Comfort function1.Open the driver's door after unlocking or
switch on the radio ready state, refer to
page 67.2.Briefly press the desired memory but‐
ton 1 or 2.
The seat is automatically moved to the stored
position.
The procedure stops when a switch for setting
the seat or one of the memory buttons is
pressed.
Safety mode
1.Close the driver's door and switch the igni‐
tion on or off, refer to page 67.2.Press and hold the desired memory button
1 or 2 until the setting procedure is com‐
pleted.
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors
General information The mirror on the passenger side is more
curved than the driver's mirror.
Estimating distances correctly
Objects reflected in the mirror are closer
than they appear. Do not estimate the distance
to the traffic behind you based on what you
see in the mirror, as this will increase your risk
of an accident.◀
At a glance1Adjusting2Left/right, Automatic Curb Monitor3Fold in and out
Selecting a mirror
To change over to the other mirror:
Slide the mirror changeover switch.
Adjusting electrically The setting corresponds to the direc‐
tion in which the button is pressed.
Saving positions
Seat and mirror memory, refer to page 57.
Adjusting manually If an electrical malfunction occurs, for example,
press the edges of the mirror glass.
Automatic Curb Monitor When the reverse gear is engaged, the mirror
glass tilts downward slightly on the front pas‐
senger side. This improves your view of the
curb and other low-lying obstacles when park‐
ing, for example.
Activating
1. Slide the mirror changeover switch
to the driver's side mirror position.
Seite 58ControlsAdjusting58
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 918 395 - III/13
Transporting children safelyVehicle equipmentThis chapter describes all series equipment as
well as country-specific and special equipment
offered for this model series.Therefore, it also
describes equipment that may not be found in
your vehicle, for instance due to the selected
special equipment or the country version. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
The right place for children
Note Children in the vehicle
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle; otherwise, they could endanger them‐
selves and other persons, e.g., by opening the
doors.◀
Children should always be in the rear
Accident research shows that the safest place
for children is on the rear seat.
Transporting children in the rear
Transport children younger than
13 years of age or shorter than 5 ft/150 cm on
the 2nd row seats only, using child restraint fix‐
ing systems suitable for the age, weight, and
height of the child. Otherwise, there is the in‐
creased danger of injury in an accident.
Children 13 years of age or older must wear a
safety belt as soon as a suitable child restraint
fixing system can no longer be used, due to
their age, weight and size.◀
Children on the front passenger seat
Should it be necessary to use a child restraint
fixing system on the front passenger seat,
make sure that the front and side airbags onthe front passenger side are deactivated. Auto‐
matic deactivation of front passenger airbags,
refer to page 96.
Deactivating the front passenger airbags
If a child restraint fixing system is used in
the front passenger seat, the front passenger
airbags must be deactivated; otherwise, there
is an increased risk of injury to the child when
the airbags are triggered, even with a child re‐
straint fixing system.◀
Installing child restraint
fixing systems
Notes Manufacturer's information for child re‐
straint fixing systems
To select, mount and use child restraint fixing
systems, observe the information provided by
the system manufacturer; otherwise, the pro‐
tective effect can be impaired.◀
Note the following in vehicles equipped
with 3rd row seats
BMW X5: in vehicles with 3rd row seats, make
sure that the seat of the 2nd row seats on
which the child restraint fixing system is
mounted is properly locked. Otherwise, there
is an increased risk of injury for the child in an
accident.
Do not mount child restraint fixing systems on
the 3rd row seats, as otherwise the protection
provided by these child restraint fixing systems
may be reduced.◀
BMW X5: before mounting a child restraint fix‐
ing system in the center seat of the 2nd row
seats, move the outer seat cushions and back‐
rests into the rearmost positions.Seite 61Transporting children safelyControls61
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 918 395 - III/13
On the front passenger seatAfter installing a child restraint fixing system
on the front passenger seat, ensure that the
front and side airbags on the front passenger
side are deactivated.
Deactivating the front passenger airbags
If a child restraint fixing system is used in
the front passenger seat, the front passenger
airbags must be deactivated; otherwise, there
is an increased risk of injury to the child when
the airbags are triggered, even with a child re‐
straint fixing system.◀
Seat position and height Before installing a child restraint fixing system,
move the front passenger seat as far back as
possible and adjust its height to the highest
position to obtain the best possible position for
the belt and to offer optimal protection in the
event of an accident.
Do not change the seat position and height af‐
ter this.
Backrest width Before mounting a child restraint fixing system
on the front passenger seat, open the backrest
width, refer to page 50, completely. Do not
change the backrest width after this.
Backrest width for the child seat
Before installing a child restraint fixing
system in the front passenger seat, the back‐
rest width must be opened completely. Do not
change the adjustment after this; otherwise,
the stability of the child seat will be reduced.◀Child seat security
The rear safety belts
▷BMW X5: all safety belts of the 2nd and 3rd
row seats▷BMW X6: all safety belts of the 2nd row
seats
And the safety belt for the front passenger can
be locked to prevent extension in order to per‐
mit attachment of child restraint fixing sys‐
tems.
