Driving tips
131Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
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.
Taking advantage of coasting
The flow of fuel is interrupted when coasting.
Switching off engine during longer
stops
Switch off the engine at longer stops such as
traffic signals, railroad crossings, or in traffic
congestions. You achieve fuel savings even if
the standing time is as short as approx. 4 sec-
onds.
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
page244.
General driving notes
Closing liftgate
Operate the vehicle only when the liftgate
is completely closed. Otherwise, exhaust
fumes could enter into the passenger compart-
ment.<
If it is absolutely necessary to drive with the lift-
gate open:
1.Close all windows as well as the glass sun-
roof
*/panorama glass sunroof*.
2.Increase the air volume of the automatic cli-
mate control to a high level, refer to
page109.
Hot exhaust system
As in all vehicles, extremely high temper-
atures are generated on the exhaust sys-
tem. Do not remove the heat shields installed
adjacent to it, and never apply undercoating to
them. When driving, standing at idle and while
parking take care to avoid possible contact
between the hot exhaust system and any highly
flammable materials such as hay, leaves, grass,
etc. Such contact could lead to a fire, and with it
the risk of serious property damage as well as
personal injury. Do not touch hot tailpipes, as
otherwise there is a danger of burns.<
Diesel particulate filter*
Soot particles are collected in the diesel partic-
ulate filter and periodically burned away at high
temperatures. This cleaning process lasts a few
minutes. You will notice it sometimes by the
fact that the engine temporarily runs slightly
less smoothly and requires a slightly higher
engine speed to delivery the usual power. You
may also hear sounds and observe a slight
amount of smoke coming from the exhaust up
to even a few moments after the engine is
switched off.
ba8_e70ag.book Seite 131 Freitag, 5. Juni 2009 11:42 11
Things to remember when driving
134
Stowing cargo
BMW X5
BMW X6
>Load heavy cargo as far forward and as low
as possible, placing it directly behind the
backrest.
>Cover sharp edges and corners.>When transporting very heavy cargo with
unoccupied rear seats, insert the safety
belts, the outer safety belts in the BMW X5,
into the buckles on the opposite sides.
>Do not pile objects higher than the top edge
of the backrest.
>Wrap sharp-edged or pointed objects
which could strike the rear window while
driving.
Securing cargo
BMW X5
BMW X6
>Use the luggage net*, retaining straps*, or
securing straps to hold down small and
lightweight luggage and cargo.
>For larger and heavier pieces, heavy-duty
cargo straps
* are available from your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center. Four lashing
eyes
* mounted in the cargo bay are used to
secure these heavy-duty cargo straps, refer
to illustrations.
>Observe the special instructions supplied
with the heavy-duty cargo straps.
Position and secure the cargo as
described above, so that it cannot endan-
ba8_e70ag.book Seite 134 Freitag, 5. Juni 2009 11:42 11
Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
161Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Treble, bass, balance, fader
>"Balance": left/right volume distribution
>"Fader": front/rear volume distribution
Adjustments
1."CD/Multimedia", "Radio" or "Settings".
2."Tone"
3.Select the desired tone setting.
4.To adjust: turn the controller.
5.To store: press the controller.
Equalizer*
You can set individual sound frequency ranges.
1."CD/Multimedia", "Radio" or "Settings".
2."Tone"
3."Equalizer"4.Select the desired setting.
5.To adjust: turn the controller.
6.To store: press the controller.
Multichannel playback, surround*
You can choose between stereo and multichan-
nel playback, surround.
1."CD/Multimedia", "Radio" or "Settings".
2."Tone"
3."Surround"
Multichannel playback, surround, is simulated
when playing back an audio track in stereo.
Surround is automatically activated or deacti-
vated, depending on the audio track selected.
Volume
>"Speed volume": adaptation of the volume
as a function of vehicle speed
>"PDC"
*: volume of the PDC signal tone in
comparison to entertainment sound output
>"Gong": volume of the signal tone, e.g. for
the safety belt reminder, in comparison to
entertainment sound output
ba8_e70ag.book Seite 161 Freitag, 5. Juni 2009 11:42 11
Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
187Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
DVD system in rear
With the DVD system in the rear you can play
CDs and DVDs with audio, video and image
data. The DVD system can also play data from
attached external audio and video devices.
