
At a glance
 11Reference
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9BMW X6: upshifting or downshifting with 
automatic transmission64
10Instrument panel12
13Ignition lock5814Buttons on steering wheel
15Horn, entire surface
18Releasing hood251 6
Parking lamps111
Low beams111
Automatic headlamp control
*111 
Adaptive Light Control
*112 
High-beam Assistant
*113
7
Head-up Display
*109
8
Turn signals65
High beams, headlamp flasher65
High-beam Assistant
*113
Roadside parking lamps
*113
Time, date, outside temperature, 
Check Control76, 84
Computer78
11
Windshield wipers65
Rain sensor66
BMW X5: rear window wiper66
12Starting/stopping engine and 
switching ignition on/off58
Telephone*:
Accepting and ending calls, start 
dialing
* selected phone number, 
redialing if no phone number is 
selected
Volume
Activating/deactivating voice acti-
vation system
*22
Changing the radio station
Selecting a music track
Scrolling through the redial list
Next entertainment source
Recirculated-air mode, 119
Steering wheel heating
*53
Lane departure warning
*104
16
Steering wheel adjustment52
17
Cruise control
*67
Active cruise control
*68 

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Indicator and warning lamps
The concept
The indicator and warning lamps can light up in 
different combinations and colors.
Some lamps are tested for proper function by 
briefly lighting up during starting of the engine 
or when the ignition is switched on.
Explanatory text messages
Text messages at the upper edge of the Control 
Display explain the meaning of the displayed 
indicator and warning lamps.
Additional information, e.g. on the cause of a 
malfunction and on the corresponding need to 
take action can be displayed via the Check Con-
trol, refer to page82.In the case of corresponding urgency, this infor-
mation is displayed immediately when the 
related lamp lights up.
Indicator lamps without text messages
The following indicator lamps indicate that cer-
tain functions are activated:
With parking brake set60
With parking brake set for Canadian 
models
Fog lamps
*114
High beams/headlamp flasher113
Lamp flashes: 
DSC or DTC controls the drive and 
braking forces for maintaining vehicle 
stability96
Engine malfunction with adverse 
effect on emissions257 

Opening and closing
36
Comparison with ordinary remote 
control
You can control the functions mentioned previ-
ously with Comfort Access or by pressing the 
buttons on the remote control. Therefore, 
please familiarize yourself with the information 
on opening and closing beginning on page26 
beforehand.
The special features when using Comfort 
Access are described in the following.
Should a short delay occur when opening 
or closing the windows or the glass sun-
roof
*/panoramic glass sunroof*, the system 
checks whether a remote control is located in 
the vehicle. Please repeat opening or closing if 
necessary.<
Releasing
Completely grasp a door handle, arrow1. 
This corresponds to pressing the  button.
Locking
Touch the area highlighted in the picture, 
arrow2, with your finger for approx. 1 second.
This corresponds to pressing the 
button.
Please make sure that all electronic sys-
tems/consumers are switched off before 
locking to save the battery.<
Convenient closing
Hold a finger or the back of a hand on the sur-
face, arrow2.
The windows and the glass sunroof
*/pan-
oramic glass sunroof
* are closed.Watch during the closing process to be 
sure that no one is injured. Removing the 
hand from the door handle immediately stops 
the closing process.<
Opening liftgate
Press the button on the liftgate. 
This corresponds to pressing the  button.
If a remote control accidentally left in the 
cargo area is detected in the locked vehi-
cle after the liftgate is closed, then the liftgate 
opens again. The hazard warning flashers flash 
and a signal
* sounds.<
Switching on radio readiness
By briefly pressing the Start/Stop button, you 
switch on the radio readiness, refer to page58.
When doing so, do not depress the brake 
pedal, otherwise the engine will start.<
Starting engine
You can start the engine or switch on the igni-
tion if a remote control is located in the interior 
of the vehicle. It need not be inserted in the igni-
tion lock, refer to page58.
As long as no remote control is detected in the 
vehicle, it is only possible to restart the engine 
within approx. 10 seconds after it is switched 
off if no door has been opened.
Switching off engine
>Remote control not in ignition lock:
After switching off the engine, the transmis-
sion is automatically switched into trans-
mission position P.
>Remote control in ignition lock:
If transmission position N is engaged, the 
transmission remains in this position after 
the engine is switched off.
Before driving into a car wash
The vehicle can roll if you proceed according to 
the following steps:
1.Insert remote control into ignition lock.
2.Depress brake pedal. 

