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leave the vehicle, otherwise children could, for 
example, operate the roof and injure them-
selves.<
Raising
Press the switch.
The closed glass sunroof is raised and the slid-
ing visor opens slightly.
Do not use force to close the sliding visor 
with the glass sunroof in its raised posi-
tion, otherwise the mechanism will be dam-
aged.<
Opening, closing
>Slide the switch back to the resistance 
point.
The glass sunroof and the sliding visor open 
together as long as you continue to hold the 
switch in this position.
>Briefly press the switch back beyond the 
resistance point.
The glass sunroof and the sliding visor open 
automatically. Briefly pressing the switch 
stops the motion.
You can close the glass sunroof in a similar 
manner by sliding the switch forward. The slid-
ing visor remains open and can be closed by 
hand.
For information on using convenience opera-
tion with the remote control or at the door lock, 
refer to page28 or29.
For information on convenience closing with 
comfort access, refer to page36.
Automatic opening and closing
Briefly press the switch beyond the resistance 
point.
The following movements are also automatic:
>With the sunroof open, press the switch:
The sunroof is opened all the way.
>With the sunroof raised, briefly press the 
switch in the opening direction: the sunroof 
is opened all the way.
Briefly pressing the switch stops the motion.
Comfort position
In the comfort position, the sunroof is not com-
pletely open; this reduces wind noise in the 
passenger compartment.
Each time the glass sunroof is opened or closed 
all the way, it stops in the comfort position. If 
you wish, you can continue the motion by actu-
ating the switch.
After switching off ignition
You can still operate the roof for approx. 
1 minute, as long as no door has been opened.
Pinch protection system
If the glass sunroof meets with resistance from 
about the middle of the roof opening when clos-
ing or when lowering from the raised position, 
the closing process is interrupted and the glass 
sunroof opens all the way.
Despite the pinch protection system, 
inspect the sunroof's travel path prior to 
closing it, as the safety system might fail to 
detect certain kinds of obstructions, such as 
very thin objects, and the sunroof would con-
tinue closing.<
Closing without pinch protection 
system
When there is danger outside the vehicle, pro-
ceed as follows:
1.Slide the switch forward past the resistance 
point and hold it there. The pinch protection 
system is limited and the sunroof opens 
slightly if the closing force exceeds a certain 
value.
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Adjusting
Sitting safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital con-
tribution to relaxed, fatigue-free driving. In the 
interaction with the safety belts, the head 
restraints and the airbags, the seat position 
plays an important role in an accident. To 
ensure that the safety systems operate with 
optimal efficiency, we strongly urge you to 
observe the instructions contained in the fol-
lowing section.
For additional information on transporting chil-
dren safely, refer to page55.
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 front passenger is sitting correctly 
and does not rest feet or legs on the instrument 
cluster, otherwise leg injuries can occur if the 
front airbag is triggered. 
Make sure that passengers keep their heads 
away from the side airbag and do not lean 
against the cover of the head airbag, otherwise 
injuries can occur when the airbags are trig-
gered.<
Even if you adhere to all the instructions, inju-
ries resulting from contact with airbags cannot 
be fully excluded, depending on the circum-
stances. The ignition and inflation noise may 
provoke a mild hearing loss in extremely sensi-
tive individuals. This effect is usually only tem-
porary.
For airbag locations and additional information 
on airbags, refer to page98.
Head restraint
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the 
risk of spinal injury in the event of an accident.
Adjust the head restraint so that its center 
is approx. at ear level. Otherwise there is 
increased danger of injury in the event of an 
accident.<
BMW X5: push the head restraints of the 3rd 
row seats
* into the top position.
Head restraints, refer to page46.
Height
Adjust the head restraint so that its center is 
approximately at ear level.
Distance
Adjust the distance so that the head restraint is 
as close as possible to the back of the head.
Safety belts
Before every drive, make sure that safety belts 
are being worn at all of the occupied seats. Air-
bags complement the safety belt as an addi-
tional safety device, but they do not represent a 
substitute.
BMW X5: depending on its equipment, your 
vehicle has either five or seven seats, which are 
all provided with a safety belt.
Never allow more than one person to 
wear a single safety belt. Never allow 
infants or small children to ride in a passenger's 
lap. Make sure that the belt lies low around the 
hips in the lap area and does not press on the 
abdomen. The safety belt may not lie across the 
neck, rub on sharp edges, be routed over solid 
or breakable objects or be pinched. Wear the 
safety belt without twisting, snugly across the 
lap and shoulders, as close to the body as pos-
sible. Otherwise the belt can slip over the hips 
in the lap area in a frontal impact and injure the 
abdomen. Avoid wearing clothing that prevents 
the belt from fitting properly and pull the belt in 
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When folding back the 2nd row seats, 
make sure that the footwell under the 
2nd row seats is clear. Otherwise persons in the 
3rd row seats could be injured or objects dam-
aged.<
Warning lamp for 2nd row seats: 
lights up when the 2nd row seats are 
not locked. A message also appears 
on the Control Display.
