side lights BMW X5 4.8IS 2004 E53 Owner's Manual

19n

OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex

Indicator and warning lamps

Technology that monitors itself

Indicator and warning lamps that are
identified by
+

are tested for proper
functioning whenever the ignition key is
turned. They each light up once for dif-
ferent periods of time.
If a fault should occur in one of the
monitored systems, the corresponding
lamp does not go out after the engine is
started or it lights up while the vehicle is
moving. You will see how to react to
this in the following section.

Red: stop immediately

Battery charge current
+

The battery is not being
charged. There is a malfunction
of the alternator drive belt or in the
charging circuit of the alternator. Have
the system checked immediately.
If the drive belt is defective, do not
continue driving. The engine could
be damaged due to overheating. If the
drive belt is defective, increased steer-
ing effort is also required.<


Engine oil pressure +

Stop immediately and switch off
the engine. Check the engine oil
level; top up as required. If the oil level
is correct: have the system checked
immediately.
Do not continue driving. The
engine could be damaged
because of inadequate lubrication.<



Handbrake

*
/
Brake hydraulic system
+

Lights up with handbrake
engaged.
For additional information, refer to
page 66
Comes on although the handbrake is
released: stop immediately. The brake
fluid in the reservoir has fallen to below
the minimum level. At the same time, a
considerably longer brake pedal travel
may be noticeable. Have the system
checked immediately.
During continued driving
increased brake pedal pressure
may be necessary, and considerably
longer braking distances may result.
Please remember to adapt your driving
style accordingly.<


Before continuing your journey, be
sure to read the notes on pages 139
and 151.
Also comes on in the Check Control
with the message "CHECK BRAKE
LININGS".
Display of the previously
described malfunction on Cana-
dian models.

59n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Airbags Transporting children safely Airbag system operational
The warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster indicates the oper-
ational readiness of the entire
airbag system and the safety belt ten-
sioners as of ignition key position 1.
The warning lamp goes out after a few
seconds.
Airbag system malfunction
Have the airbag system checked
immediately if a malfunction
occurs, as otherwise there is a danger
of the system failing to respond in the
expected manner to an impact occur-
ring within its normal response range.<
A fault has occurred in the air-
bag system:
>Warning lamp does not light up as of
ignition key position 1
>Warning lamp lights up continuously
>Warning lamp lights up while the
vehicle is being driven.
The right place for children Children always in the rear:
Accident research shows that the saf-
est place for children in a vehicle is in
the rear seat.
Older children should be tightly secured
with a safety belt, after they have out-
grown a booster seat that is appropri-
ate for their age, height and weight.
A child sitting in the rear seat and
not properly restrained may place
his or her head on or near the airbag, if
so equipped. For example, a child –
even though belted – may fall asleep
with his or her head against the side air-
bag. It may be difficult for a driver to
ensure that children in the rear seat will
remain properly positioned at all times
and do not place their heads on or near
the side airbag. Therefore, we recom-
mend that the rear side airbags, if pro-
vided, be deactivated if you plan to
transport children in the rear seat.<
Child-restraint systems in the rearChild-restraint systems appropriate for
every age group and weight are avail-
able at your BMW Sports Activity Vehi-
cle center.
Children under 13 years of age
and children less than 5 ft/150 cm
tall should always ride in the rear and
the restraint systems should be secured
with the vehicle's safety belts.<
No universal child-restraint sys-
tems facing the rear of the vehicle
may be mounted on the rear seats.
If you want to use a rearward-facing
child-restraint system in the rear, then
the BMW Baby Seat with or without the
LATCH child-restraint fixing is suitable
for this purpose.<
Younger children should be secured in
an appropriate forward-facing child-
restraint system that has first been
properly secured with a safety belt.
All rear sitting positions in your
vehicle meet the recommendations of
SAE J1819, an industry-recommended
practice for securing child-restraint sys-
tems in motor vehicles.

