2012 BMW X3 towing

Unlocking the tailgate separately
Press the button on the exterior of the tailgate.
This corresponds to pressing the
button.
Do not place the remote control in the
cargo area
Take the remote control with you and do not
leave it in the cargo area; otherwise, the remote
control is locked inside the vehicle when the tail‐
gate is closed.◀
Malfunction
Comfort Access may not function properly if it
experiences interference from external sources
such as mobile phones, metal objects, overhead
power lines, transmission towers, etc.
In this case, open or close the vehicle using the
buttons on the remote control or use the
integrated key in the door lock.
To subsequently start the engine, hold the re‐
mote control against the marked area on the
steering column, refer to page 31.
Alarm system
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds to:
▷Opening of a door, the hood or the tailgate.▷Movements in the vehicle.▷Changes in the vehicle tilt, e.g., during at‐
tempts to steal a wheel or when towing the
car.▷Interruptions in battery voltage.
The alarm system briefly indicates tampering:
▷By sounding an acoustic alarm.▷By switching on the hazard warning system.▷By flashing the high beams.Arming and disarming the alarm
system
General information
When you lock or unlock the vehicle, either with
the remote control, Comfort Access or at the
door lock the alarm system is armed or disarmed
at the same time.
Door lock and armed alarm system
Unlocking via the door lock will trigger the alarm
on some country-specific versions.
In order to terminate this alarm, unlock vehicle
with the remote control or switch on the ignition,
if necessary, by emergency detection of the re‐
mote control.
Tailgate and armed alarm system
The tailgate can be opened using the remote
control, even if the alarm system is armed.
Press the button on the remote control
for approx. 1 second.
After the tailgate is closed, it is locked and moni‐
tored again by the alarm system. The hazard
warning system flashes once.
In some vehicle equipment variants, the tailgate
can only be opened using the remote control if
the vehicle was unlocked first.
Panic mode Press the button on the remote control
for at least 3 seconds.
Switching off the alarm▷Unlock the vehicle using the remote control.▷With Comfort Access: if you are carrying the
remote control with you, pull on the door
handle.Seite 41Opening and closingControls41
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Stowing cargo▷Very heavy cargo: when the rear seat is not
occupied, secure each of the outer safety
belts in the opposite buckle.▷Cover sharp edges and corners.▷Do not stack cargo above the top edge of the
backrests.▷Heavy cargo: stow as far forward and as low
as possible, ideally directly behind the rear
seat.▷If necessary, fold down the rear backrests to
stow cargo.▷Use the partition net, refer to page 120, to
protect passengers. Make sure that objects
cannot penetrate the partition net.▷Place protective material around any sharp-
edged or pointed objects that could bump
against the rear window while the vehicle is
in motion.Securing cargo
Lashing eyes in the cargo area
To secure the cargo, there are four lashing eyes
in the cargo area
Lashing eyes in the cargo area with rails
To secure the cargo, there are four movable
lashing eyes in the cargo area
To slide the lashing eyes, press the button, ar‐
row 1. Make sure that the lashing eyes latch at
the new position.
If available, the lashing eyes are located under
the cargo floor cover in the cargo area. They can
be inserted into the openings in the rails.
Seite 132Driving tipsLoading132
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attempt in order to allow the discharged bat‐
tery to recharge.3.Let both engines run for several minutes.4.Disconnect the jumper cables in the reverse
order.
Check the battery and recharge if necessary.
Tow-starting and towing
Automatic transmission: transporting
your vehicle
Note
Your vehicle is not permitted to be towed.
Therefore, contact a service center in the event
of a breakdown.
Do not have the vehicle towed
Have your vehicle transported on a loading
platform only; otherwise, damage may occur.◀
Tow truck
Do not lift the vehicle
Do not lift the vehicle by the tow fitting or
body and chassis parts; otherwise, damage may
result.◀
Use the tow fitting screwed in at the front for
maneuvering the vehicle only.
Towing other vehicles
General information Light towing vehicle
Your vehicle must not be lighter than the
vehicle being towed; otherwise, it will not be
possible to control vehicle response.◀
Attaching the tow bar/tow rope correctly
Attach the tow bar or tow rope to the tow
fitting; connecting it to other vehicle parts may
cause damage.◀▷Switch on the hazard warning system, de‐
pending on local regulations.▷If the electrical system has failed, clearly
identify the vehicle being towed by placing
a sign or a warning triangle in the rear win‐
dow.
Tow bar
The tow fittings used should be on the same
side on both vehicles.
