Controls
31Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Opening from inside
Press the button: the liftgate opens somewhat
unless it has been locked.
Opening from outside
Press the button on the liftgate or the button
on the remote control for approx. 1 second: the
liftgate opens somewhat. It can be swung
upward.
Opening manually
In case of an electrical malfunction:
1.From the cargo area, press out the handle in
the liftgate, refer to arrow, with a screw-
driver and pull. The liftgate is unlocked.
2.Open the liftgate and press in the handle.
The liftgate is locked again as soon as it is
closed.
Closing
Make sure that the closing path of the lift-
gate is clear, otherwise injuries may
result.<
The handle recesses on the interior trim of the
liftgate make it easier to pull down.
If pointed or sharp-edged objects could
strike the rear window while driving, be
sure to provide protection around all edges.
Failure to do so could result in damage to the
heating conductors of the rear window.<
Automatic liftgate operation*
Adjusting opening height
You can adjust how far the liftgate is to open.
When adjusting the opening height, make
sure that at least approx. 4 in/10 cm of
clearance is available above the liftgate. Other-
wise, the ceiling height could be insufficient for
the opened liftgate if, for example, the loading
state changes.<
1."Settings"
2."Tailgate"
3.Turn the controller until the desired open-
ing height is selected.
Controls
33Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
The open tailgate can support loads of up
to 550 lbs./250 kg.<
Closing
Fold the tailgate up and press closed.
BMW X6: liftgate
During opening, the liftgate pivots back
and up. Ensure that adequate clearance is
available before opening.<
Adjusting opening height
You can adjust how far the liftgate is to open.
When adjusting the opening height, make
sure that at least approx. 4 in/10 cm of
clearance is available above the liftgate. Other-
wise, the ceiling height could be insufficient for
the opened liftgate if, for example, the loading
state changes.<
1."Settings"
2."Tailgate"
3.Turn the controller until the desired open-
ing height is selected.
Opening liftgate
The liftgate opens automatically when you:>Press the button on the outside of the lift-
gate when the vehicle is unlocked.
>Press the button in the center console.
>Press the button on the remote control
for approx. 1 second.
To stop the opening process:
>Press the button on the outside of the lift-
gate.
>Press and hold the button on the remote
control.
>Press the button on the inside of the lift-
gate.
>Press the button in the center console
again.
The opening process is interrupted if you
set the vehicle in motion.
gate is clear, otherwise injuries may
result.<
Controls
43Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Seats
Note before adjusting
Never attempt to adjust or calibrate your
seat while the vehicle is moving. The seat
could respond with unexpected movement, and
the ensuing loss of vehicle control could lead to
an accident.
Never adjust manually adjustable seats while
the vehicle is moving, as otherwise the restrain-
ing effect of these seats during accidents could
be reduced.
Also on the passenger side, do not incline the
backrest too far to the rear while the vehicle is
being driven, otherwise there is a danger in the
event of an accident of sliding under the safety
belt, eliminating the protection normally pro-
vided by the belt.<
Also observe the information on damage to
safety belts on page49 and on the height of the
head restraints on page45.
Adjusting manually*
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection,
observe the adjustment instructions on
page42.<
Pull the lever and slide the seat to the desired
position. After you release the lever, move the
seat forward or backward slightly so that it
engages fully.
Thigh support*
Pull the lever and adjust the thigh support in the
longitudinal direction.
Adjusting electrically
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection,
observe the adjustment instructions on
page42.<
1Longitudinal direction
2Height
3Seat tilt
4Backrest
Differs depending on seat:
Adjusting
44 1Backrest
2Height
Additional depending on seat:
1Backrest width
*
2Shoulder support*
3Thigh support*
4Lumbar support*
Backrest width*
The width of the backrest can be changed with
the side wings to adjust the side support to your
own needs.
Shoulder support*
This also supports the back in the shoulder
area, provides a relaxed sitting position and
helps relieve stress on the shoulder muscles.
The shoulder support is also used to adjust the
distance of the head restraint from the back of
the seat occupant's head.
Lumbar support*
You can also adjust the contour of the backrest
to obtain additional support in the lumbar
region.
The upper hips and spinal column receive sup-
plementary support to help you maintain a
relaxed, upright sitting position.
>Increase or decrease curvature: press front
or rear section of switch.
>Shift curvature up or down: press upper or
lower section of switch.
Seat, mirror and steering
wheel memory*
You can store and retrieve two different driver's
seat and front passenger seat
*-, exterior mir-
ror-, and steering wheel positions
*.