3rd row seats*
The 3rd row seats are divided and offer space 
for two persons.
Folding up backrest
Before folding the seats up, remove the roll-up 
cover, refer to page122, and if need be, slide 
the 2nd row seats slightly forward.
1.Pull the lever, refer to arrow. The backrest is 
unlocked.
2.Fold up and engage the backrest.
Make sure that the catch engages 
securely. If it is not properly engaged, 
transported cargo could enter the passen-
ger compartment during braking or evasive 
maneuvers and endanger the vehicle occu-
pants.<
3.Push the head restraints into the top posi-
tion.
Folding backrest down
1.Push down the head restraint, refer to 
page48.
2.Pull the lever, refer to arrows. The backrests 
are released.
3.Fold the backrest down.
Safety belts
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection, 
observe the adjustment instructions on 
page43.<
Before every drive, make sure that safety belts 
are being worn at all of the occupied seats. Air-
bags complement the safety belt as an addi-
tional safety device, but they do not represent a 
substitute.
Fastening
Make sure you hear the latch plate engage in 
the belt buckle.
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Driving
Ignition lock
Inserting remote control into ignition 
lock
Insert the remote control as far as possible into 
the ignition lock.
Radio readiness switches on. Some electronic 
systems/consumers are ready for operation.
Comfort access*
With comfort access, only insert the remote 
control into the ignition lock in exceptional 
cases, refer to page35.
Removing remote control from ignition 
lock
Do not pull the remote control out of the 
ignition lock using force, as otherwise 
damage may result.<
Before removing the remote control, first press 
it in as far as possible to release the locking 
device.
The ignition is switched off if it was still 
switched on.
Start/Stop button
Pressing the Start/Stop button switches the 
radio readiness or the ignition on and off.
Pressing the Start/Stop button with the 
brake pedal depressed starts the 
engine.<
Radio readiness
Some electronic systems/consumers are ready 
for operation. The time and outside tempera-
ture are displayed in the instrument panel.
Radio readiness is automatically switched off:
>when the remote control is removed from 
the ignition lock
>with comfort access
* by touching the sen-
sitive surface above the door lock, refer to 
Locking on page36
Ignition on
All electronic systems/consumers are ready for 
operation. The odometer and the trip odometer 
are displayed in the instrument panel, refer to 
page71.
Please switch off the ignition and the 
electronic systems/consumers which are 
not required when the engine is not running to 
save the battery.<
Radio readiness and ignition off
All indicator lamps, warning lamps, and displays 
in the instrument panel go out.
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Transmission position P will be engaged:
>automatically after approx. 30 minutes
>if you remove the remote control from the 
ignition lock
Parking brake
The concept
Your BMW is equipped with an electromechan-
ical parking brake.
The parking brake is primarily intended to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling while parked.
You can use the parking brake in two ways:
>manually, by pulling and pushing the button
>automatically, by activating Automatic 
Hold, refer to page61
With the engine stopped, the parking brake acts 
on the rear wheels via an electromechanical 
system. When the engine is running, the park-
ing brake acts on the disk brakes of the front 
and rear wheels via the brake hydraulics.
Setting manually
Pull button. The parking brake is set.
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
panel lights up red. The parking brake is 
set.
Indicator lamp on Canadian models.
The remote control does not have to be 
inserted into the ignition lock for the parking 
brake to be set.
While driving
If exceptional circumstances should make it 
necessary to set the parking brake while the 
vehicle is in motion, pull on the button longer.
The vehicle continues to brake forcefully for as 
long as you pull on the button.
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
panel lights up red, a chime sounds and 
the brake lamps light up.
Indicator lamp on Canadian models.
As soon as you brake the vehicle almost to a 
stop, i.e., down to a speed of approx. 2 mph/
3 km/h or below, the parking brake remains set.
Releasing manually
Press the button with the brake depressed.
The indicator lamp  in the instrument 
panel goes out.
Indicator lamp on Canadian models.
When leaving the vehicle, always take 
along the remote control; this precaution 
prevents children from releasing the parking 
brake, for example.<
Automatic Hold
The concept
This function assists you as you drive by auto-
matically setting and releasing the parking 
brake, e.g. when you are stopped at a traffic sig-
nal or in stop-and-go traffic. 
When Automatic Hold is activated, the vehicle is 
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R Reverse
Select only with the vehicle stationary.
An interlock prevents inadvertent gearshifts 
into transmission position R. To release the 
lock, push the unlock button1.
P Park
Select only with the vehicle stationary. The rear 
wheels are locked.
P is engaged automatically as soon as 
you switch off the engine unless N is 
engaged and on vehicles with comfort access 
the remote control is inserted in the ignition 
lock, refer to page59.<
N Neutral
Can, for example, be engaged in automatic car 
washes. The vehicle can roll.
