Giving and receiving assistance
280
replace the contents conc
erned in good time if 
necessary.
BMW X5
BMW X6
The first aid kit is stored in the cargo bay, 
behind the left side panel.
Roadside Assistance*
The BMW Roadside Assistance offers you 
assistance in the event of a breakdown around 
the clock, including on weekends and public 
holidays.
The phone numbers of the Roadside Assis-
tance in your home country can be found in the 
Contact brochure.
With BMW Assist or BMW TeleServices, you 
can contact BMW Roadside Assistance for 
assistance in the event of a breakdown directly 
via iDrive, refer to page 236.
Jump starting
When your battery is discharged, you can use 
two jumper cables to start your BMW with 
power from the battery in a second vehicle. You  can also use the same 
method to help start 
another vehicle. Use only jumper cables with 
fully-insulated clamp handles.
To avoid the risk of po tentially fatal injury, 
always avoid all contact with electrical 
components while the engine is running. Care-
fully adhere to the following sequence, both to 
prevent damage to one or both vehicles, and to 
guard against possible personal injuries.<
Preparation
1. Check whether the battery of the other 
vehicle has a voltage of 12 Volts and 
approximately the same capacitance in Ah. 
This information can be found on the bat-
tery.
2. Switch off the engine of the assisting vehi-
cle.
3. Switch off any electrical systems and com-
ponents in both vehicles.
There must not be  any contact between 
the bodies of the tw o vehicles, otherwise 
there is a danger of shorting. <
Connecting jumper cables
To avoid personal injury from sparks, fol-
low this sequence when connecting 
jumper cables. <
On your BMW the so-called starting-aid termi-
nal in the engine compar tment acts as the bat-
tery positive terminal, al so refer to the engine 
compartment overview on page 259. The cover 
cap is marked with +.
1. Fold open the cover of the BMW starting-
aid terminal. To do so, pull the tab. 
Mobility
 281Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
2.Attach one end of the jumper cable plus/+ 
to the positive terminal of the battery or a 
starting-aid terminal of the vehicle provid-
ing assistance.
3. Attach the second end  of the cable to the 
positive terminal of th e battery or to a start-
ing-aid terminal of the vehicle to be started.
4. Attach one end of the jumper cable minus/– 
to the negative terminal  of the battery or to 
an engine or body ground of the assisting 
vehicle.
Your BMW has a special nut as body ground 
or negative pole.
5. Attach the second end  of the cable to the 
negative terminal of  the battery or to the 
engine or body ground of the vehicle to be 
started.
Starting engine
1. Start the engine on the assisting vehicle 
and allow it to run at  idle for several minutes 
at slightly increased speed.
2. Start the engine on the other vehicle in the 
usual way.
If the first starting attempt is not successful, 
wait a few minutes be fore another attempt 
in order to allow the  discharged battery to 
recharge.
3. Let the engines run for a few minutes.
4. Disconnect the jumper cables by reversing 
the connection sequence.
Check the battery and recharge if necessary.
Never use spray fluids to start the 
engine. <
Tow-starting and towing
Observe applicable la ws and regulations 
for tow-starting and towing. <
Do not transport any passengers other 
than the driver in a vehicle that is being 
towed. <
Using tow fitting
The screw-on tow-fitting must always be car-
ried in the vehicle. It can be screwed in at the 
front or rear of the BMW.
It is located in the tool kit under the floor panel 
flap in the cargo bay, refer to page 269.
Use only the tow fitting provided with the 
vehicle and screw it all the way in. Use the 
tow fitting for towing only  on roads. Avoid lateral 
loading of the tow fitting,  e.g. do not lift the vehi-
cle by the tow fitting. Ot herwise damage to the 
tow fitting and the vehicle can occur. <
Access to screw thread
Cover panel on left and right side of bumper: 
press on the arrow symbol on the cover panel.
Front
Rear