
Cockpit
10
Cockpit
Around the steering wheel: controls and displays
1Rear window safety switch 42
2 Opening and closing windows 41
3 Folding exterior mirrors in and out
*57
4 Adjusting exterior mirrors 57
Automatic curb monitor
*58
5 Instrument lighting 113
Fog lamps 112
6
Parking lamps 110
Low beams 110
Automatic headlamp control
*110  
Adaptive Head Light
*112  
7 Head-Up Display
*107 

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 

At a glance
 23Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Voice activation system
The concept
The voice activation system allows you to con-
trol operation of various vehicle systems with-
out ever removing your hands from the steering 
wheel.
Individual menu items on the Control Display 
can be spoken as commands. This frees you of 
having to use the controller.
The voice activation system transforms your 
oral commands into control signals for the 
selected systems and provides support in the 
form of instructions or questions.
The voice activation system uses a special 
microphone located in th e area of the interior 
rearview mirror, refer to page 14.
Precondition
Via iDrive, set the langua ge that applies for the 
voice activation system in  order to enable iden-
tification of the spoken commands. To set the 
language of iDrive, refer to page 90.
Symbols in Owner's Manual
Voice commands
Activating voice command system
1.Press the  button on the steering wheel.
 This symbol on the Control Display and 
an acoustic signal tell you that the voice 
activation system can respond to com-
mands.
2. Say the command. 
The command is displayed on the Control 
Display.
 This symbol is shown on the Control Display 
when you can say a dditional commands. 
If no other commands are possible, then oper-
ate the equipment via iDrive.
Terminating or canceling voice 
command system
Press the  button on the steering wheel 
or
*
{ ...}  Say the specified  commands word for 
word. 
{{ ...}}  Indicates responses of the voice acti-
vation system.
{ Cancel } 

Voice activation system
24
Commands
Having possible commands read aloud
You can have the system read aloud the possi-
ble commands related to the selected menu 
item on the Control Display.
To have the system list the possible com-
mands:
For example, if you have selected "CD", the 
system will read aloud the possible commands 
for operating the CD player and the CD 
changer
*.
Opening help
Using alternative commands
There are often a number of commands to run a 
function, e.g.: 
Running functions directly with short 
commands
With short commands you can carry out certain 
functions directly, rega rdless of which menu 
item is selected, refer to page 291.
Opening start menu Example: selecting a track
1.
Switch on Entertainment sound output if 
necessary.
2. Press the  button on the steering wheel.
5. Press the  button on the steering wheel.
{
Options }
{ Help }
{ Radio on } or {Turn radio on }
{ Main menu }
3.{Entertainment } 
The system says: 
{{ Entertainment }}
4. {CD } 
The system says: 
{{ CD drive switched on }}
6. Select a track, e.g.: 
{Track 1 } 
The system says: 
{{ Track 1 }} 

Opening and closing
28
Opening and closing
Keys/remote control
Each remote control contains a battery which is 
automatically charged in the ignition lock while 
driving. Drive a longer distance with each 
remote control at least tw ice a year to keep the 
battery charged. For comfort access
*, the 
remote control contains a replaceable battery, 
refer to page 41.
Depending on which remote  control is detected 
by the vehicle during unlocking, different set-
tings are called up and carr ied out in the vehicle, 
refer to Personal Profile, page 28.
Information on the requir ed maintenance is also 
stored in the remote co ntrol, refer to Service 
data in remote control, page 263.
Integrated key
Press button 1 to unlock the key.
The integrated key fits the following locks:
> Driver's door, refer to page 32
> Floor panel flap in cargo bay, refer to 
page 132
New remote controls
To obtain additional or  replace lost keys, new 
remote controls with  an integrated key are 
available at your BMW Sp orts Activity Vehicle 
Center.
Personal Profile
The concept
You can set a number of functions of your BMW 
individually according to  your preferences. Per-
sonal Profile ensures that most of these set-
tings are stored for the remote control currently 
in use without you having to do anything. When 
the vehicle is unlocked, the corresponding 
remote control is dete cted and the settings 
stored for it are called up and carried out.
This means that you will  always find your BMW 
set to your own personal settings even if 
another person with his/ her own remote control 
and settings has used the vehicle since the last 
time you drove it. The individual settings are 
stored for a maximum of four remote controls, 
for two with comfort access
*.
Personal Profile settings
Details on the settings are provided on the 
specified pages.
> Behavior of the central locking system 
when unlocking vehicle, refer to page 30
> Automatic locking of the vehicle, refer to 
page 32
> Programming buttons
 on steering wheel, 
refer to page 59
> Displays on Control Display:
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer 
to page 89
> Measuring units for consumption, route/
distances, temperature, and pressure, 
refer to page 89 

Controls
 29Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Language on Control Display, refer to 
page 90
> 12h/24h clock format, refer to page 89
> Date format, refer to page 89
> Lighting settings:
>Triple turn signal activation, refer to 
page 73
> Welcome lamps, refer to page 110
> Pathway lighting, refer to page 111
> Daytime driving lamps
*, refer to 
page 111
> PDC Park Distance Control
*: optical warn-
ing, refer to page 92
> Rear view camera
*:
> Selecting functions, refer to page 93
> Type of display, refer to page 95
> Head-Up Display
*: selection, brightness 
and position of display, refer to page 107
> Automatic climate control: AUTO program 
and intensity, cooling function, and auto-
matic recirculated air control/recirculated 
air mode, temperature, air distribution, tem-
perature in the upper  body region, refer to 
text starting on page 115
> Programmable memory buttons: selecting 
stored functions, refer to page 21
> Positions of driver's  seat, outside mirrors, 
and steering wheel
*, refer to page 50
> Adaptive Drive
*: selected chassis and sus-
pension tuning, refer to page 99
> Audio sources: volume and tone settings, 
refer to page 175
> Radio:
>Display of stored stations, refer to 
page 178
> Switching RDS Radio Data System on/
off
*, refer to page 181
> Phone: volume setting, refer to 
pages 226,232
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system functions when the 
driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and 
releases the locks on the following:
> Doors
> Liftgate
> Fuel filler door
Operating from outside
>via the remote control
> via the door lock
> with comfort access
* via the door handles
The interior lamps and the courtesy lamps
* are 
also switched on and off with the remote con-
trol. The alarm system
 is armed/disarmed at the 
same time.
You can find more detailed information on the 
alarm system
 on page 38.
Operating from inside
Via the button for centra l locking, refer to 
page 32. The fuel filler door is not locked.
In an accident of sufficient severity, the central 
locking system automati cally unlocks the vehi-
cle. In addition, the hazard warning flashers and 
interior lamps come on.
Opening and closing:
Using remote control
Persons or animals left unattended in a 
parked vehicle can lock the doors from 
the inside. Always take  along the remote control 
when leaving the vehicle so that the vehicle can 
then be opened  from the outside. < 

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. 

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.