
Cockpit
12
Instrument panel
1Indicator lamps for turn signals
2Speedometer
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Tachometer72
5BMW X5: energy control72
BMW X6: engine oil temperature72 or
energy control72
6Display for
>Clock/date71
>Outside temperature71
>Indicator and warning lamps77
>Speed of cruise control
*69
>BMW X5: reserve display for diesel 
exhaust fluid2267Display for
>Odometer and trip odometer71
>Computer73
>Date and remaining travel distance 
for service requirements74
>Automatic transmission positions64
>HDC Hill Descent Control90
>High-beam assistant
*104
> There is a Check Control 
message77
>Adaptive Drive
*91
8Fuel gauge73
9Resetting trip odometer71
Displaying service requirement71
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Care
246
Care
Car-care products
For the cleaning and care of your vehicle, BMW 
recommends using only products that BMW 
has approved for this purpose.
Regular cleaning and care make a significant 
contribution to retaining your BMW's value.
The BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center will be 
happy to consult you on products and services 
for the cleaning and care of your BMW.
Genuine BMW Care Products are materi-
als tested, laboratory tested, and tested in 
actual use. They offer optimum care and pro-
tection for your vehicle.<
Do not use cleaners that contain alcohol 
or solvents; they can damage your vehi-
cle.<
Cleaning agents can contain substances 
that are dangerous or pose health risks. 
You should therefore heed the warnings and 
hazard indications on the packaging. Open the 
doors or windows on your vehicle whenever 
cleaning the interior. Make sure there is suffi-
cient ventilation in enclosed spaces. Use only 
products that are formulated for vehicle clean-
ing.<
Exterior care
Washing your vehicle
In the winter months, it is especially 
important to ensure that the vehicle is 
washed on a regular basis. Otherwise, signifi-
cant soiling and road salt can cause damage to 
the vehicle.<
After washing the vehicle, apply the 
brakes briefly to dry them. Failure to do so 
may lead to a reduction in braking efficiency and 
also to corrosion of the brake rotors.<
Car washes
Give preference to cloth car washes.
Before driving into the car wash, make sure that 
it is suitable for your BMW. Pay attention to the 
following points:
>Dimensions of your vehicle, refer to 
page269.
>If necessary, fold in exterior mirrors, refer to 
page52.
>Maximum permissible tire width.
Avoid car washes with guide rail heights 
over 4 in/10 cm, otherwise there is dan-
ger of damaging chassis parts.<
Preparations for driving into the car wash:
>Deactivate rain sensor
* to prevent 
unwanted wiper activation.
>BMW X5: deactivate rear window wiper and 
protect it from damage. Take appropriate 
protective measures; inquiring with the car 
wash operator as needed.
>Remove add-on parts such as spoilers or 
phone antennas if they risk being damaged.
Before driving into the car wash, observe the 
following so that the vehicle is able to roll:
1.Insert the remote control into the ignition 
lock, even with comfort access.
2.Shift into transmission position N.
3.Release the parking brake.
4.Deactivate Automatic Hold, refer to 
page62.
5.Switch off the engine.
6.Leave the remote control in the ignition lock 
so that the vehicle can roll.
