
Things to remember when drivingVehicle 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 to
the 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.
Breaking-in period General information
Moving parts need time to adjust to one an‐
other (break-in time).
The following instructions will help accomplish
a long vehicle life and good efficiency.
During break-in, do not use the Launch Con‐
trol, refer to page  84.
Engine, transmission, and axle drive
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at varying engine and road speeds, but
do not exceed 5,500 rpm and
106 mph/170 km/h.
Avoid full load or kickdown under all circum‐
stances.
At 1,200 miles/2,000 km Have drive-in checkup maintenance per‐
formed.
From 1,200 miles/2,000 km to
3,100 miles/5,000 km
The engine and road speed can gradually be
increased to a constant speed of
137 mph/220 km/h.Use the maximum speed of 155 mph/250 km/h
only briefly, e.g., when passing.
Tires
Tire traction is not optimal due to manufactur‐
ing circumstances when tires are brand-new;
they achieve their full traction potential after a
break-in time.
Drive conservatively for the first
200 miles/300 km.
Brake system
M Compound brakes require an initial break-in
period of approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve
optimal performance between brake discs and
brake pads. Drive moderately during this
break-in period.
Following part replacement
The same break-in procedures should be ob‐
served if any of the components above-men‐
tioned have to be renewed in the course of the
vehicle's operating life.
General driving notes
Closing the tailgate WARNING
An open tailgate protrudes from the vehi‐
cle and can endanger occupants and other
traffic participants or damage the vehicle in the
event of an accident, braking or evasive ma‐
neuvers. In addition, exhaust fumes may enter
the vehicle interior. There is risk of injuries or
risk of property damage. Do not drive with the
tailgate open.◀
If driving with the tailgate open cannot be
avoided:▷Close all windows and the glass sunroof.Seite 184Driving tipsThings to remember when driving184
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BMW X5 M:BMW X6 M:▷Lashing eyes in the rails.▷Eyes on the trunk wall.
The eyes are located on both sides of the
trunk.
Securing cargo WARNING
Improperly stowed objects can shift and
be thrown into the car's interior, e.g. in the
event of an accident or during braking and eva‐
sive maneuvers. Vehicle occupants can be hit
and injured. There is risk of injuries. Stow and
secure objects and cargo properly.◀
▷Smaller and lighter items: secure with re‐
taining straps or with a cargo net or draw
straps.▷Larger and heavy objects: secure with
cargo straps.
Cargo straps, cargo netting, retaining
straps or draw straps on the lashing eyes in
the trunk.Roof-mounted luggage rack
Information WARNING
When driving with roof load, e.g. with
roof-mounted luggage rack, driving safety may
not be ensured in driving-critical situations due to the elevated center of gravity. There is risk
of accidents or risk of property damage. Do not
deactivate Dynamic Stability Control DSC
when driving with roof load.◀
Installation only possible with roof rack.
Roof racks are available as special accessories.
Securing
Follow the installation instructions of the roof
rack.
Loading Because roof racks raise the vehicle's center
of gravity when loaded, they have a major ef‐
fect on vehicle handling and steering re‐
sponse.
Therefore, note the following when loading
and driving:▷Do not exceed the approved roof/axle
loads and the approved gross vehicle
weight.▷Be sure that adequate clearance is main‐
tained for tilting and opening the glass
sunroof.▷Distribute the roof load uniformly.▷The roof load should not extend past the
loading area.▷Always place the heaviest pieces on the
bottom.▷Secure the roof luggage firmly, e.g., tie
with ratchet straps.▷Do not let objects project into the opening
path of the tailgate.Seite 190Driving tipsLoading190
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Saving fuelVehicle features and optionsThis 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 to
the 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.
General information Your vehicle contains advanced technology for
the reduction of fuel consumption and emis‐
sions.
Fuel consumption depends on a number of dif‐
ferent factors.
