2010 BMW ACTIVEHYBRID X6 service

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
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

Things to remember when driving
26
Things to remember when driving
Break-in period
Moving parts need breaking-in time to adjust to
each other. To ensure that your vehicle contin-
ues to provide optimized economy of operation
throughout an extended service life, we request
that you devote careful attention to the follow-
ing section.
Engine and rear axle differential
Always obey all official speed limits.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at various engine and vehicle speeds, but
do not exceed:
>4,500 rpm or 100 mph/160 km/h
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the
transmission's kick-down mode during these
initial miles.
From 1,200 miles/2,000 km
The engine and vehicle speed can gradually be
increased.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized
contact and wear patterns between brake pads
and rotors. Drive in a reserved manner during
this break-in period.
Following part replacement
Observe the break-in instructions again if com-
ponents mentioned above must be replaced
after subsequent driving operation.
Saving fuel
The fuel consumption of your vehicle depends
on various factors. Through a few simple steps,
your driving style, and regular maintenance, you
can have a positive influence on your fuel con-
sumption and environmental impact.
Removing unnecessary cargo
Additional weight increases fuel consumption.
Removing add-on parts after use
Remove unneeded auxiliary mirrors, roof or rear
luggage racks after use. Add-on parts attached
to the vehicle impede the aerodynamics and
increase the fuel consumption.
Closing windows and glass sunroof*
An open glass sunroof or window likewise
increases air resistance and thus fuel consump-
tion.
Checking tire inflation pressures
regularly
Check and correct the tire inflation pressure as
needed at least twice a month and before long
trips.
An insufficient tire inflation pressure increases
the rolling resistance and thus increases the
fuel consumption and tire wear.
Driving off immediately
Do not allow the engine to warm up by leaving it
running while the vehicle remains stationary.
Instead, begin to drive at a moderate engine
speed. This is the fastest way for the cold
engine to reach its operating temperature.
Thinking ahead when driving
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking.
To do so, maintain the appropriate distance
from the vehicle in front of you. An anticipatory
and smooth driving style reduces fuel con-
sumption.
Avoiding high engine speeds
Driving at a low engine speed reduces fuel con-
sumption and minimizes wear.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
27
Using energy recovery
Energy recovery is displayed in the instrument
panel.
Coasting mode
In coasting mode, e.g. when rolling toward a
traffic signal, the high-voltage battery is
charged by energy recovery.
Braking
The most efficient energy recovery and charg-
ing of the high-voltage battery are achieved
with moderate braking.
Switching off functions currently not
required
Functions such as air conditioning, seat heat-
ing, or rear window defrosting consume a lot of
energy and require additional fuel. Their influ-
ence is particularly pronounced in city traffic
and stop & go operation. For this reason, it is a
good idea to switch these functions off when
they are not really needed.
Having maintenance carried out
Have the vehicle serviced regularly in order to
achieve the optimum economy and service life
of your vehicle. BMW recommends having the
maintenance performed by a BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center. Also pay attention to
the BMW maintenance system, refer to the
BMW X6 Owner's Manual.
General driving notes
Driving through water
Maximum water depth: 17 in/45 cm
Only drive through water up to the above-
mentioned depth at no greater than walk-
ing speed; otherwise, the engine, electrical sys-
tem, and transmission can be damaged.<
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature. In situations that require it, it is best to
brake with full force. Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal, combined with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits, indicate that
ABS is in its active mode.
Hills
To prevent overheating and the resulting
reduced efficiency of the brake system,
drive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear in which the least braking is required. Even
light but consistent pressure on the brake pedal
can lead to high temperatures, brake wear and
possibly even brake failure.<
With a fully charged high-voltage battery,
the combustion engine is switched on
when driving downhill in order to avoid over-
loading the high-voltage battery.<
The braking effect of the engine can be further
increased by downshifting in the manual mode
of the automatic transmission, if necessary into
first gear, refer to page18. This prevents an
excessive strain on the brakes.
Do not drive in idle or with drive readiness
mode deactivated; otherwise, there is no
braking action from the energy recovery or from
the engine and no power-assistance for braking
and steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area of movement
of the pedals and impair their operation.<

