Active seat
The seat cushion is actively varied by alter‐
nately raising and lowering the right and left
half of the seat cushion. This reduces muscu‐
lar tension and fatigue to help prevent lower
back pain.
Press the button to switch on; the LED lights
up.
The action of the system is reduced and if
need be, switched off in order to reduce the
load on the battery. The LED remains lit.
When the active seat is switched off, it can
take up to 1 minute before the two halves of
the seat cushion have returned to their initial
position.
Safety belts
General information
Always make sure that safety belts are being
worn by all occupants before driving away.
Although airbags enhance safety by providing
added protection, they are not a substitute for
safety belts.
Number of safety belts
Your vehicle has been fitted with safety belts
for the safety of you and your passengers.
▷BMW X5: five or seven safety belts.▷BMW X6: four or five safety belts.Notes
One person per safety belt
Never allow more than one person to
wear a single safety belt. Never allow infants or
small children to ride on a passenger's lap.◀
Putting on the belt
Lay the belt, without twisting, snugly
across the lap and shoulders, as close to the
body as possible. Make sure that the belt lies
low around the hips in the lap area and does
not press on the abdomen. Otherwise, the belt
can slip over the hips in the lap area in a frontal
impact and injure the abdomen.
The safety belt must not lie across the neck,
rub on sharp edges, be routed over solid or
breakable objects, or be pinched.◀
Reduction of restraining effect
Avoid wearing clothing that prevents the
belt from fitting properly, and pull the shoulder
belt periodically to readjust the tension across
your lap; otherwise, the retention effect of the
safety belt may be reduced.◀
Using the middle safety belt
If the middle safety belt in the rear is
used, the larger section of the backrest must
be locked. Otherwise, the safety belt will not
have a restraining effect.◀
Buckling the belt
Make sure you hear the latch plate engage in
the belt buckle.
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Unbuckling the belt1.Hold the belt firmly.2.Press the red button in the belt buckle.3.Guide the belt back into its reel.
The shoulder strap's anchorage point will be
correct for adult seat occupants of every build
if the seat is correctly adjusted, refer to
page 49.
The two rear safety belt buckles integrated
into the rear seat are for passengers sitting on
the left and right. The belt buckle embossed
with the word CENTER is intended exclusively
for use by passengers riding in the center posi‐
tion.
Safety belt reminder for the driver's
and front passenger seat
The indicator lamp lights up and a
signal sounds. In addition, a message
appears on the Control Display.
Check whether the safety belt has been fas‐
tened correctly.
The safety belt reminder is active at speeds
above approx. 5 mph/8 km/h. It can also be ac‐
tivated if objects are placed on the front pas‐
senger seat.
Damage to safety belts In the case of strain caused by accidents or
damage:
Have the safety belts, including the safety belt
tensioners, replaced and have the belt anchors
checked.
Checking and replacing safety belts
Have the work performed only by your
service center; otherwise, it cannot be ensured
that this safety feature will function properly.◀
Belt-force limiter
The effect of the belt-force limiter on the driv‐
er's seat is dependent on the position of the
driver's seat.
To maintain the long-term accuracy of this
function, the driver's seat must be calibrated if
a corresponding message is displayed on the
Control Display.
Calibrating driver's seat The warning lamp lights up. A mes‐
sage also appears on the Control Dis‐
play. Please calibrate the driver's
seat.1.Move the driver's seat forward until it
stops.2.Move the driver's seat forward again. It
briefly moves toward the front in the proc‐
ess.3.Set the desired seating position again.
The calibration is completed when the mes‐
sage on the Control Display disappears.
Should this message continue to be displayed,
repeat the calibration. If the message does not
disappear even after repeated calibration, have
the system checked as soon as possible.
Do not carry out calibration while the ve‐
hicle is moving
Never carry out calibration while the vehicle is
moving, as this can cause accidents.
Make sure that no persons or objects become
wedged during the calibration process, as this
can cause injuries or damage.◀
Head restraints Correctly adjusted head restraints
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of spinal injury in the event of an accident.
Adjusting the head restraint
Correctly adjust the head restraints of all
occupied seats; otherwise, there is an in‐
creased risk of injury in an accident.◀
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Adjusting side extensions
You can fold the side extensions on the head
restraint forward for increased lateral support
in the resting position.
BMW X5: rear seats and 3rd row seats
Adjusting the height
▷To raise: pull.▷To lower: press the button, arrow 1, and
push the head restraint down.
In vehicles equipped with 3rd row seats, the
height of the middle head restraint is not ad‐
justable.
Removing
1.Pull the head restraint upward to the stop.2.Press the button, arrow 1, and pull the
head restraint out completely.
BMW X6: rear seats
The head restraints in the rear cannot be ad‐
justed and cannot be removed.
Seat, mirror, and steering
wheel memory
General information
Two different driver's seat and front passenger
seat positions, exterior mirror positions and
steering wheel positions can be stored and re‐
trieved.
The adjustment of the backrest width and the
lumbar support is not stored in the memory.
Storing1.Switch on the radio ready state or the igni‐
tion, refer to page 67.2.Set the desired seat, exterior mirror and
steering wheel positions.3. Press the button. The LED in the
button lights up.4.Press the desired memory button 1 or 2.
The LED goes out.
If the M button is pressed accidentally:
Press the button again. The LED goes
out.
