Climate controlVehicle features and options
This chapter describes all standard, country-
specific and optional features offered with the
series. It also describes features that are not
necessarily available in your car, e. g., due tothe selected options or country versions. This
also applies to safety-related functions and
systems. The respectively applicable country
provisions must be observed when using the
respective features and systems.
Automatic climate control
1Air distribution, left2Temperature, left3AUTO program, left4Air flow, AUTO intensity, left, residual heat5Remove ice and condensation6Maximum cooling7Display8Air flow, AUTO intensity, right9AUTO program, right10Temperature, right11Air distribution, right12Seat heating, right 5513Active seat ventilation, right 5514Automatic recirculated-air control/recircu‐
lated-air mode15Cooling function16Rear window defroster17SYNC program18Active seat ventilation, left 5519Seat heating, left 55Seite 155Climate controlControls155
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Climate control functions in detail
Switching the system on/off
Switching on
Press any button except:▷Rear window defroster.▷Left side of Air volume button.▷Seat ventilation.▷If necessary, SYNC program.
Switch off
▷Complete system: Press and hold the left button on
the driver's side until the control
clicks off.▷On the front passenger side:
Press and hold the left button on
the front passenger side.
Temperature
Turn the ring to set the desired
temperature.
The automatic climate control achieves this
temperature as quickly as possible, if needed
by using the maximum cooling or heating ca‐
pacity, and then keeps it constant.
Do not rapidly switch between different tem‐
perature settings. Otherwise, the automatic cli‐
mate control will not have sufficient time to ad‐
just the set temperature.
Cooling function
The car's interior can only be cooled with the
engine running.
Press button.
The air will be cooled and dehumidi‐
fied and, depending on the temperature set‐
ting, warmed again.
Depending on the weather, the windshield and
side windows may fog up briefly when the en‐
gine is started.
The cooling function is switched on automati‐
cally with the AUTO program.
When using the automatic climate control,
condensation water, refer to page 186, devel‐
ops that exits underneath the vehicle.
Maximum cooling Press button.
The system is set to the lowest tem‐
perature, optimum air flow and air circulation mode.
Air flows out of the vents to the upper body re‐
gion. The vents need to be open for this.
The function is available above an external
temperature of approx. 32 ℉/0 ℃ and with the
engine running is indicated.
Adjust air flow with the program active.
AUTO program Press button.
Air flow, air distribution and tempera‐
ture are controlled automatically.
Depending on the selected temperature,
AUTO intensity program and outside influen‐
ces, the air is directed to the windshield, side
windows, upper body, and into the footwell.
The cooling function, refer to page 156, is
switched on automatically with the AUTO pro‐
gram.
At the same time, a condensation sensor con‐
trols the program so as to prevent window
condensation as much as possible.
Intensity of the AUTO program
With the AUTO program activated, the auto‐
matic intensity control can be changed.Seite 156ControlsClimate control156
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Press the left or right side of the but‐
ton: decrease or increase the inten‐
sity.
The selected intensity is shown on the display
of the automatic climate control.
Automatic recirculated-air control/
recirculated-air mode
You may respond to unpleasant odors or pollu‐
tants in the immediate environment by tempo‐
rarily suspending the supply of outside air. The
system then recirculates the air currently
within the vehicle.
Press button repeatedly to select an
operating mode:▷LEDs off: outside air flows in continuously.▷Left LED on, automatic recirculated-air
control: a sensor detects pollutants in the
outside air and shuts off automatically.▷Right LED on, recirculated-air mode: the
supply of outside air into the vehicle is per‐
manently blocked.
With constant recirculated-air mode, the air
quality in the car's interior deteriorates and the
fogging of the windows increases.
If the windows are fogged over, switch off the
recirculated-air mode and press the AUTO
button on the driver's side to utilize the con‐
densation sensor. Make sure that air can flow
to the windshield.
Air flow, manual To manually adjust air flow turn off AUTO pro‐
gram first.
Press the left or right side of the but‐
ton: decrease or increase air flow.
The selected air flow is shown on the display of
the automatic climate control.
The air flow of the automatic climate control
may be reduced automatically to save battery
power.
Manual air distribution
Press button repeatedly to select a
program:▷Upper body region.▷Upper body region and footwell.▷Footwell.▷Windows and footwell.▷Windows, upper body region, and footwell.▷Windows: driver's side only.▷Windows and upper body region.
