
Refueling
236 Do not mix in any additives or gasoline; 
otherwise, there is the risk of engine dam-
age.<
BMW X5 with BMW Advanced 
Diesel
The concept
BMW Advanced Diesel reduces nitrogen oxides 
in the diesel exhaust of your vehicle by injecting 
the reducing agent diesel exhaust fluid into the 
exhaust line. In the catalytic converter, a chem-
ical reaction occurs that minimizes nitrogen 
oxides.
In order to be able to start the engine in the 
usual way, there must be a sufficient supply of 
diesel exhaust fluid in the separate reservoir.
System heating
In order to bring the system to operating tem-
perature after a cold start of the engine, the 
automatic transmission shifts into the next 
higher gear at a later point.
Reserve display
A display in the instrument panel informs you 
about the remaining distance can be covered 
with the amount of fuel currently in the tank.
The reserve display appears approx. 
1,000 miles/1,600 km before the end of the 
tank.
As soon as the reserve display has 
appeared in the instrument panel, have 
the diesel exhaust fluid refilled to prevent the 
engine from being unable to restart.<
Diesel exhaust fluid at minimum
Even with a display of -- mls, the engine will 
continue to run, provided that it is not switched 
off, and all other operating requirements are 
met, e.g. sufficient fuel.
Do not drive until the displayed remaining 
distance runs out. Otherwise, it may not 
be possible to restart the engine.<
Incorrect fueling
The warning lamp lights up:
The reservoir has been filled with an 
incorrect fluid.
Please contact your BMW Sports Activity Vehi-
cle Center. 

Mobility
 237Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Have diesel exhaust fluid refilled
Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center refills 
the diesel exhaust fluid as part of the regular 
maintenance. If you adhere to this maintenance 
schedule, it is usually not necessary to refill any 
fluids between the maintenance dates.
Under certain circumstances, e.g. due to a par-
ticularly sporty driving style or operation of the 
vehicle at high altitudes, it may be necessary to 
refill fluids between maintenance dates.
As soon as the reserve display has appeared in 
the instrument panel, have the diesel exhaust 
fluid refilled to prevent the engine from being 
unable to restart.
You can have the fluid refilled by a BMW Sports 
Activity Vehicle Center.
Diesel exhaust fluid at low 
temperatures
Due to its physical properties, it may be 
necessary to replenish the level of diesel 
exhaust fluid at temperatures below +237/
-56 even between the regular maintenance 
intervals.
If the fluid needs to be refilled, this will be indi-
cated with the reserve display in the instrument 
panel, refer to page236.<
Only refill the diesel exhaust fluid 
yourself in exceptional circumstances
In order to get your vehicle to reach the nearest 
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center, you may 
refill the diesel exhaust fluid yourself, making 
sure to heed the warning notices.
Do not allow diesel exhaust fluid to come 
into contact with you. This can lead to 
skin and eye irritation. Wear protective goggles 
and gloves as needed. Follow the safety 
instructions on the bottle.
When opening the bottle or reservoir, pungent 
smelling vapors can escape. Before refilling, 
close the vehicle completely so that the vapors 
do not get into the interior of the vehicle. When 
handling diesel exhaust fluid in enclosed 
spaces, make sure to have sufficient ventilation.
After handling diesel exhaust fluid, wash hands 
thoroughly. Failure to do so may lead to irrita-tion, e.g. due to inadvertent contact with the 
eyes.
If eye irritation occurs, immediately rinse eyes 
with ample water and contact a doctor if neces-
sary.
If diesel exhaust fluid comes into contact with 
surfaces of your vehicle, rinse the affected sur-
faces with water or else damage may occur.
Keep diesel exhaust fluid out of reach of chil-
dren.<
Suitable diesel exhaust fluid
>Preferred: BMW Diesel Exhaust Fluid.
This bottle and its special adapter permit 
convenient refilling with diesel exhaust 
fluid.
>Alternative: NOx reduction agent AUS 32
You can get diesel exhaust fluid at your BMW 
Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
Refilling quantity
Refilling quantity at the start of the reserve dis-
play: approx. 0.75 gallons/2.7 liters
Open reservoir for diesel exhaust fluid
1.Open hood, refer to page251.
2.Fit releasing tool from onboard tool kit, refer 
to page262 into place and open the lock, 
refer to arrow. 

Refueling
238
Refilling BMW diesel exhaust fluid
1.Set bottle into place and rotate until it 
comes into contact with the stop, refer to 
arrow.
2.Press bottle down, refer to arrow. 
The reservoir of the vehicle is filled.
3.The reservoir is full when the fill level in the 
bottle stops changing. It is not possible to 
overfill. 
Pull bottle back, refer to arrow, and unscrew 
it.
Closing reservoir
After the reservoir is filled, close it again with the 
releasing tool.
After refilling diesel exhaust fluid
Incorrect fluid
After refilling with the incorrect fluid, e.g. 
antifreeze for windshield wiper fluid, do 
not start the engine because this could result in 
a fire hazard.<
Contact your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle 
Center.
Bottle disposal
You can have bottles for diesel exhaust 
fluid properly disposed of at your BMW 
Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
Only dispose of empty bottles in your house-
hold garbage if the local legal regulations permit 
it.<
Reserve display
After refilling, the reserve continues to appear 
after the engine is restarted. After the vehicle 
has been driven for a few more minutes, this 
display will disappear. 

