wheel BMW X5 XDRIVE 35I SPORT ACTIVITY 2012 Owners Manual

Contents
The fastest way to find information on a partic‐
ular topic or item is by using the index, refer to
page
302.
Using this Owner's Manual
6 Notes
At a glance
12 Cockpit
18 iDrive
24 Voice activation system
Controls
28 Opening and closing
45 Adjusting
56 Transporting children safely
61 Driving
71 Displays
81 Lamps
86 Safety
96 Driving stability control systems
102 Driving comfort
119 Climate
127 Interior equipment
134 Storage compartments
Driving tips
142 Things to remember when driving
Navigation
152 Navigation system
153 Destination entry
161 Destination guidance
168 What to do if...
Entertainment
172 Tone
174 Radio
181 CD/multimedia
200 DVD system in rear Communication
216
Telephone
227 Office
235 Contacts
237 ConnectedDrive
Mobility
246 Refueling
248 Fuel
252 Wheels and tires
263 Engine compartment
268 Maintenance
270 Replacing components
280 Breakdown assistance
285 Care
Reference
290 Technical data
295 Short commands for voice activation
system
302 Everything from A to Z
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Therefore, have this work performed only by a
BMW center or a workshop that works accord‐
ing to BMW repair procedures with appropri‐
ately trained personnel.
If this work is not carried out properly, there is
the danger of subsequent damage and related
safety hazards.
Parts and accessories
For your own safety, use genuine parts and ac‐
cessories approved by BMW. When you pur‐
chase accessories tested and approved by
BMW and Genuine BMW Parts, you simultane‐
ously
acquire the assurance that they have been
thoroughly tested by BMW to ensure optimum
performance when installed on your vehicle.
BMW warrants these parts to be free from de‐
fects in material and workmanship. BMW will not
accept any liability for damage resulting from in‐
stallation of parts and accessories not approved
by BMW. BMW cannot test every product made
by other manufacturers to verify if it can be used
on a BMW safely and without risk to either the
vehicle, its operation, or its occupants. Genuine
BMW Parts, BMW Accessories and other prod‐
ucts approved by BMW, together with profes‐
sional advice on using these items, are available
from all BMW centers. Installation and operation
of non-BMW approved accessories such as
alarms, radios, amplifiers, radar detectors,
wheels, suspension components, brake dust
shields, telephones, including operation of any
mobile phone from within the vehicle without
using an externally mounted antenna, or trans‐
ceiver equipment, for instance, CBs, walkie-
talkies, ham radios or similar accessories, may
cause extensive damage to the vehicle, com‐
promise its safety, interfere with the vehicle's
electrical system or affect the validity of the
BMW Limited Warranty. See your BMW center
for additional information. Maintenance, re‐
placement, or repair of the emission control de‐
vices and systems may be performed by any au‐
tomotive repair establishment or individual
using any certified automotive part. California Proposition 65 Warning
California laws require us to state the following
warning:
Engine
exhaust and a wide variety of automobile
components and parts, including components
found in the interior furnishings in a vehicle, con‐
tain or emit chemicals known to the State of Cal‐
ifornia to cause cancer and birth defects and re‐
productive harm. In addition, certain fluids
contained in vehicles and certain products of
component wear contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to cause cancer
and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
Battery posts, terminals and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds. Wash your
hands after handling. Used engine oil contains
chemicals that have caused cancer in laboratory
animals. Always protect your skin by washing
thoroughly with soap and water.
Service and warranty
We recommend that you read this publication
thoroughly. Your vehicle is covered by the fol‐
lowing warranties:
▷ New Vehicle Limited Warranty
▷ Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
▷ Federal Emissions System Defect Warranty
▷ Federal Emissions Performance Warranty
▷ California Emission Control System Limited
Warranty
Detailed information about these warranties is
listed in the Service and Warranty Information
Booklet for US models or in the Warranty and
Service Guide Booklet for Canadian models.
Your vehicle has been specifically adapted and
designed to meet the particular operating con‐
ditions and homologation requirements in your
country

and continental region in order to deliver
the full driving pleasure while the vehicle is op‐
erated under those conditions. If you wish to op‐
erate your vehicle in another country or region,
you may be required to adapt your vehicle to
meet different prevailing operating conditions
and homologation requirements. You should
also be aware of any applicable warranty limita‐
tions or exclusions for such country or region. In
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls At a glance

