2012 BMW X5 XDRIVE35D air con

Notes
Using this Owner's Manual
The fastest way to find information on a partic‐
ular topic is by using the index.
An initial overview of the vehicle is provided in
the first chapter.
Additional sources of information
Should you have any questions, your service
center will be glad to advise you at any time.
Information on BMW, e.g., on technology, is
available on the Internet: bmwusa.com.
Symbols
Indicates precautions that must be followed
precisely in order to avoid the possibility of per‐
sonal injury and serious damage to the vehicle.
◄ Marks the end of a specific item of informa‐
tion.
* Indicates special equipment, country-specific
equipment and optional accessories, as well as
equipment and functions not yet available at the
time of printing.
"..." Identifies Control Display texts used to se‐
lect individual functions.
›...‹ Verbal instructions to use with the voice ac‐
tivation system.
››...‹‹ Identifies the answers generated by the
voice activation system. Refers to measures that can be taken to help
protect the environment.
Symbols on vehicle components Indicates that you should consult the rele‐
vant section of this Owner's Manual for infor‐
mation on a particular part or assembly. Your individual vehicle
You

have decided in favor of a vehicle with indi‐
vidualized equipment and features.
This Owner's Manual describes the entire array
of options and equipment available for a specific
model.
As a result, the manual may contain accessories
and equipment that you may not have specified
for your own vehicle.
All options and special equipment are marked
with an asterisk*.
For options and equipment not described in this
Owner's Manual, please refer to the Supple‐
mentary Owner's Manuals.
Status of this Owner's Manual
at time of printing
The manufacturer of your vehicle pursues a pol‐
icy of constant development that is conceived
to ensure that our vehicles continue to embody
the highest quality and safety standards. In rare
cases, therefore, the features described in this
Owner's Manual may differ from those in your
vehicle.
Updates made after the editorial
deadline
Any updates made after the editorial deadline for
the Owner's Manuals are located in the appen‐
dix of the printed quick reference for the vehicle.
For your own safety
Maintenance and repairs
Advanced technology, e.g., the use of modern
materials and high-performance electronics, re‐
quires suitable maintenance and repair meth‐
ods.
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Therefore, have this work performed only by a
BMW center or a workshop that works accord‐
ing to BMW repair procedures with appropri‐
ately trained personnel.
If this work is not carried out properly, there is
the danger of subsequent damage and related
safety hazards.
Parts and accessories
For your own safety, use genuine parts and ac‐
cessories approved by BMW. When you pur‐
chase accessories tested and approved by
BMW and Genuine BMW Parts, you simultane‐
ously
acquire the assurance that they have been
thoroughly tested by BMW to ensure optimum
performance when installed on your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free from de‐
fects in material and workmanship. BMW will not
accept any liability for damage resulting from in‐
stallation of parts and accessories not approved
by BMW. BMW cannot test every product made
by other manufacturers to verify if it can be used
on a BMW safely and without risk to either the
vehicle, its operation, or its occupants. Genuine
BMW Parts, BMW Accessories and other prod‐
ucts approved by BMW, together with profes‐
sional advice on using these items, are available
from all BMW centers. Installation and operation
of non-BMW approved accessories such as
alarms, radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,
wheels, suspension components, brake dust
shields, telephones, including operation of any
mobile phone from within the vehicle without
using an externally mounted antenna, or trans‐
ceiver equipment, for instance, CBs, walkie-
talkies, ham radios or similar accessories, may
cause extensive damage to the vehicle, com‐
promise its safety, interfere with the vehicle's
electrical system or affect the validity of the
BMW Limited Warranty. See your BMW center
for additional information. Maintenance, re‐
placement, or repair of the emission control de‐
vices and systems may be performed by any au‐
tomotive repair establishment or individual
using any certified automotive part. California Proposition 65 Warning
California laws require us to state the following
warning:
Engine
exhaust and a wide variety of automobile
components and parts, including components
found in the interior furnishings in a vehicle, con‐
tain or emit chemicals known to the State of Cal‐
ifornia to cause cancer and birth defects and re‐
productive harm. In addition, certain fluids
contained in vehicles and certain products of
component wear contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to cause cancer
and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Battery posts, terminals and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds. Wash your
hands after handling. Used engine oil contains
chemicals that have caused cancer in laboratory
animals. Always protect your skin by washing
thoroughly with soap and water.
Service and warranty
We recommend that you read this publication
thoroughly. Your vehicle is covered by the fol‐
lowing warranties:
▷ New Vehicle Limited Warranty
▷ Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
▷ Federal Emissions System Defect Warranty
▷ Federal Emissions Performance Warranty
▷ California Emission Control System Limited
Warranty
Detailed information about these warranties is
listed in the Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models or in the Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
Your vehicle has been specifically adapted and
designed to meet the particular operating con‐
ditions and homologation requirements in your
country

