2012 BMW X5 XDRIVE 35I PREMIUM engine

Refueling
Notes
Switch off the engine before refueling
Always switch off the engine before refu‐
eling; otherwise, fuel cannot be added to the
tank and a message will be displayed.
◀
Observe when handling fuel
▷ Take all precautionary measures and
observe all applicable regulations
when handling fuel.
▷ Do not carry any spare fuel containers in
your vehicle. They can develop a leak and
cause an explosion or cause a fire in the
event of an accident.◀
Fuel cap
Opening
1. Briefly press the rear edge of the fuel filler
flap. 2.
Turn the fuel cap counterclockwise.
3. Place the fuel cap in the bracket attached to
the fuel filler flap.
Closing
1. Fit the fuel cap and turn it clockwise until you
clearly hear a click.
2. Close the fuel filler flap. Do not pinch the retaining strap
Do not pinch the retaining strap attached
to the cap; otherwise, the cap cannot be closed
properly and fuel vapors can escape.◀
A message* is displayed if the cap is loose or
missing.
Manually unlocking fuel filler flap
In the event of a malfunction, the fuel filler flap
can be released manually:
1. Open the right-hand side panel in the cargo
area.
2. Pull the knob with the gas pump symbol. Observe the following when
refueling
When refueling, insert the filler nozzle com‐
pletely into the filler pipe. Lifting up the fuel
pump nozzle during refueling causes:
▷
Premature pump shutoff.
▷ Reduced efficiency in the fuel-vapor recov‐
ery system.
The fuel tank is full when the filler nozzle clicks
off the first time.
Handling fuels
Follow the safety instructions provided at
gas

stations; otherwise, there is a danger of per‐
sonal injury and property damage.◀ Seite 246
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Refueling

Fuel tank capacity
Approx. 22.5 US gallons/85 liters, including the
reserve capacity of approx. 2.1 US gallons/8 li‐
ters.
X5 xDrive50i/X6 xDrive50i: reserve capacity of
approx. 3.2 gallons/12 liters.
Refuel promptly
At the latest, refuel when the range drops
below 30 miles/50 km; otherwise, engine func‐
tions
are not ensured and damage may occur.◀ Seite 247
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Fuel
Fuel specifications
Gasoline engine: required fuel
Do
not use fuels that are labeled at the fuel pump
as containing metals.
Only refuel with lead-free gasoline without
metal additives
Do not refuel with leaded gasoline or gasoline
with metal additives, e. g., manganese or iron;
otherwise, the catalytic converter and other
components will be permanently damaged.◀
Do not refuel with ethanol E85
Do not refuel with E85, i.e., fuel with an
ethanol content of 85 %, or with Flex Fuel, as this
would damage the engine and fuel supply sys‐
tem.◀
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.
Minimum fuel grade
Do not use any gasoline below the mini‐
mum specified fuel grade; otherwise, engine
damage may occur.◀
Use high-quality brands
Field

experience has indicated significant differ‐
ences in fuel quality: volatility, composition, ad‐
ditives, etc., among gasolines offered for sale in
the United States and Canada. Fuels containing
up to and including 10% ethanol or other oxy‐
genates with up to 2.8% oxygen by weight, that
is, 15% MTBE or 3% methanol plus an equiva‐ lent amount of co-solvent, will not void the ap‐
plicable warranties with respect to defects in
materials or workmanship.
Minimum fuel grade
The

use of poor-quality fuels may result in
driveability, starting and stalling problems es‐
pecially under certain environmental conditions
such as high ambient temperature and high al‐
titude.
Should you encounter driveability 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 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 5%, referred to as B5. Do not
refuel with gasoline. If the vehicle has been re‐
fueled with incorrect fuel such as gasoline, do
not start the engine; otherwise, there is a danger
of engine damage.◀
If you added the wrong fuel, contact the service
center.
The fuel filling neck is designed for refueling 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. Seite 248
248 Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 735 - 03 11 500Fuel

