Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find specific topics is to use
the index, refer to page48.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
At a glance
8Cockpit
Controls
12Driving
21Everything under control
23Climate
Driving tips
26Things to remember when driving
Mobility
32Refueling
34Wheels and tires
35Engine compartment
36Replacing components
37Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
44Technical data
48Everything from A to Z
Notes
4
Notes
BMW ActiveHybrid X6
Your BMW ActiveHybrid X6 has two different
types of drive: A combustion engine and elec-
tric motors. This combination enables a partic-
ularly efficient energy management. Additional
advantages include special performance speci-
fications such as an optimized acceleration
through assistance to the combustion engine
provided by the two electric motors.
About this Owner's Manual
This Supplementary Owner's Manual contains
all essential equipment, instructions, and tech-
nical data in which the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 M
differs from the BMW X6. For a description of
equipment not contained in this Supplementary
Owner's Manual, please refer to the BMW X6
Owner's Manual or possibly to other brochures
included with the onboard literature.
We have made every effort to ensure that you
are able to find what you need in this Owner's
Manual as quickly as possible. The fastest way
to find specific topics is to refer to the detailed
index at the back of the manual. If you wish to
gain an initial overview of your vehicle, you will
find this in the first chapter.
Should you sell your BMW some day, please
remember to also pass the Owner's Manual on
to the new owner; it is an important component
of your vehicle.
Additional sources of information
If you have additional questions, your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center is always happy
to advise you.
You can find information on BMW, e.g. on tech-
nology, on the Internet at www.bmwusa.com.
Symbols used
Indicates precautions that must be fol-
lowed precisely in order to avoid the pos-
sibility of personal injury and serious damage to
the vehicle.<
Indicates information that will assist you
in gaining the optimum benefit from your
vehicle and enable you to care more effectively
for your vehicle.<
Refers to measures that can be taken to
help protect the environment.<
*Indicates special equipment, country-spe-
cific equipment and optional accessories, as
well as equipment and functions not yet avail-
able at the time of printing.
"..." Identifies Control Display texts used to
select individual functions.
{...} Verbal instructions to use with the voice
activation system.
Symbols on vehicle components
Indicates that you should consult the rel-
evant section of this Owner's Manual for
information on a particular part or assembly.
Indicates vehicle parts that are high-
voltage components of the hybrid
system.
Improper work on these vehicle parts can lead
to life-threatening injuries.
Reference
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Mobility
5
The individual vehicle
When purchasing your BMW, you have decided
in favor of a model with individualized equip-
ment and features. This Owner's Manual
describes the entire array of options and equip-
ment available with a specific BMW model.
Please bear in mind that the manual may con-
tain information on accessories and equipment
that you have not specified for your own vehicle.
Sections describing options and special equip-
ment are marked by asterisks
* to assist you in
identifying possible differences between the
descriptions in this manual and your own vehi-
cle's equipment.
If equipment in your BMW is not described in
this Owner's Manual, please refer to the BMW
X6 Owner's Manual.
Editorial notice
BMW pursues a policy of continuous, ongoing
development that is conceived to ensure that
our vehicles continue to embody the highest
quality and safety standards combined with
advanced, state-of-the-art technology. For this
r e a s o n , i t i s p o s s i b l e t h a t t h e f e a t u r e s d e s c r i b e d
in this Owner's Manual could differ from those
on your vehicle.
For your own safety
The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 has special fea-
tures, e.g. electric driving, that can require spe-
cial alertness in traffic.
During electric driving, please note that
pedestrians and other road users may fail
to notice the vehicle in the usual way due to the
lack of engine noise. For example, proceed with
particular caution when pulling into and out of a
parking space.<
Maintenance and repairs
Advanced technology, e.g. the use of
modern materials and high-performance
electronics, requires specially adapted mainte-nance and repair methods. Therefore, have cor-
responding work on your BMW performed only
by your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center or
a repair shop that works according to BMW
repair procedures with correspondingly trained
personnel. If this work is not carried out prop-
erly, there is a danger of subsequent damage
and related safety hazards. Particularly when
work is performed on the high-voltage systems,
lack of expertise can lead to life-threatening
injuries.<
Teleservice Report*
Transmits technical data about your vehicle as
needed to BMW at regular intervals; these data
are used in the development of BMW products.
