
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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Reference
Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance   

Everything from A to Z
Index
0-9
3rd row seats 47 
A
ABS, Antilock Brake Sys‐ tem 96 
ACC Active Cruise Con‐ trol 102 
Access to 3rd row seats 47 
Accident, refer to Emergency Request, initiating  280 
Acoustic 
signal, refer to Check
Control 76 
Activated-charcoal filter  124 
Active Cruise Control ACC  102 
Active cruise control, indicator lamp  105 
Active Cruise Control, radar sensor 106 
Active Cruise Control, select‐ ing the distance  104 
Active Cruise Control, warning lamps  105 
Active seat  49 
Active seat ventilation  49 
Active steering 100 
Adaptive brake lights, refer to Brake force display  94 
Adaptive Drive  99 
Adaptive fixing system  137 
Adaptive light control  82 
Additional telephone  216 
Additives, coolant  267 
Additives, engine oil  266 
After washing vehicle 286 
Airbags  86 
Airbags, indicator/warning light  88 
Air circulation, refer to Recir‐ culated air mode  122 Air distribution, auto‐
matic 120, 125 
Air distribution, manual  121 
Air drying, refer to Cooling function 122 
Air flow rate  121 
Air 
flow rate, blower, refer to Air
volume 125 
Airing, refer to Ventilation  123 
Air pressure, refer to Tire infla‐ tion pressure 252 
Air vents 119 
Air vents, refer to Ventila‐ tion 123 
AKI, refer to Fuel specifica‐ tions 248 
Alarm system 39 
Alarm system
– Avoiding unintentional alarms 40
– Ending an alarm  39
– Interior motion sensor 40
– Tilt alarm sensor 40
All around the headliner  17 
All-season tires, refer to Win‐ ter tires 261 
All-wheel drive, refer to xDrive 98 
Alternating-code hand-held transmitter 128 
AM/FM station  174 
Announcement, navigation, refer to Spoken instruc‐
tions 163 
Antifreeze, coolant 267 
Antifreeze, washer fluid 68 
Antilock Brake System, ABS 96 
Anti-slip control, refer to Dy‐ namic Stability Control
DSC 96 
Anti-theft protection  30 
Appointments  232  Approved axle loads, refer to
Weights 292 
Approved engine oils  266 
Approved gross vehicle weight, refer to Weights  292 
Armrest, refer to Center arm‐ rest 134 
Arrival time, refer to Com‐ puter 74 
Ashtray 130 
Ashtray, front 130 
Ashtray, rear 130 
Assist 237 
Assistance, Roadside Assis‐ tance 281 
Assistance 
with driving off, re‐
fer to Drive-off assistant  100 
Assistance with starting en‐ gine, refer to Jump-start‐
ing 281 
Audio CD with rear DVD sys‐ tem 206 
Audio device, external  134 
Audio playback  181 
Audio playback, Blue‐ tooth 196 
Automatic, air distribu‐ tion 120, 125 
Automatic air distribution  125 
Automatic, air flow rate  120 
Automatic car wash 285 
Automatic climate con‐ trol 119 
Automatic climate control, au‐ tomatic air distribu‐
tion 120, 125 
Automatic climate control, in rear 124 
Automatic climate control in rear, activating on Control
Display  124 
Automatic climate control in rear, air supply  125 
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Everything from A to Z 

DTC Dynamic Traction Con‐
trol 97 
DTMF suffix dialing  222 
DVD/CD  181 
DVDs, storing  188 
DVD system in rear  200 
DVD, video  183 
Dynamic destination guid‐ ance 167 
Dynamic Performance Con‐ trol 98 
Dynamic Stability Control DSC 96 
Dynamic Traction Control DTC 97 
E
Easy entry/exit 55 
EfficientDynamics, refer to Saving fuel 148 
Electrical malfunction
– Door lock 32
– Driver's door 32
– Fuel filler flap  246
Electrical malfunction of upper
tailgate  34 
Electrical malfunction, parking brake 65 
Electric seat adjustment  46 
Electric 
steering wheel adjust‐
ment 55 
Electronic brake-force distri‐ bution 96 
Electronic engine oil level check 265 
Electronic Stability Program ESP, refer to Dynamic Stabil‐
ity Control DSC  96 
Emergency operation
– Door lock, refer to Manual operation 32
Emergency operation, fuel
filler flap, unlocking man‐
ually 246 
Emergency Request 280 
Emergency service, refer to Roadside Assistance 281  Energy-conscious driving, re‐
fer to Current fuel consump‐
tion 72 
Energy, 
saving, refer to Saving
fuel 148 
Engine, breaking in  142 
Engine compartment  263 
Engine coolant, refer to Cool‐ ant 267 
Engine oil, adding  266 
Engine oil, additives, refer to Approved engine oils  266 
Engine oil, alternative oil types 266 
Engine oil, BMW maintenance system 268 
Engine oil change intervals, re‐ fer to Service require‐
ments 75 
Engine oil, checking the level 265 
Engine oil, filling capacity  293 
Engine oil temperature  72 
Engine oil types, alterna‐ tive 266 
Engine oil types, ap‐ proved 266 
Engine, overheating, refer to Coolant temperature  72 
Engine power, refer to Engine data  290 
Engine, RPM  290 
Engine start, assistance  281 
Engine, starting  62 
Engine, starting
– Comfort Access 37
Engine, starting, Start/Stop
button 61 
Engine, stopping, Start/Stop button 61 
Engine, switching off 62 
Entry lamps, refer to Interior lamps  84 
Environmentally friendly driv‐ ing, 
refer to Current fuel con‐
sumption 72 
Equalizer 172 
Equipment, interior  127 ESP Electronic Stability Pro‐
gram, refer to Dynamic Sta‐
bility Control DSC  96 
Exchanging wheels/tires 260 
Exhaust system 142 
Exterior mirrors 53 
Exterior mirrors, adjusting  53 
Exterior mirrors, automatic dimming  55 
Exterior mirrors, automatic heating 54 
Exterior mirrors, folding in and out 54 
External audio device  134 
External devices 192 
External temperature dis‐ play  71 
External temperature display, changing the units of meas‐
ure, changing the units of
measure on the Control Dis‐
play  80 
External temperature warn‐ ing 71 
Eyes for securing cargo 146 
F
Fader 172 
Failure messages, refer to Check Control 76 
False alarm
– Avoiding unintentional alarms 40
– Ending an alarm  39
Fastening safety belts, refer to
Safety belts  50 
Fault messages, refer to Check Control 76 
Filling capacities  293 
Filter, refer to Microfilter/acti‐ vated-charcoal filter 124 
Fine wood, care 287 
First aid kit  281 
Fitting for towing  283 
Fixing system, adaptive  137 
Flashing 
when locking/unlock‐
ing 31 
Flat Tire Monitor FTM  88 
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Everything from A to Z 

