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Rear
Operation similar to front seat heating; without
temperature distribution.
Active seat ventilation* and
seat heating*
Front
1Seat heating
2Active seat ventilation
Press button1 or 2 once depending on the
temperature or ventilation position. The LED in
the respective button lights up.
The temperature and ventilation levels are dis-
played in bar form on the Control Display. A dis-
play of three bars indicates the highest level of
seat heating or seat ventilation.
The air quantity is reduced and if need be, the
ventilation is switched off in order to reduce the
load on the battery. The LEDs remain lit.
To switch off: press button1 or 2 longer.
Temperature distribution without
active seat ventilation
The heat output can be distributed variously in
the seat cushion and the backrest.
1.Press the button1.
2.Select "Seat heating distribution" and
press the controller.
3.Turn the controller to adjust the distribu-
tion.
The setting is applied.
Temperature distribution with active
seat ventilation
The heat output can be distributed variously in
the seat cushion and the backrest.
1.Press button1.
2.Select "Seat heating distribution" and
press the controller.
3.Turn the controller to adjust the distribu-
tion.
The setting is applied.
Heated rear seats
Operation similar to front seat heating; without
temperature distribution, refer to page50.
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Controls
55Reference
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Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle, otherwise they could endanger
themselves and other persons, e.g. by opening
the doors.<
Children always in rear
Accident research shows that the safest place
for children is on the rear seat.
Children younger than 13 years of age or
with a height under 5 ft/150 cm may only
be transported on the 2nd row seats in child
restraint devices which correspond to the age,
weight and height of the child. Otherwise there
is an increased danger of injury in an accident.<
Children 13 years of age or older must wear a
safety belt as soon as a suitable child restraint
device can no longer be used due to their age,
weight and size.
Exception for front passenger seat
Should it be necessary to use a child
restraint device on the front passenger
seat, the front and side airbags on the passen-
ger side must be deactivated. Otherwise, there
is an increased risk of injury for the child if the
airbags are triggered, even with a child restraint
device.<
For more information on automatic deactivation
of the front passenger airbags, refer to page98.
Installing child restraint
devices
Follow the child restraint device manufac-
turer's instructions for selection, installa-
tion, and use of child restraint devices. Other-
wise, the degree of protection may be
reduced.
*, make sure that the seat of the 2nd
row seats on which the child restraint device is
mounted is properly locked. Otherwise there is
an increased risk of injury for the child in an
accident.
Do not mount child restraint devices on the
3rd row seats, as otherwise the protection pro-
vided by these child restraint devices may be
reduced.<
BMW X5: before mounting a child restraint
device in the center seat of the 2nd row seats,
move the outer seat cushions and backrests
into the rearmost positions.
On front passenger seat
After mounting a child restraint device on
the front passenger seat, make sure that
the front and side airbags on the front passen-
ger side are deactivated; otherwise, there is an
increased risk of injury if the airbags are trig-
gered.<
Seat position
Before installing a child restraint device, move
the passenger seat into the furthest back and
highest
* position in order to achieve the best
possible safety belt position. Do not change the
seat position after this.
Backrest width*
The backrest width adjustment of the
front passenger seat must be completely
open. After installing the child's seat, no mem-
ory position may be called up; otherwise, the
stability of the child's seat on the front passen-
ger seat is reduced.<
1.Open backrest width adjustment com-
pletely, refer to page45.
2.Install child's seat.
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Driving
60 The ignition switches off automatically
* if the
driver's door is opened. 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
Starting engine
Do not run the engine in closed rooms,
otherwise the inhalation of toxic exhaust
gases can cause unconsciousness and death.
The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide,
an odorless and colorless, but highly toxic gas.
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the
engine running, as such a vehicle represents a
potential safety hazard.
To prevent the vehicle from rolling, always
engage transmission position N or P and set the
parking brake before leaving the vehicle with
the engine running.<
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.
The engine starts when you depress the
brake pedal while pressing the Start/Stop
button.<
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion or repeated starting attempts in
which the engine does not start. Otherwise, the
fuel is not burned or inadequately burned and
there is a danger of overheating and damaging
the catalytic converter.
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Press the Start/Stop button.
The system responds by automatically engag-
ing the starter for a certain period and automat-
ically disengaging it as soon as the engine
starts.