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3.Engage transmission position N.
4.Release the parking brake.
5.Switch off the engine.
6.Leave the remote control in the ignition 
lock.
Malfunction
The Comfort Access function may malfunction 
due to local radio waves. Then open or close the 
vehicle with the buttons on the remote control 
or with a key. To start the engine following this, 
insert the remote control in the ignition lock.
The warning lamp in the instrument 
panel lights up when an attempt is 
made to start the engine: starting the 
engine is not possible. The remote control is 
not in the vehicle or has a malfunction. Take 
along the remote control into the vehicle or 
have it checked. Insert another remote control 
into the ignition lock if necessary.
The warning lamp in the instrument 
panel lights up when the engine is 
running: the remote control is no 
longer in 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 
panel lights up and a message 
appears on the Control Display: 
replace the battery of the remote control.
Replacing battery
The remote control for Comfort Access con-
tains a battery which must be replaced if neces-
sary.1.Remove integrated key from remote con-
trol, refer to page26.
2.Remove cover.
3.Lay in new battery with positive side facing 
upward.
4.Press cover closed.
Dispose of used batteries at a recycling 
center or at your BMW Sports Activity 
Vehicle Center.<
Windows
To prevent injuries, exercise care when 
closing the windows and keep them in 
your field of vision until they are shut. 
Always take along the remote control when you 
leave the vehicle, otherwise children could, for 
example, operate the windows and injure them-
selves.<
Opening, closing
>Press switch to resistance point: 
The window continues to open as long as 
you keep the switch pressed.
>Press switch beyond resistance point: 
The window opens automatically. Pressing  

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Tachometer
Do not operate the engine with the needle in the 
red overspeed zone of the gauge, refer to arrow. 
At high revs in this range, the flow of fuel is 
interrupted to protect the engine.
Coolant temperature
Should the coolant, and with it the engine 
become too hot, a warning lamp lights up. In 
addition, a message appears on the Control 
Display.
Checking coolant level, refer to page255.
Engine oil temperature*
When the engine is at operating temperature, 
the engine oil temperature is between approx. 
1707/806 and approx. 2507/1206.
When the engine oil temperature is too high, a 
warning lamp lights up in the instrument panel.
Energy control*
Displays the current fuel consumption. This 
allows you to see whether your current driving 
style is conducive to fuel economy with mini-
mum exhaust emissions. 

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
90
Malfunction
A Check Control message appears in the 
instrument panel, refer to page82.
The areas in front of and behind the vehicle 
appear in shaded form on the Control Display. 
PDC is malfunctioning. Have the system 
checked.
In order to assure full functionality:
>Keep sensors clean and free of ice.
>Do not spray the sensors with high-pres-
sure cleaners for long periods and keep the 
spray nozzle at least 12 in/30 cm away from 
them.
Surround View*
The concept
Surround View encompasses the following sys-
tems:
>Top View
*, refer to page90
>Side View
*, refer to page92
>Rear view camera
*, refer to page93
It provides assistance when parking and 
maneuvering and at blind driveways and inter-
sections.
Top View*
The concept
Top View assists you when parking and maneu-
vering. To accomplish this, the door region and 
road surface region are shown on the Control 
Display.
Detection
Detection is carried out by two cameras inte-
grated into the exterior mirror and the rear view 
camera.
The range is:
>Approx. 7 ft/2 m to the side
>Approx. 7 ft/2 m to the rear
Obstacles up to the height of the exterior mir-
rors are thus detected in a timely fashion.
System limitations
In the following situations, the function of Top 
View is limited:
>When a door is open
>When the liftgate is open
>When the exterior mirrors are folded in
>Under poor lighting conditions
The arrows next to the vehicle are displayed in a 
shaded form on the Control Display and a sym-
bol appears at the corresponding location on 
the vehicle.
Also make a direct visual check of the 
traffic situation around the vehicle. Other-
wise, there could be a risk of accident, for exam-
ple due to other road users or objects outside 
the image range of the camera.<
Automatic activation
With the engine running or the ignition switched 
on, shift the selector lever into position R.
The images from Top View and PDC are dis-
played when the system has been switched on 
using iDrive.
Automatic deactivation
The system switches off and the LED goes out:
>After approx. 165 ft/50 m when driving for-
ward
>At speeds over approx. 25 mph/35 km/h 
when driving forward
Switch the system back on as needed. 

