2012 BMW X5M lights

▷
During heavy brake application.
▷ When the turn signal flashes.
System limits Personal responsibility
The system cannot serve as a substitute
for
the driver's personal judgment of the course
of the road and the traffic situation.
In the event of a warning, do not jerk the steering
wheel; otherwise, you may lose control over the
vehicle.◀
The system may not be fully functional in the
following situations:
▷ In heavy fog, rain or snowfall.
▷ In the event of worn, poorly visible, merging,
diverging,

or multiple lane markings such as
in construction areas.
▷ When the demarcation lines are covered by
snow, ice, dirt or water.
▷ In tight curves or on narrow lanes.
▷ When the demarcation lines are covered by
objects.
▷ When driving very close to the vehicle in
front of you.
▷ When driving toward bright lights.
▷ When the windshield is fogged over, dirty or
covered by a sticker, etc., in front of the in‐
terior rearview mirror.
Malfunctions
Steering wheel vibration
Frequent

activation of the steering wheel vibra‐
tion causes the system to overheat.
This causes the lane departure warning to be‐
come deactivated.
Let the system cool and reactivate it by pressing
the button. Camera
The camera is located on the front of the interior
rearview mirror.
Keep the area in front of the interior rearview
mirror clear.
Brake force display*
The concept
BMW X5
▷
During normal brake application, the outer
brake lamps light up.
▷ During heavy brake application, the inner
brake lamps light up in addition.
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Safety

Driving stability control systems
Antilock Brake System ABS
ABS
prevents locking of the wheels during brak‐
ing.
The vehicle remains steerable even during full
brake applications, thus increasing active
safety.
ABS is operational every time you start the en‐
gine.
CBC Cornering Brake Control
When braking during curves or when braking
during a lane change, driving stability and steer‐
ing response are improved further.
Electronic brake-force
distribution
The system controls the brake pressure in the
rear wheels to ensure stable braking behavior.
Brake assistant
When you apply the brakes rapidly, this system
automatically produces the maximum braking
force boost. It thus helps to achieve the shortest
possible braking distance during full braking.
This system utilizes all of the benefits provided
by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the brake pedal
for the duration of the full braking.
Dynamic Stability Control
DSC
The concept
DSC prevents traction loss in the driving wheels
when driving away and accelerating. DSC also recognizes unstable vehicle condi‐
tions,
such as fishtailing or nose-diving. Subject
to physical limits, DSC helps to keep the vehicle
on a steady course by reducing engine speed
and by applying brakes to the individual wheels.
Adjust your driving style to the situation
An appropriate driving style is always the
responsibility of the driver.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed, even
with DSC.
Do not reduce the additional safety margin with
a risky driving style, as otherwise there is a risk
of an accident.◀
Deactivating DSC: DSC OFF
When DSC is deactivated, driving stability is re‐
duced during acceleration and when driving in
bends.
To increase vehicle stability, activate DSC again
as soon as possible.
Deactivating DSC Press and hold the button, but not longer than
approx. 10 seconds, until the indicator lamp for
DSC

lights up in the instrument cluster and DSC
OFF is displayed. DTC Dynamic Traction Con‐
trol and DSC are deactivated together.
A message appears on the Control Display.
Please note any supplementary information that
appears there. Seite 96
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Driving stability control systems

Activating DSC
Press the button.
DSC OFF and the indicator lamp in the instru‐
ment cluster go out.
For better control
The indicator lamp flashes: DSC con‐
trols the drive forces and brake forces.
The indicator lamp lights up: DSC and
DTC has failed.
DSC deactivated:
The indicator lamp lights up and
DSC OFF appears in the instrument
cluster. DSC and DTC deactivated.
Dynamic Traction Control
DTC
The concept
The
DTC system is a version of the DSC in which
forward momentum is optimized.
The system ensures maximum forward momen‐
tum on special road conditions, e.g., unplowed
snowy roads, but driving stability is limited.
It is therefore necessary to drive with appropri‐
ate caution.
You may find it useful to briefly activate DTC un‐
der the following special circumstances:
▷ When driving in sand, on snowy inclines, in
slush, or on unplowed, snow-covered road
surfaces ▷
When rocking a vehicle free or starting off in
deep snow, sand, or on loose ground
▷ When driving with snow chains*.
Deactivating/activating DTC Dynamic
Traction Control
Activating the Dynamic Traction Control DTC
provides maximum traction on loose ground.
Driving stability is limited during acceleration
and when driving in bends.
Activating DTC Press the button.
TRACTION is displayed in the instrument clus‐
ter

