
Driving tips
 141Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
General information on the care of your BMW is 
provided beginning on page265.
Mixed tires*
Before driving into a car wash, make sure 
that the vehicle width is not too large for 
the car wash, as otherwise the vehicle and the 
car wash could be damaged. <
BMW X5: rear window wiper
The rear window wiper can be damaged in car 
washes. Take appropriate protective measures; 
ask the car wash operator if necessary.
With comfort access*
Insert the remote control  into the ignition lock.
The engine can be switched off in transmission 
position N, also  refer to page41.
Loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their 
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overlo ading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage 
develops inside the tire s. The ultimate result 
can assume the form of a sudden blow-out. <
Make sure that no fluids leak in the cargo 
bay; otherwise the vehicle could be dam-
aged. <
Determining  loading limit
1.Locate the following statement on your 
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants 
and cargo should never exceed 
YYY lbs. or XXX kg. Otherwise, this could  damage the vehicle and produce unstable 
vehicle operating conditions.
<
2. Determine the combined weight of the 
driver and passengers that will be riding in 
your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver 
and passengers from YYY lbs. or XXX kg.
4. The resulting figure equals the available 
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity. 
For example, if the YYY amount equals 
1,400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lbs. 
passengers in your ve hicle, the amount of 
available cargo and lugga ge load capacity is 
650 lbs.: 
1,400 lbs. minus 750 lbs. = 650 lbs.
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage 
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That 
weight may not safely  exceed the available 
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated 
in step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, part of 
the load from your tra iler will be transferred 
to your vehicle. Consult the manual for 
transporting a trailer to determine how this 
may reduce the availa ble cargo and luggage 
load capacity of your vehicle.
Load
BMW X5: 

Reference 305
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Interior rearview mirror58
– automatic dimming 
feature 58
– compass 124
Intermittent mode of the 
wipers 74
J
Jacking points 276
Joystick
– refer to iDrive 16
– refer to Selector lever, 
selecting transmission 
positions 70
Jump starting 280
K
Keyless-Go, refer to Comfort 
access 39
Keyless opening and closing, 
refer to Comfort access 39
Key Memory, refer to Personal  Profile 28
"Keypad" 230
Keys 28
– key-related settings, refer to 
Personal Profile 28
Kick-down, automatic  transmission with 
Steptronic 71
Knock control 245
L
Lamps, refer to Parking lamps/
low beams 110
Lamps and bulbs 269
"Language / Units" 89,90
– for navigation 149
"Language" for DVD system  in rear 208,209
"Languages" 90
– for navigation 149,165
Lashing eyes, refer to 
Securing cargo 143
Last destinations, refer to  Destination list 157 "Last seat pos."
51
LATCH child restraint fixing 
system 62
Leather care 267
LEDs light-emitting 
diodes 270
Length, refer to  Dimensions 287
License plate lamp, replacing  bulbs 272,275
Liftgate 33,35
– adjusting opening  height 34,36, 37
– automatic operation 34,37
– closing 34,37
– locking and unlocking from 
inside 32
– opening from inside 33,36
– opening from outside 33,36
– opening manually 33,36
Light-emitting diodes  LEDs 270
Lighter 129
Lighter socket 129
"Lighting" 73,111
Lighting
– instruments 113
– lamps and bulbs 269
– of the vehicle, refer to  Lamps 110
Light switch 110
"Limit" 87
Load 141
Loadin
g141
– securing cargo 143
– stowing cargo 142
– vehicle 141
Load securing equipment,  refer to Securing cargo 143
