Controls
119Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Selecting program
Press the button repeatedly until
the desired program is shown on
the Control Display.
1Air toward the windshield and side windows
2Air for the upper body
3Air to footwell
Pressing the AUTO button cancels the
manual air distribution settings.<
The automatic mode for the air volume remains
effective with manual air distribution.
Switching cooling function on and off
The cooling function cools and
dehumidifies the incoming air
before also reheating it as
required, according to the temperature setting.
This function is only available when the engine
is running.
The cooling function helps to avoid condensa-
tion on the window surfaces or to quickly
remove them.
Depending on the weather, the windshield may
fog over briefly when the engine is started.
The cooling function is switched on automati-
cally with the AUTO program.
Maximum cooling
Maximally cooled air is obtained as
quickly as possible at an outside
temperature above approx. 327/
06 and with the engine running.
The automatic climate control switches into the
recirculated-air mode at the lowest tempera-
ture. The maximum air volume flows out of the air vents for the upper body. Therefore, open
these vents for maximum cooling.
AUC Automatic recirculated-air
control/recirculated-air mode
You can respond to pollutants or
unpleasant odors in the immediate
environment by suspending the
supply of outside air. The system
then recirculates the air currently within the
vehicle. During AUC operation, a sensor
detects pollutants in the outside air and con-
trols the shut-off automatically.
By pressing the button repeatedly, you can
request three operating modes:
>LED off: outside air flows in continuously.
>Left LED on, AUC mode: the system
detects pollutants in the outside air and
shuts off the supply as needed.
>Right LED on, recirculated-air mode: the
supply of outside air is permanently shut off.
Should the windows fog up in the recircu-
lated-air mode, press the AUTO button or
switch off the recirculated-air mode and
increase the air volume if necessary.
The recirculated-air mode should not be used
without interruption over an extended period of
time, as the air quality inside the vehicle deteri-
orates continuously.<
Residual heat
The heat stored in the engine is used to heat the
passenger compartment, e.g. while stopped at
a school to pick up a child.
Switching on
Pressing the right side switches on
the residual heat utilization when
the following conditions are met:
>Up to 15 minutes after switching off the
engine
>With the engine at operating temperature
>With sufficient battery voltage
>At an outside temperature below 777/
256
Practical interior accessories
130
Lighter
Front
Press in the lighter with the engine running or
the ignition switched on.
The lighter can be removed as soon as it pops
back out.
Hold or touch the hot cigarette lighter by
the knob only. Holding or touching it in
other areas could result in burns.
Always take along the remote control when you
leave the vehicle, otherwise children could, for
example, use the lighter and burn themselves.<
Rear
Refer to Cigarette lighter, front.
Connecting electrical devices
Sockets
With the engine running or the ignition switched
on, the cigarette lighter socket can be used as a
power outlet for hand flashlights, car vacuum
cleaners, etc., with power ratings of up to
approx. 200 W at 12 V. Avoid damaging the
socket due to inserting plugs of different shapes or sizes. The same is true for all power
outlets in the vehicle.
In cargo area
Access to socket:
Fold open the cover.
In rear center console
Depending on your vehicle's equipment pack-
age, the socket in the rear is covered with a cap
or equipped with a lighter. Refer to Cigarette
lighter, front, page130.
Access to socket:
Remove cap or lighter.
In storage compartment under center
armrest
Access to socket*:
Pull off the cover.
Driving tips
143Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
ger the car's occupants, for example if sudden
braking or evasive maneuvers are necessary.
Never exceed either the approved gross vehicle
weight or either of the approved axle weights,
refer to page283, as excessive loads can pose
a safety hazard, and may also place you in viola-
tion of traffic safety laws.
You should never transport unsecured heavy or
hard objects in the passenger compartment, as
they could fly around and pose a safety hazard
to the vehicle's occupants during abrupt brak-
ing or evasive maneuvers.
Use only the lashing eyes pictured to fasten the
heavy-duty cargo straps. Do not secure cargo
with the attachment points for the top tether,
refer to page55; otherwise they could be dam-
aged.<
Roof-mounted luggage rack*
A special rack system is available as an option
for your BMW. Please comply with the precau-
tions included with the installation instructions.
Loading roof-mounted luggage rack
Because roof racks raise the vehicle's center of
gravity when loaded, they have a major effect on
its handling and steering response. You should
therefore always remember not to exceed the
approved roof load capacity, the approved
gross vehicle weight or the axle weights when
loading the rack.
You can find the specified weights under
Weights on page283.
The load on the roof must be evenly distributed
and must not extend outward beyond the limits
of the loading surface. Always stow the heaviest
pieces on the bottom. Be sure that adequate
clearance is maintained for raising the glass
sunroof
*/panoramic glass sunroof* and that
objects do not project into the opening path of
the liftgate.
Secure roof-mounted cargo correctly and
securely to prevent it from shifting or falling off
during the trip.
Drive smoothly. Avoid sudden acceleration and
braking maneuvers. Take corners gently.
Driving on poor roads
Y our B MW is at hom e on a ll r oa ds a nd surfac e s.
