2011 BMW X3 Owner's Manual

Engine oilGeneral information
The engine oil consumption is dependent on the
driving style and driving conditions.
Therefore, check the engine oil level after every
refueling using the electronic engine oil level
check.
Checking the oil level
The concept
The oil level is monitored electronically and dis‐
played on the Control Display.
Requirements▷The engine must be running and warm after
the vehicle has been driven for at least
6 miles/10 km.▷The vehicle is stopped or being driven on a
level roadway.
Displaying the oil level
1."Vehicle Info"2."Vehicle status"3. "Engine oil level"
Possible messages
▷"Engine oil level OK"▷"Measurement not possible at this time."▷"Measuring engine oil level..."
Duration with the engine running: ap‐
prox. 3 minutes.
Duration while driving: approx. 5 minutes.▷"Engine oil level below minimum. Add 1
quart!"
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km.▷"Engine oil level too high! Have this
checked."
Have the vehicle checked immediately.Too much engine oil
Have the vehicle checked immedi‐
ately; otherwise, surplus oil can lead to en‐
gine damage.◀▷"Measurement inactive. Have this
checked."
Note the newly calculated remaining mile‐
age until the next oil service. Have the sys‐
tem checked as soon as possible.
Adding engine oil
Filler neck
When the indicator lights up in the instrument
cluster, add 1 US quart/liter of engine oil within
the next 125 miles/200 km.
Recommended oil types, refer to page 217.
Protect children
Keep oil, grease, etc., out of reach of chil‐
dren and heed the warnings on the containers
to prevent health risks.◀
Oil types
Note No oil additives
Oil additives may lead to engine damage. ◀
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Approved oil types
Your service center can advise you on which en‐
gine oils have been approved by the manufac‐
turer of your vehicle.
The engine oil quality is critical for the life of the
engine.
Only use approved BMW High Performance oil.
Approved oils belong to the viscosity grades
SAE 0W-40, SAE 0W-30, SAE 5W-40 and SAE
5W-30.
Alternative oil types
If the approved engine oils are not available, up
to 1 US quart/liter of another oil with the follow‐
ing specification may be used.
API SM quality standards or higher.
Coolant
General information Danger of burns from hot engine
Do not open the cooling system while the
engine is hot; otherwise, escaping coolant may
cause burns.◀
Suitable additives
Only use suitable additives; otherwise, en‐
gine damage may occur. The additives are
harmful to your health.◀
Coolant consists of water and additives.
Not all commercially available additives are suit‐
able for your vehicle. Ask your service center for
suitable additives.
Coolant level
Checking1.Let the engine cool.2.Turn the cap of the expansion tank slightly
counterclockwise to allow any excess pres‐
sure to dissipate, and then open it.3.The coolant level is correct if it lies between
the minimum and maximum marks in 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 cause of the coolant loss elimi‐
nated as soon as possible.
Disposal
Comply with the relevant environmental
protection regulations when disposing
of coolant and coolant additives.
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MaintenanceBMW Maintenance System
The system obtains information about the road
safety and operational reliability of the vehicle
and takes into account aspects such as a timely
vehicle check. The aim is to optimize mainte‐
nance procedures with a view to reducing the
cost of running the vehicle.
Condition Based Service CBS
Sensors and special algorithms take into ac‐
count the driving conditions of your vehicle.
Based on this, Condition Based Service deter‐
mines the maintenance requirements.
The system makes it possible to adapt the
amount of maintenance you need to your user
profile.
Detailed information on service requirements,
refer to page 73, can be displayed on the Control
Display.
Service data in the remote control
Information on the required maintenance is con‐
tinuously stored in the remote control. Your
service center will read out this data and suggest
the right array of service procedures for your ve‐
hicle.
Therefore, hand your service specialist the re‐
mote control that you used most recently.
Storage periods
Storage periods during which the vehicle bat‐
tery was disconnected are not taken into ac‐
count.
If this occurs, have a service center update the
time-dependent maintenance procedures,
such as checking brake fluid and, if necessary,
changing the engine oil and the microfilter/acti‐
vated-charcoal filter.Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US
models and Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for
Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty Infor‐
mation Booklet for US models and Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models for
additional information on service requirements.
Maintenance and repair should be performed by
your service center. Make sure to have regular
maintenance procedures recorded in the vehi‐
cle's Service and Warranty Information Booklet
for US models, and in the Warranty and Service
Guide Booklet for Canadian models. These en‐
tries are proof of regular maintenance.
Socket for OBD Onboard
Diagnosis
There is an OBD socket on the driver's side for
checking the primary components in the vehicle
emissions.
Emissions
▷The warning lamp lights up:
Emissions are deteriorating. Have
the vehicle checked as soon as pos‐
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This indicates that there is excessive
misfiring in the engine.
Reduce the vehicle speed and have
the system checked immediately;
otherwise, serious engine misfiring
within a brief period can seriously
damage emission control compo‐
nents, in particular the catalytic con‐
verter.
Fuel cap
The indicator lamp lights up.
If the fuel cap is not properly tightened,
the OBD system may conclude that fuel
vapor is escaping. If the cap is then tightened,
the display should go out in a short time.
Data memory
Your vehicle records data relating to vehicle op‐
eration, faults and user settings. These data are
stored in the remote control and can be read out
with suitable devices, particularly when the ve‐
hicle is serviced. The data obtained in this way
provide valuable information for service proc‐
esses and repair or for optimizing and develop‐
ing vehicle functions further.
In addition, if you signed a service contract for
Assist, certain vehicle data can be sent directly
from the vehicle to facilitate the desired serv‐
ices.
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Replacing componentsTool kit
The tool kit is located under the first aid kit be‐
hind the left folding cover in the cargo area.
Wiper blade replacement Do not fold down the wipers without wiper
blades
Do not fold down the wipers if wiper blades have
not been installed; this may damage the wind‐
shield.◀
Replacing the front wiper blades
1.To change the wiper blades, fold up, refer to
page 64, the wiper arms.2.Fold up the wipers.3.Position the wiper blade in a horizontal po‐
sition.4.Remove the wiper blade toward one side.
Replacing the rear wiper blades
1.Lift off the wiper fully and pull off the wiper
blade, arrow.2.Attach a new wiper blade. It must engage
audibly.
Lamp and bulb replacement
General information
Lamps and bulbs make an essential contribution
to vehicle safety.
The manufacturer of your vehicle recommends
that you entrust corresponding procedures to
your service center if you are unfamiliar with
them or they are not described here.
You can obtain a selection of replacement bulbs
at your service center.
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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
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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:
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1.Insert the screwdriver from the tool kit, with
the flat side facing outward, past the removal
hook and onto the clip, arrow 1.2.Turn the screwdriver by 90°, arrow 2.3.Press the removal hook upward, arrow, and
remove the front fog lamp from the front us‐
ing the hook.4.Detach the connector.5.Turn the bulb bracket and remove it.6.Remove the bulb and replace it.7.Proceed in reverse order to insert the front
fog lamp. Note the guide rails in doing so.
Turn signal
The turn signals are located next to each low
beam in the engine compartment.
21-watt bulb, PY 21W
1.Open the hood, refer to page 215.2.Unscrew the cap counterclockwise and re‐
move it carefully.
The bulb is attached to the cap.3.Turn the bulb clockwise to remove it.4.Insert the new bulb and attach the cover in
the reverse order.
Lateral turn signals
Follow the general instructions on lamps and
bulbs, refer to page 221.
These lamps are made using LED technology.
Please contact your service center in the event
of a malfunction.
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