
Controls
 109Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Intensity of AUTO program
You can adjust the intensity of the AUTO pro-
gram by repeatedly pressing the AUTO button. 
When you press the button on the display of the 
automatic climate control, the current setting 
appears on the Control Display.
Select the intensity of the AUTO program:
>–Low
>–Medium
>–High
Temperature
Set the desired temperature indi-
vidually on the driver's and front 
passenger side.
The automatic climate control 
adjusts this temperature as quickly as possible 
at any time of year, if necessary with the maxi-
mum cooling or heating capacity, and then 
keeps it constant.
In the highest setting you activate the maximum 
heating capacity, regardless of the outside tem-
perature. And in the lowest setting, the maxi-
mum cooling capacity.
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.<
Adapting Ventilation temperature
This function allows you to adapt the interior 
temperature separately for the driver and pas-
senger when the automatic climate control is 
switched off.
Use the controller on the Control Display to 
adjust the ventilation temperature.To accomplish this, the access the Ventilation 
temperature setting manually via the buttons 
for air distribution, refer to page108, or via 
iDrive.
1."Settings"
2."Climate"
3.Select "Driver ventilation" or "Front pas-
senger ventilation".
4.Turn the controller to adjust the tempera-
ture.
>Turn toward blue: colder
>Turn toward red: warmer
Defrosting windows and removing 
condensation
Quickly remove ice and condensa-
tion from the windshield and front 
side windows. 
To do this, also switch on the cooling function.
Rear window defroster
The rear window defroster 
switches off automatically after a 
while. Depending on the vehicle 
equipment, upper wires are used 
as an antenna and are not part of the rear win-
dow defroster.
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.
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Climate
110
Air distribution, manual
You can use various programs to separately 
direct the emerging airflow to the driver and 
passenger side of the vehicle interior.
>Upper body region
>Upper body region and footwell
>Footwell
>Driver's side: also the windshield, side win-
dows, and footwell
Selecting program
Press the button repeatedly until 
the desired program is shown on 
the Control Display.
1Air toward the windshield and side windows
2Air for the upper body
3Air to footwell
Pressing the AUTO button cancels the 
manual air distribution settings.<
The automatic mode for the air volume remains 
effective with manual air distribution.
Switching cooling function on and off
The cooling function cools and 
dehumidifies the incoming air 
before also reheating it as 
required, according to the temperature setting. 
This function is only available when the engine 
is running.
The cooling function helps to avoid condensa-
tion on the window surfaces or to quickly 
remove them.
Depending on the weather, the windshield may 
fog over briefly when the engine is started.The cooling function is switched on automati-
cally with the AUTO program.
Maximum cooling
Maximally cooled air is obtained as 
quickly as possible at an outside 
temperature above approx. 327/
06 and with the engine running.
The automatic climate control switches into the 
recirculated-air mode at the lowest tempera-
ture. The maximum air volume flows out of the 
air vents for the upper body. Therefore, open 
these vents for maximum cooling.
AUC Automatic recirculated-air 
control/recirculated-air mode
You can respond to pollutants or 
unpleasant odors in the immediate 
environment by suspending the 
supply of outside air. The system 
then recirculates the air currently within the 
vehicle. During AUC operation, a sensor 
detects pollutants in the outside air and con-
trols the shut-off automatically.
By pressing the button repeatedly, you can 
request three operating modes:
>LED off: outside air flows in continuously.
>Left LED on, AUC mode: the system 
detects pollutants in the outside air and 
shuts off the supply as needed.
>Right LED on, recirculated-air mode: the 
supply of outside air is permanently shut off.
Should the windows fog up in the recircu-
lated-air mode, press the AUTO button or 
switch off the recirculated-air mode and 
increase the air volume if necessary. 
The recirculated-air mode should not be used 
without interruption over an extended period of 
time, as the air quality inside the vehicle deteri-
orates continuously.<
Residual heat
T h e  h e a t  s t o r e d  i n  t h e  e n g i n e  i s  u s e d  t o  h e a t  t h e  
passenger compartment, e.g. while stopped at 
a school to pick up a child.
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Controls
 113Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
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
118
Calibrating digital compass
Calibrate the digital compass In the following 
situations:
>The wrong cardinal direction appears on 
the display.
>The cardinal direction displayed does not 
change despite a change in the direction of 
travel.
>Not all cardinal directions are displayed.
Procedure
1.Make sure that there are no large metal 
objects or overhead power lines in the vicin-
ity of your vehicle and that you have enough 
space to drive in a circle.
2.Enter the currently applicable compass 
zone.
3.Press the adjustment button for approx. 
6-7 seconds to display C. Then drive in a 
complete circle at least once at a maximum 
speed of 4 mph/7 km/h.
If the calibration is successful, display C is 
replaced with the points of the compass.
Setting right/left-hand drive vehicle
Your digital compass is already set to right or 
left-hand drive vehicle to match your vehicle at 
the factory.
Setting language
You can set the language of the display.
Press the adjustment button for approx. 
12-13 seconds. Briefly press the adjustment 
button again to change between English "E" 
and German "O".
The setting is automatically stored after approx. 
10 seconds.
Roller sun blinds for rear side 
windows*
Pull the loop of the roller sun blind and hook 
onto bracket.
Do not open the window with the roller 
blind raised, as otherwise there is a dan-ger of damage, and therefore a danger of inju-
ries at higher speeds.<
Glove compartment
Opening
Press the button. The covers open upward and 
downward and the lighting in the glove com-
partment switches on.
To prevent injury in the event of an acci-
dent while the vehicle is being driven, 
close the glove compartment immediately after 
use.<
Closing
Press one of the two covers closed.
USB interface for data transmission
Port for importing and exporting data on USB 
devices, e.g. music collections, refer to 
page178.
Observe the following when connecting:
>Do not use force when plugging the con-
nector into the USB audio interface.
>Do not connect devices such as fans or 
lamps to the USB audio interface.
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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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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.
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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-
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Satellite radio
168
Select category
1."Radio"
2."Satellite radio"
3."Categories"
4.Select the desired category.
Time shift
Approximately one hour of the channel cur-
rently being listened to is temporarily stored in a 
cache memory. The signal must be available. 
The stored audio track can be played back at a 
different time from the live broadcast. If the 
cache memory is full, then the older tracks are 
recorded over. The cache memory is deleted if 
a new channel is selected.
Accessing Time shift
1."Radio"
2."Satellite radio"
3.Open "Options".
4."Replay - Time Shift"
A new window appears in the display.
>The red arrow indicates the current play-
back position.
>The time difference from the live broadcast 
is displayed next to the cache memory bar.
>During a live broadcast, "live" is displayed 
next to the cache memory bar.
Time shift menu
Storing favorites
Up to 30 favorites can be stored in the favorites 
list. Possible favorites include artist, track, 
game, league, and team.
Storing artist, track, or game
Only current broadcasts can be stored as favor-
ites. The channel information must be available.
1."Radio"
2."Satellite radio"
3.Select "All Channels" or the desired cate-
gory.
4.Select desired channel.
5.Press the controller again.
6.Select artist, track, or game.
Storing league or team
Leagues or teams can be added to the favorites 
from a selection list.
1."Radio"
2."Satellite radio"
3."Manage favorites"
4."Add sports information"
SymbolFunction
Go to live broadcast
Playback/pause
Next track
Previous track
Fast forward
Reverse
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