It combines a 4-wheel drive system with the
advantages of a normal passenger car.
Do not drive on unpaved terrain, as other-
wise the vehicle may be damaged.<
When you are driving on poor roads, there are a
few points which you should strictly observe for
your own safety, for that of your passengers,
and for the safety of the vehicle:
>Familiarize yourself with the vehicle before
driving off and avoid taking risks at all costs.
>Adapt your driving speed to the road condi-
tions. The steeper and rougher the road
surface is, the lower the speed should be.
>If you want to drive on very steep uphill or
downhill gradients, make sure beforehand
that the engine oil and coolant levels are
near the MAX mark, refer to page252.
BMW X5: you can operate your vehicle on
uphill and downhill gradients with a maxi-
mum slope of 50 %.
>On very steep downhill slopes, use Hill
Descent Control HDC, refer to page97.
BMW X5: it is possible to start off on inclines
of up to 33 %. The permissible body roll is
50 %.
>While driving, watch carefully for obstacles
such as rocks or holes. Try to avoid these
obstacles whenever possible.
>Make sure that the undercarriage does not
touch the ground, for example on crests and
bumpy roads. The ground clearance of the
vehicle is a maximum of approx. 8 in/20 cm.
Please note that the ground clearance can
vary depending on loading and the driving
conditions of the vehicle.
>Only drive through road surface water up to
a maximum water depth of
>BMW X5 20 in/50 cm
>BMW X6 17 in/45 cm
And only drive at walking speed; do not
remain stationary.
Navigation
Entertainment
Driving tips
191Reference
At a glance
Controls
Communications
Mobility
Music collection
Backing up the music collection
The entire music collection can be stored on a
USB medium. Make sure there is enough free
memory capacity on the USB device.
Depending on the number of tracks, backing up
the music collection may take several hours.
Therefore, it is best to perform the backup dur-
ing a long trip.
1.Start the engine.
2.Connect the USB device to the USB inter-
face in the glove compartment, refer to
page127.
3."CD/Multimedia"
4."Music collection"
5.Open "Options".
6."Music data import/export"
7."Backup music on USB"
Restoring the music collection in the
vehicle
When storing from the USB device, the
music collection existing in the vehicle is
replaced.<1."CD/Multimedia"
2."Music collection"
3.Open "Options".
4."Music data import/export"
5."Restore music from USB"
Deleting the music collection
1."CD/Multimedia"
2."Music collection"
3.Open "Options".
4."Delete music collection"
Under the hood
252
Engine compartment
BMW X5
1Filler neck for washer fluid of the headlamp
and windshield cleaning systems, refer to
page67
2Starting-aid terminal, refer to page274
3Expansion tank for coolant, refer to
page255
4Filler neck for engine oil, refer to Adding
engine oil on page254
Replacing components
270 3.Position the new wheel or compact wheel.
Secure the wheel by screwing at least two
lug bolts into opposite bolt holes.
When you mount wheels other than Genu-
ine BMW light-alloy wheels, different lug
bolts may also be required.
4.Screw in the remaining lug bolts. Tighten all
the bolts securely in a diagonal pattern.
5.Lower the vehicle and remove the jack from
beneath the vehicle.
After mounting
1.Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pattern.
To ensure safety, always have the
lug bolts checked with a calibrated
torque wrench as soon as possible to
ensure that they are tightened to the speci-
fied torque. Otherwise, incorrectly tight-
ened lug bolts are a hidden safety risk. The
tightening torque is 101 lb ft/140 Nm.<
2.Stow the defective wheel in the cargo area.
The defective wheel cannot be stored
under the floor panel flap due to its
size.<
3.Check and correct the tire inflation pressure
at the earliest opportunity.
Protect valve stems with valve screw
caps against dirt and contamination.
Dirt in valve stems is a frequent source of
gradual air loss.<
4.Initialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page100, or reset the Tire Pressure Moni-
tor, refer to page102.
5.Replace the damaged tire as soon as possi-
ble and have the new wheel/tire balanced.
Driving with compact wheel
Drive reservedly and do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. Otherwise,
changes in the driving characteristics could
result, for example reduced track stability on
braking, extended braking distance, and altered
self-steering characteristics in the limit range.
In conjunction with winter tires, these charac-
teristics are more pronounced.
their original size as quickly as possible. Failure
to do so is a safety risk.<
Vehicle battery
Battery care
The battery is 100 % maintenance-free, i.e., the
electrolyte will last for the life of the battery
when the vehicle is operated in a temperate cli-
mate. Your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center
will be glad to advise in all matters concerning
the battery.
Replacing battery
Only use vehicle batteries that have been
approved for your vehicle by the manu-
facturer; otherwise, the vehicle could be dam-
aged and systems or functions may not be fully
available.<
After a battery replacement, have the battery
registered on the vehicle by your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center to ensure that all com-
fort functions are fully available.
Charging battery
Only charge the battery in the vehicle via the
terminals in the engine compartment with the
engine switched off. Connections, refer to
Jump starting on page274.
