
Things to remember when driving
130
Things to remember when driving
Break-in period
Moving parts need breaking-in time to adjust to 
each other. To ensure that your vehicle contin-
ues to provide optimized economy of operation 
throughout an extended service life, we request 
that you devote careful attention to the follow-
ing section.
Engine and rear axle differential
Always obey all official speed limits.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at various engine and vehicle speeds, but 
do not exceed:
>Gasoline engine
4,500 rpm or 100 mph/160 km/h
>Diesel engine
3,500 rpm or 90 mph/150 km/h
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the 
transmission's kick-down mode during these 
initial miles.
From 1,200 miles/2,000 km
The engine and vehicle speed can gradually be 
increased.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their 
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac-
tion potential until after an initial break-in 
period. Therefore, drive reservedly during the 
first 200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of 
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized 
contact and wear patterns between brake pads 
and rotors. Drive in a reserved manner during 
this break-in period.
Following part replacement
Observe the break-in instructions again if com-
ponents mentioned above must be replaced 
after subsequent driving operation.
Saving fuel
The fuel consumption of your vehicle depends 
on various factors. Through a few simple steps, 
your driving style, and regular maintenance, you 
can have a positive influence on your fuel con-
sumption and environmental impact.
Removing unnecessary cargo
Additional weight increases fuel consumption.
Removing add-on parts after use
Remove unneeded auxiliary mirrors, roof or rear 
luggage racks after use. Add-on parts attached 
to the vehicle impede the aerodynamics and 
increase the fuel consumption.
Closing windows and glass sunroof*/
panorama glass sunroof*
An open glass sunroof/panorama glass sunroof 
or open windows likewise increase the drag 
coefficient and therefore the fuel consumption.
Checking tire inflation pressures 
regularly
Check and correct the tire inflation pressure as 
needed at least twice a month and before long 
trips.
An insufficient tire inflation pressure increases 
the rolling resistance and thus increases the 
fuel consumption and tire wear.
Driving off immediately
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 
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Driving tips
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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.
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Things to remember when driving
132
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads, 
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge 
of water can form between tires and road sur-
face. This phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
planing, and is characterized by a partial or 
complete loss of contact between the tires and 
the road surface, ultimately undermining your 
ability to steer and brake the vehicle.<
The risk of hydroplaning increases as the tread 
depth of the tires decreases, also refer to Mini-
mum tread depth on page236.
Driving through water
Maximum water depth:
>BMW X5 20 in/50 cm
>BMW X6 17 in/45 cm
Only drive through water up to the above-
mentioned depth at no greater than walk-
ing speed; otherwise, the engine, electrical sys-
tem, and transmission can be damaged.<
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard 
feature. In situations that require it, it is best to 
brake with full force. Since the vehicle maintains 
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid 
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering 
effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal, combined with 
sounds from the hydraulic circuits, indicate that 
ABS is in its active mode.
Do not drive with your foot resting on the 
brake pedal. Even light but consistent 
pedal pressure can lead to high temperatures, 
brake wear and possibly even brake failure.<
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet or there is heavy rain, 
briefly exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal 
every few miles. Monitor traffic conditions to 
ensure that this maneuver does not endanger 
other road users. The heat generated in this 
process helps dry the pads and rotors to ensure 
that full braking efficiency will then be available 
when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and the resulting 
reduced efficiency of the brake system, 
drive long or steep downhill gradients in the 
gear in which the least braking is required. Even 
light but consistent pressure on the brake pedal 
can lead to high temperatures, brake wear and 
possibly even brake failure.<
The braking effect of the engine can be further 
increased by downshifting in the manual mode 
of the automatic transmission, if necessary into 
first gear, refer to page65. This prevents an 
excessive strain on the brakes.
Do not drive in idle or with the engine 
stopped, otherwise there will be no 
engine braking action or support of the braking 
force and steering. 
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other 
objects to protrude into the area of movement 
of the pedals and impair their operation.<
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally, 
during extended periods when the vehicle is not 
used at all, and in operating conditions where 
brake applications are less frequent, there is an 
increased tendency for corrosion to form on 
rotors, while contaminants accumulate on the 
brake pads. This occurs because the minimum 
pressure which must be exerted by the pads 
during brake applications to clean the rotors is 
not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, the 
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating 
effect that even extended application will fail to 
cure.
When vehicle is parked
Condensation forms in the automatic climate 
control system during operation, and then exits 
under the vehicle. Traces of condensed water 
under the vehicle are therefore normal.
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Driving tips
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ger the car's occupants, for example if sudden 
braking or evasive maneuvers are necessary.
Never exceed either the approved gross vehicle 
weight or either of the approved axle weights, 
refer to page271, as excessive loads can pose 
a safety hazard, and may also place you in viola-
tion of traffic safety laws. 
You should never transport unsecured heavy or 
hard objects in the passenger compartment, as 
they could fly around and pose a safety hazard 
to the vehicle's occupants during abrupt brak-
ing or evasive maneuvers.
