2010 BMW X3 XDRIVE 28I airbag

Cockpit
12
Indicator and warning lamps
Technology that monitors itself
Indicator and warning lamps that are identified
with
+ are checked for proper function each
time you turn the ignition key. They each light
up once for different periods of time.
When a malfunction occurs in a monitored sys-
tem, the corresponding lamp will either fail to go
out when the engine is started, or it will come on
again during normal driving. Detailed informa-
tion is provided on the specified pages.
Battery charge current
+118
Headlamp flasher41
High beams60
Engine oil
+103
Driving stability control systems/
ABS Antilock Brake System
+51
ABS Antilock Brake System/chassis
control system for Canadian models
Brake system
+
With handbrake released53, 105
With handbrake engaged39
With other warning lamps53
Brake warning lamp for Canadian
models
Brake pads
+85
Please fasten safety belts
+32
Airbags
+57
Front fog lamps61
Automatic transmission +40
Turn signals41
DSC Dynamic Stability Control/
xDrive
+ 51, 52
DTC Dynamic Traction Control
+52
Service Engine Soon
+107
Service Engine Soon warning lamp for
Canadian models.
Check Gas Cap
* +92
Engine electronics
+38
Topping off washer fluid43
Coolant low105
Flat Tire Monitor
* +54
Tire Pressure Monitor
* +55
Lamp defective59
Cruise control44
Door or liftgate open

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
27
Adjustments
Sitting safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital con-
tribution to relaxed driving that is as fatigue-free
as possible. Together with safety belts, head
restraints, and airbags, sitting position plays an
important role in an accident. Compliance with
the following instructions is important; failure to
do so could impair the protective function of the
safety systems.
For additional information on transporting chil-
dren safely, refer to page35.
Airbags
Always maintain an adequate distance
between yourself and the airbags. Always
hold the steering wheel by its rim with hands at
the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions, to mini-
mize the risk of injuries to your hands and arms
in the event of airbag deployment.
No one and nothing is to come between the air-
bags and the seat occupant.
Do not use the cover of the front airbag on the
front passenger side as a storage area. Make
sure that the passenger sits correctly, e.g. does
not rest his feet or legs on the instrument clus-
ter. Otherwise, a triggering of the front airbag
could result in leg injuries. Make sure that pas-
sengers do not lean their heads against side or
head airbags. Otherwise, a triggering of the air-
bag could result in injuries.<
Even if you adhere to all the instructions, inju-
ries resulting from contact with airbags cannot
be entirely ruled out, depending on the circum-
stances. The ignition and inflation noise may
provoke a mild – usually temporary – hearing
loss in extremely sensitive individuals.
For airbag locations and additional information
on airbags, refer to page57.
Head restraint
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of damage to the cervical vertebrae in acci-
dents.
Adjust the head restraint so that its mid-
dle lies approximately at the height of
your ears. Otherwise, there is an increased risk
of injury in the event of an accident.<
Head restraints, refer to page29.
Safety belts
Make sure the safety belts are worn in all occu-
pied seats every time you drive. Although air-
bags enhance safety by providing added pro-
tection, they are not a substitute for safety
belts.
Your vehicle has five seats that are each
equipped with a safety belt.
Never allow more than one person to
wear a single safety belt. Infants and chil-
dren must not ride on a lap. Make sure that the
belt in the lap area sits low against the hips
and does not press against the abdomen. The
safety belt must never rest against the throat,
rub against sharp edges, pass over hard or frag-
ile objects or be pinched. Fasten the safety belt
around your body snugly, making sure that it is
pulled taut across your lap and shoulder and
that it is not twisted; otherwise, the belt can
slide over the hips in the event of a frontal colli-
sion and injure your abdomen. Avoid wearing
clothing that prevents the belt from fitting prop-
erly and pull the shoulder belt upward periodi-
cally to readjust the tension across your lap in
order to avoid a reduction in the restraining
action of the safety belt.
If the middle safety belt is used, the larger part
of the backrest must be locked in position, refer
to page76; otherwise, the middle safety belt
cannot exert any restraining action.<
Safety belts, refer to page32.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
35
Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle; otherwise, they could endanger
themselves and/or others, for example by open-
ing the doors.<
Children always in the rear
Accident research has demonstrated that the
safest place for children is in the rear seat.