Disposal
Have old batteries disposed of following
replacement at your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center or bring them to a recycling cen-
ter. Maintain the battery in an upright position
for transport and storage. Always restrain the
battery to prevent it from tipping over during
transport.<
Power failure
Following a temporary power failure, e.g. due to
a discharged battery, the use of some equip-
ment will be restricted, requiring its reinitializa-
Giving and receiving assistance
274 expiration dates of the contents regularly and
replace the contents concerned in good time if
necessary.
The first-aid kit is stored in the cargo area,
depending on the vehicle's equipment,
>On the right in a storage tray or
>Behind the left side panel
Roadside Assistance*
Roadside Assistance can be reached around
the clock in many countries. You can obtain
assistance there in the event of a vehicle break-
down.
The phone numbers of Roadside Assistance
can be found in the Contact brochure.
With BMW Assist or BMW TeleService, you can
contact BMW Roadside Assistance directly via
iDrive to request assistance in the event of a
breakdown, refer to page227.
Jump starting
When your battery is discharged, you can use
two jumper cables to start your BMW with
power from the battery in a second vehicle. You
can also use the same method to help start
another vehicle. Use only jumper cables with
fully-insulated clamp handles.
To avoid the risk of potentially fatal injury,
always avoid all contact with electrical
components while the engine is running. Care-
fully adhere to the following sequence, both to
prevent damage to one or both vehicles, and to
guard against possible personal injuries.<
Preparation
1.Check whether the battery of the other
vehicle has a voltage of 12 Volts and
approximately the same capacitance in Ah.
This information can be found on the bat-
tery.
2.Switch off the engine of the assisting vehi-
cle.3.Switch off any electrical systems and com-
ponents in both vehicles.
There must not be any contact between
the bodies of the two vehicles, otherwise
there is a danger of shorting.<
Connecting jumper cables
To avoid personal injury from sparks, fol-
low this sequence when connecting
jumper cables.<
On your BMW the so-called starting-aid termi-
nal in the engine compartment acts as the bat-
tery positive terminal, also refer to the engine
compartment overview on page252. The cover
cap is marked with +.
1.Fold open the cover of the BMW starting-
aid terminal. To do so, pull the tab.
2.Attach one end of the jumper cable plus/+
to the positive terminal of the battery or a
starting-aid terminal of the vehicle provid-
ing assistance.
3.Attach the second end of the cable to the
positive terminal of the battery or to a start-
ing-aid terminal of the vehicle to be started.
4.Attach one end of the jumper cable minus/–
to the negative terminal of the battery or to
an engine or body ground of the assisting
vehicle.
Everything from A - Z
294 Breaking-in rear axle
differential138
Break-in period138
Brightness
– of Control Display86
– on Head-up Display109
Button for starting engine58
Buttons on steering wheel11
C
Calibrating driver's seat49
California Proposition 65
Warning6
Call
– accepting215
– ending216
– rejecting216
Calling, refer to Phone
numbers, dialing216
Calling, refer to the telephone
owner's manual
Camera
– refer to Rear view camera93
– refer to Top View90
Camera, Side View93
Can holder, refer to
Cupholders128
Capacities284
Capacity of cargo area283
Car battery, refer to Vehicle
battery270Care258
– car-care products258
– carpets260
– car washes258
– CD/DVD-player261
– chrome components259
– displays260
– exterior258
– fine wooden
components260
– hand washing259
– headlamps259
– high-pressure cleaning
jets259
– interior260
– leather260
– light-alloy wheels259
– paint259
– plastic components260
– rubber gaskets259
– running boards260
– safety belts260
– sensors and cameras260
– upholstery materials and
cloth-covered paneling260
– windows259
Cargo
– refer to Loading140
– securing142
– securing with ski bag135
Cargo area
– capacity283
– emergency actuation, refer
to Manually opening or
closing34
– emergency operation, refer
to Opening manually31
– expanding132
– opening
33
– opening/closing, refer to
Liftgate30,33
– opening/closing, refer to
Tailgate32
– opening from inside31
– opening from outside31
– opening with remote
control28
Cargo area, refer to Cargo
area131Cargo area cover, refer to
Luggage compartment
roller cover131
Caring for the vehicle
finish259
Car key, refer to Keys/remote
control26
Car phone
– installation location, refer to
Center armrest, front128
– refer to separate operating
instructions
Car phone, refer to
Telephone212
Car radio, refer to Radio171
Car wash258
– before driving in59
– with Comfort Access36
Car washes258
Catalytic converter, refer to
Hot exhaust system139
CBC Cornering Brake
Control95
CBS Condition Based
Service256
CD, audio playback180
CD, refer to Playing audio
tracks, DVD system in
rear202
CD/DVD changer
– magazine, loading183
CD-/DVD player in rear197
CD changer179,183
– controls168
– fast forward/reverse181
– random play sequence180
– selecting a track180
– switching on/off168
– tone control168
– volume168
CD player179
– controls168
– fast forward/reverse181
– random play sequence180
– selecting a track180
– switching on/off168
– tone control168
– volume168