Mixed tires*
Before driving into a car wash, make sure 
that the vehicle width is not too large for 
the car wash, as otherwise the vehicle and the 
car wash could be damaged.<
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Reference 283
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Diesel exhaust fluid
– at low temperatures226
– at minimum226
– refilling yourself227
Diesel particulate filter131
Digital clock71
Digital compass116
Digital radio, refer to HD 
Radio164
Dimensions269
Directional indicators, refer to 
Turn signals67
Direction announcements, 
refer to Voice 
instructions152
Direction instructions, refer to 
Voice instructions152
Directory for navigation, refer 
to Address book143
Displacement, refer to Engine 
data268
Display, refer to iDrive16
Displaying images195
Displaying special 
destinations146
Display lighting, refer to 
Instrument lighting105
Displays, refer to Instrument 
panel12
Displays on the windshield, 
refer to Head-Up 
Display100
Disposal
– battery of remote control 
with comfort access37
– battery of the remote 
control, DVD system in 
rear189
– vehicle battery258
Distance, refer to 
Computer74
Distance to destination, refer 
to Computer74
Distance warning, refer to 
PDC Park Distance 
Control82
Door entry lighting106Door key, refer to Keys/
remote control26
Door lock29
Door locking, confirmation 
signals28
Doors
– manual operation29
– remote control27
DOT Quality Grades235
Downhill driving assistance, 
refer to HDC90
Draft-free ventilation111
Drinks holder, refer to Cup 
holders119
Driver's seat, calibrating50
Driving lamps, refer to Parking 
lamps/low beams102
Driving on poor roads135
Driving stability control 
systems88
Driving through water132
Driving tips, refer to General 
driving notes130
Dry air, refer to Cooling 
function110
Drying the air, refer to Cooling 
function110
DSC Dynamic Stability 
Control88
– indicator lamp13,89
DSC OFF, refer to Dynamic 
Stability Control88
DTC Dynamic Traction 
Control89
– activating89
– indicator lamp89
DVD
– country codes173
– settings174
– video playback173
DVD changer, refer to CD 
changer171
DVD menu174
DVD player, refer to CD 
player171DVD system in rear187
– CD/DVD player188
– connecting headphones188
– controls187
– displaying images from CD/
DVD195
– DVD country codes190
– external device198
– information on CD/DVD 
player196
– playing audio tracks from 
CD/DVD193
– playing video from CD/
DVD190
– remote control188
– switching on/off189
DVD video173
Dynamic Performance 
Control90
Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC88
Dynamic Traction, refer to 
Dynamic Traction 
Control89
Dynamic Traction Control 
DTC89
E
Easy entry/exit54
Eject button, refer to Buttons 
on the CD/DVD player160
Electrical malfunction
– automatic transmission with 
Steptronic66
– door lock29
– driver's door29
– fuel filler door224
– glass sunroof, electric42
– liftgate31
– panorama glass sunroof40
– parking brake63
Electric seat44
Electronic brake-force 
distribution88
Electronic oil level check241
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Everything from A to Z
284 Emergency operation, refer to 
Manual operation
– door lock29
– driver's door29
– fuel filler door224
– liftgate31
– transmission lock, automatic 
transmission66
Emergency request261
Emergency services, refer to 
Roadside Assistance262
Engine
– breaking-in130
– data268
– oil temperature72
– overheated, refer to Coolant 
temperature72
– speed268
– starting60
– starting, with comfort 
access36
– switching off60
Engine compartment240
Engine coolant243
Engine oil
– adding242
– additives, refer to Approved 
engine oils243
– approved engine oil243
– checking oil level241
– electronic oil level check241
– temperature72
Engine oil temperature72
Engine output, refer to Engine 
data268
Engine overheating, refer to 
Coolant temperature72
Engine speed268
Engine starting, refer to 
Starting engine60
Entering special destinations 
by name145
Entertainment sound output 
on/off160
Entry map for destination146
Equalizer, tone setting161ESP Electronic Stability 
Program, refer to DSC 
Dynamic Stability 
Control88
Event Data Recorders245
Exhaust system, refer to Hot 
exhaust system131
Extended connectivity of the 
music player in the mobile 
phone183
Exterior mirrors52
– adjusting52
– automatic dimming 
feature53
– automatic heating
52
– folding in and out52
– tilting down passenger-side 
exterior mirror53
External audio device119
Eye for tow-starting and 
towing, refer to Tow 
fitting263