Children younger than 13 or smaller than
5 ft/150 cm should only ride in the rear, in
child restraint devices provided in accordance
with their age, weight, and height. Otherwise,
there is an increased risk of injury in the event of
an accident.<
Children older than 13 must be secured with a
safety belt as soon as they have outgrown a
suitable child restraint device due to their age,
height, and weight.
Exception for the front passenger seat
If it should be necessary to use a child
restraint device on the front passenger
seat, the front and side airbags must be deacti-
vated. Otherwise, there is an increased risk of
injury to the child if the airbag is triggered, even
with a child restraint device.<
For more information on automatic deactivation
of the front passenger airbags, refer to page57.
Installing child restraint
devices
Follow the child restraint device manu-
facturer's instructions for selection,
installation and use of the child restraint device.
Otherwise, the degree of protection can be
reduced.<
On the passenger's seat
After installing a child restraint device on
the passenger seat, make sure that the
front and side airbag on the front passenger
side have been deactivated. Otherwise, there is
an increased risk of injury when the airbags are
triggered.<
Seat position
Before installing a child restraint device, move
the passenger seat into the farthest back, high-
est position in order to assure the best possible
routing of the belt. Do not change this seat posi-
tion once it has been set.
Child seat security
In order to permit installation of child restraint
devices, all rear safety belts and the front pas-
senger safety belt can be locked to prevent
them from being pulled out.
Locking safety belt
1.Secure child restraint device with the belt.
2.Pull safety belt strap all the way out.
3.Allow safety belt to retract and pull it snugly
against the child restraint device. The
safety belt is locked.
Unlocking safety belt
1.Open safety belt buckle.
2.Remove child restraint device.
3.Allow safety belt strap to retract all the way.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
37
5Cargo area floor
6Attachment point
7Backrest
Before using the attachment points, remove the
cover caps.
Outer seats:
1.Slide head restraint upward.
2.Guide upper tether strap between the sup-
ports of the head restraint.
3.Attach tether strap hook to attachment
point.
4.Slide head restraint into the lowest position.
5.Pull tether strap tight.
Middle seat:
1.Fold center armrest slightly forward.
2.Guide tether strap through the opening.
3.Fold center armrest back.
4.Attach tether strap hook to attachment
point.
5.Pull tether strap tight.
When using the cargo area cover:
Guide tether strap through between the rear
seat backrest and the cargo area cover.When driving
With rear side airbags, make sure that
children do not lean out of the child's seat
toward the door panel; otherwise, injuries can
result if the side airbags are triggered.<
Child-safety lock of rear doors
Slide down the safety levers on the rear doors:
The door can now be opened from the outside
only.
Safety switch for power windows
Press the safety switch for the power windows,
refer to page23, when children are in the rear of
the vehicle.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
57
Airbags
The following airbags are located beneath the
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2Head airbags
3Side airbags in front and rear
*
Protective action
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimum protection,
please follow the instructions on page27.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and
front passenger by responding to frontal
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the
head and side airbags help provide protection in
the event of side impact. The relevant side air-
bag cushions the side upper body area. The
respective head airbag cushions the head.
The airbags are intentionally not triggered in
every collision situation, e.g. they are not trig-
gered not in less serious accidents, or rear-end
collisions.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or
modify them in any other way.
Keep the instrument cluster and the windshield
in the region of the passenger free of foreign
objects, i.e. do not cover them with adhesive foil
or coatings, and do not use these areas to
mount brackets, e.g. for a navigation device or
mobile phone.
Do not attempt to remove the airbag retention
system from the vehicle. Do not modify the indi-
vidual components of the system or its wiring in
any way. This includes the padded covers in the center of the steering wheel, on the instrument
cluster, the doors, and the roof pillars as well as
the sides of the headliner. Do not attempt to
remove or dismantle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components
directly after the system has been triggered,
because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation, or
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have
the testing, repair, removal, and disposal of air-
bag generators executed only by a BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center or a workshop that
works according to BMW repair procedures
with correspondingly trained personnel and
that has the required explosives licenses. Oth-
erwise, unprofessional attempts to service the
system could lead to failure in an emergency or
undesired airbag activation, either of which
could result in personal injury.<
Airbag warnings and information are also pro-
vided on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of front
passenger airbags
By evaluating the pressure on the seat cushion
of the front passenger seat, the system detects
whether or not the seat is occupied. Depending
on the detection result, the system correspond-
ingly activates or deactivates the front and side
airbags for the passenger.