The service is only used in vehicles with partic-
ular technical equipment. A Teleservice Report
is only activated in connection with the BMW
SIM card-equipped phone unit installed in the
vehicle and does not cost you anything. Neither
personal data nor location data are transmitted.
Cockpit
8
Cockpit
Instrument panel
For the description of components with-
out page references, please refer to the
respective keyword in the Owner's Manual of
the BMW X6.<
1Indicator lamps for turn signals
2Speedometer
3Indicator and warning lamps
4Tachometer
5Display for
>Charge state21
>Activating/deactivating drive
readiness14
>Electric driving: eDRIVE15
>Assisted combustion engine:
eBOOST16
>Energy recovery/regeneration:
CHARGE166Display for
>Clock/date
>Outside temperature
>Indicator/warning lamps
>Speed of cruise control19
7Display for
>Odometer and trip odometer
>Computer
>Date and remaining travel distance
for service requirements
>Transmission positions16
>HDC Hill Descent Control
>High-beam assistant
*
> There is a Check Control message
8Fuel gauge22
9Resetting trip odometer Displaying service
requirement
Driving
12
Driving
BMW ActiveHybrid X6
The concept
Through the interplay of the combustion engine
and electric motors, your BMW ActiveHybrid X6 achieves a particularly efficient fuel consump-
tion and optimizes vehicle performance.
Components of the system
1High-voltage battery
2High-voltage wires: orange
3Two-Mode Active Transmission with 2
integrated electric motors
4Combustion engine
5Control-system electronics
Do not damage orange high-voltage
wires. Otherwise, there is the risk of fatal
injury by electrocution.
under the luggage compartment floor in the
luggage compartment.
To produce electrical energy, the two electric
motors in the Two-Mode Active Transmission
function as generators. They are driven by the
combustion engine or by kinetic energy during
braking.
This permits an energy conversion of kinetic
energy into electrical current.
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
13
Functions of the hybrid system
The hybrid system of your BMW ActiveHybrid
X6 offers the following functions.
Electric driving: eDRIVE
Under certain conditions, refer to page15, the
vehicle is powered exclusively by its electric
motors.
Driving with combustion engine: DRIVE
The combustion engine supplies the drive out-
put for moving the vehicle. The high-voltage
battery is charged at the same time.
The hybrid system always starts the combus-
tion engine automatically, refer to page16.
Assisted combustion engine: eBOOST
The combustion engine supplies the main drive
output for moving the vehicle.
In this mode, the electric motors assist the
combustion engine with additional power as
needed.
Energy recovery: CHARGE
When reducing vehicle speed, the kinetic
energy can be converted into electrical energy,
refer to page16.
Start/Stop button, ready
modes
The following readiness modes can be
achieved by pressing the Start/Stop button:
>Radio readiness on/off
>Ignition on/off>Drive readiness activate/deactivate
In order to switch on drive readiness
mode, also step on the brake.<
Radio readiness on/off
Some electrical equipment is operational. The
time and outside temperature are displayed in
the instrument panel.
Radio readiness is switched on:
>when the remote control is inserted into the
ignition lock
>with comfort access
*, when the Start/Stop
button is pressed without stepping on the
brake.
Radio readiness is automatically switched off:
>when the remote control is removed from
the ignition lock
>with comfort access
*, by touching the sur-
face above the door lock, refer to BMW X6
Owner's Manual.
Ignition on/off
When the ignition is switched on, all electrical
equipment is operational. The odometer and
trip meter are displayed in the instrument panel.
When the ignition is switched off, all indicator
lamps and warning lamps go out again.
The ignition is automatically switched off:
>when the remote control is removed from
the ignition lock
>with comfort access
*, by touching the sur-
face above the door lock, refer to BMW X6
Owner's Manual.
Pressing the start/stop button again switches
the ignition back on.
For example, the ignition is not switched off in
the following situations:
>the brakes are actuated
>the low beams are switched on
If you do not plan to start driving, switch
off the ignition and unneeded electrical
equipment in order to reduce the drain on the
battery.<
Driving
14
Drive readiness
With drive readiness activated, the vehicle is
ready to drive.
Switching on drive readiness corresponds to
starting the engine in conventional vehicles.
Drive readiness can take the following forms:
>Electric driving
The combustion engine is not switched on.
>Driving with combustion engine
The vehicle is driven by the combustion
engine.