Carrying out certain measures, such as a mod‐
erate driving style and regular maintenance,
can influence fuel consumption and the envi‐
ronmental impact.
Remove unnecessary cargo
Additional weight increases fuel consumption.
Remove attached parts
following use
Remove auxiliary mirrors, roof or rear luggage
racks which are no longer required following use.
Attached parts on the vehicle impair the aero‐
dynamics and increase the fuel consumption.Close the windows and glass
sunroof
Driving with the glass sunroof and windows
open results in increased air resistance and
thereby reduces the range.
Tires
General information Tires can affect fuel consumption in various
ways, e.g., tire size may influence fuel con‐
sumption.
Check the tire inflation pressure
regularly
Check and, if needed, correct the tire inflation
pressure at least twice a month and before
starting on a long trip.
Low tire inflation pressure increases rolling re‐
sistance and thus raises fuel consumption and
tire wear.
Drive away immediately
Do not wait for the engine to warm-up while
the vehicle remains stationary. Start driving
right away, but at moderate engine speeds.
This is the quickest way of warming the cold
engine up to operating temperature.
Look well ahead when
driving
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking.
By maintaining a suitable distance to the vehi‐
cle driving ahead of you.
Driving smoothly and proactively reduces fuel
consumption.Seite 192Driving tipsSaving fuel192
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Battery replacementCAUTION
Vehicle batteries that are not compatible
can damage vehicle systems and impair vehi‐
cle functions.There is risk of property damage.
Information on the compatible vehicle batteries
is available at your dealer's service center.◀
After a battery replacement, the manufacturer
of your vehicle recommends that the vehicle
battery be registered on the vehicle by a
dealer’s service center or another qualified
service center or repair shop to ensure that all
comfort features are fully available and that any
Check Control messages of these comfort fea‐
tures are no longer displayed.
Charging the battery
General information
Make sure that the battery is always suffi‐
ciently charged to guarantee that the battery
remains usable for its full service life.
The battery may need to be charged in the fol‐
lowing cases:▷When making frequent short-distance
drives.▷If the vehicle is not used for prolonged pe‐
riods, longer than a month.
Information
CAUTION
Battery chargers for the vehicle battery
can work with high voltages and currents,
which means that the 12V on-board network
can be overloaded or damaged. There is risk of
property damage. Only connect battery charg‐
ers for the vehicle battery to the starting aid
terminals in the engine compartment.◀
Starting aid terminals
In the vehicle, only charge the battery via the
starting aid terminals, refer to page  230, in the
engine compartment with the engine off.
Power failure
After a temporary power loss, some equipment
needs to be newly initialized or individual set‐
tings updated, e. g.:▷Seat, mirror, and steering wheel memory:
store the positions again.▷Time: update.▷Date: update.▷Glass sunroof: initialize the system, refer to
page  52.
Disposing of old batteries
Have old batteries disposed of by a
dealer’s service center or another
qualified service center or repair shop
or take them to a collection point.
Maintain the battery in an upright position for
transport and storage. Secure the battery so
that it does not tip over during transport.
Fuses Information WARNING
Incorrect and repaired fuses can overload
electrical lines and components. There is risk
of fire. Never attempt to repair a blown fuse
and do not replace a nonworking fuse with a
substitute of another color or amperage rat‐
ing.◀
Plastic tweezers and information on the fuse
types and locations are stored in the fuse box
in the trunk.
Seite 226MobilityReplacing components226
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CareVehicle features and optionsThis 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 to
the 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.
Car washes General information
Regularly remove foreign objects such as
leaves in the area below the windshield when
the hood is raised.
Wash your vehicle frequently, particularly in
winter. Intense soiling and road salt can dam‐
age the vehicle.
Steam blaster and high-pressure
washer
Information CAUTION
When cleaning with high-pressure wash‐
ers, components can be damaged due to the
pressure or temperatures being too high.
