
Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
86
Rear view camera*
The concept
The rear view camera assists you when parking 
and maneuvering in reverse. To accomplish 
this, the region behind your vehicle is shown on 
the Control Display.
System limitations
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 rear view camera.<
The rear view camera is not able to detect 
objects at greater heights or protruding 
objects such as projections from walls.<
Automatic activation
With the engine running or the ignition switched 
on, shift the selector lever into position R.
The image of the rear view camera is displayed 
when the system has been switched on using 
iDrive.
Automatic deactivation
The system switches off and the LED goes out:
>after approx. 33 ft/10 m when driving for-
ward
>at speeds over approx. 9 mph/15 km/h 
when driving forward
Switch the system back on as needed.
Switching on/off manually
Press the button.
>On: LED lights up.>Off: LED goes out.
If PDC is displayed, switch on the rear view 
camera using iDrive, refer to page83.
Assistance functions
Function requirements
>Rear view camera is switched on.
>Liftgate is completely closed.
Pathway lines
>Can be displayed in the image of the rear 
view camera when the transmission is in 
reverse.
>Help estimate the required amount of space 
when parking and maneuvering on a flat 
road surface.
>Depend on the current steering angle and 
are continuously adapted to movements of 
the steering wheel.
To display parking aid lines using iDrive, refer to 
page87.
Turning lines
>Can be displayed in the image of the rear 
view camera.
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Controls
 93Reference
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Mobility
In the following situations, the system could be 
delayed or malfunction:
>System has not been initialized
>Driving on snowy or slippery road surface
>Sporty driving style: slip in the drive wheels, 
high lateral acceleration
>Driving with snow chains
*
When you are driving with the compact wheel* 
the Flat Tire Monitor is unable to function.
Initializing system
The initialization finishes during driving, 
which can be interrupted at any time. 
When driving resumes, the initialization is con-
tinued automatically. Do not initialize the sys-
tem when driving with snow chains
* or with the 
compact wheel
*.<
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status"
3."Reset"
4.Start the engine – do not drive away.
5.Start the initialization using "Reset".
6.Start to drive.
The initialization finishes during driving. "Sta-
tus: Flat Tire Monitor active " is displayed again 
on the Control Display.
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamp lights up red. A 
message appears on the Control Dis-
play. In addition, an acoustic signal 
sounds. There is a flat tire or extensive inflation 
pressure loss.
If you have deactivated DSC, it will be activated 
automatically.1.Cautiously reduce speed to below 50 mph/
80 km/h. Avoid sudden braking and steer-
ing maneuvers. Do not exceed a speed of 
50 mph/80 km/h.
In case of further air loss of the defective 
wheel, its position will be indicated to you 
on the Control Display.
If the vehicle is not equipped with run-
flat tires as provided at the factory, 
refer to page237, do not continue driving. 
Continuing to drive with a flat tire could 
cause severe accidents.<
2.At the next opportunity, check the air pres-
sure in all four tires.
If the tire inflation pressure in all four 
tires is correct, the Flat Tire Monitor 
may not have been initialized. The system 
must then be initialized.<
3.In the event of complete tire pressure loss, 
0 psi/0 kPa, you can estimate the possible 
distance for continued driving on the basis 
of the following guide values:
>With a light load: 
1 to 2 persons without luggage: 
approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load: 
2 persons, cargo bay full, or 
4 persons without luggage: 
approx. 95 miles/150 km
>With a full load: 
4 or more persons, cargo bay full: 
approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously and do not exceed 
speeds of 50 mph/80 km/h or else you 
run the risk of causing an accident. In the event 
of pressure loss, vehicle handling changes. This 
includes reduced tracking stability in braking, 
extended braking distance and altered natural 
steering characteristics.
If unusual vibrations or loud noises occur while 
the vehicle is being driven, this can indicate final 
failure of the damaged tire. Reduce speed and 
stop at a suitable location as soon as possible, 
otherwise pieces of the tire could become 
detached and cause an accident. Do not con-
tinue driving, but instead contact the BMW 
Sports Activity Vehicle Center.<
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Practical interior accessories
116 The corresponding memory button1 is now 
programmed with the signal of the original 
hand-held transmitter.
You can operate the device when the engine is 
running or when the ignition is switched on.
If the device cannot be used after 
repeated programming, check whether 
the original hand-held transmitter uses an alter-
nating-code system. To do so, either read the 
instructions for the original hand-held transmit-
ter or hold down the programmed memory but-
ton 1 of the integrated universal remote control. 