Locking the safety belt
1.Pull out the belt webbing completely.2.Secure the child restraint fixing system
with the belt.3.Allow the belt webbing to be pulled in and
pull it taut against the child restraint fixing
system. The safety belt is locked.
Unlocking the safety belt
1.Open the belt buckle.2.Remove the child restraint fixing system.3.Allow the belt webbing to be pulled in com‐
pletely.
LATCH child restraint fixing
system
LATCH: Lower Anchors and Tether for Chil‐
dren.
Seite 62ControlsTransporting children safely62
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 918 395 - III/13
On the center seat when equipped with three
rows of seats:1.Slide the head restraint upward.2.Guide the tether strap between the head
restraint brackets.3.Hook in the tether strap on the mounting
point with the hook.4.Slide the head restraint into the bottom po‐
sition.5.Pull tether strap taut.
BMW X6
1.Route the upper retaining strap over the
middle of the head restraint.2.Attach the upper retaining strap to the
mounting point with the hook.3.Pull the retaining strap taut until it com‐
presses the cushion of the head restraint,
thus preventing the strap from sliding off.
Locking the doors and
windows
Rear doors
Push the locking lever on the rear doors down.
The door can now be opened from the outside
only.
Safety switch for the rear
Press the button on the driver's door if
children are being transported in the
rear.
This locks the rear window switches so that
the windows cannot be operated from the rear:
safety switch, refer to page 44.Seite 66ControlsTransporting children safely66
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 918 395 - III/13
DrivingVehicle equipment
This chapter describes all series equipment as
well as country-specific and special equipment
offered for this model series.Therefore, it also
describes equipment that may not be found in
your vehicle, for instance due to the selected
special equipment or the country version. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems.
Ignition lock
Insert the remote control into the
ignition lock
Insert the remote control all the way into the
ignition lock.
Radio ready state is switched on. Individual
electrical consumers can operate.
Comfort Access
If the car is equipped with Comfort Access,
only insert the remote control into the ignition
lock, refer to page 40, under special circum‐
stances.
Removing the remote control from the
ignition lock
Do not forcibly pull the remote control
out of the ignition lock
Do not forcibly pull the remote control out of
the ignition lock as this may cause damage.◀
Before removing the remote control, push it all
the way in to release the locking mechanism.
The ignition is switched off if it was on.
Start/Stop button
Pressing the Start/Stop button switches the
ignition on or off and starts the engine.
The engine starts if the brake pedal is pressed
when you press the Start/Stop button.
Radio ready state Individual electrical consumers can operate.
The time and the external temperature are dis‐
played in the instrument cluster.
Radio ready state is switched off automatically:
▷When the remote control is removed from
the ignition lock.▷In cars with Comfort Access, refer to
page 40, by touching the surface above the
door lock.Seite 67DrivingControls67
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 918 395 - III/13
Ignition onAll electrical consumers can operate. The od‐
ometer and trip odometer are displayed in the
instrument cluster.
To save battery power when the engine is off,
switch off the ignition and any unnecessary
electronic systems/power consumers.
Radio ready state and ignition off
All indicator and warning lamps as well as dis‐
plays in the instrument cluster go out.
Transmission position P with the ignition
off
When the ignition is switched off, position P is
engaged automatically. When in an automatic
car wash, for example, ensure that the ignition
is not switched off accidentally.◀
For example, the ignition is not switched off in
the following situations:▷The brake is applied.▷The low beams are switched on
Starting the engine
General information Enclosed areas
Do not let the engine run in enclosed
areas; otherwise, breathing of exhaust fumes
may lead to loss of consciousness and death.
The exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide,
an odorless and colorless but highly toxic
gas.◀
Unattended vehicle
Do not leave the car unattended with the
engine running; otherwise, it presents a poten‐
tial source of danger.
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine run‐
ning, set the parking brake and engage trans‐
mission position P; otherwise, the vehicle may
begin to roll.◀
Frequent starting in quick succession
Avoid repeated futile attempts at starting
the car and avoid starting the car frequently in
quick succession. Otherwise, the fuel is not
burned or is inadequately burned, and there is
the danger of overheating and damaging the
catalytic converter.◀
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right
away, but at moderate engine speeds.
Starting the engine
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with
Comfort Access, inside the vehicle, refer to
page 40.
1.Depress the brake pedal.2.Press the Start/Stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain
time, and stops automatically as soon as the
engine has started.
Diesel engine
If the engine is cold and temperatures are be‐
low approx. 32 ℉/0 ℃, the start process may
be delayed somewhat due to automatic pre‐
heating.
A message is displayed.
Seite 68ControlsDriving68
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 918 395 - III/13
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.
Seite 69DrivingControls69
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 918 395 - III/13
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
Online Edition for Part no. 01 40 2 918 395 - III/13