
Notes
6
California Proposition 65 Warning
California laws require us to issue the following 
warning:
Engine exhaust and a wide variety of 
automobile components and parts, 
including components found in the interior fur-
nishings in a vehicle, contain or emit chemicals 
known to the State of California to cause cancer 
and birth defects and reproductive harm. In 
addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles and 
certain products of component wear contain or 
emit chemicals known to the State of California 
to cause cancer and birth defects or other 
reproductive harm. 
Battery posts, terminals and related accesso-
ries contain lead and lead compounds. Wash 
your hands after handling. 
Used engine oil contains chemicals that have 
caused cancer in laboratory animals. Always 
protect your skin by washing thoroughly with 
soap and water.<
Service and warranty
We recommend that you read this publication 
thoroughly.
Your BMW is covered by the following warran-
ties:
>New Vehicle Limited Warranty
>Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
>Federal Emissions System Defect Warranty
>Federal Emissions Performance Warranty
>California Emission Control System Limited 
Warranty
Detailed information about these warranties is 
listed in the Service and Warranty Information 
Booklet for US models or in the Warranty and 
Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
Your vehicle has been specifically adapted and 
designed to meet the particular operating con-
ditions and homologation requirements in your 
country and continental region in order to 
deliver the full driving pleasure while the vehicle 
is operated under those conditions. If you wish 
to operate your vehicle in another country or 
region, you may be required to adapt your vehi-
cle to meet different prevailing operating condi-
tions and homologation requirements. You 
should also be aware of any applicable warranty 
limitations or exclusions for such country or 
region. In such case, please contact Customer 
Relations for further information. 

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 

Driving
66 5Setting interval for intermittent wipe or sen-
sitivity of rain sensor
Switching on wipers
Pull the lever upward, arrow1.
The lever automatically returns to its initial posi-
tion when released.
Normal wiper speed
Press once. 
The system reverts to operation in the intermit-
tent mode with the vehicle stationary.
Fast wiper speed
Press twice or press beyond the resistance 
point. 
The system reverts to normal speed with the 
vehicle stationary.
Intermittent wipe or rain sensor
With the rain sensor, the wiper operation is con-
trolled automatically as a function of the rain 
intensity. The rain sensor is located on the 
windshield, directly in front of the interior rear-
view mirror.
Activating intermittent operation or 
rain sensor
Press the button, arrow3. The LED in the but-
ton lights up.
Setting interval for intermittent wipe or 
sensitivity of rain sensor
Turn the thumbwheel5.
Deactivating intermittent operation or 
rain sensor
Press the button again, arrow3. The LED goes 
out.
Deactivate the rain sensor when passing 
through an automatic car wash. Failure to 
do so could result in damage caused by undes-
ired wiper activation.<
Cleaning windshield and headlamps*
Pull the lever, arrow4.
The system sprays washer fluid against the 
windshield and activates the wipers for a brief 
period.
When the vehicle lighting system is switched 
on, the headlamps are also cleaned at regular 
and appropriate intervals.
Do not use the washers if there is any 
danger that the fluid will freeze on the 
windshield. If you do so, your vision could be 
obscured. To avoid freezing, use a washer fluid 
antifreeze, refer to Washer fluid. Do not use 
washing mechanisms when the washer fluid 
reservoir is empty, otherwise you will damage 
the washer pump.<
Windshield washer nozzles
Both windshield washer nozzles are automati-
cally heated with the engine running or the igni-
tion switched on.
BMW X5: rear window wiper
1Intermittent mode. When reverse gear is 
engaged, continuous operation is switched 
on automatically
2Cleaning the rear window 

