2012 BMW X5 XDRIVE 50I weight

Closing
Danger of pinching
Make
sure that the closing path of the tail‐
gate is clear; otherwise, injuries may result.◀ The tailgate closes automatically when the but‐
ton on the inside of the tailgate is pressed.
To stop the closing process:
▷
Press the button on the inside of the tailgate.
▷ Press the button on the exterior of the tail‐
gate.
Closing is not canceled when you put the vehicle
into motion.
Automatic closing
The tailgate closes automatically without
button

operation if it is weighed down by an ad‐
ditional weight of approx. 11 lbs/5 kg, such as
snow or ice.◀
Manually opening or closing
In case of an electrical malfunction:
1. Push out cover 1 on the tailgate with a
screwdriver. 2.
Push the catch 2 in the direction of the ar‐
row. 3.
Open or close the tailgate slowly and with‐
out making sudden movements.
Do not use force to open or close
If the tailgate offers increased resistance,
do

not forcefully open or close the tailgate; oth‐
erwise, injury or damage may result.◀
Comfort Access*
The concept
The vehicle can be accessed without activating
the remote control.
All you need to do is to have the remote control
with you, e.g., in your jacket pocket.
The vehicle automatically detects the remote
control when it is nearby or in the passenger
compartment.
Comfort Access supports the following func‐
tions:
▷ Unlocking/locking of the vehicle.
▷ Unlocking of the tailgate separately.
▷ Starting the engine.
▷ Convenient closing.
Functional requirement
▷ To lock the vehicle, the remote control must
be located outside of the vehicle.
▷ The next unlocking and locking cycle is not
possible until after approx. 2 seconds.
▷ The engine can only be started if the remote
control is inside the vehicle.
Comparison with ordinary remote
control
The

functions can be controlled by pressing the
buttons or via Comfort Access.
Should a short delay occur when opening or
closing the windows or the glass sunroof*/pan‐
oramic glass sunroof*, the system checks
whether a remote control is located in the vehi‐
cle. Please repeat opening or closing if neces‐
sary. Seite 37
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

Press upper or lower section of switch.
BMW X5: rear seats
2nd row seats
If the row of seats is divided
*, each side can be
adjusted separately.
Do not adjust the seat while driving
Never adjust the 2nd row seats while the
vehicle is moving, as otherwise the passengers
on the 3rd row seats could be injured.
Make sure that the locking devices of the 2nd
row seats engage properly. Otherwise the re‐
straining effect of the safety belts during an ac‐
cident could be reduced.◀
Longitudinal direction* 1.
Pull the lever and slide the seat into the de‐
sired position.
2. Release the lever and move the seat slightly
forward or back so that it engages properly.
Backrest*
The backrests can be adjusted in four steps. Pull the lever and apply weight to or remove
weight from the backrest as needed.
Access to 3rd row seats*
Pull the lever and fold the seat forward.
The

handle recess on the interior trim of the door
pillar makes climbing in easier.
Keep the footwell under the 2nd row seats
clear
When folding back the 2nd row seats, make sure
that the footwell under the 2nd row seats is
clear. Otherwise persons in the 3rd row seats
could be injured or objects damaged.◀
Warning lamp for the 2nd row seats:
lights up if the 2nd row seats are not
locked. A message also appears on
the Control Display.
3rd row seats*
The 3rd row seats are divided and offer space
for two persons.
Folding up backrest
Before folding up the backrest, remove the lug‐
gage compartment roller cover, refer to Seite 47
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Note
Children in the vehicle
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle; otherwise, they could endanger them‐
selves and other persons, e.g., by opening the
doors.◀
Children should always be in the rear
Accident research shows that the safest place
for children is on the rear seat.
Transporting children in the rear
Transport
children younger than 13 years
of age or shorter than 5 ft/150 cm on the 2nd row
seats only, using child restraint fixing systems
suitable for the age, weight, and height of the
child. Otherwise, there is the increased danger
of injury in an accident.
Children 13 years of age or older must wear a
safety belt as soon as a suitable child restraint
fixing system can no longer be used, due to their
age, weight and size.◀
Children on the front passenger seat
Should it be necessary to use a child restraint
fixing system on the front passenger seat, make
sure that the front and side airbags on the front
passenger side are deactivated. Automatic de‐
activation of front passenger airbags, refer to
page 87.
Deactivating the front passenger airbags
If a child restraint fixing system is used in
the front passenger seat, the front passenger
airbags must be deactivated; otherwise, there is
an increased risk of injury to the child when the
airbags are triggered, even with a child restraint
fixing system.◀ Installing child restraint fixing
systems
Notes
Manufacturer's information for child re‐
straint fixing systems
To select, mount and use child restraint fixing
systems, observe the information provided by
the system manufacturer; otherwise, the pro‐
tective effect can be impaired.
◀
Note the following in vehicles equipped
with 3rd row seats
BMW X5: in vehicles with 3rd row seats*, make
sure that the seat of the 2nd row seats on which
the child restraint fixing system is mounted is
properly locked. Otherwise, there is an in‐
creased risk of injury for the child in an accident.
Do not mount child restraint fixing systems on
the 3rd row seats, as otherwise the protection
provided by these child restraint fixing systems
may be reduced.◀
BMW X5: before mounting a child restraint fixing
system in the center seat of the 2nd row seats,
move the outer seat cushions and backrests into
the rearmost positions.
On the front passenger seat
After installing a child restraint fixing system on
the front passenger seat, ensure that the front
and side airbags on the front passenger side are
deactivated.
Deactivating the front passenger airbags
If a child restraint fixing system is used in
the front passenger seat, the front passenger
airbags must be deactivated; otherwise, there is
an increased risk of injury to the child when the
airbags are triggered, even with a child restraint
fixing system.◀ Seite 56
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Transporting children safely