Calling up settings Do not retrieve the memory setting while
driving
Do not retrieve the memory setting while driv‐ ing, as an unexpected seat movement could
result in an accident.◀
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Steering wheel
General information Do not adjust while driving
Do not adjust the steering wheel while
driving; otherwise, an unexpected movement
could result in an accident.◀
Adjusting
Mechanical1.Fold the lever down.2.Move the steering wheel to the preferred
height and angle to suit your seating posi‐
tion.3.Fold the lever back.
Do not use force to swing the lever back.
Do not use force to swing the lever back
up; otherwise, the mechanism will be dam‐
aged.◀
Electric
The steering wheel can be adjusted in four di‐
rections.
Storing steering wheel positions, refer to Seat,
mirror, and steering wheel memory, refer to
page 57.
Easy entry/exit To facilitate entry and exit, the steering wheel
temporarily moves into the uppermost posi‐
tion.
Steering wheel heating
Switching on/off
Press the button.
▷On: the LED lights up.▷Off: the LED goes out.Seite 60ControlsAdjusting60
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Engine stop
General information Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for exam‐
ple, cannot operate the windows and injure
themselves.◀
Set the parking brake and further secure
the vehicle as required
Set the parking brake firmly when parking; oth‐
erwise, the vehicle could roll. On steep upward
and downward inclines, further secure the ve‐
hicle, for example, by turning the steering
wheel in the direction of the curb.◀
Before driving into a car wash
To make it possible for the vehicle to roll in an
automatic car wash, follow the information on
Washing in automatic car washes, refer to
page 312.
Switching off the engine
Procedure1.Engage transmission position P with the
vehicle stopped.2.Press the Start/Stop button.3.Set the parking brake.4.Remove the remote control from the igni‐
tion lock, refer to page 67.
Parking brake
The concept The parking brake is primarily intended to pre‐
vent the vehicle from rolling while parked; it
brakes the rear wheels.
The parking brake can be set manually or auto‐
matically:
▷Manual: by pulling and pushing the switch.▷Automatic: by activating Automatic Hold.
Setting manually
Pull the button. The parking brake is set.
The indicator lamp lights up in red. The
parking brake is set.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
To set the parking brake, the remote control
does not need to be in the ignition lock.
Set the parking brake and further secure
the vehicle as required
Set the parking brake firmly when parking; oth‐
erwise, the vehicle could roll. On steep upward
and downward inclines, further secure the ve‐
hicle, for example, by turning the steering
wheel in the direction of the curb.◀
While driving
Use while driving:
Pull the switch and hold it. The vehicle brakes
hard while the button is being pulled.
The indicator lamp lights up in red, a
signal sounds and the brake lamps light
up.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
If the vehicle is braked to a speed of approx.
2 mph/3 km/h, the parking brake remains set.
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Releasing manually
Press the button with the brake depressed.The LED and indicator lamp go out.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
Take the remote control with you Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for exam‐
ple, cannot release the parking brake.◀
Automatic Hold
The concept This system assists the driver by automatically
setting and releasing the brake, such as when
moving in stop-and-go traffic.
The vehicle is automatically held in place when
it is stationary.
On inclines, the system prevents the vehicle
from rolling backward when driving away.
For your safety
Automatic Hold is deactivated automatically
and the parking brake is set when:
▷The engine is switched off.▷A door is opened and the driver's safety
belt is unbuckled.▷The vehicle is braked to a standstill with
the parking brake while driving.The indicator lamp switches from
green to red and the letters AUTO H go out.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
Before driving away:▷Release the parking brake manually.▷Reactivate Automatic Hold.
Leaving the vehicle with the engine run‐
ning
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine run‐
ning, engage position P of the automatic trans‐
mission and ensure that the parking brake is
set. Otherwise, the vehicle may begin to roll.◀
Activating
Press the button. The LED in the button lights
up and the indication AUTO H appears in the
instrument panel.
Automatic Hold is activated.
If the vehicle is being held by Auto‐
matic Hold, the indicator light in the in‐
strument panel also lights up in green.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
Deactivating Press the button again, the LED in the button
and the indication AUTO H in the instrument
panel go out.
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Automatic Hold is deactivated.
If the vehicle is being held by Automatic Hold,
then press on the brake pedal to deactivate it.
When the parking brake is set manually, refer
to page 69, Automatic Hold is deactivated au‐
tomatically.
Driving Automatic Hold is activated: the vehicle is au‐
tomatically 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 stationary and the vehicle will no longer be
able to roll.◀
Parking
The parking brake is automatically set if the
engine is switched off while the vehicle is be‐
ing 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 exam‐
ple, cannot release the parking brake.◀
Malfunction
In the event of a failure or malfunction of the
parking brake, secure the vehicle against roll‐
ing 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 posi‐
tion P of the automatic transmission is en‐
gaged. Note the display in the instrument clus‐
ter.
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 309.
Unlocking1.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 screwdriver, which is contained
in the onboard vehicle tool kit under theSeite 71DrivingControls71
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Rain sensorIf 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 steering wheel stalk lights up
and a wiping cycle is started.
At temperatures below 32 ℉/0 ℃, a wiping cy‐
cle is not started before driving away. Release
frozen wipers before driving away.
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,
damage could be caused by undesired wiper
activation.◀
Cleaning the windshield and
headlamps
Pull the lever, arrow 4.
The system sprays washer fluid on the wind‐
shield and activates the wipers briefly.
When the vehicle lighting system is switched
on, the headlamps are cleaned at regular and
appropriate 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
ignition is switched on.
BMW X5: rear window wiper1Intermittent wipe
When reverse gear is engaged, the system
switches to continuous operation.2Cleaning 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.◀
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