BMW X5 4.4I 2004 E53 Owner's Manual

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Safe braking Emergency stopsYou brake most effectively when you
apply maximum pedal pressure in situa-
tions requiring it: emergency stops.
Since the vehicle maintains steering
responsiveness, you can nevertheless
avoid possible obstacles with a mini-
mum of steering effort.
Pulsation at the brake pedal combined
with sounds from the hydraulic circuits
indicates to the driver that ABS is in its
active mode.Brake fluid level If the brake fluid level is too low and
brake pedal travel has become longer,
there may be a defect in one of the two
brake system's hydraulic circuits.
Proceed to the nearest BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle center.
Here increased pressure on the brake
pedal may be required, and slight pull-
ing to the side and longer braking dis-
tances may result. Please remember to
adapt your driving style accordingly.<
Disk brakes When the vehicle is driven only occa-
sionally, during extended periods when
the vehicle is not used at all, and in
operating conditions where brake appli-
cations are less frequent, there is an
increased tendency for corrosion to
form on rotors, while contaminants
accumulate on the brake pads. This
occurs because the minimal pressure
which must be exerted by the pads dur-
ing brake applications to clean the
rotors is not reached.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they
will tend to respond to braking with a
pulsating effect which even extended
application will fail to cure.
When driving in wet conditions and in
heavy rain, it is advisable to apply light
pressure to the brake pedal from time
to time. Monitor traffic conditions to
ensure that this maneuver does not
endanger other road users. The heat
generated in this process helps dry the
pads and rotors to ensure that the brak-
ing force is then immediately available
when required.
Extended or steep mountain descents
should be driven in the gear in which
only minimal periodic brake application
is required. This avoids excessive strain on the brakes and possible impairment
of the braking effect.
Do not coast with the clutch
depressed or with the transmis-
sion or selector lever in neutral. Do not
drive with the engine switched off. The
engine provides no braking effect when
the clutch is depressed or the transmis-
sion is in neutral, and there is no
power-assist for braking or steering
when the engine is not running.
BMW recommends having brake
inspections performed at a BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle center only. If
you do not, parts of the 4-wheel drive
system could be damaged.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any
other objects to protrude into the area
around the accelerator, clutch and
brake pedals and obstruct their move-
ment.<
Brake pads
For your own safety: use only
brake pads that BMW has
released for your particular vehicle
model. BMW cannot evaluate non-
approved brake pads to determine if
they are suited for use, and therefore
cannot ensure the operating safety of
the vehicle if they are installed.<

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Information for your safety It is not merely the tire's service life, but
also driving comfort and – to a great
extent – driving safety that depend on
the condition of the tires and the main-
tenance of the specified tire pressure.
Check the tire inflation pressure
regularly, including on the spare
wheel: at least every two weeks and
before beginning a longer trip. If this is
not done, incorrect tire pressures can
cause driving instability and tire dam-
age, ultimately resulting in an accident.
Do not drive with a depressurized, i.e.
flat, tire. A flat tire greatly impairs steer-
ing and braking response, and can lead
to complete loss of control over the
vehicle.<
Checking inflation pressureOnly check tire inflation pressure when
the tires are cold. i.e. after driving a
maximum of 1.25 miles/2 km or when
the vehicle has been parked for at least
2 hours. When tires are warm, the tire
inflation pressure increases.
Inflation pressure for original
equipment tiresYou will find tire inflation pressures on
the inside door pillar.Inflation pressure for other tire
sizesThe table on the next page provides the
correct inflation pressures for tires at
ambient temperature, in psi/kilopascal.
After correcting the inflation pres-
sure(s), always reinitialize the Flat
Tire Monitor, refer to page 100.< 530de225
Tire inflation pressure

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Tire inflation pressureBMW Tires
All pressure specifications in
the table are indicated in psi/
kilopascal with cold tires,
cold = ambient temperature
X5 3.0i
X5 4.4i235/65 R 17 104 H M+S
255/55 R 18 105 H, V M+S
255/55 R 18 105 V
235/65 R 17 104 Q M+S
255/55 R 18 105 Q M+S32/220 32/220 32/220 39/270
Front: 255/50 R 19 103 V
Rear: 285/45 R 19 107 V
Front: 275/40 R 20 102 W
Rear: 315/35 R 20 106 W32/220
–
32/220
––
32/220
–
32/22032/220
–
32/220
––
39/270
–
39/270
X5 4.8is255/55 R 18 105 Q M+S
Front: 275/40 R 20 102 W
Rear: 315/35 R 20 106 W32/220
32/220
–35/240
–
35/24033/230
33/230
–39/270
–
39/270
You will find additional information on permissible loads and weights on page 180.

