
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 

Driving
74
Washer/wiper system
1Switching on wipers
2 Switching off wipers or brief wipe
3 Activating/deactivating intermittent wipe or 
rain sensor
*
4Cleaning windshield and headlamps*
5Setting interval for inte rmittent wipe or sen-
sitivity of the rain sensor
* 
Switching on wipers
Pull the lever upward, arrow 1.
The lever automatically retu rns to its initial posi-
tion when released.
Normal wiper speed
Press once. 
The system reverts to op eration in the intermit-
tent mode with the  vehicle stationary.
Fast wiper speed
Press twice or press beyond the resistance 
point. 
The system reverts to normal speed with the 
vehicle stationary.
Intermittent operation or rain sensor*
With the rain sensor, th e wiper operation is con-
trolled automatically as  a function of the rain 
intensity. The rain sensor is located on the 
windshield, directly in fr ont of the interior rear-
view mirror.
Activating intermittent operation or 
rain sensor
Press the button, arrow 3. The LED in the but-
ton lights up.
Setting interval for intermittent wipe or 
sensitivity of the rain sensor
Turn the serrated dial 5.
Deactivating intermittent operation or 
rain sensor
Press the button again, arrow 3. The LED goes 
out.
Deactivate the rain  sensor when passing 
through an automatic  car wash. Failure to 
do so could result in damage caused by undes-
ired wiper activation. <
Cleaning windshield and headlamps*
Pull the lever, arrow4.
The system sprays washer fluid against the 
windshield and ac tivates the wipers for a brief 
period.
When the vehicle lighting system is switched 
on, the headlamps are also cleaned at regular 
and appropriate intervals.
Do not use the washers if there is any 
danger that the fluid will freeze on the 
windshield. If you do so, your vision could be 
obscured. To avoid freezing, use a washer fluid 
antifreeze, refer to Wash er fluid. Do not use 
washing mechanisms when the washer fluid 
reservoir is empty, ot herwise you will damage 
the washer pump.< 

Giving and receiving assistance
282
Being towed
Make sure that the ignition is switched on, 
refer to page65, otherwise the low 
beams, tail lamps, turn  signals and windshield 
wipers would not be available. When the engine 
is stopped, there is no  power assist. This then 
requires increased effort for braking and steer-
ing. Active steering is  deactivated and larger 
steering wheel movements are required.<
Switch on the hazard wa rning flashers depend-
ing on the local regulations. If the electrical sys-
tem fails, mark the vehicle to be towed, e.g. with 
a sign or warning triangle in the rear window.
Before towing, manua lly unlock the trans-
mission lock, refer to page 72; failure to 
do so can result in damage to the transmis-
sion. <
Do not exceed a towing speed of 45 mph/
70 km/h and a towing distance of 
90 miles/150 km, otherwise the automatic 
transmission may be damaged. <
Towing methods
Do not lift vehicle by tow fitting or body 
and chassis parts, otherwise damage may 
result. <
In some countries, towi ng with tow bars or 
ropes in public traffic is  not permitted. Familiar-
ize yourself with the regu lations on towing in the 
respective country.
With tow bar
The towing vehicle may not be lighter 
than the vehicle to be towed, otherwise it 
will not be possible to reliably control vehicle 
response. <
The tow fittings used sh ould be on the same 
side on both vehicles. Should it prove impossi-
ble to avoid mounting the tow bar at an offset 
angle, observe the following:
> Clearance and maneuvering capability will 
be sharply limited during cornering.
> When mounted at an angle, the tow bar will 
exert lateral forces,  tending to push the 
vehicle sideways. Only attach the tow bar to the tow fittings, 
as attachment to other vehicle parts can 
lead to damage. <
With tow rope
When starting off in the towing vehicle, make 
sure that the tow rope is taut.
To avoid jerking and the associated 
stresses on vehicle components when 
towing, always use nylon ropes or nylon straps. 
Only attach tow ropes to  the tow fittings, as 
attachment to other vehi cle parts can lead to 
damage. <
With tow truck
Do not tow your BMW with the front or 
rear axle raised indi vidually; otherwise, 
the wheels may lock and  the transfer case may 
be damaged. <
Have the BMW transported only on a flatbed 
surface.
Tow-starting
The engine cannot be started by tow-starting. 
Start the engine by jump starting it, refer to 
page 280. 
Have the cause of the st arting difficulties elimi-
nated. 

Reference 313
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Universal garage-door opener, refer to Integrated 
universal remote 
control 123
Universal remote control 123
"Unlock button" 30
Unlocking
– from inside 33
– liftgate 30
– setting behavior 30
– using remote control 30
– without key, refer to Comfort  access 39
Unlocking and locking doors  using remote control 30
Unlocking without key, refer to 
Comfort access 39
"Unlock rear menu" in DVD  system in the rear 204
"Update services" 238,240
USB audio interface 201
Used batteries
– refer to Disposal 277
– refer to Replacing battery 41
V
Valve screw caps, refer to 
After mounting 277
Vehicle
– battery 277
– breaking-in 138
– loading 141
– measurements, refer to 
Dimensions 287
– parking 66
– storing 268
– weights 289
"Vehicle / Tires" when  unlocking 30
Vehicle care, refer to Care 265
Vehicle jack 276
– jacking points 276
Vehicle position, refer to  Displaying current 
position 169 Ventilation
118
– draft-free 118
– in the rear 119
– rear automatic climate  control 121
– 3rd row seats 119
– while stationary 121
Vent outlets of automatic 
climate control 114
Vents, refer to Ventilation 118
"Vent settings" 117
"Video settings" for DVD  system in rear 208
Voice, refer to Voice  instructions for navigation 
system 165
Voice activation system 23
– short commands 291
Voice instructions for 
navigation system 165
– muting 60,165
– repeating 60,165
– switching on/off 60,165
– volume 166
Voice phone book 232
Volume 174
– audio sources 174
– mobile phone 226
– setting speed- dependent 176
– voice instructions 166
Volume distribution in audio  mode
– front/rear 176
– right/left 176
Volume of warning tones 90
W
Warning lamps, refer to 
Indicator and warning 
lamps 13
Warning messages, refer to 
Check Control 85
Warning tone, volume 90
Warning triangle 279
Warranty and Service Guide  Booklet for Canadian 
models 263 Washer/wiper system
74
– rain sensor 74
– washer fluid 75
– windshield washer  nozzles 75
Washer fluid 75
– capacity of the reservoir 75
Water on roads, refer to 
Driving through water 140
Water penetration 266
Waveband for radio 178
"WB" 183
Wear indicators in tires, refer 
to Minimum tread depth 255
Weather Band 183
Website 4
Weights 289
Wheel/tire combination, refer  to New wheels and tires 256
Wheel/tire damage 255
Wheelbase, refer to  Dimensions 287
Wheels and tires 249
Width, refer to  Dimensions 287
Windows 41
– convenience operation 30
– convenience operation from 
outside 32
– convenience operation with  comfort access 40
– opening, closing 41
– pinch protection system 42
– safety switch 42
Windshield
– cleaning, refer to Washer/ wiper system 74
– defrosting, refer to  Defrosting windows 116
– displays, refer to Head-Up 
Display 107
Windshield washer system
– refer to Washer/wiper 
system 74
– windshield washer  nozzles 75
Windshield wipers, refer to  Washer/wiper system 74
– replacing wiper blades 269