MP3 player 
192 
Multimedia  181 
Music collection 188 
Music search 189 
Music, storing 188 
N
Navigation  152 
Navigation data  152 
Navigation 
data, updating  152 
Navigation system
– Destination entry by voice 158
Neck restraints, refer to Head
restraints 51 
Nets, refer to Storage com‐ partments 135 
New wheels and tires 260 
Notes 6, 233 
Nozzles of automatic climate control 119 
Nozzles, refer to Ventila‐ tion 123 
O
OBD Onboard Diagnos‐ tics 269 
OBD socket, refer to Socket for OBD Onboard Diagno‐
sis 269 
Octane numbers, refer to Fuel specifications 248 
Odometer  71 
Office 227 
Oil additives  266 
Oil consumption 265 
Oil level  265 
Oil, refer to Engine oil  265 
Oil types, alternative  266 
Oil types, approved  266 
Old batteries, disposal  278 
Onboard Diagnostics OBD 269 
Onboard monitor, refer to Control Display  19 
Onboard vehicle tool kit  270 Opening and closing
– Comfort Access 37
– From the inside 33
– From the outside 30
– Using the door lock 
32
– Using the remote control 30
Opening height, adjust‐
ing 34, 36 
Operating concept, iDrive  18 
Outside-air mode, automatic climate control 122 
Outside air, refer to Recircu‐ lated air mode  122 
Overheating 
of engine, refer to
Coolant temperature  72 
P
Paint, vehicle 286 
Pairing, mobile phone  216 
Panic mode 30 
Panoramic glass sunroof
– Convenient operation 30
– Initializing  43
– Opening, closing  42
– Pinch protection 43
– Power failure 43
– Remote control 30
– Tilting 42
Park Distance Control
PDC 110 
Parked-car ventilation 125 
Parked vehicle, condensa‐ tion 144 
Parking aid, refer to Park Dis‐ tance Control PDC  110 
Parking 
assistant, refer to Park
Distance Control PDC  110 
Parking brake  63 
Parking brake, Automatic Hold 64 
Parking brake, releasing man‐ ually 64, 65 
Parking brake, setting man‐ ually 63 
Parking lamps  81 
Parking lamps/low beams  81 
Parking with Automatic Hold 65  Particulate filter, refer to Diesel
particulate filter  143 
Passenger airbags, deactivat‐ ing 87 
Passenger side mirror, tilt‐ ing 54 
PDC Park Distance Con‐ trol 110 
Personal information 227 
Personal Profile 28 
Pinch protection
– Panoramic glass sunroof 43
– Windows 41
Pinch protection, glass sun‐
roof 44 
Plastic, care 287 
Playing videos, rear DVD sys‐ tem 202 
PlugIn 242 
Pollen, 
refer to Microfilter/acti‐
vated-charcoal filter 124 
Poor road operation  147 
Position, storing 155 
Postal code, entering in navi‐ gation  154 
Power, refer to Engine data  290 
Power windows
– Safety switch 41
Power windows, opening and
closing 40 
Power windows, refer to Win‐ dows 40 
Preheating, refer to Diesel en‐ gine 62 
Prescribed 
engine oils, refer to
Approved engine oils  266 
Pressure, tires  252 
Pressure warning, tires  88 
Profile depth, refer to Mini‐ mum tread depth  259 
Profile, tires 259 
Programmable memory but‐ tons, iDrive 22 
Protection function, refer to Pinch protection 44 
Protection function, refer to
Pinch protection
– Panoramic glass sunroof 43
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Everything from A to Z