2011 BMW X3 headlamp

LampsAt a glance1Rear fog lamps*2Front fog lamps*3Automatic headlamp control/adaptive light
control*/High-beam Assistant*/welcome
lamps*/daytime running lights4Lamps off/daytime running lights*5Parking lamps/daytime running lights*6Low beams/welcome lamps/High-beam As‐
sistant*7Instrument lighting8Headlamp range control*
Parking lamps/low beams,
headlamp control
Parking lamps
Switch position
: the vehicle lamps light
up on all sides, e.g., for parking.
Do not use the parking lamps for extended pe‐
riods; otherwise, the battery may become dis‐
charged and it would then be impossible to start
the engine.
When parking, it is preferable to switch on the
one-sided roadside parking lamps, refer to
page 77.
Low beams
Switch position
with the ignition switched
on: the low beams light up.
Welcome lamps
When parking the vehicle, leave the switch in
position
or : the parking and interior
lamps light up briefly when the vehicle is un‐
locked.
Activating/deactivating
1."Settings"2."Lighting"3."Welcome light"
The setting is stored for the remote control cur‐
rently in use.
Headlamp courtesy delay feature
The low beams stay lit for a short while after the
ignition is switched off, if the lamps are switched
off and the headlamp flasher is switched on.
Setting the duration
1."Settings"2."Lighting"3."Pathway light.: s"4.Set the duration.Seite 7676
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500Lamps

The setting is stored for the remote control cur‐
rently in use.
Automatic headlamp control
Switch position
: the low beams are switched
on and off automatically, e.g., in tunnels, in twi‐
light or if there is precipitation. The indicator
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.
A blue sky with the sun low on the horizon can
cause the lights to be switched on.
The low beams always stay on when the fog
lamps are switched on.
Personal responsibility
The automatic headlamp control cannot
serve as a substitute for your personal judgment
in determining when the lamps should be
switched on in response to ambient lighting
conditions.
For example, the sensors are unable to detect
fog or hazy weather. To avoid safety risks, you
should always switch on the lamps manually un‐
der these conditions.◀
Daytime running lights*
The daytime running lights light up in posi‐
tion 0,
and . After the ignition is
switched off, the parking lamps light up in posi‐
tion
.
Activating/deactivating
1."Settings"2."Lighting"3."Daytime running lamps"
The setting is stored for the remote control cur‐
rently in use.
Roadside parking lamps
The vehicle can be illuminated on one side.
Switching on
With the ignition switched off, press the lever
either up or down past the resistance point for
approx. 2 seconds.
Switching off
Briefly press the lever to the resistance point in
the opposite direction.
Adaptive light control*
The concept
Adaptive light control is a variable headlamp
control system that enables dynamic illumina‐
tion of the road surface.
Depending on the steering angle and other pa‐
rameters, the light from the headlamp follows
the course of the road.
In tight curves, e.g., on mountainous roads or
when turning, an additional, corner-illuminating
lamp is switched on that lights up the inside of
the curve when the vehicle is moving below a
certain speed.
Controls
Activating
Switch position
with the ignition switched
on.
The turning lamps are automatically switched
on depending on the steering angle or the use
of turn signals.
Seite 7777
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500
ReferenceMobilityCommunicationEntertainmentNavigationDriving tipsControlsAt a glance

To avoid blinding oncoming traffic, the adaptive
light control directs light towards the front pas‐
senger side when the vehicle is at a standstill.
When driving in reverse, only the turning lamp is
active.
Malfunction
A Check Control message is displayed.
Adaptive light control is malfunctioning or has
failed. Have the system checked as soon as pos‐
sible.
High-beam Assistant*
The concept
When the low beams are switched on, this sys‐
tem automatically switches the high beams on
and off. The procedure is controlled by a sensor
on the front of the interior rearview mirror. The
assistant ensures that the high beams are
switched on whenever the traffic situation al‐
lows. The driver can intervene at any time and
switch the high beams on and off as usual.
Activating the High-beam Assistant1.Turn the light switch to or .2.Press the button on the turn signal lever, ar‐
row.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
When the lights are switched on, the
high beams are switched on and off automati‐
cally.
The system responds to light from oncoming
traffic and traffic driving ahead of you, and to ad‐
equate illumination, e.g., in towns and cities.
Switching the high beams on and off
manually▷High beams on, arrow 1.▷High beams off/headlamp flasher, arrow 2.
To reactivate the High-beam Assistant, press
the button on the turn signal lever.
System limits Personal responsibility
The high-beam assistant cannot serve as
a substitute for the driver's personal judgment
of when to use the high beams. Therefore, man‐
ually switch off the high beams in situations
where this is required to avoid a safety risk.◀
The system is not fully functional in situations
such as the following, and driver intervention
may be necessary:
▷In very unfavorable weather conditions,
such as fog or heavy precipitation.▷In detecting poorly-lit road users, such as
pedestrians, cyclists, horseback riders and
wagons; when driving close to train or ship
traffic; and at animal crossings.▷In tight curves, on hilltops or in depressions,
in cross traffic or half-obscured oncoming
traffic on freeways.▷In poorly-lit towns and cities and in the pres‐
ence of highly reflective signs.▷At low speeds.Seite 7878
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500Lamps