Audio output is possible both via headphones
and via the vehicle speakers.
You can control the DVD system using the but-
tons on the CD-/DVD player or using the remote
control.
You operate some functions using the
remote control.<
Enabling DVD system
The DVD system can be enabled via iDrive.
1."Settings"
2."Allow rear control"
3."Rear DVD system active"
DVD-System is enabled.
Controls
1Display screen
2Infrared interface for headphones
3CD/DVD player
4Headphone connection:
Jack 1/8 in/3.5 mm
512 V sockets, refer to page121
Folding in display screen
When using the ski bag or when transporting
bulky pieces of luggage, the display screen
should be folded in, as otherwise it may be dam-
aged.
When the screen is folded down, do not
open the lid of the center arm rest or rest
your arm on the screen; otherwise, you may
damage the screen.<
*
ba8_e70ag.book Seite 187 Freitag, 5. Juni 2009 11:42 11
DVD system in rear
188 1.Turn display screen, arrow1.
The display screen switches off.
2.Fold in display screen, arrow2.
The display screen is folded out in the reverse
order.
CD/DVD player
Controls
1Press: switching the DVD system on and off
Rotate: left headset volume and vehicle vol-
ume
2Ejecting CD/DVD
3Start track
Stop
Playback, pause, freeze-frame
Next track
4CD/DVD slot
5Connection for external device: RCA jacks
6Press: switching the DVD system on and off
Rotate: right headset volume and vehicle
volume
Connecting headphones
You can connect headphones with a phone jack
1/8 in/3.5 mm or operate them using the infra-
red interface.
To enable optimal use of the infrared interface,
use infrared headphones that comply with the
IEC 61603-2 standard.
>Compatible infrared headphones and infor-
mation about supported headphones are
available at your BMW Sports Activity Vehi-
cle Center.
When using infrared headphones, it is
important not to interrupt the infrared
connection between the headphones and the
infrared interface, refer to page187. This
means that no obstacle should come between
the two and that the cover of the infrared inter-
face should not be covered or scratched. Unfa-
vorable lighting conditions such as glare from
outside can interfere with reception.<
Remote control
1Menu navigation
2Volume for headphones with jack plug
3Changing track or chapter during CD-,
DVD- or AUX playback, fast forward/rewind
4Headphones right/left
5Open start menu for DVD system
Menu navigation
You can use the thumbwheel and buttons1 to
navigate through the menus.
>Turn the thumbwheel:
To select a menu item.
ba8_e70ag.book Seite 188 Freitag, 5. Juni 2009 11:42 11
Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
189Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
>Press the arrow buttons:
To switch between windows.
>Press the button:
To activate the menu item.
The transmission time of the remote control is
limited in accordance with legal guidelines. A
function can be repeated by pressing or turning
the appropriate button or knob.
Changing batteries
1.Press the detent and remove the cover.
2.Change the batteries. The type and installa-
tion position are marked on the bottom of
the battery compartment.
3.Close the cover.
Return old batteries to a collection point
or to your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center.<
Setting the language of the
DVD system
1.Select a CD/DVD track.
2.Press the button.
3.Select "Tone".
4.Press the button.
5.Switch to the top window.
6.Select "Language".
7.Press the button.
8.Select the desired language.
9.Press the button.
Sound output via speakers
In addition to the headphones, you can also play
the sound via the vehicle speakers.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."External devices"
3."AUX/rear"
Switching DVD system on/off
Press the button on the CD-/DVD player or
under the desired screen.
The DVD system switches on automatically
when a CD or DVD is inserted.
Playing CD/DVD
Use the following menu items to access data
from a CD/DVD:
>Video data via "DVD"
>Audio data via "CD"
>Pictures via "Photo".
ba8_e70ag.book Seite 189 Freitag, 5. Juni 2009 11:42 11
DVD system in rear
190
Playing videos from CDs/
DVDs
Country codes of DVDs
Your DVD player only plays DVDs with the cod-
ing of your home region, e.g. Europe = 2. The
country codes supported by your DVD are con-
tained in the information on your DVD.
