
Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find information on a partic-
ular topic or item is by using the index, refer to 
page292.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
7Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
21Letters and numbers
22Voice activation system
Controls
26Opening and closing
42Adjusting
54Transporting children safely
58Driving
76Controls Overview
88Technology for comfort, convenience 
and safety
111Lamps
116Climate
124Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
138Things to remember when driving
Navigation
148Navigation system
149Destination entry
158Destination guidance
165What to do if …
Entertainment
168On/off and tone
171Radio
174Satellite radio
179CD/DVD player and CD/DVD changer
187Music collection
192External devices
196DVD system in rear
Communications
212Telephone
224Contacts
226BMW Assist
Mobility
234Refueling
239Wheels and tires
251Under the hood
256Maintenance
258Care
262Replacing components
273Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
280Technical data
285Short commands of voice activation 
system
292Everything from A - Z 

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
 27Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
>Displays on Control Display:
>Brightness of the Control Display, refer 
to page86
>Measuring units for consumption, route/
distances, temperature, and pressure, 
refer to page86
>Language on Control Display, refer to 
page86
>12h/24h clock format, refer to page85
>Date format, refer to page85
>Lighting settings:
>Triple turn signal activation, refer to 
page65
>Welcome lamps, refer to page111
>Pathway lighting, refer to page112
>Daytime driving lamps
*, refer to 
page112
>High-beam Assistant
*, refer to 
page113
>PDC Park Distance Control
*: optical warn-
ing, refer to page89
>Top View
*: optical warning, refer to 
page91
>Side View
*, refer to page92
>Rear view camera
*:
>Selecting functions, refer to page93
>Type of display, refer to page95
>Lane departure warning
*: last status, on/
off, refer to page104
>Head-up Display
*: selection, brightness 
and position of display, refer to page109
>Automatic climate control: AUTO program 
and intensity, cooling function, and auto-
matic recirculated-air control/recirculated-
air mode, temperature, air distribution, ven-
tilation temperature, starting on page117
>Programmable memory buttons: selecting 
stored functions, refer to page20
>Positions of driver's seat, outside mirrors, 
and steering wheel
*, refer to page44
>Adaptive Drive
*: selected chassis and sus-
pension tuning, refer to page98>Audio sources: volume and tone settings, 
refer to page168
>Radio:
>Display of stored stations, refer to 
page173
>Switching RDS Radio Data System on/
off
*, refer to page172
>Phone: volume setting, refer to 
pages215,220
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system functions when the 
driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and 
releases the locks on the following:
>Doors
>Liftgate
>Fuel filler flap
Operating from outside
>Using the remote control
>Using the door lock
>With Comfort Access
* using the door han-
dles
The interior lamps and the courtesy lamps
* are 
also switched on and off with the remote con-
trol. The alarm system
 is armed/disarmed at the 
same time.
You can find more detailed information on the 
alarm system
 on page34.
Operating from inside
Using the button for central locking, refer to 
page30. The fuel filler flap is not locked.
In an accident of sufficient severity, the central 
locking system automatically unlocks the vehi-
cle. In addition, the hazard warning flashers and 
interior lamps come on. 

Opening and closing
28
Opening and closing:
Using remote control
Persons or animals in a parked vehicle 
could lock the doors from the inside. 
Always take along the remote control when 
leaving the vehicle so that the vehicle can then 
be opened from the outside.<
Unlocking
Press the  button. 
This unlocks the vehicle.
Setting unlocking behavior
You can set whether the first press of the button 
unlocks only the driver's door or the entire vehi-
cle.
1."Settings"
2."Door locks"
3."Unlock button"
4.Select a menu item:
>"All doors"
Press the   button once to unlock the 
entire vehicle.
>"Driver's door only"
Press the  button once to unlock only 
the driver's door and the fuel filler flap.
Press the button twice to unlock the 
entire vehicle.
5.Press the controller.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Comfort opening
Press and hold the  button. The windows and 
the glass sunroof
*/panoramic glass sunroof* 
are opened.
Locking
Press the  button.
Do not lock the vehicle from the outside if 
persons are inside because unlocking 
from the inside is not possible without special 
knowledge.<
Switching on interior lamps
With vehicle locked:
Press the  button.
You can also use this function to locate your 
vehicle in parking garages etc.
Panic mode*
You can also trigger the alarm system in case of 
danger:
Press the  button for at least 3 seconds.
Switch off alarm: press any button.
Unlocking liftgate
Press the  button for approx. 1 second.
The liftgate will open slightly, regardless of 
whether it was previously locked or unlocked.
During opening, the liftgate pivots back 
and up. Ensure that adequate clearance is 
available before opening. 
To prevent accidentally locking yourself out, 
never lay the remote control in the cargo area. A 
previously locked liftgate is also locked again 
after closing.<
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.<
Confirmation signals
You can activate or deactivate the confirmation 
signals. 