Should it prove impossible to avoid mounting
the tow bar at an offset angle, please observe
the following:
▷Maneuvering capability is limited during cor‐
nering.▷The tow bar will generate lateral forces if it
is secured with an offset.
Tow rope
When starting to tow the vehicle, make sure that
the tow rope is taut.
To avoid jerking and the associated stresses on
the vehicle components when towing, always
use nylon ropes or nylon straps.
Attaching the tow rope correctly
Only secure the tow rope on the tow fit‐
ting; otherwise, damage can occur when it is se‐
cured on other parts of the vehicle.◀
Seite 246MobilityBreakdown assistance246
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Tow fitting
The screw-in tow fitting should always be car‐
ried in the vehicle. It can be screwed in at the
front or rear of the BMW. It is stored in the on‐
board vehicle tool kit behind the left folding
cover in the cargo area.
Tow fitting, information on use
▷Use only the tow fitting provided with
the vehicle and screw it all the way in.▷Use the tow fitting for towing on paved roads
only.▷Avoid lateral loading of the tow fitting, e.g.,
do not lift the vehicle by the tow fitting.
Otherwise, damage to the tow fitting and the ve‐
hicle can occur.◀
Screw thread
Push out the cover by pressing on the top edge.
Front
Rear
Tow-starting
Automatic transmission
Do not tow-start the vehicle.
Due to the automatic transmission, the engine
cannot be started by tow-starting.
Have the cause of the starting difficulties rem‐
edied.
Seite 247Breakdown assistanceMobility247
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Destination guidance 146
Destination guidance with in‐ termediate destinations 144
Destination input, naviga‐ tion 138
Digital clock 73
Digital radio 159
Dimensions 254
Dimmable exterior mirrors 53
Dimmable interior rearview mirror 54
Direction indicator, refer to Turn signals 62
Displacement, engine 255
Display, electronic, instrument cluster 69
Display in front wind‐ shield 107
Display lighting, refer to Instru‐ ment lighting 84
Displays 68
Displays, cleaning 251
Disposal, coolant 233
Disposal, vehicle battery 242
Distance control, refer to PDC 101
Distance to destination 76
Divided screen view, split screen 20
Door lock, refer to Remote control 30
Downhill control 95
Drive-off assistant, refer to DSC 94
Driving instructions, breaking in 128
Driving notes, general 128
Driving stability control sys‐ tems 94
Driving tips 128
DSC Dynamic Stability Con‐ trol 94
DTC Dynamic Traction Con‐ trol 95
DVD/CD 166
DVD/CD notes 172 DVD changer 170
DVD settings 169
DVDs, storing 173
DVD, video 168
Dynamic Damping Control 96
Dynamic destination guid‐ ance 152
Dynamic Driving Control 97
Dynamic Stability Control DSC 94
Dynamic Traction Control DTC 95
E
Electronic displays, instru‐ ment combination 69
Electronic engine oil level check 231
Electronic Stability Program ESP, refer to DSC 94
Emergency detection, remote control 31
Emergency release, door lock 37
Emergency release, fuel filler flap 218
Emergency Request 243
Emergency service, refer to Roadside Assistance 244
Emergency start function, en‐ gine start 31
Energy Control 73
Energy recovery 74
Engine compartment 229
Engine compartment, working in 229
Engine coolant 232
Engine oil 231
Engine oil, adding 231
Engine oil additives 232
Engine oil change 232
Engine oil filler neck 231
Engine oil temperature 72
Engine oil types, alterna‐ tive 232 Engine oil types, ap‐
proved 232
Engine specifications 255
Engine start during malfunc‐ tion 31
Engine start, refer to Starting the engine 59
Engine start, Starting aid 244
Engine stop 59
Engine temperature 72
Entering a car wash 248
Equalizer 156
Equipment, interior 116
ESP Electronic Stability Pro‐ gram, refer to DSC 94
Exchanging wheels/tires 226
Exhaust system 128
Exterior mirror, automatic dim‐ ming feature 53
Exterior mirrors 52
External devices 178
External start 244
External temperature dis‐ play 73
External temperature warn‐ ing 73
Eyes for securing cargo 132
F
Fader 156
Failure message, refer to Check Control 70
False alarm, refer to Uninten‐ tional alarm 42
Fan, refer to Air vol‐ ume 110, 113
Fault displays, refer to Check Control 70
Filler neck for engine oil 231
