
Cockpit
12
Instrument panel
1Indicator lamps for turn signals
2Speedometer
3Indicator and warning lamps13
4Active cruise control
*68
5Tachometer77
6BMW X5: energy control77
BMW X6: engine oil temperature77 or
energy control77
7Display for
>Clock/date76
>Outside temperature76
>Indicator and warning lamps83
>Speed of cruise control
*67
>Speed of active cruise control
*71
>BMW X5: reserve display for diesel 
exhaust fluid2368Display for
>Odometer and trip odometer76
>Computer78
>Date and remaining travel distance 
for service requirements79
>Automatic transmission positions63
>HDC Hill Descent Control97
>High-beam Assistant
*113
> There is a Check Control 
message82
>Adaptive Drive
*: sport chassis and sus-
pension tuning98
9Fuel gauge78
10Resetting trip odometer76
Displaying service requirement76 

Controls
 77Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Tachometer
Do not operate the engine with the needle in the 
red overspeed zone of the gauge, refer to arrow. 
At high revs in this range, the flow of fuel is 
interrupted to protect the engine.
Coolant temperature
Should the coolant, and with it the engine 
become too hot, a warning lamp lights up. In 
addition, a message appears on the Control 
Display.
Checking coolant level, refer to page255.
Engine oil temperature*
When the engine is at operating temperature, 
the engine oil temperature is between approx. 
1707/806 and approx. 2507/1206.
When the engine oil temperature is too high, a 
warning lamp lights up in the instrument panel.
Energy control*
Displays the current fuel consumption. This 
allows you to see whether your current driving 
style is conducive to fuel economy with mini-
mum exhaust emissions. 

Wheels and tires
250 Tire Pressure Monitor cannot detect a flat tire, 
refer to page101. Your BMW Sports Activity 
Vehicle Center will be happy to advise you on 
this subject.
Recommended tire brands
Certain tire makes are recommended by BMW 
depending on the tire size. You can recognize 
these from the clearly visible BMW marking on 
the tire sidewall.
When used properly, these tires comply with 
the most demanding standards for safety and 
vehicle response.
Special characteristics of winter tires
BMW recommends using winter tires for opera-
tion on winter road or at temperatures below 
+457/+76. Although all-season M+S tires 
provide better winter traction than summer 
tires, they generally fail to provide the same lev-
els of cold-weather performance as winter tires.
Paying attention to speed
Always observe the maximum permissi-
ble speed for the winter tires, otherwise 
tire damage may occur, which can result in acci-
dents.<
Storage
Store wheels and tires in a cool, dry place with 
as little exposure to light as possible. Always 
protect tires against all contact with oil, grease 
and fuels. Do not exceed the maximum tire 
inflation pressure indicated on the side wall of 
the tire.
Rotating wheels between axles
Even with tires of the same size, BMW 
recommends that you not rotate the front 
tires to the rear or vice versa as this can nega-
tively affect handling characteristics.
When the vehicle is equipped with different 
tires sizes
*, rotating tires from one axle to the 
other is not permitted.<
Snow chains*
BMW only tests certain fine-link snow chains, 
classifies them as road-safe and recommends 
them. Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center 
can provide you with this information.
BMW X5: use is only permitted in pairs on the 
rear wheels with tires of the size:
>255/55 R 18
>255/50 R 19
BMW X6: it is only permissible to use snow 
chains in pairs, on the 255/50 R 19 rear wheels.
Observe the manufacturer's instructions when 
mounting snow chains. Do not exceed a speed 
of 30 mph/50 km/h with the chains mounted.
After mounting snow chains, do not ini-
tialize the Flat Tire Monitor
*, as otherwise 
incorrect displays can occur.
When you are driving with snow chains, it can 
be beneficial to activate DTC briefly, refer to 
page96.< 

Mobility
 253Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
BMW X6
1Filler neck for washer fluid of the headlamp 
and windshield cleaning systems, refer to 
page67
2Filler neck for engine oil, refer to Adding 
engine oil on page2543Starting-aid terminal, refer to page274
4Expansion tank for coolant, refer to 
page255
Engine oil
The engine oil consumption is dependent on 
driving style and driving conditions.
Checking engine oil level
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic oil 
level check.
The condition for the most accurate indication 
of the oil level possible is measurement with the 
engine at operating temperature, i.e. following 
an uninterrupted drive of at least 6 miles/10 km. 
You can display the oil level while driving or 
when stopped on a level surface with the engine 
running.1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status" 