The indicator lamp located above the
inside rearview mirror indicates whether
the front passenger airbag system is currently
deactivated or activated, refer to Status of pas-
senger airbags in the section below.<
Before transporting a child in the front
passenger seat, read the safety notices
and follow the safety instructions under Trans-
porting children safely on page35.
When teenagers or adults assume certain sit-
ting positions, the front and side airbags on the
passenger side can deactivate; this causes the
indicator lamp for the front passenger airbag to
light up. If this happens, have them change their
sitting position so that the passenger airbag is
activated and the indicator lamp goes out. If the
desired status cannot be achieved by changing
their sitting position, then have the person ride

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
58 in the back. Do not attach seat covers, seat
cushion padding, ball mats or other items to the
passenger seat unless they are specifically rec-
ommended by BMW. Do not place any items
under the seat which could press against the
seat from below. Otherwise, a correct analysis
of the seat cushion is not ensured.<
Status of passenger airbags
The indicator lamp for the passenger airbag
indicates the functional status of the front and
side airbag on the passenger side depending on
whether or not the seat is occupied. By lighting
up, the indicator lamp indicates that the pas-
senger airbags deactivated.
>The indicator lamp lights up when a child
sitting as directed in a child restraint device
designed for this is detected.
The front and side airbags on the passenger
side are deactivated.
Most child seats are detected by the
system. It is particularly advisable to
use the child seats approved by NHTSA at
the time the vehicle was produced. After
installing a child's seat, make sure that the
indicator lamp for the front passenger air-
bags has illuminated. This indicates that the
system has detected the child's seat and
that the front passenger airbags have been
deactivated.<
>The indicator lamp does not come on as
long as a person of sufficient size and in a
correct sitting position is detected on the
seat. The front and side airbags for the pas-
senger are activated.
>The indicator lamp does not light up when
the seat is empty.In this case, the front and side airbags for
the passenger are deactivated.
Operational readiness of airbag system
When the ignition key is moved into position 1,
the warning lamp lights up briefly, thus indicat-
ing the operational readiness of the entire air-
bag system and the safety belt tensioners.
Airbag system malfunction
>Warning lamp does not come on when the
ignition key is moved into position 1.
>The warning lamp lights up continuously.
Have the airbag system checked immedi-
ately if a malfunction occurs; otherwise,
there is a danger of the system failing to
respond in the expected manner to an impact
occurring within its normal response range.<

Everything from A to Z
130
Everything from A to Z
Index
A
ABS Antilock Brake
System51
– indicator lamp12
Acceleration assistance
– refer to Acceleration
assistant53
– refer to DSC51
Acceleration assistant53
Accessories, refer to For your
own safety5
Accident, refer to Receiving
assistance120
Activated-charcoal filter68
Adaptive Head Light60
Adding engine oil104
Adjusting seats28
– electrically28
– mechanically28
– mechanically, Sports seat29
Airbags57
– deactivating front passenger
side35,57
– indicator lamp for front
passenger airbags58
– sitting safely27
– warning lamp58
Air circulation, refer to
Recirculated-air
mode64,68
Air conditioner63
Air distribution
– air conditioner64
– automatic climate control67
Airing, refer to
Ventilation65,68
Air outlets, refer to
Ventilation65,68
Air pressure, refer to Tire
inflation pressure94
Air vents, refer to
Ventilation65,68Air volume64
– adjusting manually67
AKI, refer to Fuel
specifications93
Alarm system25
– avoiding unintentional
alarms26
All-season tires, refer to
Special characteristics of
winter tires99
All wheel drive, refer to
xDrive52
Anchorage points78
Antifreeze
– coolant105