There is risk of property damage. Maintain suf‐
ficient distance and do not spray too long con‐
tinuously. Follow the user's manual for the
high-pressure washer.◀
Distances and temperature▷Maximum temperature: 140 ℉/60 ℃.▷Minimum distance from sensors, cameras,
seals: 12 in/30 cm.▷Minimum distance from glass sunroof:
31.5 inches/80 cm.
Automatic car washes
Information Note the following:
▷Give preference to cloth car washes or
those that use soft brushes in order to
avoid paint damage.▷Make sure that the wheels and tires are not
damaged by the transport mechanisms.▷Fold in the exterior mirrors; otherwise, they
may be damaged, depending on the width
of the vehicle.▷Deactivate the rain sensor, refer to
page  78, to avoid unintentional wiper acti‐
vation.▷In some cases, an unintentional alarm can
be triggered by the interior motion sensor
of the alarm system. Follow the instruc‐
tions on avoiding an unintentional alarm,
refer to page  48.
CAUTION
Too high guide rails in car washes can
damage body parts. There is risk of property
damage. Avoid car washes with guide rails
higher than 4 in/10 cm.◀
Different types of tires CAUTION
The vehicle might be too large for the car
wash. There is risk of property damage. Before
driving into the car wash, make sure that the
vehicle is not too large.◀
Seite 233CareMobility233
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Engine start during malfunc‐tion  35 
Engine start, jump-start‐ ing  229  
Engine start, refer to Starting the engine  70 
Engine stop  70 
Engine temperature  91 
Entering a car wash  233 
Equipment, interior  162 
Error displays, see Check Control  87 
ESP Electronic Stability Pro‐ gram, see DSC  134 
Exchanging wheels/tires  204 
Exhaust system  185 
Exterior mirror, automatic dimming feature  62 
Exterior mirrors  61 
External start  229 
External temperature dis‐ play  91 
External temperature warn‐ ing  91 
Eyes for securing cargo  189 
F
Failure message, see Check Control  87 
False alarm, see Unintentional alarm  48 
Fan, see Air flow  157 
Filler neck for engine oil  214 
Fine wood, care  235 
First-aid kit  229 
Fitting for towing, see Tow fit‐ ting  232 
Flat tire, changing wheels  223 
Flat Tire Monitor FTM  115 
Flat tire, repairing  206 
Flat tire, Tire Pressure Moni‐ tor TPM  112 
Flat tire, warning lamp  113, 115  Flooding  185 
Floor carpet, care  236 
Floor mats, care  236 
Folding back rear seat back‐ rests  169, 171  
Fold-out position, wiper  79 
Foot brake  185 
Front airbags  109 
Front center armrest  174 
Front cupholder  176 
Front-end collision warning with City Braking func‐
tion  117 
Front fog lamps, , LED, bulb replacement  223 
Front fog lights  107 
Front lights  222 
Front-seat passenger airbags, automatic deactivation  111 
Front-seat passenger airbags, indicator lamp  111 
Front seats  53 
FTM Flat Tire Monitor  115 
Fuel  198 
Fuel consumption, see Aver‐ age fuel consumption  97 
Fuel filler flap  196 
Fuel gauge  91 
Fuel lid  196 
Fuel quality  198 
Fuel recommendation  198 
Fuel, tank capacity  242 
Fuse  226 
G
Garage door opener, see Uni‐ versal Integrated Remote
Control  162 
Gasoline  198 
Gear change  82 
Gear shift indicator  95 
General driving notes  184 
Glare shield  164 
Glasses compartment  175 
Glass sunroof, powered  50 Glass sunroof, refer to Panor‐
amic glass sunroof  50 
Glove compartment  173 
Gross vehicle weight, ap‐ proved  241 
Ground clearance  186 
H
Handbrake, see Parking brake  73 
Hand-held transmitter, alter‐ nating code  163 
Hazard warning flashers  228 