An overview of the coding zones:
DVDs with the code 0 can be played on all
devices.<
Starting playback
1.Push the CD/DVD into the drive with the
labeled side facing upward.
The CD/DVD is automatically pulled in.
>Playback begins automatically after a
few seconds.
>If it does not:
Select "DVD".
Press the button.
2.If the DVD control or the DVD-specific
menu is displayed when a DVD is inserted,
use the remote control buttons for menu
navigation to select the desired option.
Or:
Press the button on the CD/DVD player.
You can control the playback with the buttons
on the CD/DVD player or the DVD control.
Video-CDs, VCDs, and Super-Video-
CDs, i.e. SVCDs, can only be played if
they do not have a DVD-specific menu.<
Ejecting CD/DVD
Press the button on the CD/DVD player.
The DVD emerges slightly from the drive.
DVD control
With the DVD control, you can select the title
and chapter, open the DVD-specific menu and
operate functions such as Language, Fast for-
ward and Reverse or Freeze frame.
A DVD can briefly deactivate functions of the
DVD control, under certain circumstances while
the entire DVD is being played. It is not possible
to operate the DVD control under these circum-
stances. In this case, try to make the selection
using the DVD-specific menu.
1.Press the button on the remote con-
trol during playback.
2.Press the buttons on the remote control
or turn the thumbwheel to select the
desired function.
3.Press the button.
The DVD control disappears again after a short
time if you have not selected a function.
CodeRegion
1USA, Canada
2 Japan, Europe, Middle East, South
Africa
3 Southeast Asia
4 Australia, Central and South America,
New Zealand
5 Northwest Asia, North Africa
6China
SymbolFunction
Exit DVD control
"SET" Settings for playing DVD
Starting playback
Stop playback
Activate and deactivate
freeze frame
Skipping chapter
Fast forward/reverse
"Menu" Open DVD-specific menu
ba8_e70ag.book Seite 190 Freitag, 5. Juni 2009 11:42 11
DVD system in rear
192 The system language of the DVD sys-
tem
"Display": background brightness of
screen.
>"Tone":
>"Treble / Bass" and "Balance":
Separately adjustable for the left and
right-hand headphones and the infrared
headphones.
>"Reset":
The settings are reset to the default
value.
>"DVD format":
>"Standard"
>"Zoom": full-screen playback
>"Language":
Language of the DVD playback. The lan-
guage advances one setting each time the
menu item is selected.
>"Subtitles":
Language of subtitles
or turn off subtitles
>"Title":
Selecting individual tracks on the DVD
>"Angle of view":
Camera angle
Notes or symbols that appear during the
playback of a film generally point out differ-
ent camera angles. These are usually only
briefly available.
>"Menu":
Call up the DVD-specific menu.
>"Return":
Exit menu or:
Press the buttons on the remote con-
trol.
Many DVDs offer dialogs and subtitles in vari-
ous languages or scene descriptions for the
hearing impaired. These functions are stored
on the DVD.
With some DVDs, it is only possible to
select language, subtitles, camera angle,
or title by using the DVD-specific menu.
Consult the information accompanying your
DVD.<
Opening the DVD-specific menu
Additional functions may be available on DVDs.
It is thus possible, for example, to select from
among several possible actions or to access
information about the film.
1.Press the button on the remote con-
trol during playback.
2.Select "Menu".
3.Press the button.
On some DVDs, you can use "Main
menu" and "Title" to access addi-
tional menus in which you can select maga-
zine segments about the music scene, for
example.<
To make a selection:
1.Select the symbol.
2.Press the button until the desired func-
tion is selected.
3.Select the arrow.
4.Press the button.
To return to the start menu:
1.Select the arrow.
2.Press the button.
You can also select language, subtitles,
camera angle, or title in the DVD-specific
menu.
Consult the information accompanying your
DVD.<
Compressed video files
Playback
1.Select the directory if necessary.
2.Press the button.
ba8_e70ag.book Seite 192 Freitag, 5. Juni 2009 11:42 11