
Cockpit
All around the steering wheel
1
Rear window safety switch   41
2 Power windows   40
3 Exterior mirror operation  53
4 Lamps Instrument lighting  84
Front fog lamps*  84
Parking lamps  
81 Low beams  81
Automatic headlamp con‐
trol*  82
Adaptive light control
*  82
High-beam Assistant*  83
5 Head-up Display*  
117
6 Steering column stalk, left
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Cockpit 

Turn signal  66
High beams, head‐
lamp flasher  83
High-beam Assistant*  83
Roadside parking lamps*  83
Computer  73
Settings and information about the
vehicle  71
7 BMW X6: shifting up or down with automatic
transmission  69
8 Instrument cluster   14
9 Steering column stalk, right Windshield wipers  67
Rain sensor  
67 BMW X5: rear window wip‐
ers  68
10 Start/stop the engine and switch
the ignition on/off  61
11 Ignition lock  61
12 Steering wheel buttons, right Change the radio station
Stopping a traffic announcement
Select a music track
Scrolling through the redial list
Next entertainment source Recirculated-air mode  122
Steering wheel heating*  55
Lane departure warning*  93
13 Horn, the entire surface
14 15
Cruise control lever Cruise control*  
108 Active cruise control*  
102
16 Steering wheel buttons, left Telephone*  216
Volume
Activate/deactivate the voice acti‐
vation system*  24
17 Releasing the hood  264
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls
At a glance   

Instrument cluster
1
Turn signal indicator lamp
2 Speedometer
3 Indicator/warning lamps  15
4 Active cruise control*   102
5 Tachometer  72
6 BMW X5: current fuel consumption  72
BMW X6: engine oil temperature
  72 or
current fuel consumption   72
7 Display for
▷Clock  71
▷ External temperature  71
▷ Indicator/warning lamps  15
▷ Cruise control*   108
▷ Active Cruise Control*  102 ▷
BMW X5: reserve display for diesel ex‐
haust fluid  249
8 Display for
▷Automatic transmission position  69
▷ HDC Hill Descent Control   98
▷ Computer  73
▷ Date of next scheduled service, and re‐
maining distance to be driven
  75
▷ Odometer and trip odometer  71
▷ High-beam Assistant*  83
▷   Check Control message
present  76
▷ Adaptive Drive*: 
 Sport chassis and sus‐
pension tuning  99
9 Fuel gauge  73
10 Resetting the trip odometer  71
Viewing service requirement display   71
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Cockpit 

Indicator/warning lamps
The concept
The indicator and warning lamps can light up in
a variety of combinations and colors.
Several of the lamps are checked for proper
functioning 
when the engine is started or the ig‐
nition is switched on, and light up briefly.
Text messages
Text messages at the upper edge of the Control
Display explain the meaning of the displayed in‐
dicator and warning lamps.
Supplementary text messages
You can call up more information, e.g., on the
cause of a malfunction and on how to respond,
via Check Control, refer to page  76.In urgent cases, this information will be shown
as soon as the corresponding lamp comes on.
Indicator lamps without text messages
The following indicator lamps notify you that
certain functions are active: Symbol Function or system
Parking brake set, refer to
page 
63 Canada: parking brake set, refer to
page 
63 High beams/headlamp flasher, refer
to page 
83 Front fog lamps*, refer to page 
84 Lamp flashes:
DSC or DTC controls the drive and
braking forces for maintaining vehi‐
cle stability, refer to page 
96 Engine malfunction with adverse ef‐
fect on emissions, refer to
page 
269 Seite 15
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls
At a glance   

The individual settings are stored for a maximum
of 
four remote controls. They are stored for two
remote controls if Comfort Access* is in use.
Personal Profile settings
The following functions and settings can be
stored in a profile.
More information on the settings can be found
under:
▷ Assigning the programmable memory but‐
tons, refer to page  22.
▷ Response of the central locking system
when the car is being unlocked, refer to
page  30.
▷ Automatic locking of the vehicle, refer to
page  33.
▷ Driver's seat, exterior mirror and steering
wheel positions*, refer to page  53.
▷ Settings for the display on the Control Dis‐
play and in the instrument cluster:
▷12h/24h clock format, refer to
page  79.
▷ Date format, refer to page  79.
▷ Brightness of the Control Display, refer
to page  80.
▷ Language on the Control Display, refer
to page  80.
▷ Units of measure for fuel consumption,
distance covered/remaining distances,
and temperature, refer to page  80.
▷ Show visual warning for the Park Distance
Control PDC*, refer to page  111.
▷ Show visual warning for Top View*, refer to
page  114.
▷ Show Side View*, refer to page  116.
▷ Backup camera*:
▷Function selection, refer to page  113.
▷ Type of display, refer to page  114.
▷ Lane departure warning*: last setting, on/
off, refer to page  93.
▷ Head-up Display*: selection, brightness and
position of the display, refer to page  117.▷
Adaptive Drive*: selected chassis and sus‐
pension tuning, refer to page  99.
▷ Light settings:
▷Triple turn signal activation, refer to
page  66.
▷ Welcome lamps, refer to page  81.
▷ Headlamp courtesy delay feature, refer
to page  81.
▷ Daytime running lights, refer to
page  82.
▷ High-beam Assistant*, refer to
page  83.
▷ Automatic climate control with 2-zone con‐
trol: settings, refer to page  120.
▷ Navigation:
▷Voice activation, refer to page  163.
▷ Route criteria, refer to page  161.
▷ Map view settings, refer to page  164.
▷ Entertainment:
▷Tone control, refer to page  172.
▷ Radio, stored stations, refer to
page  180.
▷ CD/multimedia, audio source listened to
last, refer to page  181.
▷ Telephone: volume, refer to page  220.
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system becomes active
when the driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and re‐
leases the locks on the following:
▷ Doors.
▷ Tailgate.
▷ Fuel filler flap.
Operating from the outside
▷ Via the remote control.
▷ Via the door lock*.
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance   