If the windows are fogged over, press the
AUTO button on the driver's side to utilize the
condensation sensor.
SYNC program The current settings on the driver's
side for temperature, air flow, air distri‐
bution, and AUTO program are transferred to the front passenger side and to the left and
right rear.
The program is switched off if the settings on
the front passenger side or in the rear are
changed.
Residual heat The heat stored in the engine is used to heat
the interior.
Functional requirement
▷Up to 15 minutes after switching off the
engine.▷Warm engine.▷The battery is sufficiently charged.▷External temperature below 77 ℉/25 ℃.
The availability of the function is shown on the
display of the automatic climate control.
Switching on
1.Switch off the ignition.Seite 157Climate controlControls157
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2. Press the right side of the button
on the driver's side.
The symbol appears on the automatic cli‐
mate Control Display.
The interior temperature, air volume and air
distribution can be adjusted with the ignition
switched on.
Switch off
At the lowest fan speed, press the left side of
the button on the driver's side.
The symbol on the display of the automatic
climate control flashes.
Defrosts windows and removes
condensation
Press button.
Ice and condensation are quickly re‐
moved from the windshield and the front side
windows.
For this purpose, point the side vents onto the
side windows as needed.
Adjust air flow with the program active.
If the windows are fogged over, you can also
switch on the cooling function or press the AUTO button to utilize the condensation sen‐
sor.
Rear window defroster Press button.
The rear window defroster switches
off automatically after a certain period of time.
Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter
The microfilter removes dust and pollen from
the incoming air.
The activated-charcoal filter removes gaseous
pollutants from the outside air that enters the
vehicle.
This combined filter should be replaced during
scheduled maintenance, refer to page 218, of
your vehicle.
Ventilation
Front ventilation▷Thumbwheels to vary the temperature in
the upper body region, arrow 1.
Toward blue: colder.
Toward red: warmer.
The set interior temperature for the driver
and passenger are not changed.▷Lever for changing the air flow direction,
arrow 2.▷Thumbwheels for opening and closing the
vents continuously, arrows 3.
Adjusting the ventilation
▷Ventilation for cooling:
Direct vent in your direction when vehicle's
interior is too hot.▷Draft-free ventilation:
Adjust the vent to let the air flow past you.Seite 158ControlsClimate control158
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Ventilation in rear, center▷Thumbwheels to vary the temperature, ar‐
row 1.
Toward blue: colder.
Toward red: warmer.▷Lever for changing the air flow direction,
arrow 2.▷Thumbwheels for continuous opening and
closing of the vents, arrow 3.
BMW X5 M: ventilation, side
▷Thumbwheel for continuous opening and
closing of the vents, arrow 1.▷Lever for changing the air flow direction,
arrow 2.Rear automatic climate
control
Overview1Temperature2AUTO program3Vent settings4Air flow, AUTO intensity5Display6Maximum cooling7Seat heating 56
Switching the rear automatic climate
control on/off
1."Settings"2."Climate"3."Rear climate"
The rear automatic climate control is not op‐
erational if the automatic climate control is
switched off or if the function for defrosting or
defogging the windows is active.
Switching the system on/off
Switching on Press any button except:
▷Left side of Air volume button.▷Seat heating.
Switch off
Press and hold the left button.
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TemperatureTurn the ring to set the desired
temperature.
The automatic climate control achieves this
temperature as quickly as possible, if needed
by using the maximum cooling or heating ca‐
pacity, and then keeps it constant.
Do not rapidly switch between different tem‐
perature settings. The automatic climate con‐
trol will not have sufficient time to adjust the
set temperature.
Maximum cooling Press button.
The system is set to the lowest tem‐
perature, maximum air flow and air circulation
mode.
Air flows out of the vents to the upper body re‐
gion. The vents need to be open for this.
Air is cooled as quickly as possible:▷At an external temperature of approx.
32 ℉/0 ℃.▷When the engine is running.
AUTO program
Press button.
Air flow, air distribution, and tempera‐
ture are controlled automatically:
Depending on the selected temperature, the
AUTO intensity, and outside influences, the air
is directed to the upper body and into the foot‐
well.
The cooling function is switched on automati‐
cally with the AUTO program.