Fine wood, care 250
First aid kit 244
Fitting for towing, refer to Tow fitting 247
Flat tire, changing wheels 241
Flat Tire Monitor FTM 91 Seite 270ReferenceEverything from A to Z270
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Flat tire, Tire Pressure MonitorTPM 88
Flat tire, warning lamp 89, 92
Flooding 129
Floor carpet, care 250
Floor mats, care 250
FM/AM station 158
Fold-out position, windshield wipers 64
Foot brake 129
Front airbags 85
Front fog lamps 83
Front fog lamps, front, bulb re‐ placement 239
Front lamps 237
Front passenger airbags, au‐ tomatic deactivation 87
Front passenger airbags, indi‐ cator lamp 87
FTM Flat Tire Monitor 91
Fuel cap 218
Fuel consumption, current 73
Fuel consumption, refer to Average fuel consump‐
tion 76
Fuel filler flap 218
Fuel gauge 72
Fuel quality 220
Fuel, tank capacity 257
Fuse 242
G
Garage door opener, refer to Integrated universal remote
control 116
Gas station recommenda‐ tion 148
Gear change, automatic trans‐ mission 65
General driving notes 128
Glass sunroof, refer to Panor‐ amic glass sunroof 44
Glove compartment 122
Gong, volume equaliza‐ tion 157 GPS navigation, refer to Navi‐
gation system 138
Gray display of the map 151
Gross vehicle weight, ap‐ proved 256
Gross weight, permissible for trailer towing 256
H
Hand brake, refer to Parking brake 60
Hand-held transmitter, alter‐ nating code 117
Hazard warning flashers 243
HDC Hill Descent Control 95
HD Radio 159
Head airbags 85
Headlamp control, auto‐ matic 81
Headlamp courtesy delay fea‐ ture 81
Headlamp courtesy delay fea‐ ture via remote control 35
Headlamp flasher 62
Headlamp flasher, bulb re‐ placement 238
Headlamp glass 237
Headlamps 237
Headlamps, care 249
Headlamp washer system 62
Headliner 15
Head restraints 46
Head restraints, front 50
Head restraints, rear 51
Head-up Display 107
Head-up Display, care 251
Heavy cargo, stowing 132
Height, vehicle 254
High-beam Assistant 82
High beams 62
High beams/low beams, refer to High-beam Assistant 82
High beams, bulb replace‐ ment 238
Hill Descent Control HDC 95 Hills 130
Hints 6
Holder for beverages 123
Homepage 6
Hood 229
Horn 12
Hot exhaust system 128
House number, entering for navigation 139
Hydroplaning 129
I
Ice warning, refer to External temperature warning 73
Icy roads, refer to External temperature warning 73
Identification marks, tires 223
Identification number, refer to Important in the engine com‐
partment 229
iDrive 16
Ignition key, refer to Remote control 30
Ignition off 58
Ignition on 58
Indication of a flat tire 89, 92
Individual air distribu‐ tion 109, 112
Individual settings, refer to Personal Profile 31
Inflation pressure, tires 221
Inflation pressure warning, tires 91
Info display, refer to Com‐ puter 75
Information on the navigation data 152
Initializing, Flat Tire Monitor FTM 92
Initializing, Tire Pressure Mon‐ itor TPM 89
Instrument cluster 68
Instrument cluster, electronic displays 69
Instrument lighting 84 Seite 271Everything from A to ZReference271
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Menus, refer to iDrive operat‐ing concept 17
Message list, traffic bulle‐ tins 150
Messages 201
Microfilter 111, 114
Minimum tread, tires 225
Mirror 52
Mirror memory 52
Mobile communication devi‐ ces in the vehicle 129
Mobile phone 188
Modifications, technical, refer to Safety 6
Moisture in headlamp 237
Monitor, refer to Control Dis‐ play 16
Mounting of child restraint fix‐ ing systems 55
MP3 player 178
Multifunction steering wheel, buttons 12
Multimedia 166
Music collection 173
Music search 174
Music, storing 173
N
Navigation 138
Navigation data 152
Neck restraints, front, refer to Head restraints 50
Neck restraints, rear, refer to Head restraints 51
New wheels and tires 226
NORMAL program, Dynamic Driving Control 98
Notes 205
Number of cylinders, en‐ gine 255
Nylon rope for tow-starting/ towing 246 O
OBD Onboard Diagnos‐ tics 235
Obstacle marking, backup camera 105
Odometer 72
Office 198
Oil 231
Oil, adding 231
Oil additives 232
Oil change 232
Oil change interval, service re‐ quirements 74
Oil filler neck 231
Oil level check 231
Oil types, alternative 232
Oil types, approved 232
Old batteries, disposal 242
Onboard Diagnostics OBD 235