The adjustment of the backrest width and lum-
bar support is not stored in the memory.
Storing
1.Switch on radio readiness or ignition, refer
to page58.
2.Set the desired seat, exterior mirror and
steering wheel positions.
Controls
45Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
3.Press the button:
The LED in the button lights up.
4.Press the desired memory button1 or2:
the LED goes out.
The positions of the driver's seat, the exte-
rior mirrors, and steering wheel are stored
for the remote control currently in use.
Activating
Do not activate the memory function
while the vehicle is moving. There is a risk
of accident from unexpected movement of the
seat or steering wheel.<
Comfort mode
1.After unlocking, open the driver's door or
switch on radio readiness, refer to page58.
2.Briefly press the desired memory button1
or 2.
The adjusting procedure is canceled if you
briefly press a seat-adjusting switch or one of
the memory buttons.
Safety feature
1.Close the driver's door and switch the igni-
tion on or off, refer to page58.
2.Press the desired memory button1 or2
and maintain pressure until the adjustment
process has been completed.
If the button was pressed inadvertently:
press the button again; the LED goes out.
Activating with the remote control
The driver's seat position last set is stored for
the remote control currently in use.
You can select whether or not the seat is reset
to that position automatically.
When using this feature, always make
sure that the footwell behind the driver's
seat is empty and unobstructed. Failure to do
so could cause injury to persons or damage to
objects behind the seat as a result of a rearward
movement of the seat.
the memory buttons.
Selecting automatic activation
1."Settings"
2."Door locks"
3."Last seat position auto."
The function for automatically recalling the
last seat position is switched on and is stored
for the remote control currently in use.
Deactivating automatic recall
Deactivate "Last seat position automatic".
Head restraints
Correctly adjusted head restraint
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of spinal injury in the event of an accident.
Correctly adjust the head restraint of all
occupied seats; otherwise, there is
increased danger of injury in the event of an
accident.<
Height
Adjust the head restraint so that its center is
approx. at ear level.
Distance
Adjust the distance so that the head restraint is
as close as possible to the back of the head.
Adjusting
46
Active front head restraints
In the event of a rear-end collision of sufficient
severity, the active head restraint reduces the
distance to the head.
Do not use seat covers or head restraint
covers that could impede the proper
functioning of the active head restraint. Other-
wise, there is no assurance that the active head
restraint will perform its protective function and
it is not possible to take advantage of its injury-
reducing potential in the event of a rear-end
collision.
Have the active head restraints reset after they
are triggered in a rear-end collision. Have this
work carried out only at a BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center or at a workshop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel. Otherwise,
correct operation of this safety equipment is not
guaranteed.<
Removal and installation of the front head
restraints should be performed by a BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center.<
Front seats: height adjustment
Adjust the head restraint so that its center is
approx. at ear level.
You can adjust the height of the head restraints
electrically.
Front seats: adjusting distance from
back of head
Press the button and pull the headrest cushion
forward or push it back.
Do not place any objects behind the
headrest cushion. Otherwise, you can
impair the proper function of the head
restraint.<
Comfort seat*
You can adjust the distance from the back of the
seat occupant's head using the shoulder sup-
port, refer to page44.
Adjusting side extensions
You can fold the side extensions on the head
restraint forward for increased lateral support in
the resting position.
Controls
47Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
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
52
Tilting down passenger-side exterior
mirror – automatic curb monitor*
Activating
1.Slide switch into the driver's side mirror
position, arrow 1.
2.Engage transmission position R.
The mirror glass tilts downward somewhat
on the passenger side. This allows the
driver to see the area immediately adjacent
to the vehicle – such as a curb – when park-
ing, etc.
Deactivating
Slide switch into the passenger side mirror
position, arrow 2.
Interior rearview mirror
To reduce the dazzle effect of following vehi-
cles at night, turn the knob.
Interior and exterior mirrors,
automatic dimming feature*
This feature is controlled by two photocells in
the interior rearview mirror, one on the front and
one on the back.
For trouble-free operation, keep the photocells
clean and do not cover the area between the
interior rearview mirror and the windshield. Do
not attach stickers of any kind to the windshield
in front of the mirror, either.
Steering wheel
Adjusting
Do not adjust the steering wheel while the
vehicle is moving. There is a risk of acci-
dent as the result of unexpected movement.<
Manual adjustment*
1.Flip the lever down.
2.Adapt the longitudinal direction and height
of the steering wheel to the seat position.
3.Return the lever back to its locked position.