Intensity of the AUTO programWith the AUTO program activated, the auto‐
matic intensity control can be changed:
Press the left or right side of the but‐
ton: decrease or increase the inten‐
sity.
The selected intensity is shown on the display
of the automatic climate control.
Air flow, manual To manually adjust air flow turn off AUTO pro‐
gram first.
Press the left or right side of the but‐
ton: decrease or increase air flow.
The selected air flow is shown on the display of
the automatic climate control.
Manual air distribution
The air distribution can be adjusted to individ‐
ual needs.
Press button repeatedly to select a
program:▷Upper body region.▷Upper body region and footwell.▷Footwell.
Parked-car ventilation
The concept The parked-car ventilation ventilates the vehi‐
cle interior and lowers its temperature, if
needed.
The system can be switched on and off di‐
rectly or by using two preset departure times.
The reel-on time is automatically determined
based on the temperature. The system
promptly switches on before the selected de‐
parture time.
Operation can be performed via iDrive.
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Functional requirements
Parked-car ventilation▷When the departure time is preselected:
depends on internal, external and set tem‐
perature.▷Direct operation: any external temperature.
Open the vents to allow air to flow out.
Switching on/off directly
On the Control Display:
1."Settings"2."Climate"3."Activate now"
The symbol on the automatic climate con‐
trol flashes if the system is switched on.
The system continues to run for some time af‐
ter being switched off.
Setting departure time
On the Control Display:
1."Settings"2."Climate"3.Select the departure time.
Turn the controller until the desired depar‐
ture time field has been selected and press
Controller.4.Set the time.
Turn the controller until the desired time is
set and press the controller.
Activating the departure time
On the Control Display:
1."Settings"2."Climate"3.Activating the desired departure time:
"for departure at"
The symbol on the automatic climate con‐
trol lights up when the departure time is acti‐
vated.
The symbol on the automatic climate con‐
trol flashes when the system has been
switched on.
The system will only be switched on within the
next 24 hours. After that, it needs to be reacti‐
vated.Seite 161Climate controlControls161
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are securely fastened again after they were re‐
moved, e.g. for cleaning.◀
Driving in wet conditions
When roads are wet, salted, or in heavy rain,
press brake pedal ever so gently every few
miles.
Ensure that this action does not endanger
other traffic.
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 WARNING
Light but consistent brake pressure can
lead to high temperatures, brakes wearing out
and possibly even brake failure. There is risk of
an accident. Avoid placing excessive stress on
the brake system.◀
WARNING
In idle or with the engine switched off,
safety-relevant functions are restricted or not
available anymore, e.g. braking effect of the
engine or braking force and steering support.
There is risk of an accident. Do not drive in idle
or with the engine switched off.◀
Drive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear that requires least braking efforts. Other‐
wise the brakes may overheat and reduce
brake efficiency.
You can increase the engine's braking effect
by shifting down in sequential mode, refer to
page 81.
Brake disc corrosion Corrosion on the brake discs and contamina‐
tion on the brake pads are furthered by the fol‐
lowing circumstances:▷Low mileage.▷Extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all.▷Infrequent use of the brakes.
Corrosion will built up when the maximum
pressure applied to the brake pads during
braking is not reached - thus discs don't get
cleaned.
Corrosion buildup on the brake discs will cause
a pulsating effect on the brakes in their re‐
sponse - generally that cannot be corrected.
Condensation under the parked
vehicle
When using the automatic climate control,
condensation water develops collecting under‐
neath the vehicle.
These traces of water under the vehicle are
normal.
Ground clearance CAUTION
If ground clearance is insufficient, there
might be contact with the front or rear spoiler
e.g. when driving over curbs or entering into
underground car parking garages. There is risk
of property damage. Ensure that there is suffi‐
cient ground clearance available.◀
Driving on poor roads The vehicle combines all-wheel drive with the
advantages of a normal automobile.
CAUTION
Objects in unpaved areas, e.g. stones or
branches, can damage the vehicle. There is
risk of property damage. Do not drive on un‐
paved terrain.◀
For your own safety, for the safety of passen‐
gers and of the vehicle, heed the following
points:
▷Become familiar with the vehicle before
starting a trip; do not take risks in driving.Seite 186Driving tipsThings to remember when driving186
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