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indicated by the indicator lamp over the interior 
rearview mirror, refer to Operating state of front 
passenger airbags in the following.<
Before transporting a child on the front 
passenger seat, read the safety informa-
tion and follow the instructions under Trans-
porting children safely, refer to page55.
When teenagers and adults assume certain sit-
ting positions, this can cause the front and side 
airbags to deactivate. The indicator lamp for the 
front passenger airbags lights up when this 
occurs. In these cases, change the sitting posi-
tion so that the front passenger airbags are acti-
vated and the indicator lamp goes out. If the 
desired status cannot be produced by changing 
the sitting position, transport the correspond-
ing person on the rear seat. Do not fit seat cov-
ers, seat cushion padding, ball mats or other 
items onto the front passenger seat unless they 
are specifically recommended by BMW. Do not 
lay objects under the seat which could press 
against the seat from below. Otherwise a cor-
rect evaluation of the occupied seat surface 
cannot be ensured.<
Operating state of front passenger 
airbags
Depending on the vehicle's equipment, the 
arrangement of the switches and indicator 
lamps may differ somewhat.
The indicator lamp for the front passenger air-
bags indicates the operating status of the front 
and side airbags on the front passenger side 
depending on the seat occupation. The indica-
tor lamp shows whether the front passenger 
airbags are activated or deactivated.
>The indicator lamp lights up when a child in 
a child restraint device intended for the pur-pose is properly detected on the seat.
The front and side airbags on the front pas-
senger side are not activated.
Most child's seats are detected by the 
system. Especially the child's seats 
required by the NHTSA at the time the vehi-
cle is manufactured. After installing a child's 
seat, make sure that the indicator lamp for 
the front passenger airbags lights up. This 
indicates that the child's seat has been 
detected and the front passenger airbags 
are not activated.<
>The indicator lamp does not light up when, 
for example, a correctly seated person of 
sufficient height is detected on the seat. 
The front and side airbags on the front pas-
senger side are activated.
>The indicator lamp does not light up when 
the seat is empty.
However, the front and side airbags on the 
front passenger side are not activated.
Operational readiness of airbag system
From radio readiness, refer to page59, the 
warning lamp lights up briefly, indicating the 
operational readiness of the entire airbag sys-
tem and the safety belt tensioners.
Airbag system malfunction
>Warning lamp does not light up from radio 
readiness.
>Warning lamp lights up continuously.
Have the airbag system checked immedi-
ately in case of a malfunction, otherwise 
there is a danger that the airbag system may not 
respond in the expected manner in an accident 
despite an impact of corresponding intensity.<
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Notes
The visibility of the displays in the Head-Up Dis-
play is influenced by:
>Sunglasses with certain polarization filters
>Certain sitting positions
>Objects on the cover of the Head-Up Dis-
play
>Wet road surface and unfavorable lighting 
conditions
If the image is distorted, have the basic setting 
checked at a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Cen-
ter.
Special windshield
The windshield is part of the system. The shape 
of the windshield complies with the require-
ments of the Head-Up Display to enable a pre-
cise display. A film in the windshield prevents 
the double images from being displayed. 
Windshield replacement should be carried out 
by a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center or a 
workshop that works according to BMW repair 
procedures with correspondingly trained per-
sonnel.
Care instructions
Important information on this topic is provided 
on page249.
Only clean the cover of the Head-Up Dis-
play with a soft, lint-free cloth or with a 
display cleaning cloth, otherwise damage may 
result.<
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 Welcome lamps are activated and are 
stored for the remote control currently in use.
Pathway lighting
If you activate the headlamp flasher after 
switching off the ignition with the lamps 
switched off, the low beams come on and 
remain on for a certain time.
Setting the duration or deactivating
1."Settings"
2."Lighting"
3."Pathway light.:"
4.Set a time of duration or 0 s to deactivate 
the function.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Daytime driving lamps*
The daytime driving lamps light up in position0, 
1 and 3. If the light switch remains in position1, 
the parking lamps light up after the ignition is 
switched off.
Activating/deactivating daytime 
driving lamps
1."Settings"
2."Lighting"3."Daytime running lamps"
 Daytime driving lamps are activated and are 
stored for the remote control currently in use.
Adaptive Head Light*
The concept
Adaptive Head Light is a variable headlamp 
control system that enables better illumination 
of the road surface. Depending on the steering 
angle and other parameters, the light from the 
headlamp follows the course of the road.
In sharp curves, e.g. serpentines, or during turn-
ing, up to a speed of approx. 45 mph/70 km/h 
one of the two fog lamps
* is switched on as a 
turning lamp. This provides improved illumina-
tion of the area inside the curve.
