total load of all sockets must not exceed
140 watts at 12 volt.
Avoid damaging the sockets by attempting to
insert plugs of unsuitable shape or size.
Front center console
Slide the cover forward.
To access the socket: remove the cap or pull
out the cigarette lighter.
Rear center console
The arrangement of the sockets may vary with
the equipment.
To access the sockets: remove the caps.
In storage compartment under center
armrest
To access the socket: remove the cover.
In cargo area
To access the socket: fold open the cover.
BMW X6: in the rear console
Slide the cover back.
To access the socket: pull off the cover.
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Removing1.Grasp retracted cargo cover underneath
the upper fold on both sides.2.Pull the cover back out of the side brack‐
ets.3.Depending on your vehicle's equipment
package, you can store the cover under the
floor panel in the cargo area.
Installing
When installing, proceed in the opposite order
of removal.
1.Set the cargo cover into place on the left
and right sides.2.Lift the back of the cover slightly and slide
forward until it snaps into the two side
brackets.
Enlarging the cargo area
The rear seat backrest is divided. You can fold
down both sides separately in order to expand
the cargo area.
BMW X6: before folding the rear seat
backrest forward
Before folding the rear seat backrest forward
or using the ski bag, remove beverage contain‐
ers from the cupholder and close the cu‐
pholder.◀
Reach into the recess and pull toward the
front.
Locking the backrest
Before letting passengers ride in the rear,
engage the seat backrests, locking them in
place. Otherwise, there is the danger of an ac‐
cident due to unexpected seat movement.◀
Ensure that the lock is securely engaged
When folding back the backrest, be sure
that it locks in place securely. The red warning
field in the control display disappears. If it is
not properly engaged, transported cargo could
enter the passenger compartment during brak‐
ing or evasive maneuvers and endanger the
vehicle occupants.◀
Observe the instructions concerning the
safety belt
Observe the instructions concerning the safety
belt, refer to page 54. Otherwise, personal pro‐
tection may be compromised.◀
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Storage compartmentsVehicle 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.
Notes No loose objects in the passenger com‐
partment
Do not stow any objects in the passenger
compartment without securing them; other‐
wise, they may present a danger to occupants
for instance during braking and avoidance ma‐ neuvers.◀
No non-slip mats on the dashboard
Do not use non-slip materials, such as
non-slip mats, on the dashboard, or it could be
damaged by the substances in the materials.◀Glove compartment
Opening
Press the button. The covers open upward and
downward and the lighting in the glove com‐
partment switches on.
Close the glove compartment again im‐
mediately
Close the glove compartment immediately af‐
ter use while driving; otherwise, injury may oc‐
cur during accidents.◀
ClosingPush the lower cover closed.
USB interface for data transfer
Port for importing and exporting data, such as
music collections, refer to page 207, on USB
devices.
Observe the following when connecting:
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▷Do not use force when plugging the con‐
nector into the USB interface.▷Do not connect devices such as fans or
lamps to the USB interface.▷Do not connect a USB hard drive.▷Do not use the USB interface to recharge
external devices.
Center armrest front
Storage compartment A storage compartment is located under the
armrest between the front seats and, depend‐
ing on the vehicle's equipment, also a cover for
the mobile phone cradle or the snap-in
adapter.
Details on this mobile phone cradle, refer to
page 247.
Opening
Push cover down slightly and press the button.
The cover folds upward.
Connection for an external audio
device
You can connect an external audio device such
as a CD or MP3 player and play audio tracks over the car's loudspeaker system:
▷AUX-IN port, refer to page 212.▷USB audio interface, refer to page 212.Rear center armrest
BMW X6 and BMW X5 with 3rd row
seats
Pull on the loop and fold down the center arm‐
rest.
BMW X5 without 3rd row seats
Unlock the center armrest with the button in
the lower section of the opening and fold
down.