Mobility
 259Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Steam cleaners/high-pressure 
cleaning jets
When using steam cleaners or high-pres-
sure cleaning jets, make sure to maintain 
a sufficient distance and stay below a maximum 
temperature of 1407/606.
Insufficient distance or excessive pressure or 
temperature can damage parts of the vehicle or 
can result in water penetration. Follow the oper-
ating instructions for the high-pressure clean-
ing jets.<
Do not spray the sensors and cameras, 
e.g. of Park Distance Control, Top View, 
or rear view camera, with high-pressure clean-
ers for long periods and keep the spray nozzle 
at least 12 in/30 cm away from them.<
Hand washing
When washing the vehicle by hand, use plenty 
of water and car washing shampoo. Clean the 
vehicle with gentle pressure using a sponge or a 
washing brush.
Before cleaning the windshield, deacti-
vate the rain sensor or switch off the igni-
tion to prevent unwanted wiper operation.<
Follow local guidelines for washing vehi-
cles by hand.<
Headlamps
Do not rub dry and never use abrasives or 
strong solvents to clean the covers.
Loosen dirt, e.g. insects, with shampoo or 
insect remover and wash away with plenty of 
water.
Use a window de-icer to remove accumulated 
ice and snow, not a scraper.
Windows
Use a glass cleaner to clean the inside and out-
side surfaces of the windows and the glass sur-
faces of the mirrors.
Do not use quartz-containing cleansers 
to clean glass surfaces of the mirrors.<
Caring for the vehicle finish
Regular care helps your vehicle retain its value 
and protects the paint from the long-term 
effects of aggressive substances.
Regionally occurring environmental factors can 
affect and damage vehicle finish. It is therefore 
important to tailor the frequency and extent of 
your car care accordingly.
Immediately remove particularly aggressive 
substances such as spilled fuel, oil, grease, 
brake fluid, tree resin, or bird droppings; other-
wise, they may damage your paint.
Repairing paint damage
Repair stone damage or scratches imme-
diately, depending on the severity of the 
damage, to prevent the formation of rust.<
BMW recommends having paint damage pro-
fessionally repaired using Genuine BMW finish 
materials in accordance with factory guidelines.
Waxing
Sealant is required when water no longer beads 
on the clean surface of the paint. Use only prod-
ucts that contain carnauba wax or synthetic wax 
to seal your finish.
Rubber gaskets
Treat only with water or a rubber care product.
To avoid noise or damage, do not use 
products that contain silicone to care for 
rubber gaskets.<
Chrome components
Particularly after exposure to road salt, thor-
oughly cleanse parts like the radiator grille, door 
handles, or window frames with plenty of water 
with shampoo added to it. For additional treat-
ment, use chrome polish.
Alloy wheels
Depending on your system, braking can gener-
ate dust, which settles on the light-alloy wheels. 
Remove this dust regularly with acid-free wheel 
cleaner. 