and the indicator lamp for DSC OFF lights up.
Deactivating DTC
Press the button again.
TRACTION and the indicator lamp in the instru‐
ment cluster go out.
For better control The indicator lamp flashes: DTC con‐
trols the drive forces and brake forces.
The indicator lamp lights up: DSC and
DTC has failed.
DTC activated:
The indicator lamp lights up and TRAC‐
TION appears in the instrument cluster. Seite 97
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

A target speed within the same range can be
specified using the lever of the cruise control.
On
inclines over 10 %, you can reduce the speed
to approx. 3 mph/4 km/h. Pull the lever of the
cruise control beyond the resistance point, ar‐
row 3. 1
Increasing speed
2 Pull to the resistance point: reduce the
speed to approx. 4 mph/6 km/h
3 Pull beyond the resistance point: on inclines
over 10 %, reduce the speed to ap‐
prox. 3 mph/4 km/h
Activating HDC Press the button; the LED above the button
lights up.
The LED flashes when the brakes are applied
automatically.
Deactivating HDC
Press the button again; the LED goes out. HDC
is automatically deactivated above approx.
37 mph/60 km/h. Displays* in the instrument cluster
1
Display for target speed
2 HDC display
Malfunction
HDC is temporarily unavailable in the following
situations due to a high brake temperature:
▷ The LED in the button and the display HDC
go out during HDC operation.
▷ The LED in the button and the HDC display
do not light up when the button is pressed.
Malfunction of driving
stability control systems Adapting your driving style
When driving on poor roads, avoid using
full throttle or pressing the accelerator beyond
the kickdown point and also avoid heavy brak‐
ing. Otherwise, the drive train may be damaged
or accidents can occur.◀
Adaptive Drive*
The concept
Adaptive Drive reduces the body roll which oc‐
curs when cornering quickly or during fast eva‐
sive maneuvers. In addition, Adaptive Drive re‐
duces

the steering angle requirement, improves
the running comfort, and enhances the dynamic
driving characteristics of your vehicle. Seite 99
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

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

by the driver and thus stabilize the vehicle before
the driver intervenes.
Malfunction
The
warning lamp lights up yellow and
a message is shown on the Control
Display. The active steering is defec‐
tive or has been temporarily deacti‐
vated. At low speeds, greater steering wheel
movements are required, whereas at higher
speeds, the vehicle reacts more sensitively to
steering wheel movements. The stability-pro‐
moting intervention can also be deactivated.
Proceed cautiously and drive defensively.
Deactivation
Active steering deactivates in order to carry out
an initialization. This deactivation is displayed by
means of a message. The initialization can take
several minutes.
If the message does not disappear during the
current trip, have the system checked.
Defect
In the event of a defect, a corresponding text
message is displayed. Have the system
checked. Seite 101
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips
Controls At a glance

