
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 

Mobility
 265Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Care
Car-care products
For the cleaning and care of your vehicle, BMW 
recommends using only products that BMW 
has approved for this purpose.
Regular cleaning and care make a significant 
contribution to retain ing your BMW's value.
The BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center will be 
happy to consult you on products and services 
for the cleaning and care of your BMW.
Genuine BMW Care Products are materi-
als tested, laboratory tested, and tested in 
actual use. They offer optimum care and pro-
tection for your vehicle. <
Do not use cleaners that contain alcohol 
or solvents; they can damage your vehi-
cle. <
Cleaning agents can contain substances 
that are dangerous or  pose health risks. 
You should therefore heed the warnings and 
hazard indications on the packaging. Open the 
doors or windows on your vehicle whenever 
cleaning the interior. Make sure there is suffi-
cient ventilation in enclosed spaces. Use only 
products that are formul ated for vehicle clean-
ing. <
Exterior care
Washing your vehicle
In the winter months, it is especially 
important to ensure that the vehicle is 
washed on a regular basis. Otherwise, signifi-
cant soiling and road salt  can cause damage to 
the vehicle.<
After washing the vehicle, apply the 
brakes briefly to dry th em. Failure to do so 
may lead to a reduction in braking efficiency and 
also to corrosion of the brake rotors. <
Car washes
Give preference to cloth car washes.
Before driving into the car wash, make sure that 
it is suitable for your BMW. Pay attention to the 
following points:
> Dimensions of your vehicle, refer to 
page 287.
> If necessary: fold in door mirror, refer to 
page 57.
> Maximum permissible tire width.
Preparations for driving into the car wash:
> Deactivate rain sensor
* to prevent 
unwanted wiper activation.
> BMW X5: deactivate rear window wiper and 
protect it from damage. Take appropriate 
protective measures; inquiring with the car 
wash operator as needed.
> Remove additional add- on parts, e.g. spoil-
ers or phone antennas, if they could be 
damaged.
Automatic transmission with 
Steptronic
Before driving into the car wash, observe the 
following so that the vehicle is able to roll:
1. Insert the remote cont rol into the ignition 
lock, even with comfort access.
2. Shift into transmission position N.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Deactivate Automatic Hold, refer to 
page 68.
5. Switch off the engine.
6. Leave the remote control in the ignition lock 
so that the vehicle can roll. 

Everything from A to Z
302
Dynamic Performance 
Control 97
"Dynamic route" in  navigation 161
Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC 96
Dynamic Traction Control  DTC 97
E
Easy entry/exit 58
Eject button, refer to Buttons 
on the CD player 174
Electrical malfunction
– automatic transmission with 
Steptronic 72
– door lock 32
– driver's door 32
– fuel filler door 244
– glass sunroof, electric 46
– liftgate 33
– panorama glass sunroof 44
– parking brake 69
Electric seat 49
Electronic brake-force  distribution 96
Electronic oil level check 260
Emergency operation, refer to  Manual operation
– door lock 32
– driver's door 32
– fuel filler door 244
– liftgate 33
– transmission lock, automatic  transmission 72
Emergency request 279
Emergency services, refer to  Roadside Assistance 280
"Enabled services" 241
"Enabled TeleServices" 238
"End call" 228 Engine
– breaking-in
138
– data 286
– oil temperature 79
– overheated, refer to Coolant 
temperature 79
– speed 286
– starting 66
– starting, with comfort  access 40
– switching off 66
Engine compartment 259
Engine coolant 262
Engine oil
– adding 261
– additives, refer to Approved 
engine oils 262
– approved engine oil 262
– checking oil level 260
– electronic oil level check 260
– temperature 79
Engine oil temperature 79
Engine output, refer to Engine  data 286
Engine overheating, refer to 
Coolant temperature 79
Engine speed 286
Engine starting, refer to 
Starting engine 66
E
ntering country of  destination 151
Entering destination 151
Entering house number or  intersection 152
Entering intersection 152
Entering street 152
"Entertainment" 174
Entertainment sound output  on/off 175
"Equalizer", refer to Tone 
control 177
Equalizer, refer to Tone  control 177
"ESN" 184
ESP Electronic Stability  Program, refer to DSC 
Dynamic Stability 
Control 96 Event Data Recorders
264
Exhaust system, refer to Hot 
exhaust system 139
Exterior mirrors 57
– adjusting 57
– automatic dimming  feature 58
– automatic heating 58
– folding in and out 57
– tilting down passenger-side  exterior mirror 58
External audio device 127
– refer to AUX-In 
connection 200
Eye for tow-starting and  towing, refer to Tow 
fitting 281
F
Fader, refer to Tone 
control 176
Failure messages, refer to  Check Control 85
False alarm, refer to Avoiding 
unintentional alarms 39
Fastening safety belts, refer to  Safety belts 54
– warning lamp 55
Fastest route for  navigation 160
Fast forward
– CD changer 190
– CD player 190
– DVD changer 195
"Fast route" in navigation 160
Fault displays, refer to Check 
Control 85
Filler neck for washer fluid 75
First aid, refer to First-aid 
kit 279
First-aid kit 279
Fixing system, adaptive 133
Flashing during locking/ unlocking, refer to Setting 
confirmation signals 31 