Care
260 Do not use aggressive, acid-containing, 
strongly alkaline, or coarse cleansers and 
do not use steam cleaners at temperatures 
greater than 1407/606; otherwise you may 
damage your vehicle.<
Aluminum running boards
A rust film on the aluminum running boards can 
be removed with a special cleaning agent.
Outside sensors/cameras
Make sure that sensors and cameras out-
side the vehicle, e.g. Park Distance Con-
trol, Top View, or rear view camera, are kept 
clean and free of ice in order to assure full func-
tionality.<
Interior care
Upholstery materials/cloth-covered 
paneling
Clean regularly with a vacuum cleaner in order 
to remove surface dirt.
In the event of more serious soiling such as bev-
erage stains, use a soft sponge or a lint-free 
microfiber cloth in combination with suitable 
interior cleaners. Follow the instructions on the 
packaging.
Clean upholstery material over a large 
area extending out to the seams. Avoid 
intense friction.<
Open Velcro fasteners on pants or other 
items of clothing can cause damage to 
the seat covering. Make sure that the Velcro 
fasteners are closed.<
Leather/leather-covered paneling
The leather used by BMW is a high quality 
natural product. Slight patterns in the 
grain are part of the typical properties of a natu-
ral leather.<
Dust and dirt from the road chafe in pores and 
folds and result in considerable wear and cause 
the leather surface to become prematurely brit-
tle. We therefore suggest that you clean the leather with a dust cloth or vacuum cleaner at 
regular intervals.
Particularly with light-colored leather, make 
sure to clean it regularly since it has a greater 
tendency to become soiled.
Treat the leather twice a year with a leather 
lotion since dirt and grease harm the protective 
layer of the leather.
Carpeting/floor mats*
Floor mats can be removed for cleaning.
If the carpets are very dirty, clean with a microfi-
ber cloth and water or an interior cleaner. To 
prevent matting of the carpet, rub back and 
forth in the direction of travel only.
Plastic components inside
>Vinyl upholstery surfaces
>Lamp lenses
>Cover glass of instrument cluster
>Matte parts
Should be cleaned with water and, if necessary, 
solvent-free plastic cleaner.
Fine wooden components
Use a damp cloth to clean fine wooden trim 
panels and components. Follow up by drying 
with a soft cloth.
Safety belts
Soiled seatbelt straps hinder the reeling, thus 
reducing safety.
Do not use chemical cleansers as they 
can destroy the webbing.<
Inside sensors/cameras
Clean inside sensors and cameras, such as 
those of the high-beam assistant, using a lint-
free cloth moistened with glass cleaner.
Displays
Clean displays like the radio or the instrument 
cluster using a display-cleaning cloth or a soft, 
nonabrasive lint-free cloth. 

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 

Reference 297
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
DVD video181
Dynamic destination 
guidance159
Dynamic Performance 
Control97
Dynamic Stability Control 
DSC95
Dynamic Traction, refer to 
Dynamic Traction 
Control96
Dynamic Traction Control 
DTC96
E
Easy entry/exit53
Eject button, refer to Buttons 
on the CD/DVD player168
Electrical malfunction
– door lock29
– driver's door29
– fuel filler flap234
– liftgate31
– parking brake62
Electric seat43
Electric steering wheel 
adjustment53
Electronic brake-force 
distribution95
Electronic oil level check253
Emergency operation, refer to 
Manual operation
– door lock29
– driver's door29
– fuel filler flap234
– liftgate31
Emergency request273
Emergency services, refer to 
Roadside Assistance274Engine
– breaking-in138
– data280
– oil temperature77
– overheated, refer to Coolant 
temperature77
– speed280
– starting59
– starting, with Comfort 
Access36
– switching off59
Engine compartment252
Engine coolant255
Engine oil
– adding254
– additives, refer to Approved 
engine oils255
– approved engine oil255
– checking oil level253
– electronic oil level check253
– temperature77
Engine oil temperature77
Engine output, refer to Engine 
data280
Engine speed280
Engine starting, refer to 
Starting engine59
Entering special destinations 
by name153
Entertainment sound output 
on/off168
Entry map for destination154
Equalizer, tone setting169
ESP Electronic Stability 
Program, refer to DSC 
Dynamic Stability 
Control95
Exhaust system, refer to Hot 
exhaust system139
Extended connectivity of the 
music player in the mobile 
phone192Exterior mirrors51
– adjusting51
– automatic dimming 
feature52
– automatic heating51
– folding in and out51
– tilting down passenger-side 
exterior mirror52
External audio device128
External devices
– random sequence194
Eye for tow-starting and 
towing, refer to Tow 
fitting276
F
Failure messages, refer to 
Check Control82
False alarm, refer to Avoiding 
unintentional alarms35
Fastening safety belts, refer to 
Safety belts48
– warning lamp48
Fastest route for 
navigation158
Fast forward
– CD changer181
– CD player181
Fault displays, refer to Check 
Control82
Filler neck for washer fluid67
First aid, refer to First-aid 
kit273
First-aid kit273
Fixing system, adaptive133
Flashing during locking/
unlocking, refer to Setting 
confirmation signals28
Flat tire
– changing wheels268
– compact wheel268
– Flat Tire Monitor99
– run-flat tires100,103,249
– TPM Tire Pressure 
Monitor101
Flat Tire Monitor FTM99
Fluid reservoir, refer to Filler 
neck for washer fluid67