
Controls
 49Reference
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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 

Adjusting
50
Differs depending on seat:
1
Backrest
2 Height
Additional depending on seat:
1 Backrest width
*
2Shoulder support*
3Thigh support*
4Lumbar support*
Backrest width*
The width of the backrest can be changed with 
the side wings to adjust  the side support to your 
own needs.
Shoulder support*
This also supports the back in the shoulder 
area, provides a relaxed sitting position and 
helps relieve stress on the shoulder muscles.
The shoulder support is also used to adjust the 
distance of the head restraint from the back of 
the seat occupant's head.
Lumbar support*
You can also adjust the contour of the backrest 
to obtain additional support in the lumbar 
region.
The upper hips and spinal column receive sup-
plementary support to  help you maintain a 
relaxed, upright sitting position.
> Increase or decrease curvature: press front 
or rear section of switch.
> Shift curvature up or down: press upper or 
lower section of switch.
Seat, mirror and steering 
wheel memory*
You can store and request two different posi-
tions for the driver's  seat and passenger seat
*, 
exterior rearview mirror s, and steering wheel.
The adjustment of the backrest width and lum-
bar support is not stored in the memory.
Storing
1. Switch on radio readiness or ignition, refer 
to page 65.
2. Set the desired seat, exterior mirror and 
steering wheel positions. 

Controls
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3.Press the  button: 
The LED in the button lights up.
4. Press the desired memory button 1 or 2: 
The LED goes out.
The positions of the driver's seat, the exte-
rior rearview mirrors, and steering wheel are 
stored for the remote  control currently in 
use.
Calling up automatically
You can choose when the stored positions of 
the driver's seat, exterior rearview mirrors, and 
steering wheel are activated.
> Calling up when unlocking vehicle
> Calling up when opening driver's door
When using this feat ure, always make 
sure that the footwell  behind the driver's 
seat is empty and unobstructed. Failure to do 
so could cause injury to persons or damage to 
objects behind the seat as a result of a rearward 
movement of the seat. <
The system cancels the adjustment procedure 
when you briefly press one of the seat adjust-
ment switches or one of the memory buttons.
Selecting calling up automatically
iDrive, for operating principle refer to page 16.
1. Open the start menu.
2. Press the controller to open the  menu.
3. Select "Settings" and press the controller.
4. Select "Vehicle / Tire s" and press the con-
troller.
5. Change to upper field if necessary. Turn the 
controller until "Door locks" is selected and 
press the controller. 6.
Select "Central locking" and press the con-
troller.
7. Select "Last seat pos." and press the con-
troller.
8. Select "After unlock ing" or "After door 
opened".
9. Press the controller.
Deactivating calling up automatically
Select "Deactivated" an d press the controller.
Calling up manually
Do not call up a position from the memory 
while the vehicle is moving. There is a risk 
of accident from unexpected movement of the 
seat or steering wheel. <
Comfort mode
1.Open the driver's door after unlocking or 
switch on radio readiness.
2. Briefly press the de sired memory button 1 
or 2.
The system cancels the adjustment procedure 
when you briefly press one of the seat adjust-
ment switches or one of the memory buttons.
Safety feature
1. Close the driver's door and switch the igni-
tion on or off.
2. Press the desired memory button 1 or 2 
and maintain pressure  until the adjustment 
process has been completed.
If the  button was pressed inadvertently: 
press the button again; the LED goes out. 

Adjusting
52
Head restraints
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. Only remove the head restraints if the 
respective seat is not  occupied. Reinstall the 
head restraints before transporting passen-
gers, as otherwise the head restraint cannot 
provide its protective function. <
Active front head restraints
In the event of a rear-end collision of sufficient 
severity, the active head  restraint reduces the 
distance to the head.
Do not use seat covers or head restraint 
covers that could impede the proper 
functioning of the active head restraint. Other-
wise, there is no assuranc e that the active head 
restraint will perform its protective function and 
it is not possible to take advantage of its injury-
reducing potential in th e event of a rear-end 
collision.
Have the active head rest raints reset after they 
are triggered in a rear-end collision. Have this 
work carried out only at a BMW Sports Activity 
Vehicle Center or at a workshop that works 
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel. Otherwise, 
correct operation of this safety equipment is not 
guaranteed. <
Removal and installation of the front head 
restraints should be performed by a BMW 
Sports Activity Vehicle Center. <
Front seats: height adjustment
You can adjust the height of the head restraints 
electrically.
Front seats: adjust ing distance from 
back of head
> Forward: pull up.
> Back: press the button and slide the head-
rest cushion toward the rear.
Do not place any objects behind the 
headrest cushion. Otherwise, you can 
impair the proper function of the head 
restraint. <
Comfort seat*
You can adjust the distance  from the back of the 
seat occupant's head using the shoulder sup-
port, refer to page 50. 

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. 

Adjusting
56
The temperature is reduced, if need be, down to 
no heat in order to redu
ce the load on the bat-
tery. The LEDs remain lit.
Rear
Operation similar to front seat heating; without 
temperature distribution.
Active seat ventilation* and 
seat heating*
Front
1 Seat heating
2 Active seat ventilation
Press button 1 or  2 once depending on the 
temperature or ventilation position. The LED in 
the respective button lights up.
The temperature or ventila tion levels are shown 
on the Control Display.
The air quantity is reduced and if need be, the 
ventilation is switched o ff in order to reduce the 
load on the battery.  The LEDs remain lit.
To switch off: press button 1 or  2 longer.
Temperature distribution without 
active seat ventilation
The heat output can be  distributed variously in 
the seat cushion and the backrest.
iDrive, for operating pr inciple refer to page16.
1. Open the start menu.
2. Move the controller to  the left to open "Cli-
mate".
3. Select "Seat heater di stribution" and press 
the controller.
4. Move the controller to  the left or right to 
select "Driver" or "Passenger".
5. Turn the controller. The adjustment is 
applied; the fiel d can be changed.
Temperature distribution with active 
seat ventilation
The heat output can be  distributed variously in 
the seat cushion and the backrest.
iDrive, for operating pr inciple refer to page16.
1. Open the start menu.
2. Move the controller to  the left to open "Cli-
mate".
3. Select "Driver's seat  climate" or "Passen-
ger's seat climate" and press the controller. 

Controls
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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. 

Controls
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Brake force display*
BMW X5
On the left: normal braking.
On the right: heavy braking.
BMW X6
On the left: normal braking.
On the right: heavy braking.
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the 
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2 Head-level airbags in front and rear
3 Side airbags in backrests
Protective action
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection, 
observe the adjustment instructions on 
page 48.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and 
front passenger by re sponding to frontal 
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the 
head and side airbags help  provide protection in 
the event of side impact. The relevant side air-
bag supports the side upper body area. The 
head air bag supports the head. The airbags are deliberately not triggered in 
every impact situation, e.g. less severe acci-
dents or rear-end collisions.
Do not apply adhesive  materials to the 
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or 
modify them in any other way.
Keep the instrument cluster and window in the 
region of the passenger  seat free of foreign 
materials, i.e. do not co ver them with adhesive 
film or covers and do not attach mounts, e.g. for 
a navigation device or mobile phone to them.
Do not install cosmetic covers, seat cushions, 
or other items on the fr ont seats that are not 
especially approved for  seats with integrated 
side airbags. Do not hang articles of clothing 
such as jackets over the backrests.
Do not attempt to  remove the airbag restraint 
system from the vehicle. Do not modify or 
tamper with either the wiring or the individual 
components in the airbag  system. This includes