Driving comfort
Active cruise control*
With active cruise control you can select a de‐
sired speed which is then automatically main‐
tained when driving on open roadways and is
varied
to maintain a selected distance setting to
slower moving vehicles ahead.
Active cruise control represents a technological
advance over the familiar cruise control and is a
welcome relief from the constant adjustment of
speed that can accompany driving in traffic on
highways or other high-speed thoroughfares.
Especially on longer trips and in traffic conges‐
tion, the system can reduce fatigue and tension,
while increasing your enjoyment of driving.
Please use it safely and responsibly.
In addition to holding a steady cruising speed, if
you encounter slower vehicles ahead, active
cruise control will, within limits, adjust your ve‐
hicle's speed automatically so that you can flow
with the traffic without having to make constant
adjustments. If, for example, while cruising at the
selected speed, you begin to approach a slower
vehicle ahead of you in the same lane, the sys‐
tem will reduce your vehicle's speed to the same
as that of the vehicle ahead to maintain your se‐
lected distance setting. You can vary the follow‐
ing distance, which will vary with speed. Based
on your selected distance setting, the system
automatically decreases the throttle setting and
lightly applies the brakes if necessary. In addi‐
tion, if the vehicle ahead of you slows to a com‐
plete stop, the system can follow this action
within the given scope and can also accelerate
from a complete stop if the vehicle ahead of you
drives off again shortly thereafter. During brak‐
ing, your vehicle brake lamps will automatically
illuminate to alert a following driver to take ac‐
tion. In addition, it may be necessary for your
vehicle to downshift the automatic transmission
to maintain the distance setting selected. As
soon as the road in front of you has no moving
vehicles, the system will accelerate to your de‐
sired speed. This set speed is also maintained
on downhill grades, however the vehicle speed can drop below the set speed when driving uphill
if the engine output is not sufficient.
Personal responsibility
Active cruise control cannot detect stop
signs,
red lights, or any object that is stopped or
is blocking the road. Active cruise control is not
and must not be used as a collision avoidance/
warning system. Since this active cruise control
system is a new technology and operates dif‐
ferently from conventional cruise control sys‐
tems to which you may be accustomed, it is
necessary that you read all of the pages relating
to this system before use. Carefully read and
observe the information on the system limita‐
tions, refer to page 106, to obtain a good com‐
mand of the system and its range of applica‐
tions.◀
Brake pedal feel
When the system brakes and you also depress
the brake pedal, a somewhat different braking
feel results.
Professional navigation system*
If the vehicle is equipped with a Professional
navigation system, the system adapts the ac‐
celeration and deceleration behavior of the ve‐
hicle to the road on which you are currently driv‐
ing.
To ensure that the system has the latest infor‐
mation on the course of the road, use the most
recent version of the navigation data.
If the vehicle position is unknown, e.g., if you
have left the region covered by the map, the
navigation system ceases to influence vehicle
behavior.
Applications
Please try the system first during sparse traffic
and clear road conditions so that you can get
used to the system. After you have experience
and understand the system, only then use it dur‐
ing normal traffic. Seite 102
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Driving comfort

Selecting the distance
▷
Press the rocker down briefly:
Increase the distance.
▷ Press the rocker up briefly:
Decrease the distance.
The selected distance is displayed in the instru‐
ment panel.
Distance display Distance 1, closest
Distance 2
Distance 3
Distance 4, furthest
This
distance is set when you ac‐
tivate the system. Selecting an appropriate distance
Use good judgement to select the appro‐
priate following distance given road conditions,
traffic,

applicable laws and State driving recom‐
mendations for safe following distance. Other‐
wise, a violation of the law or risk of an accident
could result.◀ Interrupting the system
Press the lever up or down and additionally de‐
press the brake if the vehicle is stationary. The
mark

in the speedometer changes color and the
distance indicator goes out.
In addition, the system is interrupted:
▷ When the brakes are applied.
▷ When the transmission position D is disen‐
gaged.
▷ When DTC is activated or DSC is deacti‐
vated.
▷ When DSC is activated
▷ When the safety belt and the driver's door
are opened while the vehicle is stationary.
▷ When the system has not detected objects
for an extended period, e.g., on a road with
very

little traffic without road edge line mark‐
ings.
▷ The radar sensor is dirty.
Active intervention if the system is inter‐
rupted
If

the system is interrupted, actively intervene by
braking and, if necessary, with evasive maneu‐
vers; otherwise, there is the danger of an acci‐
dent occurring.◀
Calling up the stored desired speed and
distance
While driving
Press button 4, refer to page 103. All of the dis‐
plays in the instrument panel lights up. Seite 104
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Driving comfort