
Adjusting
48
BMW X5: rear seats and 3rd row seats*, 
adjusting height
>To raise: pull up.
>To lower: press the button, arrow1, and 
push the head restraint downward.
In vehicles equipped with 3rd row seats, the 
height of the middle head restraint is not adjust-
able.
Removing
1.Pull the head restraint upward to the stop.
2.Press the button, arrow1, and pull the head 
restraint all the way out.
BMW X5: rear seats
2nd row seats [Second row seats]
With a divided* row of seats you can adjust 
both sides individually.
Never adjust the 2nd row seats while the 
vehicle is moving, as otherwise the pas-
sengers on the 3rd row seats could be injured.
Make sure that the locking devices of the 2nd 
row seats engage properly. Otherwise the 
restraining effect of the safety belts during an 
accident could be reduced.<
Longitudinal direction*
1.Pull the lever and slide the seat into the 
desired position.
2.Release the lever and move the seat slightly 
forward or back so that it engages properly.
Backrest*
The backrests can be adjusted in four steps.
Pull the lever and apply weight to or remove 
weight from the backrest as needed.
Access to 3rd row seats*
Pull the lever and fold the seat forward.
The handle recess on the interior trim of 
the door pillar makes climbing in easier.<
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Controls
 49Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
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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Transporting children safely
56
Child seat security
The rear safety belts
>BMW X5: all safety belts of the 2nd and 
3rd
* row seats
>BMW X6: all safety belts of the 2nd row 
seats
and the safety belt for the front passenger can 
be locked to prevent extension in order to per-
mit attachment of child restraint devices.
Locking safety belt
1.Secure the child restraint device with the 
belt.
2.Pull out the belt webbing completely.
3.Allow the belt webbing to be pulled in and 
pull taut against the child restraint device. 
The safety belt is locked.
Unlocking safety belt
1.Open the belt buckle.
2.Remove the child restraint device.
3.Allow the belt webbing to be pulled in com-
pletely.
LATCH child restraint fixing 
system
LATCH: Lower Anchor and Tethers for CHil-
dren.
Follow the system manufacturer's 
instructions on installation and use of 
LATCH child restraint devices; otherwise, their 
protective function may be reduced.
system.
Make sure that the LATCH mounts have 
properly clicked into place and that the 
child restraint device is resting snugly against 
the backrest. Otherwise, the protective action 
may be reduced.<
The mounts for the LATCH anchors are located 
at the points indicated by the arrows.
Child restraint device with tether strap
Only use the top tether mounting points 
to secure child restraint devices, other-
wise the mounting points could be damaged.
Do not mount child restraint devices on the 
3rd row seats in the BMW X5; otherwise the 
protection provided by these child restraint 
devices may be reduced.<
BMW X5
There are three additional mounting points for 
child restraint devices with a tether strap on the 
2nd row seats, refer to arrows. Fold out before 
using the center mounting point.
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Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
98
Airbags
The following airbags are located under the 
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2Head-level airbags in front and rear
3Side airbags in backrests
Protective action
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection, 
observe the adjustment instructions on 
page43.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and 
front passenger by responding to frontal 
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the 
head and side airbags help provide protection in 
the event of side impact. The relevant side air-
bag supports the side upper body area. The 
head air bag supports the head.
The airbags are deliberately not triggered in 
every impact situation, e.g. less severe acci-
dents or rear-end collisions.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the 
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or 
modify them in any other way.
Keep the instrument cluster and window in the 
region of the passenger seat free of foreign 
materials, i.e. do not cover them with adhesive 
film or covers and do not attach mounts, e.g. for 
a navigation device or mobile phone to them.
Do not install cosmetic covers, seat cushions, 
or other items on the front seats that are not 
especially approved for seats with integrated 
side airbags. Do not hang articles of clothing 
such as jackets over the backrests.Do not attempt to remove the airbag restraint 
system from the vehicle. Do not modify or 
tamper with either the wiring or the individual 
components in the airbag system. This includes 
the upholstery in the center of the steering 
wheel, on the instrument cluster, the doors, and 
the roof pillars as well as the sides of the head-
liner. Do not attempt to remove or dismantle the 
steering wheel. Do not touch the individual 
components immediately after the system has 
been triggered, because there is a danger of 
burns. 