Cockpit
All around the steering wheel
1
Rear window safety switch   41
2 Power windows   40
3 Exterior mirror operation  53
4 Lamps Instrument lighting  84
Front fog lamps*  84
Parking lamps  
81 Low beams  81
Automatic headlamp con‐
trol*  82
Adaptive light control
*  82
High-beam Assistant*  83
5 Head-up Display*  
117
6 Steering column stalk, left
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Cockpit

Turn signal  66
High beams, head‐
lamp flasher  83
High-beam Assistant*  83
Roadside parking lamps*  83
Computer  73
Settings and information about the
vehicle  71
7 BMW X6: shifting up or down with automatic
transmission  69
8 Instrument cluster   14
9 Steering column stalk, right Windshield wipers  67
Rain sensor  
67 BMW X5: rear window wip‐
ers  68
10 Start/stop the engine and switch
the ignition on/off  61
11 Ignition lock  61
12 Steering wheel buttons, right Change the radio station
Stopping a traffic announcement
Select a music track
Scrolling through the redial list
Next entertainment source Recirculated-air mode  122
Steering wheel heating*  55
Lane departure warning*  93
13 Horn, the entire surface
14 15
Cruise control lever Cruise control*  
108 Active cruise control*  
102
16 Steering wheel buttons, left Telephone*  216
Volume
Activate/deactivate the voice acti‐
vation system*  24
17 Releasing the hood  264
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Reference Mobility Communication Entertainment Navigation Driving tips Controls
At a glance

Voice activation system*
The concept
▷
The voice activation system can be used to
operate
functions by means of spoken com‐
mands. The system prompts you to make
your entries.
▷ Functions that can only be used when the
vehicle

is stationary cannot be operated us‐
ing the voice activation system.
▷ The system uses a special microphone lo‐
cated

in the area of the interior rearview mir‐
ror.
▷ ›...‹ Verbal instructions in the Owner's
Manual

to use with the voice activation sys‐
tem.
Requirements
Via the Control Display, set a language that is
also supported by the voice activation system
so

that the spoken commands can be identified.
Set the language, refer to page 80.
Using voice activation
Activating the voice activation system
1. Press the button on the steering
wheel.
2. Wait for the signal.
3. Say the command.
The command appears on the Control Dis‐
play. The symbol on the Control Display indicates
that the voice activation system is active.
If no other commands are available, continue
operating the function via iDrive. Terminating the voice activation
system
Briefly press the button on the steering wheel
or ›Cancel‹.
Possible commands
Most

menu items on the Control Display can be
voiced as commands.
The available commands depend on the menu
that is currently displayed on the Control Dis‐
play.
The functions of the main menu have short com‐
mands.
Some list items, such as the phone book en‐
tries*, can also be selected via the voice activa‐
tion system. Say the list items exactly as they are
displayed on the list.
Having possible commands read aloud
To have the available commands read out
loud: ›Voice commands‹
For example, if the "Settings" menu is displayed,
the commands for the settings are read out loud.
Executing functions using short
commands
Functions on the main menu can be performed
directly by means of short commands, irrespec‐
tive of which menu item is currently selected, for
instance ›Vehicle status‹.
List of short commands of the voice activation
system, refer to page 295.
Help dialog for the voice activation
system
Calling up help dialog: ›Help‹
Additional commands for the help dialog:
▷ ›Help with examples‹: information about the
current operating options and the most im‐
portant

commands for them are announced.
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Voice activation system