If the LED2 on the integrated universal remote 
control flashes rapidly for a short time and then 
remains lit for approx. 2 seconds, this indicates 
that the original hand-held transmitter uses an 
alternating-code system. In the case of an alter-
nating-code system, program the memory but-
tons 1 as described at Alternating-code hand-
held transmitters.<
Alternating-code hand-held 
transmitters
To program the integrated universal remote 
control, consult the operating instructions for 
the equipment to be set. You will find informa-
tion there on the possibilities for synchroniza-
tion.
When programming hand-held transmitters 
that employ an alternating code, observe the 
following supplementary instructions:
Programming will be easier with the aid of 
a second person.<
1.Park your vehicle within the range of the 
remote-controlled device.
2.Program the integrated universal remote 
control as described above in the section 
Fixed-code hand-held transmitters.
3.Locate the button on the receiver of the 
device to be set, e.g. on the drive unit.
4.Press the button on the receiver of the 
device to be set. After step 4, you have 
approx. 30 seconds for step 5.
5.Press the programmed memory button1 
of the integrated universal remote control 
three times.The corresponding memory button1 is now 
programmed with the signal of the original 
hand-held transmitter.
Should you have questions, please con-
tact your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle 
Center.<
Deleting all stored programs
Press the left and right-hand memory button1 
for approx. 20 seconds until the LED2 flashes 
quickly:
All stored programs are deleted.
Reassigning individual programs
1.Hold the original hand-held transmitter at 
a distance of approx. 4 in/10 cm to 12 in/
30 cm from the memory buttons1.
The required distance between the 
hand-held transmitter and the mem-
ory buttons1 depends on the relevant sys-
tem of the original hand-held transmitter 
used.<
2.Press the desired memory button1 of the 
integrated universal remote control.
3.When the LED2 flashes slowly after approx. 
20 seconds, press the transmit button of 
the original hand-held transmitter. Release 
both buttons as soon as the LED2 flashes 
rapidly. If the LED2 does not flash rapidly 
after approx. 15 seconds, alter the distance 
and repeat the step.
Digital compass*
1Adjustment button
2Display
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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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Mobility
 225Reference
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Fuel specifications
Gasoline engine: required fuel
Do not use leaded gasoline, otherwise 
damage to the catalytic converter will 
result.
Do not use E85, i.e. fuel that consists of 85 % 
ethanol, or Flex Fuel, otherwise permanent 
damage to the engine and the fuel supply sys-
tem will result.<
Super Premium Gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with less 
AKI. The minimum AKI Rating is:
>BMW X5: 87
>BMW X6: 89
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rat-
ing, the engine may produce knocking sounds 
when starting at high outside temperatures. 
This has no affect on the engine life.
Do not use gasoline below the specified 
minimum quality, otherwise engine dam-
age can result.<
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant dif-
ferences in fuel quality: volatility, composition, 
additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale 
in the United States and Canada. Fuels contain-
ing up to and including 10 % ethanol or other 
oxygenates with up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight, 
that is, 15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an 
equivalent amount of co-solvent, will not void 
the applicable warranties with respect to 
defects in materials or workmanship.
The use of poor-quality fuels may result in 
drivability, starting and stalling problems 
especially under certain environmental condi-
tions such as high ambient temperature and 
high altitude. 
Should you encounter drivability problems 
which you suspect could be related to the fuel 
you are using, we recommend that you respond 
by switching to a recognized high-quality brand such as gasoline that is advertised as Top Tier 
Detergent Gasoline. 
Failure to comply with these recommendations 
may also result in unscheduled maintenance.<
BMW X5 with BMW Advanced Diesel: 
required fuel
Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel
The engine of your BMW is designed for diesel 
with a low sulfur content:
Ultra-low sulfur diesel ASTM D 975-07a.
Only refuel with ultra-low sulfur diesel. 
The percentage of biodiesel in the fuel 
must not exceed 5Ξ, referred to as B5. Do not 
refuel with gasoline. If the vehicle has been 
refueled with incorrect fuel such as gasoline, do 
not start the engine; otherwise, there is a dan-
ger of engine damage.<
After incorrect refueling, contact a BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle Center.
The fuel filling neck is designed for refuel-
ing with diesel nozzles.
If the nozzle cannot be inserted into the fuel 
filler pipe of your BMW, please check to make 
sure that you are refueling with a diesel fuel 
pump and whether this is equipped with a diesel 
nozzle.<
In the event the ultra-low sulfur diesel 
nozzle cannot be fully inserted into the 
fuel filler neck, please contact BMW Roadside 
Assistance for instructions on how to add fuel. 
For more information on BMW Roadside Assis-
tance, refer to page262.<
Winter diesel
In order to assure the operational reliability of 
the diesel engine, during cold seasons, please 
refuel with winter diesel, which is sold at filling 
stations during this time of year. The standard 
fuel filter heating prevents the supply of fuel 
from stalling during driving.