Reference 311
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Special oils, refer to Approved engine oils 262
Specified oil grades, refer to  Approved engine oils 262
Speed
– with compact wheel 277
– with winter tires 257
Speed-dependent 
volume 176
Speed limit warning, refer to  Speed limit 87
Speedometer 12
"Speed volume", refer to Tone 
control 176
Sport program, automatic  transmission with 
Steptronic 71
Stability control, refer to  Driving stability control 
systems 96
"Standard" for DVD system in  rear 209,216
"Star button" 59
Star button 59
Start/Stop button 65
"Start" for stopwatch 87
Starting, refer to Starting  engine 66
Starting assistance, refer to  Jump starting 280
Starting assistant 99
Starting difficulties, jump  starting 280
Starting off on slopes, refer to 
Starting assistant 99
Start menu, iDrive 17
"Start service" 236
– with BMW Assist 239
"State / Province" for  destination entry 151
"State inspection" 84
Station, refer to Radio 178
Status of this Owner's Manual 
at time of printing 5
Steam cleaners 266 Steering wheel
– adjusting
58
– automatic adjustment, refer  to Steering wheel 
memory 50
– buttons on steering  wheel 11
– easy entry/exit 58
– heating 59
– memory 50
– programmable buttons 59
Steering with variable ratio,  refer to Active steering 104
Steptronic, refer to Sport  program and manual mode 
M/S 71
"Stop" the stopwatch 87
"Stopwatch" 87
Stopwatch 87
Stor
age compartments 127
"Store"
– in Satellite radio 186
– with the radio 180
"Store in address book" for  navigation 158
Storing current position 158
Storing radio stations 180
Storing sitting position, refer 
to Seat, mirror and steering 
wheel memory 50
Storing tires 257
Storing vehicle 268
Storing your vehicle 268
"Street" for destination 
entry 152
"Subtitles" in DVD system in  rear 209
Summer tires, refer to Wheels  and tires 249
Switches, refer to Cockpit 10
Switching cooling function on  and off 117
Switching off engine 66
Switching on
– audio 174
– CD changer 174
– CD player 174
– radio 174
Switching on hour signal 88Swiveling headla
mps, refer to 
Adaptive Head Light 112
Symbols 4
– indicator/warning lamps 13
– navigation system 168
– traffic information with  navigation system 166
T
Tachometer79
"Tailgate" 34,37
Tailgate 35
Tail lamps 270,273
– replacing bulbs 270,273
Tank contents, refer to 
Capacities 290
Target cursor for  navigation 155
Technical alterations, refer to  For your own safety 5
Technical data 286
Telematics, refer to  BMW TeleServices, 
BMW Assist 235
Telephone
– refer to Mobile phone 220
– refer to separate operating 
instructions
"Telephone list" 59
Temperature
– adjusting in upper body  region 116
– adjusting with automatic 
climate control 116,120
– changing units of  measure 89
– refer to Coolant  temperature 79
Temperature display
– outside temperature 78
– setting units 89
– temperature warning 78
Temperature warning 78
Tempomat, refer to Cruise  control 75
The individual vehicle 5
Third brake lamp, refer to  Center brake lamp 272,275