"Lock after driving" 33
Lock buttons in the doors,  refer to Locking 33
Locking
– from inside 32
– setting confirmation  signals 31
– using remote control 29
– without key, refer to Comfort  access 39 Locking and unlocking doors
– from inside
32
– setting confirmation  signals 31
Locking without key, refer to 
Comfort access 39
Low beams 110
– automatic 110
Lower back support, refer to  Lumbar support 50
Lows, refer to Treble and 
bass 175
Lug bolts 276
– tightening torque, refer to  After mounting 277
– wrench 276
Luggage compartment  capacity, refer to Cargo bay 
capacity 289
Luggage rack, refer to Roof- mounted luggage rack 143
Lumbar support 50
M
M+S tires, refer to Winter 
tires 257
"Main menu" for DVD system 
in rear 209
Maintenance
– refer to Service and 
Warranty Information 
Booklet for US models 263
– refer to Service 
requirements 82
– refer to Warranty and  Service Guide Booklet for 
Canadian models 263
Maintenance system 263
Malfunction
– door lock 32
– driver's door 32
– fuel filler door 244
– glass sunroof, electric 46
– liftgate 33
– panorama glass sunroof 44
– parking brake 69 

Reference 309
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
"Redial" for mobile phone228
Reflectors, refer to Tail 
lamps 270,273
Refueling 244
Releasing
– hood 258
– refer to Unlocking 40
"Relock door if not 
opened" 32
Remaining distance, refer to  Cruising range 80
Remaining distance to  destination, refer to 
Computer 80
Remote control 28
– comfort access 39
– DVD system in rear 205
– garage door opener 123
– liftgate 30
– malfunction 31,41
– replacing battery 41
Removing condensation on 
the windows 116
"Repeat directory"
– for DVD system in 
rear 210,212
– in audio mode 190
"Repeat" for DVD system in 
rear 211
"Repeat track"
– for DVD system in 
rear 210,212
– in audio mode 190
Replacement fuses 278
Replacement of tires 256
– changing wheels 275
– new wheels and tires 256
Replacing bulbs, refer to  Lamps and bulbs 269
Replacing wheels/tires, refer 
to New wheels and tires 256
Replacing wiper blades 269
Reporting an accident, refer to 
Initiating an emergency 
request 279
Reporting safety defects 7
Reserve warning, refer to Fuel  gauge 80 "Reset"
101,103
– DVD changer 196
– DVD system in rear 209
– the stopwatch 87
– tone settings 177
Reset, refer to Resetting tone  settings 177
Residual heat 118
R
estraint systems
– for children 61
– refer to Safety belts 54
Retreaded tires 256
"Return"
– DVD changer 197
– DVD system in rear 209
Reverse
– CD changer 190
– CD player 190
– DVD changer 195
Reverse gear, automatic  transmission with 
Steptronic 71
Road map 164
"Roadside Assistance" 236
Roadside Assistance 280
Roadside assistance 236
Roadside parking lamps 112
Roller sun blinds 126
Roll-up cover 130
Roof load capacity 289
Roof-mounted luggage 
rack 143
Rope, refer to Tow-starting  and towing 281
Rotary pushbutto n, refer to 
iDrive 16
Route 160
– changing 166
– displaying 163
– displaying arrow display 163
– displaying map view 164
– displaying roads and towns/ cities 164
– displaying towns/cities 164
– list 164
– selecting 160
– selecting criteria 160RSC Runflat System 
Component, refer to Run-
flat tires 256
Runflat System Component  RSC, refer to Run-Flat 
Tires 256
Run-flat tires 256
– continuing driving with a 
damaged tire 101,103
– flat tire 101,103
– new wheels and tires 256
– tire inflation  pressure 101,103 ,249
– tire replacement 256
S
Safety5
Safety belts 54
– damage 55
– sitting safely 48
– warning lamp 55
Safety belt tensioners
– refer to Airbags 105
– refer to Safety belts 54
Safety systems
– ABS Antilock Brake  System 96
– airbags 105
– driving stability control  systems 96
– DSC Dynamic Stability  Control 96
– safety belts 54
Safety tires, refer to Run-flat  tires 256
"SAT" 175,184
Satellite radio 184
– displaying additional  information 185
– enabling 184
– selecting channel 185
– storing channel 185
"Scan"
– for DVD system in rear 211
– sampling stations in radio 
mode 179