2012 BMW X5 XDRIVE35I Owners Manual

Driving
Automatic
Hold is activated: the vehicle is auto‐
matically secured against rolling when it stops.
The indicator lamp lights up in green.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
Step on the accelerator pedal to drive off.
The brake is released automatically.
The indicator lamp goes out. Before driving into a car wash
Deactivate Automatic Hold; otherwise, the
parking brake will be set when the vehicle is sta‐
tionary and the vehicle will no longer be able to
roll.◀
Parking
The parking brake is automatically set if the en‐
gine is switched off while the vehicle is being
held by Automatic Hold.
The indicator lamp changes from green
to red.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
The parking brake is not set if the engine is
switched off while the vehicle is coasting to a
halt. Automatic Hold is deactivated. Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for example,
cannot release the parking brake.◀
Malfunction
In the event of a failure or malfunction of the
parking brake, secure the vehicle against rolling
using a wheel chock, for example, when leaving
it. Releasing the parking brake manually
In the event of an electrical power loss or elec‐
trical malfunction, you can release the parking
brake manually.
Secure the vehicle against rolling
Before releasing the parking brake man‐
ually,
and whenever you park the vehicle with the
parking brake released, ensure that position P of
the automatic transmission is engaged. Note
the display in the instrument cluster.
In addition, secure the vehicle against rolling,
e.g. with a wheel chock. Otherwise there is a
danger that the vehicle could roll if parked on a
steep slope.◀
Jump-starting and towing, refer to page 282.
Unlocking
1. Open the left-hand side panel in the cargo
area.
2. Remove the first aid kit* and the warning tri‐
angle*.

Close the bracket of the warning tri‐
angle.
3. Insert the releasing tool or screwdriver, con‐
tained in the tool kit under the cargo floor
panel, refer to page 270, at the releasing
point. 4.
Firmly pull the releasing tool or screwdriver
upward against the mechanical resistance,
refer to arrow, until a considerable increase
in force is felt and the parking brake is then
clearly heard to release.
5. Stow the releasing tool or screwdriver,
warning

triangle*, and first aid kit* and close
the left side panel in the cargo area. Seite 65
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

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

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

When the vehicle lighting system is switched on,
the headlamps are cleaned at regular and ap‐
propriate intervals.
Do not use the washer system at freezing
temperatures
Do not use the washers if there is any danger
that the fluid will freeze on the windshield; oth‐
erwise, your vision could be obscured. For this
reason, use antifreeze.
Avoid using the washer when the reservoir is
empty; otherwise, you could damage the
pump.◀
Windshield washer nozzles
The windshield washer nozzles are heated au‐
tomatically
while the engine is running or the ig‐
nition is switched on.
BMW X5: rear window wiper 1
Intermittent wipe
When reverse gear is engaged, the system
switches to continuous operation.
2 Cleaning the rear window
Do not use the washing mechanisms
when the washer fluid reservoir is empty
Do not use washing mechanisms when the
washer fluid reservoir is empty, otherwise you
will damage the washer pump.

◀ Washer fluid
General information
Antifreeze for washer fluid
Antifreeze is flammable. Therefore, keep
it away from sources of ignition.
Only

keep it in the closed original container and
inaccessible to children.
Follow the instructions on the container.◀
Washer fluid reservoir
Adding washer fluid
Only add washer fluid when the engine is
cool, and then close the cover completely to
avoid contact between the washer fluid and hot
engine parts.
Otherwise, there is the danger of fire and a risk
to personal safety if the fluid is spilled.◀ All washer nozzles are supplied from one reser‐
voir.
Fill with water and – if required – with a washer
antifreeze,

according to the manufacturer's rec‐
ommendations.
Mix the washer fluid before adding to maintain
the correct mixing ratio.
Capacity
Approx. 6.3 US quarts/6 liters. Seite 68
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Driving

Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
Transmission positions
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for‐
ward gears are available.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel con‐
sumption is lowest when you are driving in po‐
sition D.
Kickdown
Kickdown is used to achieve maximum driving
performance. Press on the accelerator beyond
the resistance point at the full throttle position.
R is Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N is Neutral
Use in automatic car washes, for example. The
vehicle can roll.
When the ignition is switched off, refer to
page
61, position P is engaged automatically.
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is stationary. The
drive wheels are blocked.
P is engaged automatically as soon as the en‐
gine
is switched off unless N is engaged and, in
vehicles with Comfort Access, the remote con‐
trol is inserted in the ignition lock, refer to
page 61. Before leaving the vehicle, ensure that
the transmission position P is engaged; other‐
wise, the vehicle may begin to roll.
Engaging transmission position
▷ Transmission position P can only be disen‐
gaged

if the engine is running and the brake
pedal is pressed.
▷ With the vehicle stationary, press on the
brake pedal before shifting out of P or N;
otherwise, the shift command will not be
executed: shift lock. Press on the brake pedal until you start
driving
To prevent the vehicle from creeping after you
select a driving position, maintain pressure on
the brake pedal until you are ready to start.

