
Notes
6
Parts and accessories
For your own safety, use genuine parts 
and accessories approved by BMW. 
When you purchase accessories tested and 
approved by BMW and Genuine BMW Parts, 
you simultaneously acquire the assurance that 
they have been thorough ly tested by BMW to 
ensure optimum perfor mance when installed 
on your vehicle. 
BMW warrants these parts to be free from 
defects in material and workmanship. 
BMW will not accept any  liability for damage 
resulting from installation of parts and accesso-
ries not approved by BMW. 
BMW cannot test every product made by other 
manufacturers to verify if  it can be used on a 
BMW safely and without risk to either the vehi-
cle, its operation or its occupants. 
Genuine BMW Parts, BMW Accessories and 
other products approved  by BMW, together 
with professional advice on using these items, 
are available from all BMW Sports Activity Vehi-
cle Centers. 
Installation and operation of non-BMW 
approved accessories such as alarms, radios, 
amplifiers, radar detector s, wheels, suspension 
components, brake dust shields, telephones, 
including operation of any mobile phone from 
within the vehicle without using an externally 
mounted antenna, or transceiver equipment, for 
instance, CBs, walkie-talkies, ham radios or 
similar accessories, ma y cause extensive dam-
age to the vehicle, comp romise its safety, inter-
fere with the vehicle's electrical system, or 
affect the validity of the BMW Limited Warranty. 
Refer to your BMW Sports  Activity Vehicle Cen-
ter for additional information. <
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of 
the emission control devices and sys-
tems may be performe d by any automotive 
repair establishment or individual using any cer-
tified automotive part.<
California Proposition 65 Warning
California laws require us  to issue the following 
warning:
Engine exhaust and a wide variety of 
automobile components and parts, 
including components foun d in the interior fur-
nishings in a vehicle, contain or emit chemicals 
known to the State of Ca lifornia to cause cancer 
and birth defects and reproductive harm. In 
addition, certain fluids co ntained in vehicles and 
certain products of component wear contain or 
emit chemicals known to  the State of California 
to cause cancer and birth defects or other 
reproductive harm. 
Battery posts, terminals and related accesso-
ries contain lead and lead compounds. Wash 
your hands after handling. 
Used engine oil contains chemicals that have 
caused cancer in labora tory animals. Always 
protect your skin by washing thoroughly with 
soap and water. < 

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 

At a glance
 13Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
The indicator and warning lamps can light up in 
different combinations and colors.
Some lamps are tested for proper function by 
briefly lighting up during starting of the engine 
or when the ignition is switched on.
Explanatory text messages
Text messages at the bottom edge of the Con-
trol Display explain the meaning of the dis-
played indicator and warning lamps.
Additional information, e.g. on the cause of a 
malfunction and on the corresponding need to 
take action can be disp layed via the Check Con-
trol, refer to page 85. In the case of corresponding urgency, this infor-
mation is displayed immediately when the 
related lamp lights up.
Indicator lamps without text messages
The following indicator la
mps indicate that cer-
tain functions are activated:
With parking brake set 67
With parking brake set for Canadian 
models
Fog lamps 112
High beams/headlamp flasher 112
Lamp flashes: 
DSC or DTC controls the drive and 
braking forces for maintaining vehicle 
stability 97
Exhaust-gas values 264
Exhaust values fo r Canadian models 

At a glance
 15Reference
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1Microphone for hands-free mode for 
telephone
* and for voice activation 
system
*23
2 Initiating
 an emergency request 279
3 Reading lamps 113
4 Glass sunroof 42, 45
5 Interior lamps 113
6 Passenger airbag status lamp 105
7 Control Display 16 
Displays for menu navigation
8 Hazard warning flashers
9 Central locking system 29
10 Opening glove compartment 126
11 Automatic climate control with 2-zone 
control 115
Automatic climate control with 4-zone 
control
*119
12 Ejecting audio CD
13 Changing
>radio station 174
> track 174 14
Selecting radio, CD and CD changer
15 Selecting AM or FM waveband
16 Ejecting navigation DVD with navigation 
system
*148
18 Controller 16
Turn, press or move horizontally in 
four directions
19 Opening start menu on Control Display 17
20 Automatic Hold 67
21 Parking brake 67
22 Adaptive Drive
*99
23 Programmable memory buttons 21
24 Switching Entertainment sound output 
on/off and adjusting volume 174
Manual air distribution
116
Automatic air distribution and 
volume 115
Cooling function 117
AUC Automatic recirculated-air 
control 117 
Maximum cooling 117 
Air volume 116
Residual heat utilization 118
Defrosting windows and 
removing condensation 116
Rear window defroster 116
Seat heating
*55,  56
Active seat ventilation
*56
17 Opening liftgate 33, 35
Active seat
*57
PDC Park Distance Control
*91
Rear view camera
*93
DTC Dynamic Traction Control 97
HDC Hill Descent Control 98 

