
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 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. 

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. 

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Fastening
Make sure you hear the latch plate engage in 
the belt buckle.
Safety belt reminder for driver's seat 
and passenger seat
The indicator lamp lights up and a 
signal sounds. A message also 
appears on the Control Display. 
Please check whether the safety belt is cor-
rectly fastened.
The safety belt reminder is operative at speeds 
above approx. 5 mph/8 km/h. It can also be acti-
vated if objects are placed on the passenger 
seat.
Releasing
1. Grasp the belt firmly.
2. Press the red button in the buckle.
3. Guide the belt into its reel.
The shoulder strap's anchorage point will be 
correct for adult seat occupants of every build if 
the seat is correctly  adjusted, refer to page 49.
BMW X5: the two rear safety belt buckles inte-
grated into the rear seat are for passengers sit-
ting on the left and right. The belt buckle 
embossed with the word CENTER is intended 
exclusively for use by passengers riding in the 
center position.
Damage to safety belts
In the event of loads caused by accidents 
or other damage: replace the belt system 
including the safety be lt tensioners and any 
child restraint devices, an d have the belt anchor 
points checked. Only have  this work carried out 
at a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center or at a 
workshop that works according to BMW repair 
procedures with corres pondingly trained per-
sonnel. Otherwise correct operation of this 
safety equipment is not guaranteed. <
Belt-force limiter
The effect of the belt-force limiter on the 
driver's seat is dependent on the position of the 
driver's seat. To maintain the long-term accuracy of this 
function, the driver's seat
 must be calibrated if a 
corresponding message  is displayed on the 
Control Display.
Calibrating driver's seat
The warning lamp lights up. A mes-
sage also appears on the Control Dis-
play. Please calibrate the driver's 
seat.
1. Move the driver's seat forward until it stops.
2. Move the driver's seat forward again. It 
briefly moves toward the front in the pro-
cess.
3. Set the desired seating position again.
The calibration is comp leted when the message 
on the Control Display disappears. Should this 
message continue to be  displayed, repeat the 
calibration. If the message does not disappear 
even after repeated calibration, have the sys-
tem checked as soon as possible.
Never carry out calibration while the vehi-
cle is moving, as this can cause accidents.
Make sure that no persons or objects become 
wedged during the calibration process, as this 
can cause injuries or damage. <
Seat heating*
Front
The temperature setting progresses one step 
through its control sequence each time you 
press the button. The maximum temperature is 
supplied when three LEDs are lit.
To switch off: press the button longer. 

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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. 

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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.