Onboard monitor, refer to Control Display 16
Onboard vehicle tool kit 236
Opening/closing from in‐ side 37
Opening/closing via door lock 36
Opening/closing with remote control 34
Operating concept, iDrive 16
Optional equipment, standard equipment 6
Outside air, refer to Automatic recirculated-air control 113
P
Paint, vehicle 249
Pairing, mobile phone 189
Panic mode 35
Panoramic glass sunroof 44
Park Distance Control PDC 101
Parked-car ventilation 114 Parked vehicle, condensa‐
tion 130
Parking aid, refer to PDC 101
Parking brake 60
Parking lamps 80
Parking lamps, bulb replace‐ ment 238
Parking with Auto Hold 60
Partition net 120
Passenger side mirror, tilting downward 53
Pathway lines, backup cam‐ era 104
PDC Park Distance Con‐ trol 101
Performance Control 95
Permissible axle load 256
Personal information 198
Personal Profile 31
Phone 188
Pinch protection system, glass sunroof 45
Pinch protection system, win‐ dows 43
Plastic, care 250
PlugIn 214
Position, storing 140
Postal code, entering in navi‐ gation 139
Power failure 242
Power output, engine 255
Power windows 42
Pressure, tire air pres‐ sure 221
Pressure warning, tires 91
Profile, refer to Personal Pro‐ file 31
Programmable memory but‐ tons, iDrive 20
Protective function, glass sun‐ roof 45
Protective function, win‐ dows 43
Push-and-turn switch, refer to Controller 16 Seite 273Everything from A to ZReference273
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Spoken instructions, naviga‐tion 148
SPORT+ - program, Dynamic Driving Control 97
Sport automatic transmis‐ sion 67
SPORT - program, dynamic driving control 97
Sport program, transmis‐ sion 66
Sport steering, variable 97
Stability control systems 94
Start/Stop button 58
Start function during malfunc‐ tion 31
Starting aid 244
Starting the engine 59
State/province, selecting for navigation 138
Stations, stored 164
Station, storing 158
Status display, tires 88
Status information, iDrive 19
Status of Owner's Manual 6
Steering wheel, adjusting 54
Steering wheel heating 54
Steptronic, automatic trans‐ mission 65
Stopping the engine 59
Storage compartments 122
Storage compartments, loca‐ tions 122
Storage, tires 227
Storing the vehicle 251
Street, entering for naviga‐ tion 139
Summer tires, tread 225
Supplementary text mes‐ sages 71
Suspension settings 97
Switch for Dynamic Driving Control 97
Switch-on times, parked-car ventilation 115
Switch, refer to Cockpit 12
Symbols 6 T
Tachometer 72
Tailgate 37
Tailgate, automatic 38
Tailgate via remote control 35
Tail lamps 240
Tasks 204
Technical changes, refer to Safety 6
Technical data 254
TeleService 210
Temperature, automatic cli‐ mate control 110, 112
Temperature display, external temperature 73
Temperature, engine oil 72
Terminal, starting aid 245
Text messages 201
Text messages, supplemen‐ tary 71
Theft alarm system, refer to Alarm system 41
Theft protection, refer to Cen‐ tral locking system 33
Thigh support 48
Tilt alarm sensor 42
Time of arrival 76
Tire damage 225
Tire identification marks 223
Tire inflation pressure 221
Tire inflation pressure monitor, refer to FTM 91
Tire Pressure Monitor TPM 88
Tires, changing 226
Tires, everything on wheels and tires 221
Tires, run-flat tires 227
Tire tread 225
Toll roads, route 146
Tone 156
Tools 236
Top View 106
Torque, engine 255
Total vehicle weight 256 Tow fitting 247
Towing 246
Town/city, navigation 139
Tow-starting 246
TPM Tire Pressure Moni‐ tor 88
Traction control 95
TRACTION program, Dynamic Driving Control 95
Traffic bulletins, naviga‐ tion 150
Transmission, automatic 65
Transporting children safely 55
Tread, tires 225
Treble, tone 156
Trip computer 77
Triple turn signal activa‐ tion 62
Trip odometer 72
Trunk lid 37
Turning circle 255
Turning circle lines, backup camera 104
Turn signals, operation 62
U
Unintentional alarm 42
Units of measure 79
Universal remote control 116
Unlock button, automatic transmission 66
Unlocking/locking from in‐ side 37
Unlocking/locking via door lock 36
Unlocking/locking with remote control 34
Updates made after the edito‐ rial deadline 6
Updating software 185
Upholstery care 249
USB audio interface 178
USB interface 123 Seite 275Everything from A to ZReference275
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