
Adjusting
54
Power adjustment*
The steering wheel can be adjusted in four 
directions.
Storing steering wheel positions, refer to Seat, 
mirror and steering wheel memory on page45.
Easy entry/exit*
To facilitate entry and exit, the steering wheel 
temporarily moves into the uppermost position.
Steering wheel heating*
Press the button.
When the steering wheel heater is switched on, 
the LED in the button lights up.
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Driving
68
Switching on wipers
Pull the lever upward, arrow1.
The lever automatically returns to its initial posi-
tion when released.
Normal wiper speed
Press once. 
The system reverts to operation in the intermit-
tent mode with the vehicle stationary.
Fast wiper speed
Press twice or press beyond the resistance 
point. 
The system reverts to normal speed with the 
vehicle stationary.
Intermittent operation or rain sensor*
With the rain sensor, the wiper operation is con-
trolled automatically as a function of the rain 
intensity. The rain sensor is located on the 
windshield, directly in front of the interior rear-
view mirror.
Activating intermittent operation or 
rain sensor
Press the button, arrow3. The LED in the but-
ton lights up.
Setting interval for intermittent wipe or 
sensitivity of rain sensor
Turn the thumbwheel5.
Deactivating intermittent operation or 
rain sensor
Press the button again, arrow3. The LED goes 
out.Deactivate the rain sensor when passing 
through an automatic car wash. Failure to 
do so could result in damage caused by undes-
ired wiper activation.<
Cleaning windshield and headlamps*
Pull the lever, arrow4.
The system sprays washer fluid against the 
windshield and activates the wipers for a brief 
period.
When the vehicle lighting system is switched 
on, the headlamps are also cleaned at regular 
and appropriate intervals.
Do not use the washers if there is any 
danger that the fluid will freeze on the 
windshield. If you do so, your vision could be 
obscured. To avoid freezing, use a washer fluid 
antifreeze, refer to Washer fluid. Do not use 
washing mechanisms when the washer fluid 
reservoir is empty, otherwise you will damage 
the washer pump.<
Windshield washer nozzles
Both windshield washer nozzles are automati-
cally heated with the engine running or the igni-
tion switched on.
BMW X5: rear window wiper
1Intermittent mode. When reverse gear is 
engaged, continuous operation is switched 
on automatically
2Cleaning the rear window
Do not use washing mechanisms when 
the washer fluid reservoir is empty, other-
wise you will damage the washer pump.<
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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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Controls
 85Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Off: LED goes out.
If Top View is displayed, switch o n the rea r vie w 
camera using iDrive, refer to page87.
Optical warning
The approach to an object can be shown on the 
Control Display.
When the distance to an object is small, the 
PDC display correspondingly shows a red bar in 
front of the vehicle.
The display appears as soon as Top View is 
activated.
If the last image selected was the rear view 
camera, this is displayed again. To switch to 
Top View:
1.Select the "Switch off rear view camera" 
on the Control Display.
2.Press the controller.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Image on the Control Display
Switching on the rear view camera 
using iDrive
With Top View activated:
1.Select the "Switch on rear view camera" 
symbol .
2.Press the controller.
The image of the rear view camera is displayed. 
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Brightness
With Top View switched on:
1.Select the  symbol.
2.Turn the controller until the desired setting 
is displayed and then press the controller.
Contrast
With Top View switched on:
1.Select the  symbol.
2.Turn the controller until the desired setting 
is displayed and then press the controller.
Displaying turning lines and pathway 
lines
>The static, red turning line shows the lateral 
space required when the wheel is fully 
turned.
>The variable, green pathway lines assist you 
in estimating the amount of lateral space 
actually required.
The pathway lines depend on the current 
steering angle and are continuously 
adapted to movements of the steering 
wheel.
1.Select the  symbol.
2.Press the controller.
Turning lines and pathway lines are displayed.
Cameras
The lenses of the Top View cameras are on the 
undersides of the exterior mirror housings.
The presence of dirt can impair image quality. 
Clean the lens with a moist, nonabrasive cloth.
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Controls
 99Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
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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Lamps
104
High beams/
roadside parking lamps
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Roadside parking lamps
Roadside parking lamps, left or right*
You also enjoy the option of lighting up just one 
side of your vehicle when parking.
Switching on
After parking the vehicle, press the lever up or 
down beyond the resistance point for approx. 
1 second, arrow3.
The roadside parking lamps drain the bat-
tery. Do not leave them switched on for 
long periods of time, otherwise it may no longer 
be possible to start the engine.<
Switching off
Briefly press the lever in the opposite direction 
up to the resistance point, arrow 3.
High-beam assistant*
The concept
This system automatically switches the high 
beams on and off again. The process is con-
trolled by a sensor on the front side of the inte-
rior rearview mirror. The Assistant makes sure 
that the high beams are switched on whenever 
the traffic situation permits. This relieves you of 
eyestrain and at the same time offers you the 
best possible visibility. Naturally, you can inter-vene at any time and switch the high beams on 
and off as usual.
Activating system
1.Turn the light switch to position3, refer to 
page102.
2.With the low beams on, briefly press the 
turn signal lever toward the high-beam set-
ting.
The indicator lamp in the instrument 
panel lights up when the high-beam 
assistant is activated. The system 
automatically switches the high beams on and 
off, reacting not only to oncoming traffic and 
traffic ahead, but also to sufficient illumination, 
e.g. in built-up areas.
Switching high beams on and off 
manually
If you wish or the situation requires it, you can 
intervene at any time:
>If the high-beam assistant has switched on 
the high beams, but you want to use low 
beams, simply switch them on using the 
turn signal lever. This deactivates the high-
beam assistant. 
To reactivate the system, briefly press the 
turn signal lever toward the high-beam 
position.
>If the high-beam assistant has switched on 
the low beams, but you want to use high 
beams, simply switch them on in the usual 
way. This deactivates the system and you 
must switch to low beams manually.
To reactivate the system, briefly press the 
turn signal lever toward the high-beam 
position.
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Controls
 105Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>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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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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