Drive readiness in detail
Never leave the vehicle unattended with
drive readiness activated; such a vehicle
represents a potential safety hazard.<
Activating drive readiness
1.Close the driver's door.
2.Insert the remote control as far as possible
into the ignition lock. With comfort access
*,
place the remote control into the vehicle,
refer to BMW X6 Owner's Manual.
3.Depress brake pedal.
To initialize the brake system, the
brake pedal travel is longer than usual
during activation of drive readiness. After
the brake pedal is released, the pedal travel
returns to normal.<
4.Press the Start/Stop button.5.Drive readiness is active:
>Starting the combustion engine
>or electric drive readiness, silent start:
The tachometer pointer moves into the
READY position.
Electric drive readiness can be acti-
vated within an interval of approx. 2 to
60 seconds after radio readiness is
switched on, provided that the function
conditions for electric driving have been
met, refer to page15.<
Electric drive readiness, silent start
The vehicle is ready to drive without starting the
combustion engine.
Silent start, the noiseless starting of the vehicle,
can be activated within an interval of approx. 2
to 60 seconds after radio readiness is switched
on, under the following conditions:
>driver's door closed
>conditions met to allow electric driving,
refer to page15
During electric driving, please note that
pedestrians and other road users may fail
to notice the vehicle in the usual way due to the
lack of engine noise. For example, proceed with
particular caution when pulling into and out of a
parking space.<
Starting the combustion engine
When drive readiness is switched on under the
following circumstances, the combustion
engine is started:
>drive system not at operating temperature
>high temperature of hybrid system
>insufficient charge state of high-voltage
battery or fully charged high-voltage battery
If a Silent start is not possible:
Avoid frequent starting of the combustion
engine in quick succession or repeated starting
attempts in which the engine does not start.
Otherwise, the fuel is not burned or inade-
quately burned and there is a danger of over-
heating and damaging the catalytic converter.<
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
15
Do not run the combustion engine in
enclosed spaces; otherwise, the inhala-
tion of toxic exhaust gases can cause loss of
consciousness and death. The exhaust gases
contain carbon monoxide, an odorless and col-
orless, but highly toxic gas.
Never leave the vehicle unattended with the
combustion engine running; such a vehicle rep-
resents a potential safety hazard.<
Deactivating drive readiness
When drive readiness is switched off, the
tachometer pointer is in the OFF position.
When leaving the vehicle, always take
along the remote control.
Set the parking brake firmly when parking; oth-
erwise, the vehicle could roll.<
After the vehicle is switched off, audible operat-
ing sounds may issue from the hybrid system,
e.g. the cooling of the high-voltage battery.
Procedure
1.Select transmission position P with the
vehicle stationary.
2.Press the Start/Stop button.
3.Set the parking brake.
4.Remove the remote control from the igni-
tion lock.
Before removing the remote control, first
press it in as far as possible to release the
locking device.
Before driving into a car wash
The vehicle can roll if you proceed according to
the following steps:
1.With comfort access
*: insert the remote
control into the ignition lock.
2.Depress brake pedal.
3.Select transmission position N.
4.Release the parking brake or deactivate
Automatic Hold.
5.Press the Start/Stop button to deactivate
drive readiness.
Transmission position P will be selected:
>automatically after approx. 30 minutes>if you remove the remote control from the
ignition lock
Starting to drive
1.Activate drive readiness.
2.Select transmission position D, M/S, or R.
3.Release the parking brake.
4.Start to drive.
Driving
Electric driving: eDRIVE
Requirements
Electric driving is possible under the following
conditions:
>driving speed:
a maximum of approx. 37 mph/60 km/h
>charge state display of the high-voltage
battery: at least 15%
>transmission in position D or R, refer to
page17
>drive system at operating temperature
>accelerator pedal not pressed down too far
>driver's door closed
Possible driving speed
The possible speed that can be reached in elec-
tric driving depends on the charge state of the
high-voltage battery.
>charge state display 15% to 40%:
maximum driving speed is approx. 25 mph/
40 km/h
>charge state display 40% to 100%:
maximum driving speed is approx. 40 mph/
65 km/h
When accelerating past a speed of 25 mph/
40 km/h, the combustion engine is started
briefly in order to assure smooth acceleration.
Indicators of electric driving in the instrument
panel, refer to page22.