Driving in wet conditions
When
roads are wet or there is heavy rain, briefly
exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal every
few miles.
Ensure that this action does not endanger other
road users.
The heat generated in this process helps dry the
brake discs and pads.
In this way braking efficiency will be available
when you need it.
Hills
Drive long or steep downhill gradients in the gear
in which the least braking is required. Otherwise,
the brake system may overheat, resulting in a
reduction in the brake system efficiency.
The engine braking action can be further en‐
hanced by shifting down during manual opera‐
tion of the automatic transmission, refer to
page 69, if necessary all the way down to first
gear.
Avoid load on the brakes
Avoid placing excessive load on the brake
system. Light but consistent brake pressure can
lead to high temperatures, brake wear and pos‐
sibly even brake failure.◀
Do not drive in neutral
Do not drive in neutral or with the engine
stopped, as doing so disables engine braking. In
addition, steering and brake assist is unavailable
with the engine stopped.◀
Brake disc corrosion
Corrosion on the brake discs and contamination
on the brake pads are furthered by:
▷ Low mileage.
▷ Extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all.
▷ Infrequent use of the brakes.
Corrosion occurs when the minimum pressure
that must be exerted by the pads during brake
applications to clean the discs is not reached. Should corrosion form on the brake discs, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating ef‐
fect that generally cannot be corrected.
Condensation
under the parked vehicle
When using the automatic climate control, con‐
densation water develops that exits underneath
the vehicle.
Therefore, traces of condensed water under the
vehicle are normal.
Loading
Overloading the vehicle
To avoid exceeding the approved carrying
capacity of the tires, never overload the vehicle.
Overloading can lead to overheating and in‐
creases the rate at which damage develops in‐
side the tires. This could result in a sudden loss
of tire inflation pressure.◀
No fluids in the cargo area
Make sure that fluids do not leak into the
cargo area; otherwise, the vehicle may be dam‐
aged.◀
Determining the load limit 1.
Locate the following statement on your ve‐
hicle’s placard*:
▷The combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg or
YYY lbs. Otherwise, damage to the ve‐ Seite 144
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Things to remember when driving

hicle and unstable driving situations may
result.
2. Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.
3. Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and
passengers from XXX kilograms or YYY
pounds.
4. The resulting figure equals the available
amount

of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the YYY amount equals
1,400 lbs and there will be five 150 lbs pas‐
sengers in your vehicle, the amount of avail‐
able cargo and luggage load capacity is
650 lbs: 1,400 lbs minus 750 lbs = 650 lbs.
5. Determine the combined weight of luggage
and

cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated
in Step 4.
6. If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load
from your trailer will be transfered to your
vehicle.

Consult the manual for transporting
a trailer to determine how this may reduce
the available cargo and luggage load ca‐
pacity of your vehicle.
Load
BMW X5: BMW X6: The maximum load is the sum of the weight of
the occupants and the cargo.
The greater the weight of the occupants, the
less cargo that can be transported.
Stowing cargo
BMW X5 Seite 145
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Driving tips Controls At a glance