Controls
 29Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
1."Settings"
2."Door locks"
3."Flash when lock/unlock"
4.Press the controller.
 Flashing when locking/unlocking the vehi-
cle is switched on.
Malfunctions
The remote control may malfunction due to 
local radio waves. Should the remote control fail 
to operate due to interference of this kind, 
unlock and lock the vehicle using the door lock 
using a key.
If it is no longer possible to lock the vehicle 
using the remote control, then the battery is 
discharged. Use this remote control during an 
extended drive; this will recharge the battery, 
refer to page26.
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply with 
part 15 of the FCC/Federal Communications 
Commission regulations. Operation is gov-
erned by the following:
FCC ID:
LX8766S 
LX8766E 
LX8CAS
LX8CAS2
Compliance statement: 
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC 
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two 
conditions:
>This device must not cause harmful inter-
ference, and>This device must accept any interference 
received, including interference that may 
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications or 
changes to these devices could void the 
user's authority to operate this equipment.<
Opening and closing:
Using door lock
Do not lock the vehicle from the outside if 
persons are inside because unlocking 
from the inside is not possible without special 
knowledge.<
When unlocking
1.Turning the key once unlocks the driver's 
door and the fuel filler flap.
2.Turning the key a second time unlocks the 
remaining doors and the liftgate.
Convenient opening and closing
You can use the door lock to operate the win-
dows and the glass sunroof
*/panoramic glass 
sunroof
*.
Turn and hold the key in the positions for 
unlocking or locking.
Watch during the closing process to be 
sure that no one is injured. Rotating the 
key back into the initial position stops the 
movement.<
Manual operation
In the event of an electrical malfunction, you can 
turn a key all the way to the right or left in the 
door lock to lock or unlock the driver's door. 

Opening and closing
30
Opening and closing: 
From inside
This button serves to unlock or lock doors and 
the liftgate, with the front doors closed. It does 
not activate the anti-theft system. The fuel filler 
flap remains unlocked.
Automatic locking
You can also set the situations in which the 
vehicle is locked.
1."Settings"
2."Door locks"
3.Select the desired function:
>"Lock if no door is opened" 
The central locking system locks the 
vehicle after a short time, unless a door 
has been opened.
>"Lock after start. to drive" 
The central locking system locks the 
vehicle when you drive away.
 The function is switched on and is stored 
for the remote control currently in use.
Unlocking and opening
>Either unlock the doors together with the 
button for the central locking system and then pull the door handle above the armrest 
or
>Pull on the door handle of each door twice: 
the first time unlocks the door, the second 
time opens it.
Locking
>Use the central locking button to lock all of 
the doors simultaneously, or
>Press down the lock button of a door. 
To prevent you from being locked out, the 
open driver's door cannot be locked using 
the lock button.
Persons or animals left unattended in a 
parked vehicle can lock the doors from 
the inside. Always take along the remote control 
when leaving the vehicle so that the vehicle can 
then be opened from the outside.<
Doors
Automatic soft closing*
To close the doors, merely push them gently. 
The closing process will then be carried out 
automatically.
Make sure that the closing path of the 
doors is clear; otherwise injuries may 
result.<
BMW X5: liftgate
During opening, the liftgate pivots back 
and up. Ensure that adequate clearance is 
available before opening.< 

Controls
 59Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
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: 

Driving
64
R Reverse
Select only with the vehicle stationary.
A lock prevents the transmission from being 
inadvertently shifted into position R. To release 
the lock, press the unlock button1.
P Park
Select only with the vehicle stationary. The rear 
wheels are locked.
P is engaged automatically as soon as 
you switch off the engine unless N is 
engaged and on vehicles with Comfort Access 
the remote control is inserted in the ignition 
lock, refer to page58.<
N Neutral
Can, for example, be engaged in automatic car 
washes. The vehicle can roll.
N remains engaged even after the engine 
is switched off whenever you leave the 
remote control in the ignition lock. This function 
is used, for example, in a car wash, refer to 
page59. After approx. 30 minutes P is auto-
matically engaged.<
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for-
ward gears are available.
Under normal operating conditions, the fuel 
consumption is lowest when driving in position 
D.
Kickdown
The kickdown mode provides maximum accel-
eration.
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the 
increased resistance at full throttle.
Sport program and manual mode M/S
Press selector lever out of transmission 
position D toward the left: 
The Sport program is activated and DS is dis-
played in the instrument panel; in the BMW X6, 
S4 is displayed, for example. This position is 
recommended for a performance-oriented driv-
ing style.
When the selector lever is pressed forward or 
back, the manual mode is activated and the 
Steptronic shifts the gear. The transmission 
position, e. g. M4, is indicated in the instrument 
panel.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only 
when they will result in a plausible combination 
of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example, 
a downshift that would cause the engine to 
overrev will not be executed by the system. The 
selected gear is briefly displayed in the instru-
ment panel, followed by the current gear.
To use the automatic function again, press the 
selector lever to the right into position D.
BMW X6: changing gears using shifting 
paddles on steering wheel
The shifting paddles make it possible to quickly 
change gears since both hands can remain on 
the steering wheel.
>In automatic mode D, if you shift using the 
shifting paddles on the steering wheel, then 
the system switches into manual mode.
>If, after a certain amount of time, you neither 
shift with the shifting paddles nor acceler-
ate, then the system switches back into 
automatic mode D.