– washer fluid43
Antilock Brake System
ABS51
– indicator lamp12
Anti-theft alarm system, refer
to Alarm system25
Approved axle load, refer to
Weights128
Approved engine oils104
Approved gross vehicle
weight, refer to Weights128
Armrest
– front73
– rear73
Ashtray74
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control68
Audio device, external74
Automatic
– air distribution67
– air volume67
– recirculated-air control
AUC68
Automatic climate control66
Automatic cruise control44
Automatic curb monitor33
Automatic deactivation of
front passenger airbags57Automatic headlamp
control60
Automatic transmission with
Steptronic40
– indicator lamp41
– interlock38
– selector lever interlock40
– shiftlock40
– towing122
– tow starting123
AUTO program67
Average fuel consumption49
– setting units48
Average speed49
– setting units48
Avoiding unintentional
alarms26
Axle weights, refer to
Weights128
B
Backrest, refer to Seats28
Backrest contour, refer to
Lumbar support29
Backup lamps, bulb
replacement114
Bandages, refer to First-aid
kit121
Bar, towing123
Battery118
– charging118
– disposal118
– indicator lamp12
– jump starting121
– power failure118
– remote control18
– warning lamp118
Belts, refer to Safety belts32
Beverage holder, refer to Cup
holders72

Everything from A to Z
132 Child's seat, refer to Child
restraint devices35
Child restraint devices35
– installing35
– with tether strap36
Child-restraint system
LATCH36
Child-safety locks37
Child seat security35
Cigarette lighter74
Circulation of air, refer to
Recirculated-air
mode64,68
Cleaning rear window43
Cleaning your BMW, refer to
Care and maintenance108
Clock47,48
– 12 or 24 hour mode48
– setting, also refer to Owner's
Manual for Radio/Onboard
Computer
– setting time47
Closing
– from inside21
– with the remote control19
Clothes hooks74
Clutch82
– breaking-in82
Cockpit10
Cold start, refer to Starting
engine38
Combination of wheel/tire99
Compact wheel, wheel
changes116
Compartments, refer to
Storage compartments73
Compartments in cargo area,
refer to Behind side trim
panel78
Compass, digital70
Computer48
– also refer to Owner's Manual
for Onboard Computer
– functions48
Condensation, refer to When
the vehicle is parked84
Confirmation signal for
locking/unlocking
vehicle19,21Connecting car vacuum
cleaner, refer to Connecting
electrical devices74
Connecting electrical
devices74
Consumption, refer to
Average fuel
consumption49
Consumption indicator, refer
to Fuel gauge46
Controls, refer to Cockpit10
Convenience operation
– from outside21
– panorama glass sunroof21
– windows21
Coolant105
– level105
– temperature gauge47
– warning lamp105
Cooling, refer to
Temperature64,67
Copyright2
Correct wheels and tires99
Courtesy lamps61
Cruise control44
– buttons on steering
wheel13
– indicator lamp44
Cruising range49
Cup holders72
Curb weight, refer to
Weights128
Cylinders, refer to Engine
data126
D
Dashboard lighting, refer to
Instrument lighting61
Dashboard system, refer to
Cockpit10
Data, technical126
– dimensions127
– engine126
– filling capacities129
– weights128
Daytime driving lamps59
Deactivating front passenger
airbags35,57Defective lamp59
Defects7
Defrosting windows64,67
– air conditioner64
– automatic climate control67
Defrosting windows and
removing condensation
– air conditioner64
– automatic climate control67
Defrost position, refer to
Defrosting windows64,67
Digital clock47
Digital compass70
Dimensions127
Dimming mirror34
Directional indicators, refer to
Turn signals41
Disk brakes85
Displacement, refer to Engine
data126
Display illumination, refer to
Instrument lighting61
Display lighting, refer to
Instrument lighting61
Displays, refer to Instrument
cluster11
Disposal, vehicle battery118
Distance warning, refer to
PDC Park Distance
Control50
Door exit lighting61
Door handle lighting59
Door keys18
Door lock21
Doors
– locking and unlocking from
inside21
– manual operation21
– unlocking and locking,
confirmation signals19,21
DOT Quality Grades97
Draft-free ventilation65,
68
Driving lamps, refer to Parking
lamps/low beams59
Driving notes84
Driving on poor roads87
Driving stability control
systems51
Driving through water87