80n
Check Control >CHECK BRAKE FLUID
Level has dropped approx. to mini-
mum. Have the brake fluid topped up
as soon as possible, refer to
page 151. Have the reason for the
brake fluid loss eliminated by your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center
>DSC/4x4 INACTIVE
DSC and/or 4-wheel drive system
xDrive has failed.
The stabilizing interventions of DSC
and/or the 4-wheel drive system
xDrive are no longer available. Drive
may then only be carried out via the
rear axle.
Have the system checked at the
nearest BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
center.
For additional information, refer to
page 95
>SELFLEVEL SUSP.INACT
*
Please consult the nearest BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle center
>SELFLEVEL SUSP.INACT*
MAX. 35 MPH/MAX. 60 KM/H
*
These messages are displayed con-
secutively.
Do not exceed a maximum speed of
35 mph/60 km/h.
Please consult the nearest BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle center>TRANSMISS'N OVERHEAT
*
Reduce speed immediately and stop
at a suitable location so that the sys-
tem can cool down again. Please
contact the nearest BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center
>LIMIT
*
Display when the programmed road-
speed limit is exceeded, refer to
page 87.
Priority 2
These displays appear for 20 seconds
as of ignition key position 2. The warn-
ing symbols remain after the message
disappears. You can open the mes-
sages again for display by pressing the
CHECK button.
>TRUNKLID OPEN
This message only appears when
starting off
>DOOR OPEN
This message appears after a mini-
mal defined road speed has been
exceeded
>FASTEN SEAT BELTS
*
In addition, the indicator lamp with
the belt symbol lights up and an
acoustic signal sounds
>WASHER FLUID LOW
Too low, top up at the next opportu-
nity, refer to page 148>CHECK ENGINE OIL LEV
The oil level is at the absolute mini-
mum point. Therefore, have the
engine oil topped up as soon as pos-
sible, refer to page 148. Until then,
do not drive more than approx.
30 miles/50 km
>CHECK GAS CAP
Check to see whether the fuel filler
cap has been closed properly, refer
to page 25
>OUTSIDE TEMP. +237/–56
This display is only an example. The
current temperature is displayed at
outside temperatures of +37.57/
+36 and below, refer also to
page 75
>CHECK BRAKE LIGHTS
A lamp has failed or the electrical
circuit has a fault, refer to page 161
or consult a BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center
>CHECK LOWBEAM LIGHTS
CHECK SIDE LIGHTS
CHECK REAR LIGHTS
CHECK FRONT FOGLAMPS
CHECK LICPLATE LIGHT
CHECK HIGHBEAM LIGHT
CHECK BACK UP LIGHTS
The respective lamp may have failed
or the electrical circuit may be defec-

100n
Flat Tire MonitorThe concept The Flat Tire Monitor keeps track of the
inflation pressures in the four fitted tires
as you drive. The system provides an
alert whenever the inflation pressure
drops significantly in relation to the
pressure another tire.
The check of the tire inflation pressure
is based on monitoring the relative
speeds of the wheels. A flat is detected
and reported on the basis of a deviation
in certain speed ratios.Functional requirementTo ensure reliable operation, the sys-
tem should have been initialized with
the correct tire inflation pressure.
System limits
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot indi-
cate sudden severe tire damage
caused by outside factors and does not
detect a natural, even pressure drop in
all four tires.<
In the following situations, the system
could be delayed or malfunction:
>When driving on snow-covered or
slippery road surfaces
>In the case of performance-oriented
driving: slip on the drive wheels, high
lateral acceleration
>False alarms and undetected loss of
pressure may occur when you are
driving with snow chains fitted.
Initializing system
Perform the initialization immedi-
ately every time you correct the
inflation pressure, change a tire or
change a wheel or all wheels. A drive
is required for this purpose.<
1. Start the engine, but do not drive off
2. Press the button until the yellow indi-
cator lamp in the instrument cluster
lights up for a few seconds
3. Drive off.
It takes a few minutes of driving until
the Flat Tire Monitor can detect and
indicated a flat tire.
When driving with snow chains,
do not initialize the system.<
530de407