Storage compartments Compartments are located in the doors, in the
center console in the front and rear as well as
in the rear console in the BMW X6.
Storage nets are located on the backrests of
the front seats.
Items in the storage nets
Do not stow hard or sharp-edged objects
in the storage nets; otherwise there is an in‐
creased risk of injury in the event of an acci‐ dent.◀
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Clothes hooksBMW X5
The clothes hooks are located at the grab han‐
dles in the rear.
BMW X6
To fold out, press against upper edge. Do not obstruct view
When suspending clothing from the
hooks, ensure that it will not obstruct the driv‐
er's vision.◀
No heavy objects
Do not hang heavy objects from the
hooks; otherwise, they may present a danger
to passengers during braking and evasive ma‐
neuvers.◀
Cupholders
Notes Shatter-proof containers and no hot
drinks
Use light and shatter-proof containers and do
not transport hot drinks. Otherwise, there is
the increased danger of injury in an accident.◀
Unsuitable containers
Do not forcefully push unsuitable con‐
tainers into the cupholders. This may result in
damage.◀
Front
Slide the cover back.
Rear
BMW X5
Unlock the center armrest with the button in
the lower section of the opening and fold
down.
Press the button; the cover folds forward.
With 3rd row seats:
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Hot exhaust systemHot exhaust system
High temperatures are generated in the
exhaust system.
Do not remove the heat shields installed and
never apply undercoating to them. Make sure
that flammable materials, e. g. hay, leaves,
grass, etc. do not come in contact with the hot
exhaust system during driving, while in idle po‐
sition mode, or when parked. Such contact
could lead to a fire, and with it the risk of seri‐
ous personal injury as well as property dam‐
age.
Do not touch hot exhaust pipes; otherwise,
there is the danger of getting burned.◀
Diesel particulate filter Soot particles are collected in the diesel partic‐
ulate filter and periodically burned away at high
temperatures.
The following may occur during the cleaning
period, which lasts several minutes:▷The engine temporarily runs somewhat
more roughly.▷A slightly higher engine speed is necessary
to achieve the accustomed performance.▷Noises occur and a minimal amount of
smoke emerges from the exhaust until
shortly after the engine is switched off.
Mobile communication devices in the
vehicle
Mobile communication devices in the ve‐
hicle
It is not recommended to use mobile phones,
such as mobile phones without a direct con‐
nection to an external aerial in the vehicle's
passenger compartment. Otherwise, the vehi‐
cle electronics and mobile communication de‐
vices can interfere with each other. In addition,
there is no assurance that the radiation gener‐
ated during transmission will be discharged
from the vehicle interior.◀
Hydroplaning
On wet or slushy roads, a wedge of water can
form between the tires and road surface.
This phenomenon is referred to as hydroplan‐
ing. It is characterized by a partial or complete
loss of contact between the tires and the road
surface, ultimately undermining your ability to
steer and brake the vehicle.
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads, re‐
duce your speed to prevent hydroplaning.◀
The risk of hydroplaning increases as the tire
tread depth decreases. Minimum tread depth,
refer to page 284.
Driving through water
Maximum water depth:▷BMW X5: 20 inches/50 cm.▷BMW X6: 17 inches/45 cm.
Adhere to water depth and speed limita‐
tions
Do not exceed this water depth and walking
speed; otherwise, the vehicle's engine, the
electrical systems and the transmission may
be damaged.◀
Braking safely
Your vehicle is equipped with ABS as a stand‐ ard feature.
Applying the brakes fully is the most effective
way of braking in situations when this is neces‐
sary.
The vehicle maintains steering responsive‐
ness. You can still avoid any obstacles with a
minimum of steering effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal and sounds from
the hydraulic circuits indicate that ABS is in its
active mode.
