
Practical interior accessories
124
The corresponding memory button 
1 is now 
programmed with the signal of the original 
hand-held transmitter.
You can operate the device when the engine is 
running or when the igni tion is switched on.
If the device cannot be used after 
repeated programming, check whether 
the original hand-held transmitter uses an alter-
nating-code system. To do so, either read the 
instructions for the original hand-held transmit-
ter or hold down the programmed memory but-
ton 1 of the integrated universal remote control. 
If the LED 2 on the integrated universal remote 
control flashes rapidly for a short time and then 
remains lit for approx. 2  seconds, this indicates 
that the original hand-h eld transmitter uses an 
alternating-code system. In the case of an alter-
nating-code system, program the memory but-
tons 1 as described at Alternating-code hand-
held transmitters. <
Alternating-code hand-held 
transmitters
To program the integrated universal remote 
control, consult the operating instructions for 
the equipment to be set. You will find informa-
tion there on the possibilities for synchroniza-
tion.
When programming hand-held transmitters 
that employ an alternating code, observe the 
following supplementary instructions:
Programming will be easi er with the aid of 
a second person. <
1. Park your vehicle within the range of the 
remote-controlled device.
2. Program the integrated  universal remote 
control as described above in the section 
Fixed-code hand-held transmitters.
3. Locate the button on  the receiver of the 
device to be set, e.g. on the drive unit.
4. Press the button on the receiver of the 
device to be set. Af ter step 4, you have 
approx. 30 seconds for step 5.
5. Press the programmed memory button 1 
of the integrated universal remote control 
three times. The corresponding memory button 
1 is now 
programmed with the signal of the original 
hand-held transmitter.
Should you have questions, please con-
tact your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle 
Center. <
Deleting all stored programs
Press the left and right-hand memory button 1 
for approx. 20 seconds until the LED 2 flashes 
quickly:
All stored programs are deleted.
Reassigning individual programs
1. Hold the original hand-held transmitter at 
a distance of approx. 4 in/10 cm to 12 in/
30 cm from the  memory buttons 1.
The required distance between the 
hand-held transmitter and the mem-
ory buttons 1 depends on the relevant sys-
tem of the original hand-held transmitter 
used. <
2. Press the desired memory button 1 of the 
integrated universal remote control.
3. When the LED  2 flashes slowly after approx. 
20 seconds, press the transmit button of 
the original hand-held transmitter. Release 
both buttons as soon as the LED 2 flashes 
rapidly. If the LED 2 does not flash rapidly 
after approx. 15 seconds, alter the distance 
and repeat the step.
Digital compass*
1 Adjustment button
2 Display 

Controls
 125Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
The display indicates the cardinal or intercardi-
nal direction in which you are currently driving.
Operating principle
You can run various functions by pressing the 
adjustment button with a pointed object, e.g. a 
ball-point pen etc. The following setting options 
are displayed consecutively, depending on how 
long the adjustment button is pressed:
> Press briefly: switch display on/off
> 3 to 6 seconds: set compass zone
> 6 to 9 seconds: calibrate compass
> 9 to 12 seconds: set left/right-hand drive 
vehicle
> 12 to 15 seconds: set language
Setting compass zones
Set the respectively a pplicable compass zone 
in your vehicle so that the compass functions 
properly, refer to the  map of the world with 
compass zones.
To set the compass zones, press the adjust-
ment button for approx. 3-4 seconds. The dis-
play indicates the number  of the currently set 
compass zone. To change the zone setting, briefly press the 
adjusting button repeatedly
 until the number of 
the compass zone that a pplies to your current 
position is displayed.
The compass will be operational again after 
approx. 10 seconds. 

Practical interior accessories
126
Calibrating digital compass
Calibrate the digital compass In the following 
situations:
>The wrong cardinal direction appears on 
the display.
> The cardinal direction displayed does not 
change despite a change  in the direction of 
travel.
> Not all cardinal directions are displayed.
Procedure
1.Make sure that there are no large metal 
objects or overhead power lines in the vicin-
ity of your vehicle and that you have enough 
space to drive in a circle.
2. Input the currently applicable compass 
zone.
3. Press the adjustment button for approx. 
6-7 seconds to display C. Then drive in a 
complete circle at least once at a maximum 
speed of 4 mph/7 km/h.
If the calibration is successful, display C is 
replaced with the points of the compass.
Setting right/left-hand drive vehicle
Your digital compass is  already set to right or 
left-hand drive vehicle to  match your vehicle at 
the factory.
Setting language
You can set the langua ge of the display.
Press the adjustment button for approx. 
12-13 seconds. Briefly press the adjustment 
button again to change between English "E" 
and German "O".
The setting is automatica lly stored after approx. 
10 seconds.
Roller sun blinds for rear side 
windows*
Pull the loop of the roller sun blind and hook 
onto bracket.
Do not open the window with the roller 
blind raised, as otherwise there is a dan-
ger of damage, and therefore a danger of inju-
ries at higher speeds. <
Glove compartment
Opening
Press the button. The covers open upward and 
downward and the lighting in the glove com-
partment switches on.
To prevent injury in the event of an acci-
dent while the vehicle is being driven, 
close the glove compartment immediately after 
use. <
Closing
Press one of the two covers closed. 