102n
Parking lamps/side marker lamps
The front, rear and side vehicle
lighting is switched on. You can
use the parking lamps for park-
ing. For lighting on one side for parking
as an additional feature, refer to
page 103.
Low beams
When the ignition is switched off
and the low beams are on, only
the parking lamps/side marker
lamps remain on.
530us215
Pathway lighting:
When you activate the headlamp
flasher after parking the vehicle and
switching off the lamps, the low beams
will come on for a brief period. You may
also have this function deactivated if
you wish.<
Lights on warning Whenever you open the driver's door,
after having turned the ignition key to
position 0, you will hear an acoustic
signal for a few seconds to remind you
that the lamps have not been switched
off.
On vehicles with alphanumeric Check
Control
*:
The reminder is given through the
Check Control.
Daytime driving lamps
*
The daytime driving lamps are automat-
ically switched on at ignition key posi-
tion 2.
Automatic headlamp control
*
When you set the switch to this
position, the system activates
and switches on and off the low
beams in response to changes in ambi-
ent light conditions, for instance, in tun-
nels, at dawn and dusk, and in rain and
snow.
The low beams remain switched
on regardless of the ambient light
when you switch on the front fog
lamps.<
Automatic headlamp control can-
not serve as a substitute for the
driver's judgment in determining when
the vehicle lamps should be switched
on. For example, the system cannot
detect fog. To avoid safety risks, you
should always switch on the lamps
manually under these conditions.<
You can have the sensitivity of the
headlamp control system adjusted
on your vehicle.<
Parking lamps/low beams

128n
Cargo area Folding floor cover upDisengage the loop end on the lower
side of the floor cover and hook it in
with the catch no the upper frame of the
liftgate cutout.
Before swinging down the floor cover,
reengage the loop end in the retainer
on the underside of the floor cover.530de355
Power outlets When you fold the cover caps up, you
have access to additional power out-
lets.
You can use the power outlets for flash-
lights, car vacuum cleaners or other
automotive appliances with up to
approx. 200 watts at 12 volts. Avoid
damage to the socket caused by insert-
ing plugs of a different shape or size.
Also refer to page 121. 530us084
Pull-out cargo floor
*
To release, pull the handle recess
upward. Then pull the floor out.
Do not drive when the cargo floor
is pulled out.
Do not release the cargo floor on steep
grades. If you do, it could extend auto-
matically and cause personal injuries.
A load which is not properly secured
could begin to slide if the floor extends
automatically and then drop to the
ground as a result of the rapid braking
of the cargo floor at the limit stop.<530de292

151n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Brake fluidBrake fluid level
If the warning lamp lights up
or the message "CHECK
BRAKE FLUID" appears in the
Check Control: stop immedi-
ately. The brake fluid in the res-
ervoir has fallen to below the
minimum level.
Add brake fluid The brake fluid reservoir is located
under the microfilter housing trim panel
on the driver's side of the vehicle. For
adding brake fluid or for determining
and correcting the cause of brake fluid
loss, consult your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center. Your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center is familiar with
the specifications for factory-approved
DOT 4 brake fluids.
Brake fluid loss may result in extended
brake pedal travel. For this situation,
refer to the notes on page 139.
Brake fluid is hygroscopic, that is,
it absorbs moisture from the air
over time.
In order to ensure the safety and reli-
ability of the brake system, have the
brake fluid changed every two years by
a BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center.
Refer also to the Service and Warranty
Information Booklet for US models or
the Warranty and Service Guide Book-
let for Canadian models.
Brake fluid is toxic and also damages
vehicle paintwork. Always store these
agents in tightly-closed original con-
tainers kept well away from the reach of
children.
Do not spill the fluid and do not refill the
brake fluid reservoir to beyond the MAX
mark. The brake fluid could ignite upon
contact with hot engine parts and
cause serious burns.<
Always observe all applicable
environmental rules and regula-
tions when disposing of used brake
fluid.<