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Do not let your foot rest on the brake
pedal
Do not drive with your foot resting on the brake
pedal. Even light but consistent pedal pressure
can lead to high temperatures, brake wear and
possibly even brake failure.◀
Objects in the area around the pedals No objects in the area around the pedals
Keep floor mats, carpets, and any other
objects out of the area of motion of the pedals;
otherwise, the function of the pedals could be
impeded while driving
Do not place additional floor mats over existing
mats or other objects.
Only use floor mats that have been approved for the vehicle and can be properly fixed in
place.
Ensure that the floor mats are securely fas‐
tened again when they are returned after being removed, such as for cleaning.◀
Driving in wet conditions When roads are wet or there is heavy rain,
briefly exert gentle pressure on the brake pedal
every few miles.
Ensure that this action does not endanger
other road users.
The heat generated in this process helps dry
the brake discs and pads.
In this way braking efficiency will be available
when you need it.
Hills
Drive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear in which the least braking is required.
Otherwise, the brake system may overheat, re‐
sulting in a reduction in the brake system effi‐
ciency.
You can increase the engine's braking effect
by shifting down in the manual mode of the au‐
tomatic transmission, refer to page 75.Avoid load on the brakes
Avoid placing excessive load on the
brake system. Light but consistent brake pres‐
sure can lead to high temperatures, brake wear
and possibly even brake failure.◀
Do not drive in neutral
Do not drive in neutral or with the engine
stopped, as doing so disables engine braking.
In addition, steering and brake assist is un‐
available with the engine stopped.◀
Brake disc corrosion Corrosion on the brake discs and contamina‐
tion on the brake pads are furthered by:▷Low mileage.▷Extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all.▷Infrequent use of the brakes.
Corrosion occurs when the minimum pressure
that must be exerted by the pads during brake
applications to clean the discs is not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake discs, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating ef‐
fect that generally cannot be corrected.
Condensation under the parked
vehicle
When using the automatic climate control,
condensation water develops that exits under‐
neath the vehicle.
Therefore, traces of condensed water under
the vehicle are normal.
Driving on poor roads Your vehicle combines an all-wheel drive sys‐
tem with the advantages of a normal passen‐
ger car.
Do not drive on unpaved terrain
Do not drive on unpaved terrain, as oth‐
erwise the vehicle may be damaged.◀
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Stowing cargo▷Very heavy cargo: when the rear seat is not
occupied, secure each of the outer safety
belts in the opposite buckle.▷Heavy cargo: stow as far forward and as
low as possible, ideally directly behind the
backrests.▷Cover sharp edges and corners.▷Do not pile cargo higher than the top edge
of the backrests.▷If necessary, fold down the rear backrests
to stow cargo.▷Place protective material around any
sharp-edged or pointed objects that could
bump against the rear window while the
vehicle is in motion.
Securing cargo
Lashing eyes in the cargo area
BMW X5
BMW X6
Securing cargo▷Smaller and lighter items: secure with re‐
taining straps, a cargo net or draw straps.▷Larger and heavy objects: secure with
cargo straps.
Four lashing eyes mounted in the cargo
area are used to secure these cargo straps,
refer to illustrations.
Adhere to the information included with
the cargo straps.
Securing cargo
Stow and secure the cargo as described
above; otherwise it may present a danger to
the occupants, for instance during braking and
avoidance maneuvers.
Do not stow any heavy and hard objects in the
passenger compartment without securing
them; otherwise, they may present a danger to
occupants, for instance during braking and
avoidance maneuvers.
Never exceed either the approved gross vehi‐
cle weight or either of the approved axle loads,
as excessive loads can pose a safety hazard,
and may also place you in violation of traffic
safety laws.
Use only the lashing eyes pictured to fasten
the heavy-duty cargo straps. Do not secure
cargo using the upper top tether, refer to
page 63, mounting points; otherwise, these
may become damaged.◀
Roof-mounted luggage rack
Notes A special rack system is available as an op‐
tional accessory.
Attachment Follow the installation instructions for the roof-
mounted luggage rack.
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