N remains engaged even after the engine 
is switched off whenever you leave the 
remote control in the ignition lock. This function 
is used, for example, in a car wash, refer to 
page60. After approx. 30 minutes P is auto-
matically engaged.<
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for-
ward gears are available.
Under normal operating conditions, the fuel 
consumption is lowest when driving in posi-
tion D.
Kick-down
The kick-down mode provides maximum accel-
eration.
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the 
increased resistance at full throttle.
Sport program and manual mode M/S
Press selector lever out of transmission 
position D toward the left: 
The sport program is activated and DS is 
displayed in the instrument cluster; in the 
BMW X6, S1 through S6 are displayed. This 
position is recommended for a performance-
oriented driving style.
When the selector lever is pressed forward or 
back, the manual mode is activated and the 
Steptronic shifts the gear. The instrument 
panel shows M1 through M6.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only 
when they will result in a plausible combination 
of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example, 
a downshift that would cause the engine to 
overrev will not be executed by the system. The 
selected gear is briefly displayed in the instru-
ment panel, followed by the current gear.
To use the automatic function again, press the 
selector lever to the right into position D.
BMW X6: changing gears using shifting 
paddles on steering wheel
The shifting paddles make it possible to quickly 
change gears since both hands can remain on 
the steering wheel.
>In automatic mode D, if you shift using the 
shifting paddles on the steering wheel, then 
the system switches into manual mode.
>If, after a certain amount of time, you neither 
shift with the shifting paddles nor acceler-
ate, then the system switches back into 
automatic mode D.
With the transmission position M/S 
selected, the manual mode remains 
active.<
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Locking
1.Pull out the releasing tool. 
The transmission lock is engaged again.
2.If necessary, insert the lock
* and lock it.
3.Close the cover in the bottom of the cup 
holder and lay in the mat again.
4.Close the cover of the cup holder and stow 
the releasing tool.
Information on jump starting and towing, from 
page262.
Turn signals/headlamp 
flasher/high beams
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Turn signals
Using turn signals
Press the lever beyond the resistance point.
To switch off manually, press the lever up to the 
resistance point.
Atypically rapid flashing of the indicator 
lamp indicates that a turn signal bulb 
needs to be replaced.<
Signaling briefly
Press lever to resistance point and hold for as 
long as you wish to signal.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever up to the resistance point. The 
turn signal flashes three times.
You can activate or deactivate this function.
1."Settings"
2."Lighting"
3."Triple turn signal"
 Triple turn signal activation is activated and 
is stored for the remote control currently in use.
Washer/wiper system
1Switching on wipers
2Switching off wipers or brief wipe
3Activating/deactivating intermittent wipe or 
rain sensor
*
4Cleaning windshield and headlamps*
5Setting interval for intermittent wipe or sen-
sitivity of the rain sensor
*
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Washer fluid
Washer fluid antifreeze is flammable. For 
this reason, keep it away from ignition 
sources and store only in the closed original 
container out of reach of children. Otherwise, 
there is the danger of bodily injury. Always 
observe the instructions for use provided on the 
containers.<
Filler neck for washer fluid
Only add washer fluid with the engine 
cooled down to exclude contact with hot 
engine components. Otherwise there is a dan-
ger of fire and to personal safety if the fluid is 
spilled.<
All washer nozzles are supplied from one reser-
voir.
Fill with water and – if required – with a washer 
antifreeze, according to manufacturer's recom-
mendations.
In order to maintain the mixture ratio, mix 
the washer fluid before filling.<
Capacity
Approx. 6.3 US quarts/6 liters.
Cruise control*
The concept
The cruise control with a braking function is 
available for use at speeds of approx. 20 mph/
30 km/h and higher. The vehicle stores and 
maintains the speed that you set using the lever 
mounted on the steering column. To keep the 
specified speed constant, the system brakes if the engine braking effect is not sufficient on a 
downhill grade.
Do not use the cruise control under driv-
ing conditions that do not permit a con-
stant speed, e.g. when driving on winding 
roads, in heavy traffic or in poor road conditions 
such as snow, rain, ice, and loose road surface. 
Otherwise you could lose control of the vehicle 
and cause an accident.<
One lever for all functions
1Storing speed and maintaining or increas-
ing
2Storing speed and maintaining or decreas-
ing
3Deactivating cruise control
4Resuming stored speed
Maintaining current speed
Briefly press, arrow1, or briefly pull, arrow2 
lever.
The speed currently being driven is stored and 
maintained. It is indicated on the speedometer 
and briefly in the instrument panel.
The controlled speed can drop on uphill grades 
if the engine output is insufficient. If the engine 
braking effect is not sufficient on a downhill 
grade, the system lightly brakes the vehicle.
Increasing speed
Repeatedly press the lever up to or beyond the 
resistance point, arrow1, until the desired 
speed is set.
>Each time the lever is pressed to the resis-
tance point, the speed is increased by 
approx. 1 mph or 1 km/h.
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