Diesel engine
When the engine is cold and at temperatures
below approx. 327/06 the starting process
may be somewhat delayed due to automatic
preglowing. The preglowing indicator lamp in
the instrument panel lights up. A message
appears on the Control Display.
Switching off engine
When leaving the vehicle, always take
along the remote control.
Set the parking brake firmly when parking; oth-
erwise, the vehicle could roll.<
Procedure
1.Engage 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, refer to page59.
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.Engage transmission position N.
4.Release the parking brake or deactivate
Automatic Hold.
5.Switch off the engine.
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63Reference
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>the vehicle is braked to a stop during driving
In the instrument panel, the indicator
lamp changes from green to red and
the indication AUTO H goes out.
Indicator lamp on Canadian models.
Before you start to drive, either release the
parking brake manually, refer to page61, or
reactivate Automatic Hold, refer to page62.
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine
running, shift the selector lever into posi-
tion P of the automatic transmission and make
sure that the parking brake is set. Otherwise,
the vehicle may begin to roll.<
Malfunction
If the parking brake fails or malfunctions, secure
the vehicle against rolling, e.g. with a wheel
chock, if you leave the vehicle.
Releasing parking brake manually
In the event of an electrical power loss or elec-
trical malfunction, you can release the parking
brake manually.
Before manually releasing the parking
brake and each time you park the vehicle
without setting the parking brake, make sure
that the automatic transmission is in position P,
refer to page65. Be sure to pay attention to the
information in the instrument panel.
In addition, secure the vehicle against rolling,
e.g. with a wheel chock. Otherwise there is a
danger that the vehicle could roll if parked on a
steep slope.<
If it becomes necessary to also release the
transmission lock of the automatic transmission
manually, follow this sequence:
1.If necessary, start by releasing the parking
brake manually.
2.Then release the automatic transmission's
transmission lock manually, refer to
page66.
Jump starting and towing, refer to information
starting on page262.
Releasing
1.Open the left-hand side panel in the cargo
bay.
2.Remove the first-aid kit
* and warning trian-
gle
* if necessary. Close the bracket of the
warning triangle.
3.Insert the releasing tool, contained in the
onboard tool kit under the floor panel, refer
to page250, at the releasing point.
4.Firmly pull the releasing tool upward against
the mechanical resistance, refer to arrow,
until a considerable increase in force is felt
and the parking brake is then clearly heard
to release.
5.Stow the releasing tool, warning triangle
*
and first-aid kit* and close the left side
panel in the cargo bay.
Only have a malfunction corrected by the
nearest BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center or a workshop that works in accordance
with BMW guidelines and uses appropriately
trained personnel. If the parking brake has been
released manually in response to a malfunction,
only technicians can return it to operation.<
Following manual release, the actual sta-
tus of the parking brake may deviate from
that displayed by the indicator lamp.<
Operation after interruptions in power
supply
The parking brake can only be used again
if it was manually released due to an inter-
ruption in the supply of electrical power. Other-
wise the operation of the parking brake is not
ensured and there is a danger of the vehicle roll-
ing despite the parking brake being set.<
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Controls
71Reference
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Everything under control
Odometer, outside
temperature display, clock
1Knob in the instrument cluster
2Time, outside temperature, and date
3Odometer and trip odometer
Knob in the instrument panel
>With ignition switched on
Press knob:
Resetting trip odometer
Press the knob for approx. 5 seconds:
Displaying service requirements, refer to
page74
>With ignition switched off
Press knob:
Briefly displaying time, outside temperature
and odometer
Units of measure
To select the respective units of measure, miles
or km for the odometer as well as 7 or 6 for
the outside temperature, refer to page80.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Time, date, outside temperature
From radio readiness the outside temperature
and the time are displayed.
Setting the time, refer to page79.
Retrieving date
Press the button on turn signal lever upward;
the date appears.
To set the date, refer to page80.
Pressing the button upward or downward sev-
eral times changes the display between clock,
outside temperature, date, and Check Control
messages, refer to page78.
Outside temperature warning
If the display drops to +377/+36, a signal
sounds and a warning lamp lights up. A mes-
sage appears on the Control Display. There is
an increased danger of ice.