Controls
 133Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Adaptive fixing system*
The adaptive fixing system is used to divide up 
the cargo bay. It consists of two brackets with a 
telescopic rail and retaining straps. These are 
guided into the two rails  on the cargo bay floor.
Before using the adaptive fixing system, 
fold up and lock the rear seat backrest; 
otherwise, the cargo coul d be thrown into the 
vehicle interior  in an accident.<
1 Brackets
2 Telescopic rail
3 Notch in the cargo bay rail
Mounting brackets
The two brackets are co nnected with a tele-
scopic rail.
1. Insert the brackets at  the respective notch 
in the rail on the cargo bay floor.
2. Press down the brackets  to push them into 
the desired position.
3. Check the firm seating of the brackets. 
They must be clearl y heard to engage.
Do not lay cargo on  the brackets, as oth-
erwise they could be unlocked. <
Dividing up cargo bay
You can position the cargo as follows:
>between the rear seat  backrest and the 
telescopic rail
> between the telescopic rail and the retain-
ing strap
Positioning cargo betwee n telescopic rail and 
retaining strap:
1. Lay the cargo on the te lescopic rail. Press 
the button, arrow 1, and route the retaining 
strap around the cargo, arrow 2.
2. Hook the retaining strap into the mount 3 
on the telescopic rail.
3. Press the button of the bracket, arrow 1. 
The retaining strap is tensioned.
You can also hook both retaining straps 
into each other. <
When you are finished using the adaptive fixing 
system, unhook the retaining strap and guide it 
back into the bracket in  order to prevent dam-
age and injury. 
Then slide the fastening system toward the 
front in order to permit  the best possible use of 
the cargo bay.
Removing brackets
Press down the brackets,  slide them up to the 
notches of the rails  and remove them.
Depending on your vehicle's equipment pack-
age, you can store the adaptive fixing system 
under the floor panel in the cargo bay. 

Things to remember when driving
140
planing, and is characterized by a partial or 
complete loss of contac
t between the tires and 
the road surface, ultima tely undermining your 
ability to steer and brake the vehicle. <
The risk of hydroplaning increases as the tread 
depth of the tires decreases, also refer to Mini-
mum tread depth on page 255.
Driving through water
Maximum water depth:
>BMW X5 20 in/50 cm
> BMW X6 17 in/45 cm
Only drive through water up to the above-
mentioned depth at no greater than walk-
ing speed; otherwise, the engine, electrical sys-
tem, and transmission can be damaged. <
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard 
feature. In situations that require it, it is best to 
brake with full force. Since the vehicle maintains 
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid 
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering 
effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal, combined with 
sounds from the hydraulic circuits, indicate that 
ABS is in its active mode.
Do not drive with your foot resting on the 
brake pedal. Even light but consistent 
pedal pressure can lead  to high temperatures, 
brake wear and possibly  even brake failure.<
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain, 
briefly exert gentle pre ssure on the brake pedal 
every few miles. Monitor traffic conditions to 
ensure that this maneuver does not endanger 
other road users. The heat generated in this 
process helps dry the pads  and rotors to ensure 
that full braking efficiency  will then be available 
when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and the resulting 
reduced efficiency of the brake system, 
drive long or steep downhill gradients in the  gear in which the least br
aking is required. Even 
light but consistent pressure on the brake pedal 
can lead to high temperatures, brake wear and 
possibly even brake failure. <
The braking effect of the engine can be further 
increased by downshifting  in the manual mode 
of the automatic transmis sion, if necessary into 
first gear, refer to page 71. This prevents an 
excessive strain on the brakes.
Do not drive in idle or with the engine 
stopped, otherwise there will be no 
engine braking action or support of the braking 
force and steering. 
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other 
objects to protrude into  the area of movement 
of the pedals and impair their operation. <
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally, 
during extended periods when the vehicle is not 
used at all, and in op erating conditions where 
brake applications are less  frequent, there is an 
increased tendency for corrosion to form on 
rotors, while contaminan ts accumulate on the 
brake pads. This occurs because the minimum 
pressure which must be exerted by the pads 
during brake applications to clean the rotors is 
not reached.
Should corrosion form on  the brake rotors, the 
brakes will tend to re spond with a pulsating 
effect that even extended  application will fail to 
cure.
When vehicle is parked
Condensation forms in the automatic climate 
control system during operation, and then exits 
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed water 
under the vehicle are therefore normal.
Before driving into a car wash
Fold in the exterior mirrors, refer to page 57, 
otherwise they could be damaged due to the 
width of the vehicle.
Release the parking brake, particularly when 
you have activated Auto matic Hold, refer to 
page 67. 