Controls
 67Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Do not use washing mechanisms when 
the washer fluid reservoir is empty, other-
wise you will damage the washer pump.<
Washer fluid
Washer fluid antifreeze is flammable. For 
this reason, keep it away from ignition 
sources and store only in the closed original 
container out of reach of children. Otherwise, 
there is the danger of bodily injury. Always 
observe the instructions for use provided on the 
containers.<
Filler neck for washer fluid
Only add washer fluid with the engine 
cooled down to exclude contact with hot 
engine components. Otherwise there is a dan-
ger of fire and to personal safety if the fluid is 
spilled.<
All washer nozzles are supplied from one reser-
voir.
Fill with water and – if required – with a washer 
antifreeze, according to manufacturer's recom-
mendations.
In order to maintain the mixture ratio, mix 
the washer fluid before filling.<
Capacity
Approx. 6.3 US quarts/6 liters.
Cruise control*
The concept
The cruise control with a braking function is 
available for use at speeds of approx. 20 mph/
30 km/h and higher. The vehicle stores and 
maintains the speed that you set using the lever 
mounted on the steering column. To keep the 
specified speed constant, the system brakes if 
the engine braking effect is not sufficient on a 
downhill grade.
Do not use the cruise control under driv-
ing conditions that do not permit a con-
stant speed, e.g. when driving on winding 
roads, in heavy traffic or in poor road conditions 
such as snow, rain, ice, and loose road surface. 
Otherwise you could lose control of the vehicle 
and cause an accident.<
One lever for all functions
1Maintaining, storing and increasing the 
speed
2Maintaining, storing and reducing the 
speed
3Interrupting and deactivating the system
4Resuming stored speed
Maintaining, storing and increasing the 
speed
Press the lever to the resistance point, arrow1:
The system maintains and stores the current 
vehicle speed. The display1 in the speedome-
ter shows the controlled speed, refer to 
page68.
Each time the lever is pressed, the speed 
increases by approx. 1 mph or 1 km/h. 

Controls
 81Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Displaying service requirements
1Knob for selecting display
2Service requirements
3Engine oil
4Legally mandated inspections
*
5Front brake pads6Rear brake pads
7Brake fluid
The sequence of the displayed maintenance 
items can vary. First the data for the next main-
tenance are displayed.
More information
Detailed information on service 
requirements
More information on the scope of service 
required can be displayed on the Control Dis-
play.
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status"
3."Service required"Required maintenance procedures and legally 
mandated inspections are displayed.
You can request more detailed information on 
every entry:
Select the entry and press the controller.
To exit from the menu:
Move the controller to the left.
Symbols
No service is currently required. 
The deadline for service or a legally man-
dated inspection is approaching. Please 
arrange a service appointment.
The service deadline has already passed.  

Driving tips
 141Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Make sure that no fluids leak in the cargo 
area; otherwise the vehicle could be dam-
aged.<
Determining loading limit
1.Locate the following statement on your 
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants 
and cargo should never exceed 
YYY lbs. or XXX kg. Otherwise, this could 
damage the vehicle and produce unstable 
vehicle operating conditions.<
2.Determine the combined weight of the 
driver and passengers that will be riding in 
your vehicle.
3.Subtract the combined weight of the driver 
and passengers from YYY lbs. or XXX kg.
4.The resulting figure equals the available 
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity. 
For example, if the YYY amount equals 
1,400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lbs. 
passengers in your vehicle, the amount of 
available cargo and luggage load capacity is 
650 lbs.: 
1,400 lbs. minus 750 lbs. = 650 lbs.
5.Determine the combined weight of luggage 
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That 
weight may not safely exceed the available 
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated 
in step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, part of 
the load from your trailer will be transferred 
to your vehicle. Consult the manual for 
transporting a trailer to determine how this 
may reduce the available cargo and luggage 
load capacity of your vehicle.
Load
BMW X5:
BMW X6:
The permissible load is the total of the weight of 
occupants and cargo/luggage. The greater the 
weight of occupants, the less cargo/luggage 
can be transported. 