Activating Adaptive Head Light
With the ignition switched on, turn the light 
switch to position 3, refer to page102.
The turning lamps are automatically switched 
on depending on the steering angle or the use 
of turn signals.
To avoid blinding oncoming traffic, the Adaptive 
Head Light directs light towards the front pas-
senger side when the vehicle is at a standstill. 
When driving in reverse, both turning lamps are 
active.
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>Use the headlamp flasher as usual when the 
low beams are on.
System limits
The high-beam assistant cannot replace 
personal judgment about the use of high 
beams. In situations that require it, you should 
therefore switch to low beams manually; failure 
to do so can constitute a safety hazard.<
In the following sample situations, the system 
will not function or will only function to a limited 
degree, possibly requiring the driver to react 
personally:
>in extremely unfavorable weather condi-
tions such as fog or heavy precipitation
>when you perceive poorly illuminated road 
users such as pedestrians, cyclists, horse-
back riders, carriages, when rail or shipping 
traffic is close to the road, or at deer cross-
ings
>in sharp curves, on steep hilltops or dips, 
when there cross-traffic, or in the presence 
of half-concealed oncoming traffic on the 
highway
>in poorly lit areas and in the presence of 
highly reflective signs
>in the low speed range
>when the windshield in the region of the 
interior rearview mirror is fogged, dirty, or 
covered by stickers, decals, etc.
>when the sensor is dirty. Clean the sensor 
on the front side of the interior rearview mir-
ror with a cloth moistened with a little glass 
cleaner.
Switching off using iDrive
1."Settings"
2."Lighting"
3."High beam assistant" High-beam assistant is activated and is 
stored for the remote control currently in use.
Fog lamps*
First, switch on the parking lamps or the low 
beams. The green indicator lamp in the instru-
ment panel lights up whenever the fog lamps 
are on.
If the automatic headlamp control is acti-
vated, the low beams will come on auto-
matically when you switch on the fog lamps.<
Instrument lighting
You can control the lighting intensity by using 
the thumbwheel.
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Switching on
Pressing the right side switches on 
the residual heat utilization when 
the following conditions are met:
>up to 15 minutes after switching off the 
engine
>with the engine at operating temperature
>with sufficient battery voltage
>at an outside temperature below 777/
256
REST appears on the display of the automatic 
climate control when the residual heat utiliza-
tion is switched on.
From radio readiness the interior temperature, 
the air volume and the air distribution can be 
set.
Switching off
You can select the lowest blower speed by 
pressing and holding the left side. Pressing 
again switches off the residual heat utilization. 
REST disappears from the display of the auto-
matic climate control.
Switching automatic climate control on 
and off
You can select the lowest blower 
speed by pressing and holding the 
left side. Pressing again switches 
off the automatic climate control.
You switch on the system again by pressing any 
button of the automatic climate control.
Front ventilation
1Thumbwheels to smoothly open and close 
air vents
2Levers to change the air vent direction
Do not drop any foreign objects into the 
air vents, otherwise these could be cata-
pulted outwards and lead to injuries.<
Ventilation for cooling
Adjust the air vents to direct the flow of cool air 
in your direction, for instance, if the interior has 
become too warm, etc.
Draft-free ventilation
Set the air vents so that the air flows past you 
and is not directed straight at you.
Ventilation in rear
1Thumbwheels to smoothly open and close 
air vents
2Thumbwheel for adjusting the temperature 
in the upper body region:
>Turn toward blue: colder
>Turn toward red: warmer
3Levers to change the air vent direction
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4.Select the desired settings and press the 
controller.
 Function is activated.
The rear automatic climate control 
cannot be operated if the front auto-
matic climate control is switched off. With 
the defrost windows and eliminate conden-
sation function activated, the rear automatic 
climate control is also not ready for opera-
tion.<
AUTO program
The AUTO program assumes the 
adjustment of the air distribution 
toward the upper body and in the 
footwell, as well as the air volume 
for you. It also adapts your instruc-
tions for the temperature to outside influences 
throughout the year.
Temperature
Set the desired temperature indi-
vidually on the left and right side.
The automatic climate control 
adjusts this temperature as quickly 
as possible at any time of year, if necessary with 
the maximum cooling or heating capacity, and 
then keeps it constant.
When switching between different tem-
perature settings in rapid succession, the 
automatic climate control does not have suffi-
cient time to adjust the set temperature.<
Air volume, manual
You can vary the air volume by 
pressing on the corresponding 
side. You can reactivate the auto-
matic mode for the air volume with the AUTO 
button.
