Driving tips
139Reference
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.
4seconds.
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
page256.
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
*/panoramic glass sunroof*.
2.Increase the air volume of the automatic cli-
mate control to a high level, refer to
page118.
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 deliver 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.
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge
of water can form between tires and road sur-
face. This phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
Mobility
235Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
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 cosolvent, 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 page274.<
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.
Everything from A - Z
292
Everything from A - Z
Index
A
ABS Antilock Brake
System95
ACC, refer to Active cruise
control68
Accessories5
Access to 3rd row seats47
Acoustic signal, refer to Check
Control82
Activated-charcoal filter121
Active cruise control68
– distance, selecting70
– indicator lamp72
– radar sensor72
– warning lamps72
Active seat51
Active seat ventilation50
Active steering105
– malfunction105
– warning lamp105
Adaptive brake lamp
– brake force display106
Adaptive Drive98
Adaptive fixing system133
Adaptive Light Control112
Address, entering149,155
Address for navigation
– entering149
Adjusting opening
height31,33
Adjusting temperature with
expanded-scope automatic
climate control118
Adjusting the tone during
audio operation, refer to
Tone control168
Adjusting thigh
support43,44
Airbags107
– sitting safely42
– warning lamp108Air distribution
– automatic117,121
– manual118
Airing, refer to Ventilation120
Air recirculation119
– AUC Automatic
recirculated-air control119
– recirculated-air mode119
Air vents116
– refer to Ventilation120
Air vents of automatic climate
control116
Air volume118,
122
AKI, refer to Fuel
specifications235
Alarm system34
– avoiding unintentional
alarms35
– interior motion sensor35
– switching off alarm34
– switching off tilt alarm
sensor and interior motion
sensor35
– tilt alarm sensor35
Albums of music
collection189
Alloy wheels259
All-season tires, refer to
Winter tires250
All-wheel drive, refer to
xDrive97
Alterations, technical, refer to
For your own safety5
AM, waveband171
Antenna for mobile phone212
Antifreeze
– coolant255
– washer fluid67
Antilock Brake System
ABS95
Anti-theft system, refer to
Alarm system34Anti-theft system, refer to
Central locking system27
Approved axle weights, refer
to Weights283
Approved engine oils255
Approved gross vehicle
weight, refer to Weights283
Armrest, refer to Center
armrest, front128
Around the center console14
Around the steering wheel10
Arrival time, refer to
Computer79
Ashtray
– front129
– rear129
Assist, refer to separate
operating instructions
Assistance systems, refer to
Driving stability control
systems95
AUC Automatic recirculated-
air control119
Audio168
– controls168
– switching on/off168
– tone control168
– volume168
Audio CDs, DVD system in
rear202
Audio device, external128
Automatic
– air distribution117,121
– air volume
117,121
– cruise control68
– headlamp control111
– liftgate operation31
– steering wheel adjustment,
refer to Easy entry/exit53
Automatically switching high-
beams on and off, refer to
High-beam Assistant113
Automatic car washes258
Everything from A - Z
300 LATCH child restraint fixing
system55
Leather care260
LEDs light-emitting
diodes263
Length, refer to
Dimensions281
License plate lamp, replacing
bulbs265,268
Liftgate30,33
– adjusting opening
height31,33
– automatic operation31
– closing31,33
– locking and unlocking from
inside30
– manually opening or
closing34
– opening33
– opening from inside31
– opening from outside31
– opening manually31
Light
– refer to High-beam
Assistant113
Light-emitting diodes
LEDs263
Lighter130
Lighter socket130
Lighting
– instruments115
– lamps and bulbs262
– of the vehicle, refer to
Lamps111
Light switch111
Load141
Loading140
– securing cargo142
– stowing cargo142
– vehicle140
Load securing equipment,
refer to Securing cargo142
Lock buttons in the doors,
refer to Locking30Locking