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. < 

Opening and closing
38
To stop the opening process:
>
Press the button on the outside of the lift-
gate.
> Press and hold the  bu tton on the remote 
control.
> Press the button on the inside of the lift-
gate.
> Press the button on the center console 
again.
The opening process is interrupted if you 
set the vehicle in motion. <
Closing liftgate
Make sure that the closing path of the lift-
gate is clear, otherwise injuries may 
result. <
The liftgate closes automatically when you 
press the button on the inside of the liftgate.
To stop the closing process:
> Press the button on the inside of the lift-
gate.
> Press the button on the outside of the lift-
gate.
Closing is not canceled when you put the 
vehicle into motion. <
The liftgate also cl oses automatically 
without pressing the bu tton if it is loaded 
with an additional weight of approx. 11 lbs./5 kg, 
e.g. snow or ice.<
Manually opening or closing
In case of an electrical  defect of the automatic 
liftgate operation function:
1. Manually rele ase the liftgate, refer to 
page 36.
2. Open or close the liftgate slowly and with-
out making sudden movements.
Alarm system
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood, or the liftgate is 
opened
> To movements in the vehicle: interior 
motion sensor, refer to page 39
> To changes in the vehicle's tilt if someone 
attempts to steal th e wheels or tow the 
vehicle
> To interruptions in battery voltage
Unauthorized operations  are briefly signaled by 
the alarm system:
> with an acoustic alarm
> by switching on
 the hazard warning flashers
> by flashing the high beams
Arming and disarming alarm system
When you lock or unlock the vehicle, either with 
the remote control or at  the door lock, the alarm 
system is armed or disarmed at the same time.
With the system armed, the liftgate can also be 
opened using the  button of the remote con-
trol, refer to page 30. When the liftgate is 
closed, it is once again locked and monitored.
Switching off alarm
> Unlock the vehicle using the remote control, 
refer to page 30.
> Insert the remote contro l all the way into the 
ignition lock. 

Opening and closing
40
>
The engine can only be started if the vehicle 
detects that the remote  control is located in 
the vehicle.
Comparison with ordinary remote 
control
You can control the functions mentioned previ-
ously with the comfort access or by pressing 
the buttons on the remote control. Therefore, 
please familiarize yourself with the information 
on opening and closing beginning on page 28 
beforehand.
The special features when using comfort 
access are described in the following.
Should a short delay occur when opening 
or closing the windows or the glass sun-
roof
*/panorama glass sunroof*, the system 
checks whether a remote  control is located in 
the vehicle. Please repeat opening or closing if 
necessary. <
Releasing
Completely grasp a door handle, arrow 1. 
This corresponds to pressing the   button.
Locking
Touch the area highlighted in the picture, 
arrow 2, with your finger for approx. 1 second.
This corresponds to pressing the   but-
ton.
Please make sure that all electronic sys-
tems/consumers are sw itched off before 
locking to save the battery. <
Comfort closing
Hold a finger or the back of a hand on the sur-
face, arrow2.
The windows and the glass sunroof
*/panorama 
glass sunroof
* are closed.
Watch during the closing process to be 
sure that no one is injured. Removing the 
hand from the door handle immediately stops 
the closing process. <
Opening liftgate
Press the button on the liftgate. 
This corresponds to pr essing the   button.
If a remote control acci dentally left in the 
cargo bay is detected in the locked vehi-
cle after the liftgate is closed, then the liftgate 
opens again. The hazard warning flashers flash 
and a signal
* sounds. <
Switching on radio readiness
By briefly pressing the  Start/Stop button, you 
switch on the radio readiness, refer to page 65.
When doing so, do not depress the brake 
pedal, otherwise the engine will start.<
Starting engine
You can start the engine  or switch on the igni-
tion if a remote control is located in the interior 
of the vehicle. It need not be inserted in the igni-
tion lock, refer to page 65.
As long as no remote co ntrol is detected in the 
vehicle, it is only possible to restart the engine 
within approx. 10 seconds after it is switched off 
if no door has been opened.
Switching off engine
> Remote control not in ignition lock:
After switching off the  engine, the transmis-
sion is automatically switched into trans-
mission position P.
> Remote control in ignition lock:
If transmission position N is engaged, the 
transmission remains in this position after 
the engine is switched off. 

Controls
 41Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Before driving into a car wash
The vehicle can roll if you proceed according to 
the following steps:
1.Insert remote control into ignition lock.
2. Depress brake pedal.
3. Engage transmission position N.
4. Release the parking brake.
5. Switch off the engine.
6. Leave the remote control in the ignition 
lock.
Malfunction
The comfort access function may malfunction 
due to local radio waves. Then open or close the 
vehicle with the buttons on the remote control 
or with a key. To start the engine following this, 
insert the remote control in the ignition lock.
The warning lamp in the instrument 
panel lights up when an attempt is 
made to start the engine: starting the 
engine is not possible. The remote control is 
not in the vehicle or has a malfunction. Take 
along the remote control into the vehicle or 
have it checked. Insert another remote control 
into the ignition lock if necessary.
The warning lamp in the instrument 
panel lights up when  the engine is 
running: the remote control is no 
longer in the vehicle. After switching off the 
engine, the engine can only be started again 
within approx. 10 seconds if no door has been 
opened.
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
panel lights up and a message 
appears on the Control Display: 
Replace the battery of  the remote control.
Replacing battery
The remote control for comfort access contains 
a battery which must be replaced if necessary.
1.Remove integrated key from remote con-
trol, refer to page 28.
2. Remove cover. 3.
Lay in new battery with  positive side facing 
upward.
4. Press cover closed.
Dispose of used batteries at a collection 
point or at your BMW Sports Activity 
Vehicle Center. <
Windows
To prevent injuries, exercise care when 
closing the windows and keep them in 
your field of vision until they are shut. 
Always take along the remote control when you 
leave the vehicle, otherw ise children could, for 
example, operate the windows and injure them-
selves. <
Opening, closing
>Press switch to resistance point: 
The window continues to open as long as 
you keep the switch pressed.
> Press switch beyond resistance point: 
The window opens automatically. Pressing 
the switch again stops the opening move-
ment.
You can close the windows in the same manner 
by pulling the switch.