◀
Shifting into D, R, N Briefly push the selector lever in the desired di‐
rection, beyond a resistance point if necessary.
When

shifting out of P or into R, simultaneously
push the unlock button 1.
The engaged transmission position is displayed
on the selector lever.
After releasing the selector lever, it returns to its
center position.
Engaging P Press button P.
P

is engaged if the driver's safety belt is unbuck‐
led and the driver's door is opened while the ve‐
hicle is stationary and transmission position R or
D is engaged. Before leaving the vehicle, ensure
that the transmission position P is engaged; oth‐
erwise, the vehicle may begin to roll. Seite 69
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Controls At a glance

Sport program and manual mode M/S
Activating the sport program
Push the selector lever to the left out of trans‐
mission position D.
The Sport program is activated and DS is dis‐
played
in the instrument cluster; in the BMW X6,
S4 is displayed, for example.
This position is recommended for a perform‐
ance-oriented driving style.
Activating the M/S manual mode
Push the selector lever to the left out of trans‐
mission position D.
Push the selector lever forward or backward.
Manual mode becomes active and the gear is
changed.
The engaged gear is displayed in the instrument
cluster, e.g., M1.
▷ To shift down: press the selector lever for‐
ward.
▷ To shift up: press the selector lever back‐
ward.
The transmission only shifts up or down if the
rpm and vehicle speed are appropriate. If the
engine

speed is too high, the transmission does
not shift down.
The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐
strument panel, followed by the current gear.
Ending the sport program/manual
mode
Push the selector lever to the right.
D is displayed in the instrument cluster. BMW X6: Gear change using the shift
paddles on the steering wheel
The

shifting paddles make it possible to quickly
change gears since both hands can remain on
the steering wheel.
▷ If the shift paddles on the steering wheel are
used

to shift gears while in automatic mode
D, the transmission temporarily switches to
manual mode.
▷ If the shift paddles are not used to accelerate
or shift gears for a certain amount of time,
the transmission switches back to auto‐
matic mode D.
With the transmission position M/S selected,
the manual mode remains active. ▷
Shift up: pull right shift paddle.
▷ Shift down: pull left shift paddle.
The vehicle only shifts up or down at appropriate
engine and road speeds, e.g., it does not shift
down if the engine speed is too high.
The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐
strument cluster, followed by the current gear.
Displays in the instrument cluster The gear position is displayed and the engaged
gear, such as M4, is displayed in manual mode.
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Displays
Odometer, external
temperature display, clock
1
Knob in the instrument cluster
2 Time, external temperature, and date
3 Odometer and trip odometer
Knob in the instrument cluster
Press the knob.
▷ When the ignition is switched on, the trip
odometer is reset.
Press the knob for approx. 5 seconds:
View service requirement display, refer to
page 75
▷ When the ignition is switched off, the time,
external
temperature and odometer are dis‐
played.
Units of measure
To
set the respective units of measure, miles or
km for the odometer and ℃ or ℉ for the external
temperature, refer to page 80.
The setting is stored for the remote control cur‐
rently in use.
Time, date, external temperature
From radio readiness the external temperature
and the time are displayed.
Set the time, refer to page 79.Retrieving date
Press the button on turn signal lever upward; the
date appears.
Set the date, refer to page
79.
Pressing the button upward or downward sev‐
eral times changes the display between clock,
external temperature, date, and Check Control
messages, refer to page 76.
External temperature warning
If the display drops to +37 ℉/+3 ℃, a signal
sounds and a warning lamp lights up. There is
the increased danger of ice. Ice on roads
Even

at temperatures above +37 ℉/+3 ℃,
there can be a risk of ice on roads.
Therefore, drive carefully on bridges and shady
roads, for example, to avoid the increased dan‐
ger of an accident.◀
Odometer and trip odometer
Resetting trip odometer:
With the ignition switched on, press button 1 in
the instrument cluster.
When the vehicle is parked
If you still want to view the time, external tem‐
perature and odometer reading briefly after the
remote control has been taken out of the ignition
lock:
Press button 1 in the instrument cluster. Seite 71
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

Tachometer
Never force the engine speed up into the red
warning field, see arrow. In this range, the fuel
supply is interrupted to protect the engine.
Coolant temperature
A warning lamp will come on if the coolant, and
therefore the engine, becomes too hot. In addi‐
tion, a message will appear on the Control Dis‐
play.
Check the coolant level, refer to page
267.Current fuel consumption* Displays the current fuel consumption. You can
check
whether you are currently driving in an ef‐
ficient and environmentally-friendly manner.
Engine oil temperature* ▷
Cold engine: the pointer is at the low tem‐
perature

end. Drive at moderate engine and
vehicle speeds.
▷ Normal operating temperature: the pointer
is

in the middle or in the right half of the tem‐
perature display.
▷ Hot engine: the pointer is at the high tem‐
perature end. Switch off the engine imme‐
diately and allow it to cool down.
If the engine oil temperature is too high, a mes‐
sage appears on the Control Display.
Check the oil level, refer to page 265.
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Displays