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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
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.<
When folding back the 2nd row seats, 
make sure that the footwell under the 
2nd row seats is clear. Otherwise persons in the  

Adjusting
48 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 lug-
gage compartment roller cover, refer to 
page131, 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 
page47.
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 
page42.<
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.
Safety belt reminder for driver's seat 
and passenger seat
The indicator lamp lights up and a 
signal sounds. A message also  

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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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Airbags
The following airbags are located under the 
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2Head airbags
3Side airbags
Protective action
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection, 
observe the adjustment instructions on 
page42.<
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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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 cupholders are opened.
The cupholders 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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BMW X6: in rear console
Slide the cover back.
Access to socket:
Pull off the cover.
Rear center armrest
BMW X6 and BMW X5 with 3rd row 
seats*
Pull on the loop and fold down the center arm-
rest.
BMW X5 without 3rd row seats*
Unlock the center armrest with the button in the 
lower section of the opening and fold down.
Cargo area
BMW X5: luggage compartment roller 
cover
Pull out the luggage compartment roller cover 
and hook it into the brackets.
Do not place heavy or hard objects on the 
luggage compartment roller cover. If you 
do so, they may already pose a danger to vehi-
cle occupants during braking or evasive maneu-
vers. 
Do not allow the luggage compartment roller 
cover to snap back, otherwise it can be dam-
aged.<
Removing
1.Unlock the case with the button, arrow1.
2.Swing the case somewhat to the left, 
arrow2, and remove.
Installing
When installing, proceed in the opposite order 
of removal. 

Practical interior accessories
134 1.Insert the brackets at the respective notch 
in the rail on the cargo area floor.
2.Press down the brackets to push them into 
the desired position.
3.Check the firm seating of the brackets. 
They must be clearly heard to engage.
Do not lay cargo on the brackets, as oth-
erwise they could be unlocked.<
Dividing up cargo area
You can position the cargo as follows:
>Between the rear seat backrest and the 
telescopic rail
>Between the telescopic rail and the retain-
ing strap
Positioning cargo between telescopic rail and 
retaining strap:
1.Lay the cargo on the telescopic rail. Press 
the button, arrow1, and route the retaining 
strap around the cargo, arrow2.
2.Hook the retaining strap into the mount3 
on the telescopic rail.
3.Press the button of the bracket, arrow1. 
The retaining strap is tensioned.
You can also hook both retaining straps 
into each other.<
When you are finished using the adaptive fixing 
system, unhook the retaining strap and guide it 
back into the bracket in order to prevent dam-
age and injury. 
Then slide the fastening system toward the 
front in order to permit the best possible use of 
the cargo area.
Removing brackets
Press down the brackets, slide them up to the 
notches of the rails and remove them.
Depending on your vehicle's equipment pack-
age, you can store the adaptive fixing system 
under the floor panel in the cargo area.
Ski bag*
The ski bag is designed for safe, clean transport 
of up to 4 pairs of standard skis or up to 
2snowboards.
With the ski bag you can stow skis with a length 
of up to 6.9 ft/2.10 m. When skis of 6.9 ft/
2.10 m in length are loaded, the ski bag will tend 
to contract, reducing its overall capacity.
Before loading the ski bag, fold in the dis-
play screen of the DVD system in the 
rear
*, as otherwise the display screen could be 
damaged.<
Loading
1.Fold down the center armrest, press the 
button and open the cover.
2.Press the button again; the cover in the 
cargo area 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.