F
Failure messages, refer to 
Check Control77
False alarm, refer to Avoiding 
unintentional alarms35
Fastening safety belts, refer to 
Safety belts49
– warning lamp50
Fastest route for 
navigation150
Fast forward
– CD changer173
– CD player173
Fault displays, refer to Check 
Control77
Filler neck for washer fluid69
First aid, refer to First-aid 
kit262
First-aid kit262
Fixing system, adaptive124
Flashing during locking/
unlocking, refer to Setting 
confirmation signals28Flat tire
– changing wheels256
– compact wheel256
– Flat Tire Monitor92
– run-flat tires93,95,237
– TPM Tire Pressure 
Monitor94
Flat Tire Monitor FTM92
Fluid reservoir, refer to Filler 
neck for washer fluid69
FM, waveband163
Fog lamps105
– indicator lamp13,105
Folding display screen open/
closed, DVD system in 
rear187
Folding rear seat backrest124
Footbrake, refer to Braking 
safely132
Footwell lamps106
For your own safety5
4-wheel drive system, refer to 
xDrive90
Free memory capacity, music 
collection181
Front airbags98
Front passenger airbags98
– deactivating98
– refer to Exception of front 
passenger seat55
Front seat adjustment44
FTM Flat Tire Monitor92
– false alarms92
– indicating a flat tire93
– initializing the system93
– snow chains238
– system limits92
– warning lamp93
Fuel225
– capacity272
– display73
– high-quality brands225
– quality225
– saving130
– specifications225
Fuel clock, refer to Fuel 
gauge73
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Reference 291
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Settings
– changing on Control 
Display79
– clock, 12h/24h mode80
– configuring, refer to 
Personal Profile26
– DVD174
– language81
Settings for the map 
display153
Setting speed limit78
Setting time, refer to 
Preselecting activation 
times114
Shifting, automatic 
transmission with 
Steptronic65
Shift paddles65
Short commands of voice 
activation system273
Short route in navigation, refer 
to Selecting route150
Shoulder support45
Shuffled, refer to Random
– CD changer172
– CD player172
Side airbags98
Side marker lamps, replacing 
bulbs251
Signal horn, refer to Horn10
Sitting safely43
– with airbags43
– with head restraint43
– with safety belts43
Ski bag125
Slide show, refer to Displaying 
images195
Sliding/tilt sunroof
– refer to Glass sunroof, 
electric40
– refer to Panorama glass 
sunroof38
Slope assistant, refer to 
Starting assistant92
Smokers' package, refer to 
Ashtray120
SMS208Snap-in adapter
– inserting/removing212
– use202
Snow chains238
Socket for Onboard 
Diagnostics interface245
Socket for remote control, 
refer to Ignition lock59
Sockets, refer to Connecting 
electrical devices121
Soft closure aid, refer to 
Automatic soft closing30
Soot particle filter, refer to 
Diesel particulate filter131
SOS, refer to Initiating an 
emergency request261
Spare fuses
259
Spare remote control26
Spare wheel
– refer to Changing 
wheels256
– refer to Compact wheel256
Special destinations144
Special oils, refer to Approved 
engine oils243
Specified oil grades, refer to 
Approved engine oils243
Speed
– with compact wheel258
– with winter tires238
Speed limit warning, refer to 
Speed limit78
Speedometer12
Speed Volume161
Split screen, refer to Control 
Display, switching on/off19
Split screen content, refer to 
Display for split screen 
content, selecting19
Sport program, automatic 
transmission with 
Steptronic65
Stability control, refer to 
Driving stability control 
systems88
Start/Stop button59
Starting, refer to Starting 
engine60Starting assistance, refer to 
Jump starting262
Starting assistant92
Starting difficulties, jump 
starting262
Starting off on slopes, refer to 
Starting assistant92
State/province, for 
navigation141
Station selection, radio163
Status of this Owner's Manual 
at time of printing5
Steam cleaners247
Steering wheel
– adjusting53
– automatic adjustment, refer 
to Steering wheel 
memory45
– buttons on steering 
wheel11
– easy entry/exit54
– heating54
– memory45
Steering with variable ratio, 
refer to Active steering96
Steptronic, refer to Sport 
program and manual mode 
M/S65
Storage compartments119
Storing a trip148
Storing sitting position, refer 
to Seat, mirror and steering 
wheel memory45
Storing tires
238
Storing vehicle249
Storing your vehicle249
Street, entering, 
navigation142
Summer tires, refer to Wheels 
and tires229
SVCD173
SW, waveband163
Switches, refer to Cockpit10
Switching cooling function on 
and off110
Switching off engine60
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