
At a glance
 11Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
9BMW X6: upshifting or downshifting 
with automatic transmission 71
10 Instrument panel 12
13 Ignition lock 65
14 Buttons on steering wheel 15
Horn, entire surface
18 Releasing hood 258
8
Turn signals 73
High beams, headlamp flasher 73
Roadside parking lamps
*112
Time, date, outside temperature, 
Check Control 78, 86
Computer 80
11 Windshield wipers 74
Rain sensor 74
BMW X5: rear window wiper 75
12 Starting/stopping engine and 
switching ignition on/off 
65
Telephone
*:
> Press: accepting and ending 
call, starting dialing
* for 
selected phone number and 
redialing if no phone number is 
selected
> Press longer: redialing
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice 
activation system
* 23
Changing radio station
Selecting music track
Scrolling in phone book and in lists 
with stored phone numbers
Individually programmable 59 
Individually programmable 59 
Steering wheel heating
*59
16 Steering wheel adjustment 58
17 Cruise control
*75 

Cockpit
12
Instrument panel
1Indicator lamps for turn signals
2 Speedometer
3 Indicator and warning lamps 13
4 Tachometer 79
5 BMW X5: energy control 79
BMW X6: engine oil temperature 79 or
energy control 79
6 Display for
>Clock/date 78
> Outside temperature 78
> Indicator and warning lamps 85
> Speed of cruise control
*76
> BMW X5: reserve display for diesel 
exhaust fluid 246 7
Display for
>Odometer and trip odometer 78
> Computer 80
> Date and remaining travel distance 
for service requirements 82
> Automatic transmission positions 70
> HDC Hill Descent Control 98
>  Check Control message present 85
> Adaptive Drive
*99
> BMW X6: Dynamic Performance 
Control 97
8 Fuel gauge 80
9 Resetting trip odometer 78
Displaying service requirement 78 

Controls
 41Reference
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Mobility
Before driving into a car wash
The vehicle can roll if you proceed according to 
the following steps:
1.Insert remote control into ignition lock.
2. Depress brake pedal.
3. Engage transmission position N.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Switch off the engine.
6. Leave the remote control in the ignition 
lock.
Malfunction
The comfort access function may malfunction 
due to local radio waves. Then open or close the 
vehicle with the buttons on the remote control 
or with a key. To start the engine following this, 
insert the remote control in the ignition lock.
The warning lamp in the instrument 
panel lights up when an attempt is 
made to start the engine: starting the 
engine is not possible. The remote control is 
not in the vehicle or has a malfunction. Take 
along the remote control into the vehicle or 
have it checked. Insert another remote control 
into the ignition lock if necessary.
The warning lamp in the instrument 
panel lights up when  the engine is 
running: the remote control is no 
longer in the vehicle. After switching off the 
engine, the engine can only be started again 
within approx. 10 seconds if no door has been 
opened.
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
panel lights up and a message 
appears on the Control Display: 
Replace the battery of  the remote control.
Replacing battery
The remote control for comfort access contains 
a battery which must be replaced if necessary.
1.Remove integrated key from remote con-
trol, refer to page 28.
2. Remove cover. 3.
Lay in new battery with  positive side facing 
upward.
4. Press cover closed.
Dispose of used batteries at a collection 
point or at your BMW Sports Activity 
Vehicle Center. <
Windows
To prevent injuries, exercise care when 
closing the windows and keep them in 
your field of vision until they are shut. 
Always take along the remote control when you 
leave the vehicle, otherw ise children could, for 
example, operate the windows and injure them-
selves. <
Opening, closing
>Press switch to resistance point: 
The window continues to open as long as 
you keep the switch pressed.
> Press switch beyond resistance point: 
The window opens automatically. Pressing 
the switch again stops the opening move-
ment.
You can close the windows in the same manner 
by pulling the switch. 

Controls
 65Reference
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Driving
Ignition lock
Inserting remote control into ignition 
lock
Insert the remote control as far as possible into 
the ignition lock.
Radio readiness switches on. Some electronic 
systems/consumers are ready for operation.
Comfort access*
With comfort access, only insert the remote 
control into the ignition lock in exceptional 
cases, refer to page 39.
Removing remote control from ignition 
lock
Do not pull the remote  control out of the 
ignition lock using force, as otherwise 
damage may result. <
Before removing the remo te control, first press 
it in as far as possibl e to release the locking 
device.
The ignition is switched off if it was still 
switched on.
Start/Stop button
Pressing the Start/Stop button switches the 
radio readiness or the ignition on and off.
Pressing the Start/Stop button with the 
brake pedal depre ssed starts the 
engine. <
Radio readiness
Some electronic systems/consumers are ready 
for operation. The time and outside tempera-
ture are displayed in the instrument panel.
Radio readiness is auto matically switched off:
> when the remote control is removed from 
the ignition lock
> with comfort access
* by touching the sen-
sitive surface above the door lock, refer to 
Locking on page 40
Ignition on
All electronic systems/consumers are ready for 
operation. The odometer and the trip odometer 
are displayed in the instrument panel, refer to 
page78.
Please switch off the ignition and the 
electronic systems/consumers which are 
not required when the engine is not running to 
save the battery. <
Radio readiness and ignition off
All indicator lamps, warning lamps, and displays 
in the instrument panel go out. 