Use only the lashing eyes pictured to fasten the 
heavy-duty cargo straps. Do not secure cargo 
with the attachment points for the top tether, 
refer to page56; otherwise they could be dam-
aged.<
Roof-mounted luggage rack*
A special rack system is available as an option 
for your BMW. Please comply with the precau-
tions included with the installation instructions.
Loading roof-mounted luggage rack
Because roof racks raise the vehicle's center of 
gravity when loaded, they have a major effect on 
its handling and steering response. You should 
therefore always remember not to exceed the 
approved roof load capacity, the approved 
gross vehicle weight or the axle weights when 
loading the rack.
You can find the specified weights under 
Weights on page271.
The load on the roof must be evenly distributed 
and must not extend outward beyond the limits 
of the loading surface. Always stow the heaviest 
pieces on the bottom. Be sure that adequate 
clearance is maintained for raising the glass 
sunroof
*/panorama glass sunroof* and that 
objects do not project into the opening path of 
the liftgate.
Secure roof-mounted cargo correctly and 
securely to prevent it from shifting or falling off 
during the trip.
Drive smoothly. Avoid sudden acceleration and 
braking maneuvers. Take corners gently.
Driving on poor roads
Y our B MW  is at hom e on a ll r oa ds a nd surfac e s. 
It combines a 4-wheel drive system with the 
advantages of a normal passenger car.
Do not drive on unpaved terrain, as other-
wise the vehicle may be damaged.<
When you are driving on poor roads, there are a 
few points which you should strictly observe for 
your own safety, for that of your passengers, 
and for the safety of the vehicle:
>Familiarize yourself with the vehicle before 
driving off and avoid taking risks at all costs.
>Adapt your driving speed to the road condi-
tions. The steeper and rougher the road 
surface is, the lower the speed should be.
>If you want to drive on very steep uphill or 
downhill gradients, make sure beforehand 
that the engine oil and coolant levels are 
near the MAX mark, refer to page240.
BMW X5: you can operate your vehicle on 
uphill and downhill gradients with a maxi-
mum slope of 50 %.
>On very steep downhill slopes, use Hill 
Descent Control HDC, refer to page90. 
BMW X5: it is possible to start off on inclines 
of up to 33 %. The permissible body roll is 
50 %.
>While driving, watch carefully for obstacles 
such as rocks or holes. Try to avoid these 
obstacles whenever possible.
>Make sure that the undercarriage does not 
touch the ground, for example on crests and 
bumpy roads. The ground clearance of the 
vehicle is a maximum of approx. 8 in/20 cm. 
Please note that the ground clearance can 
vary depending on loading and the driving 
conditions of the vehicle.
>Only drive through road surface water up to 
a maximum water depth of
>BMW X5 20 in/50 cm
>BMW X6 17 in/45 cm
and only drive at walking speed; do not 
remain stationary.
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4."Random"
Managing music
Albums
Renaming an album
The name of the album, if available, is automat-
ically entered when the album is stored. If the 
name is unknown, it can be changed later.
An album cannot be renamed while a track from 
that album is being played.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."Music collection"
3.Highlight the album.
4.Open "Options".
5."Rename album"
6.Select the letters individually.
Deleting an album
An album cannot be deleted while a track from 
the album is being played.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."Music collection"
3.Highlight the album.4.Open "Options".
5."Delete album"
Deleting a directory or track
A track cannot be deleted while it is being 
played.
A directory cannot be deleted while a track from 
the directory is being played.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."Music collection"
3.Highlight the directory or track.
4.Open "Options".
5."Delete folder" or "Delete track".
Free memory capacity
Display the free memory capacity in the music 
collection.
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."Music collection"
3.Open "Options".
4."Free memory"
Music collection
Backing up the music collection
The entire music collection can be stored on a 
USB medium. Make sure there is enough free 
memory capacity on the USB device.
Depending on the number of tracks, backing up 
the music collection may take several hours. 
Therefore, it is best to perform the backup dur-
ing a long trip.
1.Start the engine.
2.Connect the USB device to the USB inter-
face in the glove compartment.
3."CD/Multimedia"
4."Music collection"
5.Open "Options".
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Telephone
202
Telephone
The concept
Your BMW is equipped with a full preparation 
package mobile phone. After pairing a suitable 
mobile phone with the vehicle once, you can 
operate the mobile phone using iDrive, the but-
tons on the steering wheel, or voice com-
mands
*.
Once a mobile phone has been paired with your 
vehicle, it is automatically recognized as soon 
as it is inside the vehicle while the engine is run-
ning or the ignition is switched on. The pairing 
data of up to four mobile phones can be stored 
simultaneously. If several mobile phones are 
detected simultaneously, the respective last 
mobile phone paired can be operated via the 
vehicle.
Using a phone in your vehicle
Using snap-in adapter*
The so-called snap-in adapter, a mobile phone 
cradle, enables the battery to be charged and 
the mobile phone to be connected to the exter-
nal antenna of your vehicle. This ensures 
improved network reception and a consistent 
voice reproduction quality. Ask your BMW 
Sports Activity Vehicle Center which mobile 
phones snap-in adapters are offered for.