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation, or 
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have 
the testing, repair, removal, and disposal of air-
bag generators executed only by a BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle Center or a workshop that 
works according to BMW repair procedures 
with correspondingly trained personnel and has 
the required explosives licenses. Otherwise 
unprofessional attempts to service the system 
could lead to failure in an emergency or undes-
ired airbag triggering, either of which could 
result in personal injury.<
Warnings and information on the airbags is also 
provided on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of front 
passenger airbags
The occupation of the seat is detected by eval-
uating the impression on the occupied seat sur-
face of the front passenger seat. The front and 
side airbags on the front passenger side are 
activated or deactivated accordingly by the sys-
tem.
The current status of the front passenger 
airbag, i.e. deactivated or activated, is 
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Climate
112
BMW X5: heating and ventilation, 
3rd row seats
The air in the area of the 3rd row seats can be 
heated or recirculated. Air vents are located in 
the storage compartment area between the 
seats and in the footwell of the 3rd row seats.
1Thumbwheel:
>Activating heating and distributing air in 
footwell: 
Turn toward front
>Distributing air in storage compartment 
area between seats: 
Turn toward rear
2Button for switching on blower: 
LED lights up
The heating is not ready for operation 
without switching on the blower. After the 
heating is switched off, the blower can be used 
to recirculate the air within the vehicle, e.g. at 
high temperatures. To do this, turn the thumb-
wheel 1 toward the rear and switch on the 
blower, button2.<
Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter
The microfilter removes dust and pollen from 
the incoming air. The activated-charcoal filter 
provides additional protection by filtering gas-
eous pollutants from the outside air. This com-
bined filter is changed during maintenance by 
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center. 
You can select a display of more detailed infor-
mation on the Control Display, refer to page74.
Automatic climate control 
with 4-zone control*
Front operation
Corresponds to the operation of the automatic 
climate control with 2-zone control, refer to 
page108.
Rear operation
The control unit is located in the center console 
in the rear.
1Temperature, left rear seating area
2AUTO program
3Display
4Temperature, right rear seating area
5Seat heating, right rear seat
6Air volume, manual
7Seat heating, left rear seat
The current setting for the temperature and the 
air volume is shown on display3.
Activating/deactivating
1."Settings"
2."Climate"
3."Rear climate"
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Practical interior accessories
120
Rear
BMW X5
Unlock the center armrest with the button in the 
lower section of the opening and fold down.
Press the button; the cover folds forward.
With the 3rd row seats
*:
Fold down the center armrest.
Press the button; the cup holders are opened.
The cup holders of the 3rd row seats are 
located in the center console between the 
seats.
BMW X6
Slide the cover forward.
Remove the beverage container before 
folding the rear seat backrest forward or 
using the ski bag; otherwise it may cause dam-
age.<
Ashtray
Front
To open the cover, slide it forward.
Rear
BMW X6
Slide the cover back.
Remove the insert to empty.
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Practical interior accessories
126
Loading
1.Fold down the center armrest, press the 
button and open the cover.
2.Press the button again; the cover in the 
cargo bay opens. If you press the button 
firmly the first time, this cover also opens.
3.Extend the ski bag between the front seats 
and fill it. The zipper facilitates access to the 
stowed items and drying of the ski bag.
4.BMW X5: insert the latch plate of the ski bag 
retaining strap into the center safety belt 
buckle that is marked CENTER.
BMW X6: attach the hook of the ski bag 
retaining strap to the eyelet on the rear seat 
backrest.
Only stow clean skis in the ski bag. Wrap sharp 
edges to prevent damage.
Securing cargo
After loading, secure the ski bag and its con-
tents. Tighten the retaining strap on the ten-
sioning buckle for this purpose.
Secure the ski bag in this way. If you fail to 
do so, it could endanger occupants dur-
ing braking or evasive maneuvers.<
To store the ski bag, perform the above steps in 
reverse order.
Removing ski bag
The ski bag can be completely removed, e.g. for 
faster drying or to allow you to put it to other 
uses.
1.Pull the handle toward the front, arrow1.
2.Take out the ski bag upward, arrow2.
3.Close the cover in the cargo bay.
Details on various inserts are available 
from your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle 
Center.<
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