and continental region in order to deliver
the full driving pleasure while the vehicle is op‐
erated under those conditions. If you wish to op‐
erate your vehicle in another country or region,
you may be required to adapt your vehicle to
meet different prevailing operating conditions
and homologation requirements. You should
also be aware of any applicable warranty limita‐
tions or exclusions for such country or region. In
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance

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

DSC Dynamic Stability Con‐
trol  96
DTC Dynamic Traction Con‐
trol  97
Side View*  116
8 Controller with buttons  18
9 Automatic Hold  
64 10 Parking brake  
63
11 Adaptive Drive*   99
12 Selector lever for automatic transmis‐
sion  69
All around the headliner 1 Emergency Request*  280
2 Glass sunroof*  
42  43
3 Indicator lamp for the front pas‐
senger airbags*  87
4 Reading lamps  
85
5 Interior lamps  85
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls
At a glance

▷ Press the switch beyond the resist‐
ance point.
The window opens automatically.
Pressing again stops the motion.
Closing
Danger of pinching
Monitor the closing process and make
sure
that the closing path of the window is clear;
otherwise, injuries may result.◀
▷ Pull
the switch to the resistance point.
The window closes while the switch is held.
▷ Pull the switch beyond the resistance
point.
The window closes automatically.
Pressing the switch stops the motion.
Convenient operation, refer to page 30, via the
remote control or the door lock.
Convenient

closing, refer to page 38, with Com‐
fort Access*.
After the ignition is switched off
When the remote control is removed or the ig‐
nition is switched off, the windows can continue
to be operated for approx. 1 minute as long as
no door is opened.
Pinch protection system
If the closing force exceeds a specific value as a
window closes, the closing action is interrupted.
The window reopens slightly.
Danger of pinching even with pinch pro‐
tection
Even with the pinch protection system, check
that the window's closing path is clear; other‐
wise, the closing action may not stop in certain
situations, e.g., if thin objects are present.◀ Do not use window accessories
Do

not install any accessories in the range
of movement of the windows; otherwise, the
pinch protection system will be impaired.◀
Closing without the pinch protection
system
For example, if there is an external danger or if
ice on the windows prevents a window from
closing normally, proceed as follows:
1. Pull the switch past the resistance point and
hold it there.
Pinch protection is limited and the window
reopens

slightly if the closing force exceeds
a certain value.
2. Pull the switch past the resistance point
again within approx. 4 seconds and hold it
there.
The window closes without pinch protec‐
tion.
Safety switch
With the safety switch, the rear windows are
prevented from being opened or closed via the
switches in the rear passenger area, such as by
children. Press the button.
The LED lights up if the safety function is
switched on.
Safety switch for rear operation
Press

the safety switch when transporting
children in the rear; otherwise, injury may result
if the windows are closed without supervision.◀
Roller sunblinds for the rear
side windows*
Pull the loop of the roller sun blind and hook onto
bracket. Seite 41
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

Adjusting
Sitting safely
The
ideal seating position can make a vital con‐
tribution to relaxed, fatigue-free driving.
The seating position plays an important role in
an accident in combination with:
▷ Safety belts, refer to page 50.
▷ Head restraints, refer to page 51.
▷ Airbags, refer to page 86.
Seats
Note before adjusting Do not adjust the seat while driving
Never attempt to adjust the driver's seat
while driving.
The

seat could respond with unexpected move‐
ment and the ensuing loss of vehicle control
could lead to an accident.◀
Do not incline the backrest too far to the
rear
Do not incline the backrest on the front passen‐
ger side too far to the rear during driving. Oth‐
erwise, there is the danger of sliding under the
safety belt in an accident. This would eliminate
the protection normally provided by the belt.◀ Adjusting manually*
Forward/backward
Pull the lever and slide the seat into the desired
position.
After releasing the lever, move the seat
forward or back slightly to make sure it engages
properly.
Thigh support* Pull the lever and move the thigh support for‐
ward or back.
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