Driving tips
 143Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Securing cargo
BMW X5
BMW X6
>Use the luggage net*, retaining straps*, or 
securing straps to hold down small and 
lightweight luggage and cargo.
> For larger and heavier pieces, heavy-duty 
cargo straps
* are available from your BMW 
Sports Activity Vehicl e Center. Four lashing 
eyes
* mounted in the cargo bay are used to 
secure these heavy-duty  cargo straps, refer 
to illustrations.
> Observe the special instructions supplied 
with the heavy-duty cargo straps.
Position and secure the cargo as 
described above, so that it cannot endan-
ger the car's occupants, for example if sudden 
braking or evasive maneuvers are necessary.
Never exceed either the approved gross vehicle 
weight or either of the approved axle weights, 
refer to page 289, as excessive loads can pose 
a safety hazard, and may also place you in viola-
tion of traffic safety laws. 
You should never transport unsecured heavy or 
hard objects in the passenger compartment, as 
they could fly around and pose a safety hazard  to the vehicle's occupants during abrupt brak-
ing or evasive maneuvers.
Use only the lashing eyes pictured to fasten the 
heavy-duty cargo straps. Do not secure cargo 
with the attachment points for the top tether, 
refer to page
62; otherwise they could be dam-
aged. <
Roof-mounted luggage rack*
A special rack system is  available as an option 
for your BMW. Please co mply with the precau-
tions included with the installation instructions.
Loading roof-mounted luggage rack
Because roof racks raise the vehicle's center of 
gravity when loaded, they have a major effect on 
its handling and steering response. You should 
therefore always remember not to exceed the 
approved roof load capacity, the approved 
gross vehicle weight or the axle weights when 
loading the rack.
You can find the specified weights under 
Weights on page 289.
The load on the roof must be evenly distributed 
and must not extend outward beyond the limits 
of the loading surface. Always stow the heaviest 
pieces on the bottom. Be sure that adequate 
clearance is maintained  for raising the glass 
sunroof
*/panorama glass sunroof* and that 
objects do not project into the opening path of 
the liftgate.
Secure roof-mounted cargo correctly and 
securely to prevent it fr om shifting or falling off 
during the trip.
Drive smoothly. Avoid su dden acceleration and 
braking maneuvers. Take corners gently. 

Destination entry
152
4.
If necessary, enter more letters.
The list gradually grow s smaller each time 
you enter a new letter.
> Enter blank space if necessary:
Select the  symbol and press the con-
troller.
5. Change to the third fiel d from the top if nec-
essary. Turn the cont roller until the town/
city name is selected from the list and press 
the controller.
Entering destinat ion via zip code
1.Select "Town / City" and press the control-
ler.
2. Enter the zip code:
Select the desired digits and press the con-
troller. >
Enter a blank space:
Select the  symbol and press the con-
troller.
> Delete individual numbers or letters:
Move the controller toward the right to 
select  and press the controller.
> Delete all numbers or letters:
Move the controller toward the right to 
select  and press the controller 
longer.
3. Select the zip code and press the controller.
The corresponding dest ination is displayed.
4. Change into the third field from the top. 
Turn the controller until the destination is 
selected and press the controller.
Entering street, house number and 
intersection
After the street you can also enter the intersec-
tion or the house number.
Entering street and intersection
1.Select "Street" or the displayed street and 
press the controller.
2. Enter the street.
The street is entered exactly like the desti-
nation.
The intersection is entered in the same way as 
the street.
Entering a street without entering a 
town/city of destination
You can also enter a street without entering a 
town/city of destination.  In this case all streets 
of the entered country are offered for selection.  

Navigation
Driving tips
 155Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Entertainment
Mobility
Select this entry with {Yes } if necessary. Then 
select the desired city/town in this list. <
Entering street and house number
The street is entered in the same way as the 
destination.
To enter the house number:
Up to 4-digit house numbers can be entered. 
Say the house number as individual numbers.
Starting destination guidance
Destination guidance starts immediately.
Saving destination
The destination is added to the destination list 
or can be stored in the address book.
Selecting destination via map
If you only know the location of the town/city or 
street of the destination, then you can enter the 
destination by using a  map. You can use the 
cursor to select the de stination on the map and 
then apply it in the  destination guidance.
1. Select "Navigation" and press the control-
ler.
"New destination" is selected.
2. Press the controller. 3.
Select "Input map" and press the controller.
A section of a map is  displayed on the Con-
trol Display:
> During destination guidance, around the 
current destination
> With the destination guidance deacti-
vated, around the  last destination 
entered
4. Select destination with cursor.
>Changing scale: turn the controller.
> Moving map: move the controller in the 
corresponding direction.
The controller can be moved to the left, 
right, forward and back.
5. To apply or store the  destination in the des-
tination guidance, press the controller.
The selected destinat ion and other menu 
items are displayed.
6. Select the desired menu item:
>"Start route guidance" starts destination 
guidance.
> "Show current position" places the cur-
rent position in the center of the map.
> "Show destination position" places the 
current destination in  the center of the 
map.
1.
{House number }
2. Say the house number.
{ Start guidance }
{ Add to destination list } or
{ Add to address book }