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Mobility
The ignition switches off automatically* if the 
driver's door is opened. Pressing the Start/Stop 
button again switches the ignition back on.
For example, the ignition is not switched off in 
the following situations:
>The brakes are actuated
>The low beams are switched on
Starting engine
Do not run the engine in enclosed areas, 
otherwise the inhalation of toxic exhaust 
gases can cause loss of consciousness and 
death. The exhaust gases contain carbon mon-
oxide, an odorless and colorless, but highly 
toxic gas. 
Never leave an unattended vehicle with the 
engine running, as such a vehicle represents a 
potential safety hazard. 
To prevent the vehicle from rolling, always 
engage transmission position N or P and set the 
parking brake before leaving the vehicle with 
the engine running.<
Do not allow the engine to warm up by leaving it 
running while the vehicle remains stationary. 
Instead, begin to drive at a moderate engine 
speed.
The engine starts when you depress the 
brake pedal while pressing the Start/Stop 
button.<
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion or repeated starting attempts in 
which the engine does not start. Otherwise, the 
fuel is not burned or inadequately burned and 
there is a danger of overheating and damaging 
the catalytic converter.
1.Depress brake pedal.
2.Press the Start/Stop button.
The system responds by automatically engag-
ing the starter for a certain period and automat-
ically disengaging it as soon as the engine 
starts.
Diesel engine
When the engine is cold and at temperatures 
below approx. 327/06 the starting process 
may be somewhat delayed due to automatic 
preglowing. The preglowing indicator lamp in 
the instrument panel lights up. A message 
appears on the Control Display.
Switching off engine
When leaving the vehicle, always take 
along the remote control. 
Set the parking brake firmly when parking; oth-
erwise, the vehicle could roll.<
Procedure
1.Engage transmission position P with the 
vehicle stationary.
2.Press the Start/Stop button.
3.Set the parking brake.
4.Remove the remote control from the igni-
tion lock, refer to page58.
Before driving into a car wash
The vehicle can roll if you proceed according to 
the following steps: 

Mobility
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Fuel specifications
Gasoline engine: required fuel
Do not use leaded gasoline, otherwise 
damage to the catalytic converter will 
result.
Do not use E85, i.e. fuel that consists of 85 % 
ethanol, or Flex Fuel, otherwise permanent 
damage to the engine and the fuel supply sys-
tem will result.<
Super Premium Gasoline/AKI 91
This gasoline is highly recommended.
However, you may also use gasoline with less 
AKI. The minimum AKI Rating is:
>BMW X5: 87
>BMW X6: 89
If you use gasoline with this minimum AKI Rat-
ing, the engine may produce knocking sounds 
when starting at high outside temperatures. 
This has no affect on the engine life.
Do not use gasoline below the specified 
minimum quality, otherwise engine dam-
age can result.<
Use high-quality brands
Field experience has indicated significant dif-
ferences in fuel quality: volatility, composition, 
additives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale 
in the United States and Canada. Fuels contain-
ing up to and including 10 % ethanol or other 
oxygenates with up to 2.8 % oxygen by weight, 
that is, 15 % MTBE or 3 % methanol plus an 
equivalent amount of cosolvent, will not void the 
applicable warranties with respect to defects in 
materials or workmanship.
The use of poor-quality fuels may result in 
drivability, starting and stalling problems 
especially under certain environmental condi-
tions such as high ambient temperature and 
high altitude. 
Should you encounter drivability problems 
which you suspect could be related to the fuel 
you are using, we recommend that you respond 
by switching to a recognized high-quality brand 
such as gasoline that is advertised as Top Tier Detergent Gasoline. 
Failure to comply with these recommendations 
may also result in unscheduled maintenance.<
BMW X5 with BMW Advanced Diesel: 
required fuel
Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel
The engine of your BMW is designed for diesel 
with a low sulfur content:
Ultra-low sulfur diesel ASTM D 975-07a.
Only refuel with ultra-low sulfur diesel. 
The percentage of biodiesel in the fuel 
must not exceed 5Ξ, referred to as B5. Do not 
refuel with gasoline. If the vehicle has been 
refueled with incorrect fuel such as gasoline, do 
not start the engine; otherwise, there is a dan-
ger of engine damage.<
After incorrect refueling, contact a BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle Center.
The fuel filling neck is designed for refuel-
ing with diesel nozzles.
If the nozzle cannot be inserted into the fuel 
filler pipe of your BMW, please check to make 
sure that you are refueling with a diesel fuel 
pump and whether this is equipped with a diesel 
nozzle.<
In the event the ultra-low sulfur diesel 
nozzle cannot be fully inserted into the 
fuel filler neck, please contact BMW Roadside 
Assistance for instructions on how to add fuel. 
For more information on BMW Roadside Assis-
tance, refer to page274.<
Winter diesel
In order to assure the operational reliability of 
the diesel engine, during cold seasons, please 
refuel with winter diesel, which is sold at filling 
stations during this time of year. The standard 
fuel filter heating prevents the supply of fuel 
from stalling during driving. 