Wheels and tires
250 Tire Pressure Monitor cannot detect a flat tire, 
refer to page101. Your BMW Sports Activity 
Vehicle Center will be happy to advise you on 
this subject.
Recommended tire brands
Certain tire makes are recommended by BMW 
depending on the tire size. You can recognize 
these from the clearly visible BMW marking on 
the tire sidewall.
When used properly, these tires comply with 
the most demanding standards for safety and 
vehicle response.
Special characteristics of winter tires
BMW recommends using winter tires for opera-
tion on winter road or at temperatures below 
+457/+76. Although all-season M+S tires 
provide better winter traction than summer 
tires, they generally fail to provide the same lev-
els of cold-weather performance as winter tires.
Paying attention to speed
Always observe the maximum permissi-
ble speed for the winter tires, otherwise 
tire damage may occur, which can result in acci-
dents.<
Storage
Store wheels and tires in a cool, dry place with 
as little exposure to light as possible. Always 
protect tires against all contact with oil, grease 
and fuels. Do not exceed the maximum tire 
inflation pressure indicated on the side wall of 
the tire.
Rotating wheels between axles
Even with tires of the same size, BMW 
recommends that you not rotate the front 
tires to the rear or vice versa as this can nega-
tively affect handling characteristics.
When the vehicle is equipped with different 
tires sizes
*, rotating tires from one axle to the 
other is not permitted.<
Snow chains*
BMW only tests certain fine-link snow chains, 
classifies them as road-safe and recommends 
them. Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center 
can provide you with this information.
BMW X5: use is only permitted in pairs on the 
rear wheels with tires of the size:
>255/55 R 18
>255/50 R 19
BMW X6: it is only permissible to use snow 
chains in pairs, on the 255/50 R 19 rear wheels.
Observe the manufacturer's instructions when 
mounting snow chains. Do not exceed a speed 
of 30 mph/50 km/h with the chains mounted.
After mounting snow chains, do not ini-
tialize the Flat Tire Monitor
*, as otherwise 
incorrect displays can occur.
When you are driving with snow chains, it can 
be beneficial to activate DTC briefly, refer to 
page96.< 

Mobility
 253Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
BMW X6
1Filler neck for washer fluid of the headlamp 
and windshield cleaning systems, refer to 
page67
2Filler neck for engine oil, refer to Adding 
engine oil on page2543Starting-aid terminal, refer to page274
4Expansion tank for coolant, refer to 
page255
Engine oil
The engine oil consumption is dependent on 
driving style and driving conditions.
Checking engine oil level
Your vehicle is equipped with an electronic oil 
level check.
The condition for the most accurate indication 
of the oil level possible is measurement with the 
engine at operating temperature, i.e. following 
an uninterrupted drive of at least 6 miles/10 km. 
You can display the oil level while driving or 
when stopped on a level surface with the engine 
running.1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status" 

Under the hood
254 3."Engine oil level"
Possible messages
>"Engine oil level OK"
>"Measuring engine oil level...": 
This can take about 3 minutes if the car is at 
a standstill on a level surface and the engine 
is running, and about 5 minutes while the 
car is moving.
>"Engine oil level below minimum. Add 1 
quart!": 
Add 1 US quart/liter of engine oil at the next 
opportunity.
If the oil level displayed is below mini-
mum, add engine oil immediately. 
Failure to do so may lead to engine dam-
age.<
>"Engine oil level too high! Have this 
checked.":
Have the vehicle checked immedi-
ately, otherwise engine damage may 
result if too much oil has been added.<
>"Measurement inactive. Have this 
checked.": 
Do not add engine oil. Before continuing to 
drive, note the recalculated remaining mile-
age until the next oil change service, refer to 
Service requirements on page79. Have the 
system checked as soon as possible.
Adding engine oil
BMW X5
BMW X6
Do not add 1 US quart/liter of oil until a corre-
sponding message is shown on the Control Dis-
play.
Add oil within the next 125 miles/200 km, 
otherwise the engine could be dam-
aged.<
Continuous exposure to used oil has 
caused cancer in laboratory testing. 
For this reason, any skin areas that come into 
contact with oil should be thoroughly washed 
with soap and water.
Keep oil, grease etc. out of reach of children and 
observe the warnings on the containers to pre-
vent health risks.<
Oil change
Only have an oil change carried out by a BMW 
Sports Activity Vehicle Center or a workshop 
that works in accordance with BMW guidelines 
and uses appropriately trained personnel.
Oil grades
Do not use oil additives as these may 
cause engine damage.< 