Warning lamps
The warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when you attempt to
start 
the engine: the engine cannot be
started.
The remote control is not in the vehicle or has a
malfunction. Take the remote control with you
inside the vehicle or have it checked. If neces‐
sary, insert another remote control into the ig‐
nition switch.
The warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up while the engine is
running: the remote control is no lon‐
ger inside the vehicle.
After switching off the engine, the engine can
only be started again within approx. 10 seconds
if no door has been opened.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on and a message ap‐
pears on the Control Display: replace
the remote control battery.
Replacing the battery
The remote control for Comfort Access con‐
tains a battery that will need to be replaced from
time to time.
1. Take the integrated key out of the remote
control, refer to page  28.
2. Remove the cover. 3.
Insert a new battery of the same type with
the positive side facing upwards.
4. Press the cover closed.
Return used battery to a recycling collec‐
tion point or to your service center. Alarm system
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds to:
▷
Opening of a door, the hood or the tailgate.
▷ Movements in the vehicle: interior motion
sensor, refer to page 40.
▷ Changes in the vehicle tilt, e.g., during at‐
tempts to steal a wheel or tow 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
When 
you lock or unlock the vehicle, either with
the remote control 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 market-specific versions.
This alarm can only be ended by pressing the
button on the remote 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.
After 
 the tailgate is closed, it is locked and moni‐
tored again by the alarm system. The hazard
warning system flashes once.
In some market-specific versions, the tailgate
can only be opened using the remote control if
the vehicle was unlocked first.
Switching off the alarm
▷ Unlock the vehicle using the remote control,
refer to page  30.
▷ Insert the remote control all the way into the
ignition lock.
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance   

car wash, for example, ensure that the ignition is
not switched off accidentally.◀
For example, the ignition is not switched off in
the following situations:
▷
The brake is applied.
▷ The low beams are switched on
Starting the engine
General information Enclosed areas
Do not let the engine run in enclosed
areas; otherwise, breathing of exhaust fumes
may lead to loss of consciousness and death.
The 
exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, an
odorless and colorless but highly toxic gas.◀
Unattended vehicle
Do not leave the car unattended with the
engine running; otherwise, it presents a poten‐
tial source of danger.
Before leaving the car with the engine running,
set the parking brake and place the transmission
in position P or neutral to prevent the car from
moving.◀
Frequent starting in quick succession
Avoid repeated futile attempts at starting
the car and avoid starting the car frequently in
quick succession. Otherwise, the fuel is not
burned or is inadequately burned, and there is
the danger of overheating and damaging the
catalytic converter.◀
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right
away, but at moderate engine speeds. Starting the engine
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with Com‐
fort 
Access, inside the vehicle, refer to page  37.
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Press the Start/Stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain
time, 
 and stops automatically as soon as the en‐
gine has started.
Diesel engine
If the engine is cold and temperatures are below
approx. 32 ℉/0 ℃, the start process may be de‐
layed somewhat due to automatic preheating.
A message is displayed.
Engine stop
General information
Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for example,
cannot operate the windows and injure them‐
selves.◀
Set the parking brake and further secure
the vehicle as required
Set the parking brake firmly when parking; oth‐
erwise, the vehicle could roll. On steep upward
and downward inclines, further secure the vehi‐
cle, for example, by turning the steering wheel in
the direction of the curb.◀ Seite 62
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Driving 

Have the malfunction corrected
Have the malfunction corrected at the
nearest service center or at a workshop that
works 
according to BMW repair procedures with
correspondingly trained personnel. If the park‐
ing brake has been released manually in re‐
sponse to a malfunction, only technicians can
return it to operation.◀
Following manual release, the actual status of
the parking brake may deviate from that dis‐
played by the indicator lamp.
Putting into operation after a power
failure
Putting the parking brake into operation
The parking brake should only be put into
operation again if it was manually released due
to an interruption in the supply of electrical
power. Otherwise the operation of the parking
brake is not ensured and there is a danger of the
vehicle rolling despite the parking brake being
set.◀
Procedure
1. Switch on the ignition.
2. Press the button with the brake depressed.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out as soon as the parking
brake is ready for operation.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
Any 
noises which occur are normal. Startup may
take several seconds. Turn signal, high beams,
headlamp flasher
1
High beams
2 Headlamp flasher
3 Turn signal
Signaling a turn
Press the lever beyond the resistance point.
To 
switch off manually, press the lever to the re‐
sistance point.
Unusually rapid flashing of the indicator lamp in‐
dicates that a turn signal bulb has failed.
Signaling a turn briefly
Press the lever to the resistance point and hold
it there for as long as you want the turn signal to
flash.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever to the resistance point.
The turn signal flashes three times.
This function can be activated or deactivated:
1. "Settings"
2. "Lighting"
3. "Triple turn signal" Seite 66
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Driving