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Tire identification marksKnowledge of the labeling on the side
of the tire makes it easier to identify and
choose the right tires.Tire sizeSpeed code letter:
Q=up to 105 mph/160 km/h
T=up to 118 mph/190 km/h
H=up to 131 mph/210 km/h
V=up to 150 mph/240 km/h
W=up to 167 mph/270 km/hTire Identification Number Tires with DOT codes meet the guide-
lines of the U.S. Department of Trans-
port. e.g.
Nominal width
in mm
Cross-sectional
relationship in X
Belted construction radial
Rim diameter in inches
Load index,
not with ZR tires
Speed code letter,
with ZR tires before the R
235/65 R
17104H
DOT code:Tire age The manufacturer of your BMW recom-
mends that all tires, i.e. including the
spare wheel, be replaced regardless of
the actual wear after 6 years at the lat-
est.
The tire's date of manufacture is indi-
cated on the sidewall:
DOT ... 3603 indicates that the tire was
manufactured in week 36 of 2003. Uniform Tire Quality Grading Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section
width. For example: e.g.
Manufacturer's code
for tire brand
Tire size and tire model
Tire age
DOT xxxx xxx 3603
DOT quality grades Tread wear
Traction AA A B C
Temperature A B C
All passenger car tires must con-
form to Federal Safety Require-
ments in addition to these grades.< Tread wear The tread wear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified government test
course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and one-half, 1g, times as
well on the government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative performance
of tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due
to variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road char-
acteristics and climate.

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Tire identification marks Wheel/tire condition TractionThe traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire's ability
to stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on speci-
fied government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C
may have poor traction performance.
The traction grade assigned to
this tire is based on straight-
ahead braking traction tests, and does
not include acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction charac-
teristics.< TemperatureThe temperature grades are A, the
highest, B, and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause
the material of the tire to degenerate
and reduce tire life, and excessive tem-
perature can lead to a sudden flat tire.
The grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels
of performance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required by
law.
The temperature grade for this tire
is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, underinflation, or
excessive loading, either separately or
in combination, can cause heat buildup
and possible a tire failure.< M+SWinter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties
than summer tires.
Wheel/tire damage Inspect your wheels and tires frequently
for tread wear, signs of damage and for
foreign objects lodged in the tread.
Check the tread pattern depth.
Due to low-profile tires, please
note that wheels, tires and sus-
pension parts are more susceptible to
road hazard and consequential dam-
ages. Unusual vibrations encountered
during normal vehicle operation can
indicate tire failure or some other vehi-
cle defect. This can, for example, be
caused by driving over curbs. This is
also true for irregularities in the vehi-
cle's handling characteristics, such as a
pronounced tendency to pull to the left
or right. Should this occur, respond by
immediately reducing your speed.
Carefully proceed – or have your vehi-
cle towed – to the nearest BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center or tire dealer to
have the wheels or tires inspected.
Tire damage, extending to sudden and
complete loss of pressure in extreme
cases, can pose a potentially lethal
safety hazard for the vehicle's occu-
pants and other road users alike.<

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Wheel/tire condition Replacing wheels/tiresTire treadThe tread depth should not fall below
e in/3 mm.
At tread depths below e in/3 mm there
is an increased risk of high-speed
hydroplaning, even when only small
amounts of water are present on the
road surface.
As winter tires display a noticeable loss
in their ability to cope with cold-
weather driving conditions once the
tread wears to below k/K in/4 mm, to
ensure continued safety you should
always have such tires replaced.Wear indicators at the tread-groove
base, arrow, are distributed over the
tire's circumference and are marked on
the side of the tire with TWI – Tread
Wear Indicator. These indicators signal
at a tread depth of k/FK in/1.6 mm that
the legally permitted wear limit has
been reached.
390de331
Unprofessional attempts by lay-
men to service tires can lead to
damage and accidents.
Have this work performed by skilled
professionals only. The technicians at
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle cen-
ter will be glad to assist you with the
required professional knowledge and
specialized equipment.<
The correct wheel and tire combination
also affects various systems whose
function would otherwise be impaired,
e.g. ABS, DSC, xDrive.
Have the wheel and tire assemblies bal-
anced every time either a wheel or a tire
is replaced.
BMW does not recommend the
use of retread tires, as otherwise
driving safety may be reduced. Possible
variations in the design and the age –
which could be substantial – of the car-
casses can lead to unusually rapid
wear.<