Mobility
This section helps you maintain your
mobility by supplying important information
on vital topics including fuels and lubricants,
wheels and tires, service, maintenance
and roadside assistance.
Mobility

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
39
Using a tow fitting
The screw-in tow-fitting should always be car-
ried in the vehicle. It can be screwed in at the
front or rear of the BMW.
It is located in the onboard toolkit under the
floor panel flap in the cargo bay.
Use only the tow fitting provided with the
vehicle and screw it all the way in. Use the
tow fitting for towing only on roads. Avoid lateral
loading of the tow fitting, e.g. do not lift the vehi-
cle by the tow fitting. Otherwise damage to the
tow fitting and the vehicle can occur.<
Access to screw thread
Cover panel on left and right side of bumper:
press on the arrow symbol on the cover panel.
Front:
Rear:
Towing methods
Do not lift vehicle by tow fitting or body
and chassis parts, otherwise damage may
result.<
In some countries, towing with tow bars or
ropes in public traffic is not permitted. Familiar-
ize yourself with the regulations 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 should 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 vehicle parts can lead to
damage.<
Hybrid system safety
Working on the vehicle
The hybrid system of the BMW ActiveHybrid X6
is a closed system.
Safety is assured as long as no work is per-
formed on the technical components.
Therefore, have changes to and work on the
vehicle, e.g. installation of accessories, carried
out only by your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center or by a repair shop that works in accor-
dance with BMW guidelines using appropriately
trained personnel.
Have maintenance and repair of the vehi-
cle carried out only by the service depart-
ment or by a repair shop that works in accor-
dance with BMW guidelines using appropriately

Giving and receiving assistance
40 trained personnel. Otherwise, there is the risk of
life-threatening injury by electrocution due to
the high voltage of the hybrid system.<
Hybrid system: Contact with water
The hybrid system is generally safe, even in the
following sample situations:
>Water in the footwell, e.g. when rain show-
ers occur with an open glass roof.
>The vehicle is in water, e.g. in a flood.
>Fluid escapes in the cargo bay.
In these cases, there is no danger of being
injured by electrocution. Other types of damage
to the vehicle are possible.
Hybrid system: Automatic deactivation
In the event of an accident, the hybrid system is
switched off automatically in order to protect
passengers and other road users from injury.
The high-voltage system is automatically
switched off in the following sample situations:
>Sensors of the airbag system detect an
accident
>Obstacles on the road damage the under-
body and high-voltage cables
After an accident, do not touch any
exposed high-voltage components. Oth-
erwise, there is the risk of life-threatening injury
by electrocution due to the high voltage of the
hybrid system.<
Also follow the instructions for what to do after
an accident.
What to do after an accident
If you should get into an accident with your
vehicle, the following safety precautions must
be taken with regard to the hybrid system:
>Secure the accident site.
>Immediately inform the paramedics, police,
o r f ir e d e p a r t m e n t o f t h e f a c t t h a t i t i s a v e h i-
cle equipped with a hybrid system.>Move the selector lever into position P, set
the parking brake, and switch off drive
readiness.
>Do not touch any orange high-voltage
cables and connectors or high-voltage
components. Otherwise, there is the risk of
life-threatening injury by electrocution.
>Do not inhale gases emanating from the
high-voltage battery. Stay away from the
vehicle if necessary.
>Contact a service center in order to ascer-
tain the damage.

Everything from A to Z
50 Symbols4
T
Tank contents, refer to
Capacities46
Technical alterations, refer to
For your own safety5
Technical data44
Teleservice Report5
Tempomat, refer to Cruise
control19
The individual vehicle5
Tire inflation pressures34
Tires
– inflation pressure34
Torque
– engine44
Tow fitting39
Towing38
– tow fitting39
Tow-starting38
Turning circle, refer to
Dimensions45
Turn signals
– indicator lamp8
Two-Mode Active
Transmission16
U
Used batteries
– refer to Disposal36
V
Vehicle
– breaking-in26
– measurements, refer to
Dimensions45
– weights46
Vehicle battery, refer to
12 Volt batteries36
W
Water on roads, refer to
Driving through water27
Website4Weights46
What to do after an
accident40
Wheelbase, refer to
Dimensions45
Wheels and tires34
Width, refer to Dimensions45