– from inside30
– setting confirmation
signals28
– using remote control28
– without key, refer to Comfort
Access35
Locking and unlocking doors
– from inside30
– setting confirmation
signals28
Locking without key, refer to
Comfort Access
35
Low beams111
– automatic111
Lower back support, refer to
Lumbar support44
Low-sulfur diesel235
Lug bolts269
– tightening torque, refer to
After mounting270
– wrench269
Luggage compartment
capacity, refer to Cargo area
capacity283
Luggage compartment roller
cover131
Luggage rack, refer to Roof-
mounted luggage rack143
Lumbar support44
M
M+S tires, refer to Winter
tires250
Main menu, iDrive17
Maintenance
– refer to Service and
Warranty Information
Booklet for US models256
– refer to Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models256
Maintenance, refer to Service
requirements79
Maintenance system256Malfunction
– door lock29
– driver's door29
– fuel filler flap234
– liftgate31
– parking brake62
Malfunction warnings, refer to
Check Control82
Manual air distribution118
Manual mode, automatic
transmission with
Steptronic64
Manual operation
– door lock29
– driver's door29
– fuel filler flap234
Manual operation, Side
View92
Map display160
Map for navigation
– changing scale161
– entering destination154
Master key, refer to Keys/
remote control26
Maximum cooling119
Maximum speed
– for winter tires250
– with compact wheel270
Memory, refer to Seat, mirror
and steering wheel
memory44
Menus, refer to iDrive16
Messages218
Messages from the concierge
service219
Microfilter121
Microphone
– for mobile phone14
– for telephone14
– for voice activation
system14
Mirror dimming feature52
Everything from A - Z
306 The individual vehicle5
Third brake lamp, refer to
Center brake lamp265,268
3rd row seats48
Tightening torque of the lug
bolts, refer to After
mounting270
Tilt alarm sensor, switching
off35
Tilting down passenger-side
exterior mirror52
Timer, refer to Preselecting
activation times123
Tire inflation pressure
monitoring, refer to Flat Tire
Monitor99
Tire inflation pressures239
– checking239
Tire Pressure Monitor
TPM101
Tire Quality Grading247
Tires
– age247
– air loss100,103
– breaking-in138
– changing249
– condition248
– damage248
– flat tire, refer to Changing
wheels268
– inflation pressure239
– inflation pressure
monitoring, refer to FTM
Flat Tire Monitor99
– new wheels and tires249
– pressure loss100,103
– pressure monitoring, refer to
TPM Tire Pressure
Monitor101
– replacing268
– retreaded tires249
– run-flat249
– size247
– tread248
– wear indicators248
– wheel/tire combination249
– winter tires250Tires, run-flat
– driving with a damaged
tire100,103
– flat tire100,103
TMC station, refer to Traffic
bulletins161
Tone
– control168
– middle setting170
Tone on locking/unlocking28
Tools, refer to Onboard
toolkit262
Top 50 of music
collection189
Top View90
Torque
– engine280
– lug bolts, refer to After
mounting270
Torque, lug bolts, refer to
After mounting270
Tow fitting276
Towing275
– tow fitting276
Town/city, for navigation149
Tow-starting275
TPM Tire Pressure
Monitor101
– resetting system102
– system limits101
– warning lamp103
Track
– selecting on CD180
TRACTION, refer to DTC96
Traction-assist feature, refer
to DSC Dynamic Stability
Control95
Traction control, refer to
DSC Dynamic Stability
Control95
Traffic bulletins
– categories163
Traffic bulletins, filtering163
Traffic bulletins for
navigation161
– in map view163Traffic congestion
– displaying traffic
information161
– refer to Route, bypassing
sections159
Traffic information for
navigation
– during destination
guidance163
Transmission
– automatic transmission with
Steptronic63
Transmission positions, refer
to Automatic transmission
with Steptronic63
Transporting children
safely54
Transport securing device,
refer to Securing cargo142
Travel instructions, refer to
Voice instructions160
Tread depth, refer to Minimum
tread depth248
Trip-distance counter, refer to
Trip odometer76
Trip odometer76
Turning circle, refer to
Dimensions281
Turn signals65
– indicator lamp
12
– replacing bulbs263,266
U
Uniform Tire Quality Grading/
UTQR247
Units
– average fuel
consumption86
– temperature86
Universal garage-door
opener, refer to Integrated
universal remote
control124
Universal remote control124