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Replacing wheels/tires Snow chains
*
The right wheels and tires
BMW recommends that you use
only wheel and tire combinations
that BMW has tested and approved for
your particular vehicle. Variations in
factors such as manufacturing toler-
ances mean that even wheels and tires
with identical official size ratings could
actually have different dimensions than
the approved units – these differences
could lead to body contact, and with it
the risk of severe accidents. If non-
approved wheels and tires are used,
BMW cannot evaluate their suitability,
and therefore cannot be held liable for
driving safety.<
To maintain good handling and vehicle
response, use only tires of a single
tread configuration from a single manu-
facturer. After a flat tire, always remem-
ber to have the original wheel and tire
combination remounted on the vehicle
as soon as possible.
Special features of winter tires BMW recommends winter tires for use
in cold winter driving conditions.
Although all-season M+S tires provide
better winter traction than summer
tires, they generally fail to provide the
same levels of cold-weather perfor-
mance as winter tires.
When switching to winter tires, observe
the description under Tire condition,
page 143, and Replacing wheels/tires.
Observing speed ratings:
Never exceed the maximum
speed for which the winter tires
are rated. Unprofessional attempts by
laymen to service tires can lead to dam-
age and accidents. Have this work per-
formed by skilled professionals only.
The technicians at your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center will be glad to
assist you with the required profes-
sional knowledge and specialized
equipment.<Storage Store wheels or tires in a cool, dry
place, protecting them against light
whenever possible. Always protect tires
against all contact with oil, grease and
fuels.
Do not exceed the maximum tire infla-
tion pressure indicated on the side wall
of the tire.
Only certain snow chains have been
tested by BMW and classified and
approved as safe. Consult your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle center for
details. BMW recommends only using
these approved, narrow-link snow
chains. Use is only permitted in pairs on
the rear wheels with the following tire
sizes:
X5 4.8is: 255/55 R 18
All other models: 235/65 R 17
Observe the manufacturer's instruc-
tions when installing snow chains.
Do not exceed a maximum speed of
30 mph/50 km/h.
After mounting snow chains, do
not initialize the Flat Tire Monitor.
When you are driving with snow chains,
it can be beneficial to switch off DSC
briefly, refer to page 95.<

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Hood Unlocking Pull the lever located under the left side
of the instrument cluster.
Never attempt to perform any ser-
vice or repair operations on your
vehicle without the required profes-
sional technical training. If you are not
familiar with the regulations to be
observed, only have work on your vehi-
cle carried out by a BMW Sports Activ-
ity Vehicle center or a workshop that
uses personnel trained in accordance
with BMW requirements. If this work is
not carried out properly, there is a dan-
ger of subsequent damage and related
safety hazards.<530de295
Opening Pull the release handle and open the
hood. 530de296
Closing Allow the hood to fall from a height of
about 12 in/30 cm so that it audibly
engages.
Observe the same precautions
that apply to all closing operations
by ensuring that the hood's travel range
is clear and unobstructed before allow-
ing the hood to fall into position.
If it is determined that the hood is not
completely closed while driving, stop
immediately and close it securely.< 530de369

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1Engine oil dipstick148
2Brake fluid reservoir, located beneath
the microfilter cover1513Auxiliary terminal for jump-
starting171
4Coolant expansion tank1505Engine oil filler neck148
6Reservoir for windshield and
headlamp washer system148Engine compartment essentials
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Washer fluid Engine oilWindshield and headlamp washer
system Approximate capacity is 8.2 quarts/
7.8 liters.
Fill with water and — if required — with
the addition of a washer antifreeze,
according to manufacturer's recom-
mendations.
We recommend that you mix the
washer fluid before adding it to
the reservoir.<
Antifreeze agent for the washer
systems is inflammable. For this
reason, keep it away from sources of
flame and store it only in its original
containers. Store it so that it is inacces-
sible to children. Comply with the
instructions on the containers.< 530de298
Checking oil level 1. Park the vehicle on a level surface
2. Switch the engine off after it has
reached normal operating tempera-
ture
3. After approx. 5 minutes, pull the dip-
stick out and wipe it off with a clean
lint-free cloth, paper towel, or similar
material
4. Push the dipstick carefully all the way
into the guide tube and pull it out
again
5. The oil level should be in between
the two marks on the dipstick.
As with fuel economy, oil consumption
is directly influenced by your driving
style and vehicle operating conditions. 530us100
The oil volume between the two marks
on the dipstick corresponds to approx.
1.1 US quarts/1 liter. Do not fill beyond
the upper mark on the dipstick. Excess
oil will damage the engine.
X5 4.8is:
With a very sporty driving style, the
engine oil level should be at the upper
mark on the dipstick.530us205