Do not mix in any additives or gasoline; 
otherwise, there is the risk of engine dam-
age.<
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Mobility
 241Reference
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BMW X6
1Filler neck for washer fluid of the headlamp 
and windshield cleaning systems, refer to 
page69
2Filler neck for engine oil, refer to Adding 
engine oil on page2423Starting-aid terminal, refer to page262
4Expansion tank for coolant, refer to 
page243
Engine oil
The engine oil consumption is dependent on 
driving style and driving conditions.
Checking engine oil level
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic oil 
level check.
The condition for the most accurate indication 
of the oil level possible is measurement with the 
engine at operating temperature, i.e. following 
an uninterrupted drive of at least 6 miles/10 km. 
You can display the oil level while driving or 
when stopped on a level surface with the engine 
running.1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status"
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Under the hood
242 3."Engine oil level"
Possible messages
>"Engine oil level OK"
>"Measuring engine oil level...": 
This process can take approx. 3 minutes 
when stopped on a level surface and 
approx. 5 minutes while driving.
>"Engine oil level below minimum. Add 
1quart!": 
At the next opportunity, add 1 US quart/liter 
of engine oil.
If the oil level displayed is below mini-
mum, add engine oil immediately. 
Failure to do so may lead to engine dam-
age.<
>"Engine oil level too high! Have this 
checked.":
Have the vehicle checked immedi-
ately, otherwise engine damage may 
result if too much oil has been added.<
>"Measurement inactive. Have this 
checked.": 
Do not add engine oil. Before continuing to 
drive, note the recalculated remaining mile-
age until the next oil change service, refer to 
Service requirements on page74. Have the 
system checked as soon as possible.
Adding engine oil
BMW X5
BMW X6
Do not add 1 US quart/liter of oil until a corre-
sponding message is shown on the Control Dis-
play.
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km, 
otherwise the engine could be dam-
aged.<
Continuous exposure to used oil has 
caused cancer in laboratory testing. 
For this reason, any skin areas that come into 
contact with oil should be thoroughly washed 
with soap and water.
Keep oil, grease etc. out of reach of children and 
observe the warnings on the containers to pre-
vent health risks.<
Oil change
Only have an oil change carried out by a BMW 
Sports Activity Vehicle Center or a workshop 
that works in accordance with BMW guidelines 
and uses appropriately trained personnel.
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Mobility
 243Reference
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Approved engine oils
The quality of the engine oil selected has critical 
significance for the operation and service life of 
an engine. BMW continuously approves spe-
cific oils after confirming their suitability for use 
in its vehicles with extensive testing.
Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center 
will be happy to answer more detailed 
questions about approved oils.<
You can also call BMW of North America at 
1-800-831-1117 or visit the website at 
www.bmwusa.com to obtain this information.
Do not use oil additives, as these may 
result in engine damage.<
Alternative oil grades
If none of the approved oils is available at a 
given time, you can also use smaller quantities 
of other oils between oil changes. The packag-
ing must include one of the following indica-
tions of oil specifications.
Gasoline engines
>Preferred: BMW Longlife-01, 
BMW Longlife-01 FE
>Alternative: BMW Longlife-98, API SM or 
higher
Diesel engines
>BMW Longlife-04
Viscosity grades
Viscosity is a measure of an oil's flow rating and 
is specified in SAE grades.
The choice of the right SAE grade is based on 
the climatic conditions in the region in which 
you normally drive your BMW.
Approved oils belong to the SAE classi-
fications 0W-40, 0W-30, 5W-40 and 
5W-30.<
These oils can be used for driving at all outside 
temperatures.
Coolant
Do not add coolant to the cooling system 
when the engine is hot. Escaping coolant 
can cause burns.<
Coolant is composed of equal parts water and a 
coolant additive. Not all commercially available 
additives are suitable for your BMW. Your BMW 
Sports Activity Vehicle Center can recommend 
suitable additives.
Only use suitable additives, otherwise 
engine damage may result. The additives 
present a health hazard; observe the instruc-
tions on the containers.<
Comply with the appropriate environ-
mental protection regulations when dis-
posing of coolant additives.<
Checking coolant level
1.Do not open the hood until the engine has 
cooled down.
2.Turn the cap of the expansion tank counter-
clockwise to allow any accumulated pres-
sure to escape, then continue turning to 
open.
3.The coolant level is correct when the cool-
ant level is between the MIN and MAX 
marks, refer to the diagram adjacent to the 
filler neck.
4.If the coolant is low, slowly add coolant up to 
the specified level; do not overfill.
5.Turn the cap until there is an audible click.
6.Have the reason for the coolant loss elimi-
nated as soon as possible.
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