed information:   Select the arrow an d press the controller.
Hiding Check Control messages
Press the button in the turn signal lever up or 
down.