▷When the windshield in front of the interior
rearview mirror is fogged over, dirty or cov‐
ered with stickers, etc.
Camera
The camera is located on the front of the interior
rearview mirror.
Keep the area in front of the interior rearview
mirror clear.
Fog lamps
Front fog lamps*
The parking lamps or low beams must be
switched on.
Press the button. The green indicator
lamp lights up.
If the automatic headlamp control, refer to
page 77, is activated, the low beams will come
on automatically when you switch on the front
fog lamps.
Instrument lighting
Adjusting The parking lamps or low beams
must be switched on to adjust the
brightness.
Adjust the brightness using the
thumbwheel.
Interior lamps
General information
The interior lamps, footwell lamps, entry lamps
and courtesy lamps are controlled automati‐
cally.
The brightness of some of these lamps is influ‐
enced by the thumbwheel for the instrument
lighting.1Interior lamps2Reading lamp
Switching the interior lamps on and off
Press the button.
To switch off permanently: press the button for
approx. 3 seconds.
To clear this setting: press the button.
Reading lamps Press the button.
Reading lamps are located at the front and rear
next to the interior lamps.
Seite 7979
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500
ReferenceMobilityCommunicationEntertainmentNavigationDriving tipsControlsAt a glance

Danger of burns
Only change bulbs when they are cool;
otherwise, there is the danger of getting
burned.◀
Working on the lighting system
When working on the lighting system, you
should always switch off the lights affected to
prevent short circuits.
To avoid possible injury or equipment damage
when replacing bulbs, observe any instructions
provided by the bulb manufacturer.◀
Do not touch the bulbs
Do not touch the glass of new bulbs with
your bare hands, as even minute amounts of
contamination will burn into the bulb's surface
and reduce its service life.
Use a clean tissue, cloth or something similar, or
hold the bulb by its base.◀
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs)
Light-emitting diodes installed behind a cover
serve as the light source for controls, display el‐
ements and other equipment.
These light-emitting diodes, which are related
to conventional lasers, are officially designated
as Class 1 light-emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers
Do not remove the covers, and never stare
into the unfiltered light for several hours; other‐
wise, irritation of the retina could result.◀
Headlamp glass
Condensation can form on the inside of the ex‐
ternal lamps in cool or humid weather. When the
light is switched on, the condensation evapo‐
rates after a short time. The headlamp glasses
do not need to be changed.
If there is a large amount of moisture, e.g., water
droplets form in the lamp, have it checked by
your service center.Front lamps, bulb replacement
At a glance
Halogen headlamps1High beams/headlamp flasher2Parking lamps3Low beams4Turn signal/side marker light
Xenon headlamps*
1Parking lamps/daytime running lights*2Low beams/high beams/headlamp flasher3Turn signal/side marker light
Halogen headlamps
Follow the general instructions on lamps and
bulbs, refer to page 221.
Low beams
55-watt bulb, H7
Seite 222222
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500Replacing components

1.Open the hood, refer to page 215.2.Unscrew the cap counterclockwise and re‐
move it.3.Carefully pull out the connector.4.Pull the bulb off the connector and insert the
new bulb.5.Insert the new bulb and attach the cover in
the reverse order.
High beams/headlamp flasher and parking
lamps
High beams/headlamp flasher: 55-watt bulb, H7
Parking lamps: 5-watt bulb, W5W
1.Open the hood, refer to page 215.2.Press, arrow 1, and fold out the cover, ar‐
row 2.3.Remove the bulb holder.
The lower bulb is the high beam and head‐
lamp flasher, and the upper bulb is the park‐
ing lamp.4.Pull off the bulb.5.Insert the new bulb and attach the cover in
the reverse order.Xenon headlamps*
Because of the long life of these bulbs, the like‐
lihood of failure is very low. Switching the lamps
on and off frequently shortens their life.
If a bulb fails, switch on the front fog lamps* and
continue the trip with great care. Comply with
local regulations.
Do not perform work/bulb replacement on
xenon headlamps
Have any work on the xenon lighting system, in‐
cluding bulb replacement, performed only by a
service center.
Due to the high voltage present in the system,
there is the danger of fatal injuries if work is car‐
ried out improperly.◀
For checking and adjusting headlamp aim,
please contact your BMW center.
Xenon headlamps*: Low beams
Follow the general instructions on lamps and
bulbs, refer to page 221.
These lamps are made using xenon technology.
Contact your service center in the event of a
malfunction.
Adaptive light control*
The parking lamps and daylight running lights
are made using LED technology.
Please contact your service center in the event
of a malfunction.
Front fog lamps*
Follow the general instructions on lamps and
bulbs, refer to page 221.
Front fog lamps in vehicles equipped with adap‐
tive light control*: 55-watt bulb, H11
Front fog lamps without adaptive light control:
35-watt bulb, H8Seite 223223
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500
ReferenceMobilityCommunicationEntertainmentNavigationDriving tipsControlsAt a glance