Active seat ventilation* and
seat heating
*
Front 1
Seat heating
2 Active seat ventilation
Press button 1 or 2 once depending on the tem‐
perature or ventilation position. The LED in the
respective button lights up.
The temperature and ventilation levels are dis‐
played

in bar form on the Control Display. A dis‐
play of three bars indicates the highest level of
seat heating or seat ventilation.
The air flow rate may be reduced or the blower
may be switched off entirely to save on battery
power. The LEDs remain lit.
To switch off: press and hold button 1 or 2.
Temperature distribution without
active seat ventilation
The heat output can be distributed variously in
the seat cushion and the backrest.
1. Press button 1.
2. "Seat heating distribution" 3.
Turn the controller to adjust the distribution.
The setting is applied. Temperature distribution with active
seat ventilation
The heat output can be distributed variously in
the seat cushion and the backrest.
1.
Press button 1.
2. "Seat heating distribution" 3.
Turn the controller to adjust the distribution.
The setting is applied.
Heated rear seats
Operation similar to front seat heating, without
temperature distribution, refer to page 48.
Active seat* The seat cushion is actively varied by alternately
raising

and lowering the right and left half of the
seat cushion. This reduces muscular tension
and fatigue to help prevent lower back pain.
Press the button to switch on; the LED lights up.
The action of the system is reduced and if need
be, switched off in order to reduce the load on
the battery. The LED remains lit.
When the active seat is switched off, it can take
up to 1 minute before the two halves of the seat
cushion have returned to their initial position.
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

Safety belts
General information
Always make sure that safety belts are being
worn by all occupants before driving away.
Although airbags enhance safety by providing
added protection, they are not a substitute for
safety belts.
Number of safety belts
Your
vehicle has been fitted with safety belts for
the safety of you and your passengers.
▷ BMW X5: five or seven* safety belts.
▷ BMW X6: four or five* safety belts.
Notes One person per safety belt
Never

allow more than one person to wear
a single safety belt. Never allow infants or small
children to ride on a passenger's lap.◀
Putting on the belt
Lay the belt, without twisting, snugly
across the lap and shoulders, as close to the
body as possible. Make sure that the belt lies low
around the hips in the lap area and does not
press on the abdomen. Otherwise, the belt can
slip over the hips in the lap area in a frontal im‐
pact and injure the abdomen.
The safety belt must not lie across the neck, rub
on sharp edges, be routed over solid or breaka‐
ble objects, or be pinched.◀
Reduction of restraining effect
Avoid wearing clothing that prevents the
belt from fitting properly, and pull the shoulder
belt periodically to readjust the tension across
your lap; otherwise, the retention effect of the
safety belt may be reduced.◀
Using the middle safety belt
If the middle safety belt in the rear is used,
the larger section of the backrest must be
locked. Otherwise, the safety belt will not have
a restraining effect.◀ Buckling the belt
Make sure you hear the latch plate engage in the
belt buckle.
Unbuckling the belt
1.
Hold the belt firmly.
2. Press the red button in the belt buckle.
3. Guide the belt back into its reel.
The shoulder strap's anchorage point will be
correct
for adult seat occupants of every build if
the seat is correctly adjusted, refer to page 45.
The two rear safety belt buckles integrated into
the rear seat are for passengers sitting on the
left and right. The belt buckle* embossed with
the word CENTER is intended exclusively for
use by passengers riding in the center position.
Safety belt reminder for the driver's and
front passenger seat The indicator lamp lights up and a sig‐
nal sounds. In addition, a message ap‐
pears on the Control Display. Check
whether the safety belt has been fastened cor‐
rectly.
The safety belt reminder is active at speeds
above approx. 5 mph/8 km/h. It can also be ac‐
tivated if objects are placed on the front pas‐
senger seat.
Damage to safety belts
In the case of strain caused by accidents or
damage:
Have the safety belts, including the safety belt
tensioners, replaced and have the belt anchors
checked. Seite 50
50 Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 606 735 - 03 11 500
Adjusting