For your safety
A car phone makes life more convenient in 
many ways, and can even save lives in an emer-
gency. While you should consult your mobile 
phone's separate operating instructions for a 
detailed description of safety precautions and 
information, we request that you direct your 
particular attention to the following:
Only make entries when the traffic situa-
tion allows you to do so. Do not hold the 
mobile phone in your hand while you are driving; 
use the hands-free system instead. If you do 
not observe this precaution, your being dis-tracted can endanger vehicle occupants and 
other road users.<
Suitable mobile phones
Please ask your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle 
Center which mobile phones with Bluetooth 
interface are supported by the mobile phone 
preparation package and which mobile phones 
are compatible with the snap-in adapter. By vir-
tue of their particular software versions, these 
mobile phones support the functions described 
in this Owner's Manual. Malfunctions can occur 
with other mobile phones.
Operating options
You can operate the mobile phone using:
>Buttons on the steering wheel, refer to 
page11
>iDrive, refer to page16
>Voice commands
*, refer to page209
>Programmable memory buttons, refer to 
page20
Avoid operating a mobile phone detected by 
the vehicle with the keypad of the mobile 
phone, otherwise malfunctions can occur.
Commissioning
Pairing mobile phone in vehicle
The following prerequisites must be met:
>Compatible mobile phone: the mobile 
phone is supported by the full mobile phone 
preparation package. Information on this 
subject is also provided on the Internet at: 
www.bmw.com/bluetooth
>The mobile phone is ready to operate.
>Bluetooth has been activated in the vehicle, 
refer to page204, and on the mobile phone.
*
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Adjusting volume
Turn the knob during a call to select the desired 
volume.
This volume for the hands-free system is main-
tained, even if the other audio sources are set to 
minimum volume.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Operation via iDrive
You can operate the following functions via 
iDrive:
>Accepting/refusing a call
>dialing phone numbers
>Dialing phone numbers from the phone 
book
>Selecting stored phone numbers, e.g. from 
the list of received calls
>Ending a call
When the ignition is switched off or in radio 
readiness, e.g. after taking the remote control 
out of the ignition switch, you can continue an 
ongoing call via the hands-free system for sev-
eral minutes.
Speech quality
If the person you are talking to is having difficul-
ties understanding you, this may be due to 
excessive background noise. The full prepara-
tion package mobile phone can compensate for 
these noises to a certain extent. To optimize the 
speech quality during a call, we recommend 
that you:>Reduce background noise, e.g. by closing 
the windows, reducing air flow from the 
automatic climate control or pointing the 
open front air vents downward.
>Reduce the volume of the hands-free sys-
tem.
Requirements
>The pairing data of the mobile phone are 
stored in the vehicle and the mobile phone 
is ready to operate.
>The engine is running or the ignition is 
switched on.
>The mobile phone is detected by the vehi-
cle.
Receiving calls
If you have the phone number of the caller 
stored in the phone book and the phone num-
ber has been transmitted, the name of the entry 
is displayed.
Accepting a call
Press the  button on the steering wheel
or
"Accept"
Rejecting a call
"Reject"
The caller is diverted to your mailbox if it has 
been activated.
Ending a call
Press the  button on the steering wheel
or
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1.Select the message that contains the 
desired number.
2. "Call"
Messages from the concierge service
To use the address in destination guidance*:
1.Select the message.
2. "Start guidance" or "Add as another 
dest.".
3.Start destination guidance, if necessary.
To dial a phone number:
1.Select the message.
2. "Call"
To save an address:
1.Select the message.
2.Open "Options".
3."Store contact in vehicle"
Deleting messages
1.Select the message to be deleted.
2.Open "Options".
3."Delete message"
Changing between mobile 
phone and hands-free system
From mobile phone to hands-free 
system*
You can continue calls begun outside the Blue-
tooth range of the vehicle via the handsfree sys-
tem when the engine is running or the ignition is 
switched on. Depending on your mobile phone, the system automatically switches over to the 
handsfree mode.
For mobile phones that do not automatically 
switch over to the handsfree mode:
Depending on the mobile phone model used, 
the conversation can be continued via the 
hands-free system if necessary. Refer to the 
display on your mobile phone and/or your 
mobile phone's operating instructions.
From handsfree system to mobile 
phone
When you telephone via the handsfree system, 
you can also continue the call via the mobile 
phone if necessary, depending on the mobile 
phone model. Act according to what is shown 
on the mobile phone display, refer to the oper-
ating instructions of your mobile phone.
Alternatively, you can deactivate the Bluetooth 
link, refer to page204.
Depending on your mobile phone model, poor 
reception of the wireless communications net-
work can result in the system changing from the 
hands-free system to the mobile phone.
Operation by voice*
The concept
You can operate your mobile phone without 
having to remove your hands from the steering 
wheel. When making your entries, you will be 
supported by announcements or questions in 
many cases.
The same prerequisites as for operation via 
iDrive apply, refer to page205.
Voice commands
Activating system
1.Briefly press the  button on the steering 
wheel.
An acoustic signal indicates that you can 
say commands.
2.Say the command.
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