Maintenance
256
Maintenance
BMW maintenance system
The BMW maintenance system supports the 
preservation of the traffic and operating safety 
of your BMW. The service schedule also 
includes operations related to the vehicle's 
comfort and convenience features, such as 
replacement of the filters for the inside air. 
The ultimate objective is to ensure economical 
maintenance by providing the ideal service for 
your vehicle.
Should the day come when you decide to sell 
your BMW, a complete center service history 
will prove to be an asset of inestimable value.
CBS Condition Based Service
Sensors and special algorithms take the differ-
ent driving conditions of your BMW into 
account. Condition Based Service uses this to 
determine the current and future service 
requirements. By letting you define a service 
and maintenance regimen that reflects your 
own individual requirements, the system builds 
the basis for trouble-free driving.
You can set the Control Display to show 
remaining distances and times of selected 
maintenance intervals and legally mandated 
deadlines, refer to page79:
>Engine oil
>Brake pads, front and rear separately
>Brake fluid
>Vehicle check>Legally mandated inspections depending 
on local regulations
Service data in remote control
Your vehicle stores the information required for 
maintenance continuously in the remote con-
trol during driving. After accessing the data 
stored in the remote control, your BMW Service 
Advisor can suggest precisely the right array of 
service procedures for your own individual vehi-
cle. You should therefore hand over the remote 
control you last used to drive to the BMW Ser-
vice Advisor when you take your vehicle in for 
service.
Make sure the date is set correctly, refer 
to page85, otherwise the effectiveness 
of CBS Condition Based Service is not 
ensured.<
Service and Warranty Information 
Booklet for US models and 
Warranty and Service Guide Booklet 
for Canadian models
Please consult your Service and Warranty Infor-
mation Booklet for US models and Warranty 
and Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models 
for additional information on service require-
ments.
BMW recommends that you have service 
and repair operations performed at your 
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center. 
Take the time to ensure that these service pro-
cedures are confirmed by entries in your vehi-
cle's Service and Warranty Information Booklet 
for US models and Warranty and Service Guide 
Booklet for Canadian models. These entries 
verify that your vehicle has received the speci-
fied regular maintenance.< 

Care
260 Do not use aggressive, acid-containing, 
strongly alkaline, or coarse cleansers and 
do not use steam cleaners at temperatures 
greater than 1407/606; otherwise you may 
damage your vehicle.<
Aluminum running boards
A rust film on the aluminum running boards can 
be removed with a special cleaning agent.
Outside sensors/cameras
Make sure that sensors and cameras out-
side the vehicle, e.g. Park Distance Con-
trol, Top View, or rear view camera, are kept 
clean and free of ice in order to assure full func-
tionality.<
Interior care
Upholstery materials/cloth-covered 
paneling
Clean regularly with a vacuum cleaner in order 
to remove surface dirt.
In the event of more serious soiling such as bev-
erage stains, use a soft sponge or a lint-free 
microfiber cloth in combination with suitable 
interior cleaners. Follow the instructions on the 
packaging.
Clean upholstery material over a large 
area extending out to the seams. Avoid 
intense friction.<
Open Velcro fasteners on pants or other 
items of clothing can cause damage to 
the seat covering. Make sure that the Velcro 
fasteners are closed.<
Leather/leather-covered paneling
The leather used by BMW is a high quality 
natural product. Slight patterns in the 
grain are part of the typical properties of a natu-
ral leather.<
Dust and dirt from the road chafe in pores and 
folds and result in considerable wear and cause 
the leather surface to become prematurely brit-
tle. We therefore suggest that you clean the leather with a dust cloth or vacuum cleaner at 
regular intervals.
Particularly with light-colored leather, make 
sure to clean it regularly since it has a greater 
tendency to become soiled.
Treat the leather twice a year with a leather 
lotion since dirt and grease harm the protective 
layer of the leather.
Carpeting/floor mats*
Floor mats can be removed for cleaning.
If the carpets are very dirty, clean with a microfi-
ber cloth and water or an interior cleaner. To 
prevent matting of the carpet, rub back and 
forth in the direction of travel only.
Plastic components inside
>Vinyl upholstery surfaces
>Lamp lenses
>Cover glass of instrument cluster
>Matte parts
Should be cleaned with water and, if necessary, 
solvent-free plastic cleaner.
Fine wooden components
Use a damp cloth to clean fine wooden trim 
panels and components. Follow up by drying 
with a soft cloth.
Safety belts
Soiled seatbelt straps hinder the reeling, thus 
reducing safety.
Do not use chemical cleansers as they 
can destroy the webbing.<
Inside sensors/cameras
Clean inside sensors and cameras, such as 
those of the high-beam assistant, using a lint-
free cloth moistened with glass cleaner.
Displays
Clean displays like the radio or the instrument 
cluster using a display-cleaning cloth or a soft, 
nonabrasive lint-free cloth.