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Cameras
The two camera lenses are located on the sides 
of the bumper.
The presence of dirt can impair image quality.
Clean the objective, refer to page260.
Rear view camera*
The concept
The rear view camera assists you when parking 
and maneuvering in reverse. To accomplish 
this, the region behind your vehicle is shown on 
the Control Display.
System limitations
Also make a direct visual check of the 
traffic situation around the vehicle. Other-
wise, there could be a risk of accident, for exam-
ple due to other road users or objects outside 
the image range of the rear view camera.<
T he  r e a r  v i e w  c a m e r a  i s  n o t  a b l e  t o  de t e c t  
objects at greater heights or protruding 
objects such as projections from walls.<
Automatic activation
With the engine running or the ignition switched 
on, shift the selector lever into position R.
The image of the rear view camera is displayed 
when the system has been switched on using 
iDrive.
Automatic deactivation
The system switches off and the LED goes out:
>After approx. 33 ft/10 m when driving for-
ward>At speeds over approx. 9 mph/15 km/h 
when driving forward
Switch the system back on as needed.
Switching on/off manually
Press the button.
>On: LED lights up.
>Off: LED goes out.
If PDC is displayed, switch on the rear view 
camera using iDrive, refer to page89.
Assistance functions
Function requirements
>Rear view camera is switched on.
>Liftgate is completely closed.
Pathway lines
>Can be displayed in the image of the rear 
view camera when the transmission is in 
reverse.
>Help estimate the required amount of space 
when parking and maneuvering on a flat 
road surface.
>Depend on the current steering angle and 
are continuously adapted to movements of 
the steering wheel. 

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
100
Function requirements
The system must have been initialized while the 
tire inflation pressure was correct; otherwise, 
reliable signaling of a flat tire is not ensured.
Initialize the system after every correction of the 
tire inflation pressure and after every tire or 
wheel change.
System limits
Sudden serious tire damage caused by 
external influences cannot be indicated in 
advance.<
A natural, even pressure loss in all four tires 
cannot be detected. Therefore, check the tire 
inflation pressure regularly.
In the following situations, the system could be 
delayed or malfunction:
>System has not been initialized
>Driving on snowy or slippery road surface
>Sporty driving style: slip in the drive wheels, 
high lateral acceleration
>Driving with snow chains
*
When you are driving with the compact wheel* 
the Flat Tire Monitor is unable to function.
Status display
The current status of the Flat Tire Monitor can 
be displayed on the Control Display, e.g. 
whether or not the FTM is active.
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status"
3."Flat Tire Monitor"
The status is displayed.
Initialization
The initialization process adopts the set infla-
tion tire pressures as reference values for the 
detection of a flat tire. Initialization is started by 
confirming the inflation pressures.
Do not initialize the system when driving with 
snow chains
* or with the compact wheel*.
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status"
3."Reset"
4.Start the engine – do not drive away.
5.Start the initialization using "Reset".
6.Start to drive.
The initialization finishes during driving, 
which can be interrupted at any time. 
When driving resumes, the initialization is con-
tinued automatically.<
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamp lights up red. A 
message appears on the Control Dis-
play. In addition, an acoustic signal 
sounds. There is a flat tire or a major loss in tire 
inflation pressure.
Actions in the event of a flat tire
Run-flat tires
You can continue driving with a damaged tire at 
speeds up to 50 mph/80 km/h.
If the vehicle is not equipped with run-flat 
tires as provided at the factory, refer to 
page249, do not continue driving. Continuing 
to drive with a flat tire could cause severe acci-
dents.<