170n
The Roadside Assistance of the BMW
Group offers you assistance in the
event of a breakdown around the clock,
also at weekends and on public holi-
days.
The phone numbers of the Roadside
Assistance control center in your home
country can be found in the BMW
Dealer Directory.
In the case of vehicles with the corre-
sponding equipment, you can use
buttons in the headlining to contact
Roadside Assistance or initiate an
emergency call.
When the emergency call is initiated, a
telephone connection is established to
the BMW Assist response center.
If the current location of your vehicle
can be determined with vehicles with
an activated BMW Assist, it will be
transmitted to the BMW Assist
response center.
The condition for initiating an emer-
gency call or contacting Roadside
Assistance:
>Ignition key from position 1
>The car phone is logged on to a
mobile telephone network
>The emergency call system is opera-
ble.1Initiating an emergency call
2Establishing contact to Roadside
Assistance
Initiating an emergency call
*
Press button 1 for at least 2 seconds.
The indicator lamp in the button lights
up. As soon as the voice connection to
the BMW Assist response center has
been established, the indicator lamp
flashes. If the indicator lamp flashes,
but you are unable to hear the emer-
gency call center, you can still be heard
by the emergency call center.530us240
For technical reasons, the emer-
gency call cannot be guaranteed
under the most unfavorable condi-
tions.<
Under certain conditions, an emer-
gency call is initiated automatically
immediately after a severe accident.
The automatic emergency call is not
affected by the button being pressed.
Roadside Assistance
*
Press button 2 for at least 2 seconds.
With the BMW Assist activated, the cur-
rent location of your vehicle will be
transmitted in the specific country.
Receiving assistance

Everything from A to ZInterface socket for onboard
diagnosis 153
Interior lamps 104
remote control 31
Interior mirror
automatic dimming
feature 55
compass 55
Interior motion sensor 39
switching off 31, 39
Interior rearview mirror 54
Interlock, refer to Locking
steering 64
Intermittent operation,
wipers 71
J
Jumpering, refer to Jump-
starting 171
Jump-starting 171
K
Key Memory 63
Keys 30
Kickdown 68
L
Lamps and bulbs 159
Lamps, refer to Parking
lamps/low beams 102
Lashing eyes, refer to
Securing the load 131LATCH child-restraint
fixing 62
LEDs light-emitting
diodes 163
Length, refer to
Dimensions 179
License plate lamp, bulb
replacement 162
Liftgate 35
emergency operation,
refer to Unlocking
manually 35
opening, remote
control 31
Liftgate/tailgate
opening from inside 35
opening from outside 35
remote control 31
unlocking manually 35
Light switch 102
Light-alloy wheels, care,
refer to Caring for your
vehicle brochure
Light-emitting diodes
LEDs 163
Lighter 121, 122
Lighter socket 121
Lighting of instruments 104
Lights on warning 102
Limit 87
Load, refer to Cargo
loading 130Lock buttons, doors, refer to
Locking 34
Locking
from inside 34
from outside 31, 33
Locking and unlocking doors
from inside 34
from outside 31, 33
Locking, vehicle
from inside 34
from outside 31, 33
Low beams 102
automatic 102
bulb replacement 159
Lower back support, refer to
Lumbar support 46
Low-fuel warning light, refer
to Fuel gauge 77
Lug bolts 167
Lug wrench 164
Luggage compartment lid,
refer to Liftgate/tailgate 36
Luggage net 37
Luggage rack, refer to Roof-
mounted luggage rack 132
Luggage straps 37
Lumbar support 46
M
M+S tires, refer to Winter
tires 145
Maintenance system 152Maintenance, refer to
Service Interval Display 78
Manual operation
door lock 33
driver's door 33
fuel filler door 24
liftgate 35
panorama glass roof 42
tailgate 37
Manual transmission 66
Marking, tires 142
Master key 30
with remote control 30
Maximum cooling 112
Maximum roof weight 180
Maximum speed with winter
tires 145
Measurements, refer to
Dimensions 179
Mechanical key, refer to
Spare key 30
Mechanical seats 45
Memo 85
Memory, refer to
Seat, mirror and steering
wheel memory 50
Vehicle Memory, Key
Memory 63
Microfilter
air conditioner 108
automatic climate
control 114