Switching off rear automatic climate 
control
You can select the lowest blower 
speed by pressing and holding the 
left side. Pressing again switches 
off the automatic climate control.The automatic climate control can also be 
switched off with iDrive. To switch on the 
automatic climate control again, the system 
must first be reactivated, refer to Activating/
deactivating.<
You switch on the system again by pressing any 
button of the rear automatic climate control.
Ventilation in rear
1Thumbwheels to smoothly open and close 
air vents
2Thumbwheels to adjust temperature in 
upper body region; can be adjusted sepa-
rately for left and right:
>Turn toward blue: colder
>Turn toward red: warmer
3Levers to change the air vent direction
BMW X5
1Levers to change the air vent direction
2Thumbwheel to smoothly open and close 
air vents
For information on the ventilation of the 3rd row 
seats, refer to page112.
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Practical interior accessories
Integrated universal remote 
control*
The concept
The integrated universal remote control can 
replace as many as three hand-held transmit-
ters for various remote-controlled accessories, 
such as garage and gate or lighting systems. 
The integrated universal remote control regis-
ters and stores signals from the original hand-
held transmitters.
The signal of an original hand-held transmitter 
can be programmed on one of the three mem-
ory buttons1. Then with the ignition switched 
on, this programmed memory button1 can be 
used to operate the respective feature. The 
LED2 flashes to confirm transmission of the 
signal.
Should you sell your vehicle one day, be sure to 
delete the stored programs beforehand for your 
safety, refer to page116.
To prevent possible damage or injury, 
before programming or using the inte-
grated universal remote control, always inspect 
the immediate area to make certain that no peo-
ple, animals or objects are within the travel 
range of the device. Also, comply with the 
safety precautions of the original hand-held 
transmitter.<
Checking compatibility
If you see this symbol on the packaging 
or in the manual supplied with the orig-
inal hand-held transmitter, it is safe to 
assume that it is compatible with the integrated 
universal remote control.
Should you have additional questions, 
please contact your BMW Sports Activity 
Vehicle Center or call: 1-800-355-3515.
Information is also provided on the Internet at:
www.bmwusa.com or
www.homelink.com.HomeLink is a registered trademark of Johnson 
Controls, Inc.<
Programming
1Memory buttons
2LED
Fixed-code hand-held transmitters
1.Switch on ignition, refer to page59.
2.When starting operation for the first time: 
press the left and right-hand memory but-
ton 1 for approx. 20 seconds until the LED2 
flashes quickly. All stored programs are 
deleted.
3.Hold the original hand-held transmitter at 
a distance of approx. 4 in/10 cm to 12 in/
30 cm from the memory buttons1.
The required distance between the 
hand-held transmitter and the mem-
ory buttons1 depends on the relevant sys-
tem of the original hand-held transmitter 
used.<
4.Simultaneously press the transmit button 
on the original hand-held transmitter and 
the desired memory button1 on the inte-
grated universal remote control. The LED 2 
flashes slowly at first. As soon as the LED2 
flashes rapidly, release both buttons. If the 
LED2 does not flash rapidly after approx. 
15 seconds, alter the distance and repeat 
the step.
5.To program other original hand-held trans-
mitters, repeat steps 3 and 4.
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>Do not connect USB hard disks.
>Do not use the USB interface to recharge 
external devices.
Center armrest front
A storage compartment is located under the 
armrest between the front seats and, depend-
ing on the vehicle's equipment, also a cover for 
the mobile phone bracket or the snap-in 
adapter. Also refer to page202.
Opening cover
Push cover down slightly and press the button. 
The cover folds upward.
Connection for external audio device
You can connect an external audio device such 
as a CD or MP3 player and play audio tracks 
over the vehicle's speaker system:
>AUX-IN connection, refer to page183
>USB audio interface, refer to page183
Storage compartments
Compartments are located in the doors, in the 
center console in the front and rear
* as well as 
in the rear console in the X6.
Storage nets
* are located on the backrests of 
the front seats.
Do not stow hard or sharp-edged objects 
in the storage nets; otherwise there is an 
increased risk of injury in the event of an acci-
dent.<
Clothes hooks
When hanging clothing on the hooks, 
ensure that it will not obstruct the driver's 
vision. Do not hang heavy objects on the hooks. 
If you do so, they could cause personal injury to 
occupants during braking or evasive maneu-
vers.<
BMW X5
Clothes hooks are located near the grab han-
dles in the rear.
BMW X6
To fold out, press against upper edge.
Cup holders
Use lightweight, unbreakable containers 
and do not transport hot beverages; oth-
erwise, there is an increased risk of injury in the 
event of an accident. Do not force unsuitable 
containers into the cup holders, as otherwise 
damage can result.<
Front
Slide the cover back.
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