Never exceed either the approved gross vehicle
weight
or either of the approved axle loads, refer
to page 292, as excessive loads can pose a
safety hazard, and may also place you in viola‐
tion of traffic safety laws.
Use only the lashing eyes pictured to fasten the
heavy-duty cargo straps. Do not secure cargo
using the upper top tether, refer to page 57,
mounting points; otherwise, these may become
damaged.◀
Roof-mounted luggage rack*
Special rack system as optional
accessory
A special rack system is available as an optional
accessory.
Follow the directions given in the installation in‐
structions.
Mounting
Be sure that adequate clearance is maintained
for raising and opening the glass sunroof*/pan‐
oramic glass sunroof*.
Loading
Because roof racks raise the vehicle's center of
gravity when loaded, they have a major effect on
vehicle handling and steering response.
Therefore, note the following when loading and
driving:
▷ Do not exceed the approved roof/axle loads
and

the approved gross vehicle weight, refer
to page 292.
▷ Distribute the roof load uniformly.
▷ The roof load should not be too large in area.
▷ Always load the heaviest pieces on the bot‐
tom.
▷ Fasten roof-mounted cargo correctly and
securely.
▷ Do not let objects project into the opening
path of the tailgate. ▷
Drive smoothly. Avoid sudden acceleration
and braking maneuvers. Take corners gen‐
tly.
Driving on poor roads
Your vehicle combines an all-wheel drive sys‐
tem
with the advantages of a normal passenger
car.
Do not drive on unpaved terrain
Do not drive on unpaved terrain, as other‐
wise the vehicle may be damaged.◀
For your own safety and the safety of passen‐
gers and the vehicle, adhere to the following
points:
▷ Familiarize yourself with the vehicle before
driving; never take risks.
▷ Adjust speeds according to road conditions.
The

steeper and rougher the road surface is,
the lower the speed should be.
▷ When driving on steep uphill and downhill
grades:

the engine oil and coolant should be
filled nearly to the MAX mark.
BMW X5: the vehicle can be driven on uphill
and downhill grades up to 50%.
▷ Use Hill Descent Control HDC, refer to
page 98, on steep downhill grades.
BMW

X5: the vehicle can be driven away on
uphill grades of up to 33%. The permissible
body roll is 50%.
▷ Watch for stones, holes, and other obstacles
and drive around these where possible.
▷ On bumps and rough roads, avoid contact
between the vehicle body and the ground.
The

maximum ground clearance is 8 inches/
20 cm and may vary with the loaded cargo.
▷ When driving through water, do not exceed
the maximum water height.
▷BMW X5: 20 inches/50 cm
▷ BMW X6: 17 inches/45 cm
Drive at walking speed only and do not stop
the vehicle. Seite 147
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Driving tips Controls At a glance

▷
After driving through water, press on the
brake pedal several times at low speeds to
dry the brakes.
▷ Depending on the prevailing terrain, activate
Dynamic Traction Control DTC, refer to
page 97, briefly.
▷ When the wheels spin, accelerate to enable
the driving stability control systems to dis‐
tribute the drive force to the individual
wheels.
▷ BMW X5 with M Sport Package*: if the ve‐
hicle is primarily used on poor roads or un‐
paved surfaces, it may be advantageous,
depending on the driving style, to use the
stone
chip guard offered by the service cen‐
ter. This reduces the risk of damage to
painted vehicle components, such as in the
area of the side skirts and wheel arches.
Your service center will be glad to advise
you.
After driving on poor roads
Adhere
to the following points to ensure vehicle
safety:
▷ Remove excessive accumulations of dirt
and mud from the vehicle body.
▷ Clear mud, snow, ice, etc., from the wheels
and tires and check for damage.
Saving fuel
General information
Your vehicle contains advanced technology for
the reduction of fuel consumption and emis‐
sions.
Fuel consumption depends on a number of dif‐
ferent factors.
The implementation of certain measures, driv‐
ing style and regular maintenance, refer to
page 268, can have an influence on fuel con‐
sumption and on the environmental impact.
Remove unnecessary cargo
Additional weight increases fuel consumption. Remove attached parts following use
Remove

unneeded auxiliary mirrors, roof or rear
luggage racks after use.
Attached parts on the vehicle impair the aero‐
dynamics and increase the fuel consumption.
Closing the windows and glass
sunroof*/panoramic glass sunroof*
Driving with the glass sunroof/panoramic glass
sunroof and windows open results in increased
air resistance and raises fuel consumption.
Check the tire inflation pressure
regularly
Check and, if necessary, correct the tire inflation
pressure, refer to page 252, at least twice a
month and before starting on a long trip.
Low tire inflation pressure increases rolling re‐
sistance and thus raises fuel consumption and
tire wear.
Drive away without delay
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right
away, but at moderate engine speeds.
This is the fastest way for the cold engine to
reach its operating temperature.
Look well ahead when driving
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking.
By maintaining a suitable distance to the vehicle
driving ahead of you.
Driving smoothly and looking ahead reduces
fuel consumption.
Avoid high engine speeds
Driving at a low engine speed reduces fuel con‐
sumption and minimizes wear.
Use coasting conditions
When approaching a red light, take your foot off
the accelerator and let the vehicle coast to a halt.
On a downhill gradient, take your foot off the ac‐
celerator and let the vehicle roll.
The flow of fuel is interrupted while coasting.
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Things to remember when driving

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
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