2012 BMW X5 XDRIVE35D sensor

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

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

Indicator lamp on the interior rearview
mirror
▷
The indicator lamp flashes continuously:
The system is armed.
▷ The indicator lamp flashes after locking:
The doors, hood or tailgate is not closed
properly, but the rest of the vehicle is se‐
cured.
The indicator lamp flashes continuously af‐
ter approx. 10 seconds. The interior motion
sensor is not active.
▷ The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking:
The vehicle has not been tampered with.
▷ If the indicator lamp flashes after unlocking
until
the remote control is inserted in the ig‐
nition, but for no longer than approx. 5 mi‐
nutes:
An alarm has been triggered.
Panic mode*
In dangerous situations, trigger the alarm sys‐
tem: Press the button on the remote control for at
least 3 seconds.
To switch off the alarm: press any button.
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored.
The alarm system responds in situations such
as attempts to steal a wheel or tow the car.
Interior motion sensor
For

the sensor to function properly, the windows
and glass sunroof*/panoramic glass sunroof*
must be closed. Avoiding unintentional alarms
The

tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor
can be switched off together, such as in the fol‐
lowing situations:
▷ In duplex garages.
▷ During transport on car-carrying trains, at
sea or on a trailer.
▷ When animals are to remain in the vehicle.
Switching off the tilt alarm sensor and
interior motion sensor Press
the button on the remote control
twice in succession.
The indicator lamp lights up for approx. 2 sec‐
onds and then flashes continuously.
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor
remain switched off until the vehicle is locked
again.
Power windows
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 power windows and injure
themselves.◀ Opening
▷
Press the switch to the resistance
point.
The window opens while the switch is held. Seite 40
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Opening and closing

The setting is stored for the remote control cur‐
rently in use.
Washer/wiper system
Do not switch on the wipers if frozen
Do
not switch on the wipers if they are fro‐
zen onto the windshield; otherwise, the wiper
blades and the windshield wiper motor may be
damaged.◀ 1
Switching on wipers
2 Switching off wipers or brief wipe
3 Activating/deactivating the rain sensor
4 Cleaning the windshield and headlamps*
5 Setting the sensitivity of the rain sensor
Switching on wipers
Press the wiper lever upward, arrow 1.
The lever automatically returns to its initial po‐
sition when released.
Normal wiper speed
Press up once.
The system switches to operation in the inter‐
mittent mode when the vehicle is stationary.
Fast wiper speed
Press

up twice or press once beyond the resist‐
ance point.
The system switches to normal speed when the
vehicle is stationary.
Switching off wipers or brief wipe
Press the wiper lever down, arrow 2. The lever automatically returns to its initial po‐
sition when released.
▷
Brief wipe: press down once.
▷ To switch off normal wipe: press down once.
▷ To switch off fast wipe: press down twice.
Rain sensor
If
the car is equipped with a rain sensor, the time
between wipes is controlled automatically and
depends on the intensity of the rainfall.
The rain sensor is mounted on the windshield,
directly in front of the interior rearview mirror.
Activating the rain sensor Press the button, arrow 3.
The LED in the button lights up.
Rain sensor sensitivity
Turn thumbwheel 5 up or down.
Deactivating the rain sensor
Press the button again, arrow 3.
The LED goes out.
Deactivate the rain sensor in car washes
Deactivate the rain sensor when passing
through

an automatic car wash; otherwise, dam‐
age could be caused by undesired wiper activa‐
tion.◀
Cleaning the windshield and
headlamps*
Pull the lever, arrow 4.
The system sprays washer fluid on the wind‐
shield and activates the wipers briefly. Seite 67
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

3.
"Pathway light.: s" 4.
Set the duration.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur‐
rently in use.
Automatic headlamp control
*
Switch position : the low beams are switched
on and off automatically, e.g., in tunnels, in twi‐
light or if there is precipitation. The LED next to
the symbol lights up.
A blue sky with the sun low on the horizon can
cause the lights to be switched on.
The low beams remain switched on independ‐
ent

of the ambient lighting conditions when you
switch on the front fog lamps*.
Personal responsibility
The automatic headlamp control cannot
serve as a substitute for your personal judgment
in determining when the lamps should be
switched on in response to ambient lighting
conditions.
For example, the sensors are unable to detect
fog or hazy weather. To avoid safety risks, you
should always switch on the lamps manually un‐
der these conditions.◀
Daytime running lights
The daytime running lights light up in posi‐
tion 0, and . After the ignition is
switched off, the parking lamps light up in posi‐
tion .
Activating/deactivating
1. "Settings"
2. "Lighting" 3.
"Daytime running lamps" The setting is stored for the remote control cur‐
rently in use.
Adaptive light control*
The concept
Adaptive light control is a variable headlamp
control system that enables dynamic illumina‐
tion of the road surface.
Depending on the steering angle and other pa‐
rameters, the light from the headlamp follows
the course of the road.
In

sharp curves, e.g. serpentines, or during turn‐
ing, up to a certain speed one of the two front
fog lamps* is switched on as a turning lamp. This
provides improved illumination of the area inside
the curve.
Controls
Activating
Switch position with the ignition switched
on.
The turning lamps are automatically switched
on depending on the steering angle or the use
of turn signals.
Standstill function*:

to avoid blinding oncoming
traffic, the Adaptive Light Control directs light
towards the front passenger side when the ve‐
hicle is at a standstill.
When driving in reverse, both turning lamps are
active.
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Lamps