Even at temperatures above +377/
+36 ice can form. Therefore, drive care-
fully, e.g. on bridges and sections of road in the
shade, otherwise there is an increased accident
risk.<
Odometer and trip odometer
Resetting trip odometer:
Press knob 1 in the instrument panel with the
ignition switched on.
When vehicle is parked
To briefly display the time, outside temperature
and mileage after the remote control has been
removed from the ignition lock:
Press knob 1 in the instrument panel.
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Everything under control
74
Displays on Control Display
You can also access the computer using iDrive.
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Onboard info" or "Trip computer"
Displays on the "Onboard info":
>Cruising range
>Distance from destination
>Estimated time of arrival if:
>Entering a distance manually in the com-
puter, see below.
>A destination was entered in the naviga-
tion system
*, refer to page141.
Displays on the "Trip computer":
>Departure time
>Trip duration
>Trip distanceBoth displays show:
>The average speed and
>the average fuel consumption.
Resetting the fuel consumption and
speed
You can reset the values for the average speed
and average fuel consumption:
1.Select the respective menu item and press
the controller.
2.To confirm your selection, press the con-
troller again.
Resetting the Trip computer
You can reset all values:
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Trip computer"
3."Reset"
Service requirements
The remaining driving distance and the date for
the next maintenance are displayed briefly with
the ignition switched on.
To determine the extent of maintenance
required, you can also display the remaining
distance or the service date individually in the
instrument panel.
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77Reference
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You can check when your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center was notified.
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status"
3."Options"
4."Last Service Request"
Check Control
The concept
The Check Control monitors functions in the
vehicle and issues a message if there is a mal-
function in the monitored systems. This kind of
Check Control message consists of indicator
and warning lamps in the instrument cluster,
and if necessary an acoustic signal and text
messages at the bottom of the Control Display.
Indicator and warning lamps
The indicator and warning lamps can light up in
different combinations and colors. means that a Check Control message has
been generated. The symbol continues to be
visible even when the Check Control message
disappears after a short time. The warning
lamps and text messages are stored and can be
displayed later, also refer to page78.
Explanatory text messages
Text messages at the upper edge of the Control
Display explain the meaning of the displayed
indicator and warning lamps.
For most Check Control messages, you can
view more information later, e.g. regarding the
cause of a malfunction and how to respond;
refer to the information provided below.
In urgent cases, this information will be shown
as soon as the corresponding lamp comes on.
Exit the displayed information:
Move the controller to the left.
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Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
84 The image of the rear view camera is displayed.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Malfunction
A Check Control message appears in the
instrument panel, refer to page77.
The areas in front of and behind the vehicle
appear in shaded form on the Control Display.
PDC is malfunctioning. Have the system
checked.
In order to assure full functionality:
>Keep sensors clean and free of ice.
>Do not spray the sensors with high-pres-
sure cleaners for long periods and keep the
spray nozzle at least 12 in/30 cm away from
them.
Top View*
The concept
Top View assists you when parking and maneu-
vering. To accomplish this, the door region and
road surface region are shown on the Control
Display.
Detection
Detection is carried out by two cameras inte-
grated into the exterior mirror and the rear view
camera.
The range is:
>approx. 7 ft/2 m to the side
>approx. 7 ft/2 m to the rear
Obstacles up to the height of the exterior mir-
rors are thus detected in a timely fashion.
System limitations
In the following situations, the function of
Top View is limited:
>when a door is open
>when the liftgate is open
>when the exterior mirrors are folded in
>under poor lighting conditions
The arrows next to the vehicle are displayed in a
shaded form on the Control Display and a sym-
bol appears at the corresponding location on
the vehicle.
Also make a direct visual check of the
traffic situation around the vehicle. Other-
wise, there could be a risk of accident, for exam-
ple due to other road users or objects outside
the image range of the camera.<
Automatic activation
With the engine running or the ignition switched
on, shift the selector lever into position R.
The images from Top View and PDC are dis-
played when the system has been switched on
using iDrive.
Automatic deactivation
The system switches off and the LED goes out:
>after approx. 165 ft/50 m when driving for-
ward
>at speeds over approx. 25 mph/35 km/h
when driving forward
Switch the system back on as needed.
Switching on/off manually
Press the button.
>On: LED lights up.
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