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. 

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Socket for OBD Onboard 
Diagnostics interface
The chief components that make up the emis-
sions content can be checked by a device that 
uses the OBD socket.
This socket is located to the left on the driver's 
side, on the underside of the instrument cluster 
under a cover.
Emissions
The warning lamp lights up:
The vehicle is producing higher emis-
sions. Continued driving is possible. 
Have the vehicle checked as soon as possible.
The lamp flashes under certain conditions. This 
is a sign of excessive misfiring of the engine. In 
this case, you should reduce your speed and 
proceed to the nearest BMW Sports Activity 
Vehicle Center. Heavy engine misfiring causes 
serious damage to the emission-relevant com-
ponents, especially the catalytic converter, 
within a short time.
The warning lamp lights up if the fuel 
cap has not been properly tightened 
and the OBD system detects the 
escape of fuel vapors. Check that the fuel cap is 
correctly seated and tighten it until you hear a 
clearly audible click.
Data memory
Your vehicle records data on vehicle operation, 
malfunctions and user settings. These data are 
stored in the vehicle and in part in the remote 
control and can be read out by suitable devices 
during service, for example. The read data are 
used to assist in servicing and repairing your 
vehicle or for the optimization and continued development of vehicle functions. In addition, if 
you signed a service contract for Assist, certain 
vehicle data can be sent directly from the vehi-
cle to facilitate the desired services. 

Everything from A - Z
294 Breaking-in rear axle 
differential138
Break-in period138
Brightness
– of Control Display86
– on Head-up Display109
Button for starting engine58
Buttons on steering wheel11
C
Calibrating driver's seat49
California Proposition 65 
Warning6
Call
– accepting215
– ending216
– rejecting216
Calling, refer to Phone 
numbers, dialing216
Calling, refer to the telephone 
owner's manual
Camera
– refer to Rear view camera93
– refer to Top View90
Camera, Side View93
Can holder, refer to 
Cupholders128
Capacities284
Capacity of cargo area283
Car battery, refer to Vehicle 
battery270Care258
– car-care products258
– carpets260
– car washes258
– CD/DVD-player261
– chrome components259
– displays260
– exterior258
– fine wooden 
components260
– hand washing259
– headlamps259
– high-pressure cleaning 
jets259
– interior260
– leather260
– light-alloy wheels259
– paint259
– plastic components260
– rubber gaskets259
– running boards260
– safety belts260
– sensors and cameras260
– upholstery materials and 
cloth-covered paneling260
– windows259
Cargo
– refer to Loading140
– securing142
– securing with ski bag135
Cargo area
– capacity283
– emergency actuation, refer 
to Manually opening or 
closing34
– emergency operation, refer 
to Opening manually31
– expanding132
– opening
33
– opening/closing, refer to 
Liftgate30,33
– opening/closing, refer to 
Tailgate32
– opening from inside31
– opening from outside31
– opening with remote 
control28
Cargo area, refer to Cargo 
area131Cargo area cover, refer to 
Luggage compartment 
roller cover131
Caring for the vehicle 
finish259
Car key, refer to Keys/remote 
control26
Car phone
– installation location, refer to 
Center armrest, front128
– refer to separate operating 
instructions
Car phone, refer to 
Telephone212
Car radio, refer to Radio171
Car wash258
– before driving in59
– with Comfort Access36
Car washes258
Catalytic converter, refer to 
Hot exhaust system139
CBC Cornering Brake 
Control95
CBS Condition Based 
Service256
CD, audio playback180
CD, refer to Playing audio 
tracks, DVD system in 
rear202
CD/DVD changer
– magazine, loading183
CD-/DVD player in rear197
CD changer179,183
– controls168
– fast forward/reverse181
– random play sequence180
– selecting a track180
– switching on/off168
– tone control168
– volume168
CD player179
– controls168
– fast forward/reverse181
– random play sequence180
– selecting a track180
– switching on/off168
– tone control168
– volume168