Malfunction
A message is displayed.
Adaptive light control is malfunctioning or has
failed.
Have the system checked as soon as pos‐
sible.
High beams/roadside parking
lamps 1
High beams
2 Headlamp flasher
3 Roadside parking lamps*
Left and right roadside parking lamps*
The vehicle can be illuminated on one side.
Switching on
After parking the vehicle, press the lever up or
down beyond the resistance point for ap‐
prox. 2 seconds, arrow 3.
The roadside parking lamps drain the battery.
Therefore,

do not leave them on for unduly long
periods of time; otherwise, the battery might not
have enough power to start the engine.
Switching off
Briefly press the lever in the opposite direction
to the pressure point, arrow 3.
High-beam Assistant*
The concept
When the lights are switched on, this system
automatically switches the high beams on and
off. The procedure is controlled by a sensor on the front of the interior rearview mirror. The as‐
sistant ensures that the high beams are
switched on whenever the traffic situation al‐
lows. The driver can intervene at any time and
switch the high beams on and off as usual.
Activating the High-beam Assistant
1.
Turn the light switch to .
2. With the low beams switched on, briefly
push

the turn indicator lever in the direction
of the high beam. The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up. The high beams are
switched on and off automatically.
The system responds to light from oncoming
traffic

and traffic driving ahead of you, and to ad‐
equate illumination, e.g., in towns and cities.
Switching the high beams on and off
manually ▷
High beams on, arrow 1.
▷ High beams off/headlamp flasher, arrow 2.
To reactivate the High-beam Assistant, briefly
push the turn indicator lever toward the high
beams. Seite 83
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

Activating/deactivating via iDrive
1.
"Settings"
2. "Lighting"
3. "High beam assistant" The setting is stored for the remote control cur‐
rently in use.
System limits
Personal responsibility
The
High-beam Assistant cannot serve as
a substitute for the driver's personal judgment
of when to use the high beams. Therefore, man‐
ually switch off the high beams in situations
where this is required to avoid a safety risk.◀
The system is not fully functional in situations
such as the following, and driver intervention
may be necessary:
▷ In very unfavorable weather conditions,
such as fog or heavy precipitation.
▷ In detecting poorly-lit road users, such as
pedestrians, cyclists, horseback riders and
wagons; when driving close to train or ship
traffic; and at animal crossings.
▷ In tight curves, on hilltops or in depressions,
in cross traffic or half-obscured oncoming
traffic on freeways.
▷ In poorly-lit towns and cities and in the pres‐
ence of highly reflective signs.
▷ At low speeds.
▷ When the windshield in front of the interior
rearview mirror is fogged over, dirty or cov‐
ered with stickers, etc.
▷ If the sensor view field is dirty. The view field of the sensor is located on the
front of the interior rearview mirror.
Do not cover this area with stickers, etc.
Clean

the sensor view field with a cloth mois‐
tened with a small amount of glass cleaner.
Front fog lamps*
The parking lamps or low beams must be
switched on. Press the button. The green indicator
lamp

in the instrument cluster lights up.
If the automatic headlamp control, refer to
page 82, is activated, the low beams will come
on automatically when you switch on the fog
lamps.
Instrument lighting Adjust the brightness using the thumbwheel.
Interior lamps
General information
The

interior lamps, footwell lamps*, exit lamps*,
cargo area lamps and courtesy lamps* are con‐
trolled automatically.
The courtesy lamps* have LED lights in the door
handles to illuminate the exterior area in front of
the doors.
To avoid draining the battery, all lamps inside
the car are switched off about 8 minutes after
the ignition is switched off, Start/Stop button,
refer to page 61. Seite 84
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Lamps

Chassis and suspension tuning
Two chassis and suspension tunings are avail‐
able for selection.
▷
Normal:
The comfortable basic setting offers opti‐
mum comfort when traveling.
▷ Sport:
The sporty basic setting offers increased
driving agility.
Selecting chassis and suspension
tuning Press the button.
The system switches between the two chassis
and suspension tuning settings.
▷
Sport:
The
LED in the button lights up and SPORT
is displayed in the instrument panel.
▷ Normal:
The LED in the button goes out.
The selection of the chassis and suspension
tuning setting is stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Drive-off assistant
This

system supports driving away on gradients.
The parking brake is not required.
1. Hold the vehicle in place with the foot brake.
2. Release the foot brake and drive away with‐
out delay.
Depending on the vehicle load, the vehicle may
roll back slightly. Driving off without delay
After

releasing the foot brake, start driving
without delay, since the drive-off assistant will
not hold the vehicle in place for more than ap‐
prox. 2 seconds and the vehicle will begin rolling
back.◀
Self-leveling suspension*
The concept
The self-leveling suspension on the rear axle
assures a continuous ground clearance.
To do so, the height of the vehicle is measured
by sensors at both rear wheels.
If the actual height deviates from the defined
height, such as due to cargo in the vehicle, this
difference is compensated very quickly. In ad‐
dition, spring motions resulting from cornering
or irregularities in the road surface are reduced
to a minimum.
The system works automatically.
Malfunctions
Malfunctions are displayed via Check Control,
refer to page 76.
Active steering*
The concept
The active steering actively varies the steering
angle of the front wheels in relation to the steer‐
ing wheel movements. In addition, it also varies
the steering force required for steering depend‐
ing on the vehicle's speed.
When you are driving in the low speed range, for
instance in a town or when parking, the steering
angle increases, i.e., steering becomes very di‐
rect. In the higher speed range, on the other
hand, the steering angle is reduced more and
more. This improves the handling of your vehicle
over the entire speed range.
In critical situations, the system can make tar‐
geted corrections to the steering angle provided Seite 100
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Driving stability control systems