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
 67Reference
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Transmission position P will be engaged:
>automatically after  approx. 30 minutes
> if you remove the remo te control from the 
ignition lock
Parking brake
The concept
Your BMW is equipped with an electromechan-
ical parking brake.
The parking brake is primarily intended to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling while parked.
You can use the parking brake in two ways:
> manually, by pulling an d pushing the button
> automatically, by ac tivating Automatic 
Hold, refer to page 67
With the engine stopped, the parking brake acts 
on the rear wheels via an electromechanical 
system. When the engine is running, the park-
ing brake acts on the disk brakes of the front 
and rear wheels via the brake hydraulics.
Setting manually
Pull button. The parking brake is set. The indicator lamp in the instrument 
panel lights up red. The parking brake is 
set.
Indicator lamp on Canadian models.
The remote control do es not have to be 
inserted into the ignition lock for the parking 
brake to be set.
While driving
If exceptional circumst ances should make it 
necessary to set the pa rking brake while the 
vehicle is in motion, pull on the button longer.
The vehicle continues to brake forcefully for as 
long as you pull on the button.
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
panel lights up red, a chime sounds and 
the brake lamps light up.
Indicator lamp on Canadian models.
As soon as you brake the vehicle almost to a 
stop, i.e., down to a speed of approx. 2 mph/
3 km/h or below, the pa rking brake remains set.
Releasing manually
Press the button with the brake depressed.
The indicator lamp  in the instrument 
panel goes out.
Indicator lamp on Canadian models.
When leaving the vehicle, always take 
along the remote control; this precaution 
prevents children from  releasing the parking 
brake, for example. <
Automatic Hold
The concept
This function assists yo u as you drive by auto-
matically setting and  releasing the parking 
brake, e.g. when you are stopped at a traffic sig-
nal or in stop-and-go traffic. 
When Automatic Hold is ac tivated, the vehicle is  

Driving
68
automatically held in place when standing. 
When driving up inclines, the system prevents 
your vehicle from rolling 
backward in an undes-
ired way.
After the engine is star ted, the system can be 
activated and deactiva ted at any time the 
driver's seat is occupied  until the next time the 
engine is switched off.
Activating
Press the button. The LED in the button lights 
up and the indication  AUTO H appears in the 
instrument panel.
Automatic Hold is activated.
If the vehicle is bein g held by Automatic 
Hold, the indicator light in the instru-
ment panel also lights up in green.
Indicator lamp on Canadian models.
Deactivating
Press the button again, the LED in the button 
and the indication AUTO H in the instrument 
panel go out.
Automatic Hold is deactivated.
If the vehicle is being  held by Automatic Hold, 
then press on the brake  pedal to deactivate it.
When the parking brake is  set manually, refer to 
page 67, Automatic Hold is  automatically deac-
tivated.
Driving
With Automatic Hold acti vated, the vehicle is 
automatically prevented from rolling after it 
comes to a stop. The indicator lamp in the instrument 
panel lights up in green.
Indicator lamp on Canadian models.
If the transmission is in a drive position, simply 
press on the gas pedal to begin driving. The 
brake is automatically re leased and the indica-
tor lamp goes out.
Before driving into  the car wash, deacti-
vate Automatic Hold; otherwise, the park-
ing brake will be automatically set after stop-
ping and the vehicle can no longer roll. <
Parking
If the vehicle is being held by Automatic Hold 
and you switch off the motor, the parking brake 
is automatically set.
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
panel changes from green to red.
Indicator lamp on Canadian models.
The parking brake is not set if you have 
already switched off the engine while the 
vehicle is rolling to a stop.
Automatic Hold is deactivated. <
You can manually rele ase the parking brake 
even after switching off th e motor as long as the 
remote control remains in  the ignition lock, refer 
to page 67. Use this function in car washes, for 
example.
When leaving the vehicle, always take 
along the remote control; this precaution 
prevents children from  releasing the parking 
brake, for example. <
For your safety
Automatic Hold is auto matically deactivated 
when:
> the engine is switched off
> no one is detected in the driver's seat when 
the engine is running 

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 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. <