Refueling
236 Do not mix in any additives or gasoline; 
otherwise, there is the risk of engine dam-
age.<
BMW X5 with BMW Advanced 
Diesel
The concept
BMW Advanced Diesel reduces nitrogen oxides 
in the diesel exhaust of your vehicle by injecting 
the reducing agent diesel exhaust fluid into the 
exhaust line. In the catalytic converter, a chem-
ical reaction occurs that minimizes nitrogen 
oxides.
In order to be able to start the engine in the 
usual way, there must be a sufficient supply of 
diesel exhaust fluid in the separate reservoir.
System heating
In order to bring the system to operating tem-
perature after a cold start of the engine, the 
automatic transmission shifts into the next 
higher gear at a later point.
Reserve display
A display in the instrument panel informs you 
about the remaining distance can be covered 
with the amount of fuel currently in the tank.
The reserve display appears approx. 
1,000 miles/1,600 km before the end of the 
tank.
As soon as the reserve display has 
appeared in the instrument panel, have 
the diesel exhaust fluid refilled to prevent the 
engine from being unable to restart.<
Diesel exhaust fluid at minimum
Even with a display of -- mls, the engine will 
continue to run, provided that it is not switched 
off, and all other operating requirements are 
met, e.g. sufficient fuel.
Do not drive until the displayed remaining 
distance runs out. Otherwise, it may not 
be possible to restart the engine.<
Incorrect fueling
The warning lamp lights up:
The reservoir has been filled with an 
incorrect fluid.
Please contact your BMW Sports Activity Vehi-
cle Center. 

Mobility
 237Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Have diesel exhaust fluid refilled
Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center refills 
the diesel exhaust fluid as part of the regular 
maintenance. If you adhere to this maintenance 
schedule, it is usually not necessary to refill any 
fluids between the maintenance dates.
Under certain circumstances, e.g. due to a par-
ticularly sporty driving style or operation of the 
vehicle at high altitudes, it may be necessary to 
refill fluids between maintenance dates.
As soon as the reserve display has appeared in 
the instrument panel, have the diesel exhaust 
fluid refilled to prevent the engine from being 
unable to restart.
You can have the fluid refilled by a BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle Center.
Diesel exhaust fluid at low 
temperatures
Due to its physical properties, it may be 
necessary to replenish the level of diesel 
exhaust fluid at temperatures below +237/
-56 even between the regular maintenance 
intervals.
If the fluid needs to be refilled, this will be indi-
cated with the reserve display in the instrument 
panel, refer to page236.<
Only refill the diesel exhaust fluid 
yourself in exceptional circumstances
In order to get your vehicle to reach the nearest 
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center, you may 
refill the diesel exhaust fluid yourself, making 
sure to heed the warning notices.
Do not allow diesel exhaust fluid to come 
into contact with you. This can lead to 
skin and eye irritation. Wear protective goggles 
and gloves as needed. Follow the safety 
instructions on the bottle.
When opening the bottle or reservoir, pungent 
smelling vapors can escape. Before refilling, 
close the vehicle completely so that the vapors 
do not get into the interior of the vehicle. When 
handling diesel exhaust fluid in enclosed 
spaces, make sure to have sufficient ventilation.
After handling diesel exhaust fluid, wash hands 
thoroughly. Failure to do so may lead to irrita-tion, e.g. due to inadvertent contact with the 
eyes.
If eye irritation occurs, immediately rinse eyes 
with ample water and contact a doctor if neces-
sary.
If diesel exhaust fluid comes into contact with 
surfaces of your vehicle, rinse the affected sur-
faces with water or else damage may occur.
Keep diesel exhaust fluid out of reach of chil-
dren.<
Suitable diesel exhaust fluid
>Preferred: BMW Diesel Exhaust Fluid.
This bottle and its special adapter permit 
convenient refilling with diesel exhaust 
fluid.
>Alternative: NOx reduction agent AUS 32
You can get diesel exhaust fluid at your BMW 
Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
Refilling quantity
Refilling quantity at the start of the reserve dis-
play: approx. 0.75 gallons/2.7 liters
Open reservoir for diesel exhaust fluid
1.Open hood, refer to page251.
2.Fit releasing tool from onboard tool kit, refer 
to page262 into place and open the lock, 
refer to arrow.