HDC Hill Descent Con‐ trol  136  
Head airbags  109 
Headlight control, auto‐ matic  105 
Headlight courtesy delay fea‐ ture  105 
Headlight flasher  77 
Headlight glass  222 
Headlights  222 
Headlights, care  234 
Head restraints  53 
Head restraints, front  58 
Head restraints, rear  59 
Head-up Display  101 
Head-up Display, care  236 
Head-up display, M view  101 
Head-up display, standard view  101 
Heavy cargo, stowing  189 
High-beam Assistant  106 
High beams  77 
High beams/low beams, see High-beam Assistant  106 
Hill Descent Control HDC  136 
Hills  186 
Hill start assistant, see Drive- off assistant  132 
Holder for beverages  176 
Homepage  6 
Hood  211 Seite 247Everything from A to ZReference247
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Operating concept, iDrive 18 
Optional equipment, standard equipment  7 
Outside air, refer to Auto‐ matic recirculated-air con‐
trol  157  
Overheating of engine, see Coolant temperature  91 
Own Safety  7 
P Paint, vehicle  234 
Panoramic glass sunroof  50 
Parallel parking assistant  151 
Park Distance Control PDC  142 
Parked-car ventilation  160 
Parked vehicle, condensa‐ tion  186 
Parking aid, see PDC  142 
Parking assistant  151 
Parking brake  73 
Parking lights  104 
Parking with Automatic Hold  74 
Parts and accessories  7 
Passenger side mirror, tilting downward  61 
Pathway lines, rearview cam‐ era  146  
PDC Park Distance Con‐ trol  142  
Pedestrian detection, see Night Vision  122 
Pedestrian warning with city braking function  120 
Personal Profile  35 
Personal Profile, exporting profiles  36 
Pinch protection system, glass sunroof  51 
Pinch protection system, win‐ dows  49 
Plastic, care  235 
Power failure  226 Power sunroof, glass  50 
Power windows  48 
Prescribed engine oil types  215 
Pressure, tire air pres‐ sure  200 
Pressure warning FTM, tires  115 
Preventing Auto Start Stop  72 
Profile, see Personal Pro‐ file  35 
Programmable memory but‐ tons, iDrive  24 
Protective function, glass sunroof  51 
Protective function, win‐ dows  49 
Push-and-turn switch, see Controller  19 
R Radiator fluid  216 
Radio-operated key, see Re‐ mote control  34 
Radio ready state  69 
Radio, see user's manual for Navigation, Entertainment
and Communication 
Rain sensor  78 
Rear automatic climate con‐ trol  159  
Rear center armrest  175 
Rear cooler  167 
Rear drink holder  176 
Rear lights  223 
Rear seats  56 
Rearview camera  145 
Rearview mirror  61 
Rear window defroster  158 
Recirculated-air mode  157 
Recommended fuel grade  198 
Recommended tire brands  205 Refueling  196 
Remaining range  92 
Remote control/key  34 
Remote control, malfunc‐ tion  39 
Remote control, univer‐ sal  162  
Replacement fuse  226 
Replacing parts  220 
Replacing wheels/tires  204 
Reporting safety malfunc‐ tions  10 
RES button, see Cruise con‐ trol  140  
Reserve warning, see Range  92 
Reset, Tire Pressure Monitor TPM  113 
Residual heat, automatic cli‐ mate control  157 
Retaining straps, securing cargo  189 
Retreaded tires  205 
Roadside parking lights  105 
Roller sunblinds  50 
RON recommended fuel grade  198 
Roofliner  17 
Roof load capacity  241 
Roof-mounted luggage rack  190 
Rope for tow-starting/ towing  231 
Rubber components, care  235 
S Safe braking  185 
Safety belt reminder for driv‐ er's seat and front passen‐
ger seat  57 
Safety belts  56 
Safety belts, care  236 
Safety Package, see Active Protection  130 Seite 250ReferenceEverything from A to Z250
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