In the event the Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel fuel can‐
not be fully inserted into the fuel filler neck,
please contact BMW Roadside Assistance for
instructions on how to add fuel. For more infor‐
mation on BMW Roadside Assistance, refer to
page
281.
Winter diesel
To ensure that the diesel engine remains op‐
erational in the winter, use winter diesel.
It is available at gas stations during winter
months.
The standard fuel filter heating prevents the
supply of fuel from stalling during driving. No diesel additives
Do not add additives, including gasoline;
otherwise, engine damage may occur.◀ 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 ox‐
ides.
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 au‐ tomatic 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 tank is empty.
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 con‐
tinue to run, provided that it is not switched off,
and all other operating requirements are met,
e.g. sufficient fuel.
No engine start
Do

not drive until the displayed remaining
distance runs out. Otherwise, it may not be pos‐
sible to restart the engine.◀ Seite 249
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Incorrect fueling
The warning lamp lights up:
The reservoir has been filled with an in‐
correct fluid.
Please contact your service center.
Have diesel exhaust fluid refilled
This
exhaust fluid is refilled by your service cen‐
ter during regular maintenance. If you adhere to
this maintenance schedule, it is usually not nec‐
essary to refill any fluids between the mainte‐
nance dates.
Under certain circumstances, for example, due
to a particularly sporty driving style or operation
of the vehicle at high altitudes, it may be neces‐
sary 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 service cen‐
ter.
Diesel exhaust fluid at low
temperatures
Due to its physical properties, it may be neces‐
sary to replenish the level of diesel exhaust fluid
at temperatures below +23 ℉/ -5 ℃, even be‐
tween the regular maintenance dates.
If the fluid needs to be refilled, this will be indi‐
cated with the reserve display in the instrument
cluster, refer to page 249.
Only refill the diesel exhaust fluid
yourself in exceptional circumstances
To be able to reach the nearest service center
with your vehicle, you may refill the diesel ex‐
haust fluid yourself, making sure to heed the
warning notices specified below. Handling diesel exhaust fluid
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 res‐ ervoir, pungent smelling vapors can escape. Be‐
fore 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 irritation, for instance, due to inadvertent
contact with the eyes. If eye irritation occurs,
immediately rinse eyes with ample water and
contact a doctor if necessary. If diesel exhaust
fluid comes into contact with surfaces of your
vehicle, rinse the affected surfaces with water or
else damage may occur. Keep diesel exhaust
fluid out of reach of children.◀
Suitable diesel exhaust fluid
▷ Preferred: BMW Diesel Exhaust Fluid. This
bottle and its special adapter permit con‐
venient refilling with diesel exhaust fluid.
▷ Alternative: NOx reduction agent AUS 32
Diesel exhaust fluid can be obtained from your
service 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 the hood, refer to page 264.
2. Fit the releasing tool from the tool kit, refer
to page 270, into place and open the lock,
see arrow. Seite 250
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Fuel

Refilling BMW diesel exhaust fluid
1.
Set bottle into place and rotate until it comes
into contact with the stop, refer to arrow. 2.
Press bottle down, refer to arrow.
The reservoir of the vehicle is filled. 3.
The reservoir is full when the fill level in the
bottle stops changing. It is not possible to
overfill.
Pull
bottle back, refer to arrow, and unscrew
it. Closing reservoir
After

the reservoir is filled, close it again with the
releasing tool. After refilling diesel exhaust fluid
Incorrect fluid
Incorrect fluids
After refilling with the incorrect fluid, e.g.,
antifreeze

for windshield wiper fluid, do not start
the engine because this could result in a fire
hazard.◀
Contact your service center.
Bottle disposal
Diesel exhaust fluid bottles can be dis‐
posed of by your service center.
Only dispose of empty bottles in your household
garbage if the local legal regulations permit it.
Reserve display After refilling, the reserve continues to appear
after the engine is restarted. After the vehicle
has been driven for a few more minutes, this
display will disappear. Seite 251
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Engine compartment
Important features in the engine compartment
BMW X5
1
Filler neck for washer fluid for the headlamp
and window washer system  67
2 Starting aid terminal  281 3
Coolant expansion tank   267
4 Engine oil filler neck   266
Seite 263
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Reference
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BMW X6
1
Filler neck for the washer fluid for the head‐
lamp and window washer system  68
2 Engine oil filler neck   266 3
Starting aid terminal  281
4 Coolant expansion tank   267
Hood
Opening the hood Working in the engine compartment
Never attempt to perform any service or
repair operations on your vehicle without the
necessary professional technical training.
If you are unfamiliar with the statutory guide‐
lines, have any work on the vehicle performed
only by a service center.
If this work is not carried out properly, there is
the danger of subsequent damage and related
safety hazards.◀ 1.
Pull the lever. 2.
Press the release handle and open the hood. Seite 264
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