Tail lamps, bulb replacement
At a glance1Turn signal2Backup lamp3Brake light4Tail lamp*5Tail lamp/brake light
Adaptive light control* or xenon
headlamps*: Tail lamps
Follow the general instructions on lamps and
bulbs, refer to page 221.
These lamps are made using LED technology.
Contact your service center in the event of a
malfunction.
Halogen headlamps: Turn signal, tail
lamp and brake lamp
21-watt bulb, P21W
1.Open the tailgate.2.Insert the screwdriver from the tool kit be‐
tween the cover and body, push it up, arrow,
and remove the cover.3.Release the nuts.4.Remove the tail lamp from the body and de‐
tach the connector.5.Detach the bulb holder from the tail lamp.
The turn signal is the upper bulb and the tail
lamp/brake lamp is the lower bulb on the
bulb holder.6.Turn the bulb and remove it.7.Proceed in the reverse order to insert the
new bulb and attach the bulb holder.
Ensure that the bulb holder is firmly at‐
tached.
Backup lamp and brake force display
Backup lamp: 16-watt bulb, W16W
Brake force display: 21-watt bulb, H21W
Seite 225225
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500
ReferenceMobilityCommunicationEntertainmentNavigationDriving tipsControlsAt a glance

▷When the ignition is switched off.▷After approx. 15 minutes.
Headlamps
▷Do not rub dry and do not use abrasive or
caustic cleansers.▷Soak areas that have been soiled e.g. due to
insects, with shampoo and wash off with
water.▷Thaw ice with de-icing spray; do not use an
ice scraper.
After washing the vehicle
After washing the vehicle, apply the brakes
briefly to dry them; otherwise, braking action can
be reduced and corrosion of the brake discs can
occur.
Vehicle care
Car care products
BMW recommends using cleaning and care
products from BMW, since these have been
tested and approved.
Car care and cleaning products
Follow the instructions on the container.
When cleaning the interior, open the doors or
windows.
Only use products intended for cleaning vehi‐
cles.
Cleansers can contain substances that are dan‐
gerous and harmful to your health.◀
Vehicle paint
Regular care contributes to driving safety and
value retention.
Environmental influences can act on the vehicle
paint. Tailor the frequency and extent of your car
care to these influences.
Leather care
Remove dust from the leather often, using a
cloth or vacuum cleaner.
Otherwise, particles of dust and road grime
chafe in pores and folds, and lead to increased
wear and premature degradation of the leather
surface.
To guard against discoloration, such as from
clothing, provide leather care roughly every two
months.
Clean light-colored leather more frequently as
dust and dirt are more noticeable.
Use leather care products; otherwise, dirt and
grease will gradually break down the protective
layer of the leather surface.
Suitable care products are available from the
service center.
Upholstery material care
Vacuum regularly with a vacuum cleaner.
If they are very dirty, e.g., beverage stains, use a
soft sponge or microfiber cloth with a suitable
interior cleaner.
Clean the upholstery down to the seams using
large sweeping motions. Avoid rubbing the ma‐
terial vigorously.
Damage from Velcro® fasteners
Open Velcro® fasteners on pants or other
articles of clothing can damage the seat covers.
Ensure that any Velcro® fasteners are closed. ◀
Caring for special components
Light-alloy wheels
Use wheel cleaner, particularly during the winter
months. Do not use aggressive, acidic, strongly
alkaline or abrasive cleaners, or steam jets
above 140 ℉/60 ℃; follow the manufacturer's
instructions.
Chrome surfaces*
Carefully clean components such as the radiator
grille or door handles with an ample supply of
water, possibly with shampoo added, particu‐
larly when they have been exposed to road salt.Seite 234234
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 190 - 12 10 500Care