▷
›Help with voice activation‹: information
about
the principle of operation for the voice
activation system is announced.
Example: playing back a CD
1. Switch on the Entertainment sound output
if necessary.
2. Press the button on the steering
wheel.
3. ›C D and multimedia‹
The medium last played is played back.
4. Press the button on the steering
wheel.
5. ›C D track ...‹ e.g., CD track 4.
Setting the voice dialog
You
can set whether the system should use the
standard dialog or a shorter version.
In the shorter variant of the voice dialog, the an‐
nouncements from the system are issued in an
abbreviated form.
On the Control Display:
1. "Settings"
2. "Language/Units"
3. "Speech mode:"
4. Select the setting. Adjusting the volume
Turn

the volume button while giving an instruc‐
tion until the desired volume is set.
▷ The volume remains constant even if the
volume of other audio sources is changed.
▷ The volume is stored for the remote control
currently in use.
Notes on Emergency
Requests
Do
not use the voice activation system to initiate
an Emergency Request. In stressful situations,
the voice and vocal pitch can change. This can
unnecessarily delay the establishment of a tel‐
ephone connection.
Instead, use the SOS button*, refer to
page 280, in the vicinity of the interior mirror.
Environmental conditions
▷ Say the commands, numbers, and letters
smoothly and with normal volume, empha‐
sis, and speed.
▷ Always say commands in the language of
the voice activation system.
▷ When selecting a radio station, use the com‐
mon pronunciation of the station name.
▷ Keep doors, windows and */panoramic
glass sunroof* closed to prevent noise in‐
terference.
▷ Avoid making other noise in the vehicle
while speaking.
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At a glance

The individual settings are stored for a maximum
of
four remote controls. They are stored for two
remote controls if Comfort Access* is in use.
Personal Profile settings
The following functions and settings can be
stored in a profile.
More information on the settings can be found
under:
▷ Assigning the programmable memory but‐
tons, refer to page 22.
▷ Response of the central locking system
when the car is being unlocked, refer to
page 30.
▷ Automatic locking of the vehicle, refer to
page 33.
▷ Driver's seat, exterior mirror and steering
wheel positions*, refer to page 53.
▷ Settings for the display on the Control Dis‐
play and in the instrument cluster:
▷12h/24h clock format, refer to
page 79.
▷ Date format, refer to page 79.
▷ Brightness of the Control Display, refer
to page 80.
▷ Language on the Control Display, refer
to page 80.
▷ Units of measure for fuel consumption,
distance covered/remaining distances,
and temperature, refer to page 80.
▷ Show visual warning for the Park Distance
Control PDC*, refer to page 111.
▷ Show visual warning for Top View*, refer to
page 114.
▷ Show Side View*, refer to page 116.
▷ Backup camera*:
▷Function selection, refer to page 113.
▷ Type of display, refer to page 114.
▷ Lane departure warning*: last setting, on/
off, refer to page 93.
▷ Head-up Display*: selection, brightness and
position of the display, refer to page 117.▷
Adaptive Drive*: selected chassis and sus‐
pension tuning, refer to page 99.
▷ Light settings:
▷Triple turn signal activation, refer to
page 66.
▷ Welcome lamps, refer to page 81.
▷ Headlamp courtesy delay feature, refer
to page 81.
▷ Daytime running lights, refer to
page 82.
▷ High-beam Assistant*, refer to
page 83.
▷ Automatic climate control with 2-zone con‐
trol: settings, refer to page 120.
▷ Navigation:
▷Voice activation, refer to page 163.
▷ Route criteria, refer to page 161.
▷ Map view settings, refer to page 164.
▷ Entertainment:
▷Tone control, refer to page 172.
▷ Radio, stored stations, refer to
page 180.
▷ CD/multimedia, audio source listened to
last, refer to page 181.
▷ Telephone: volume, refer to page 220.
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system becomes active
when the driver's door is closed.
The system simultaneously engages and re‐
leases the locks on the following:
▷ Doors.
▷ Tailgate.
▷ Fuel filler flap.
Operating from the outside
▷ Via the remote control.
▷ Via the door lock*.
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Controls At a glance

Press the button on the remote control for at
least 3 seconds.
To switch off the alarm: press any button.
Unlocking tailgate Press the button on the remote control for
approx. 1 second and release.
The tailgate will open slightly, regardless of
whether it was previously locked or unlocked.
With automatic tailgate operation
*: the tailgate
opens automatically.
The tailgate pivots back and up when it opens.
Ensure that adequate clearance is available be‐
fore opening.
To avoid locking yourself out of the vehicle, do
not place the remote control into the cargo area.
The tailgate is locked again as soon as it is
pushed closed.
Before and after each trip, check that the tailgate
has not been inadvertently unlocked.
Provide edge protection
Sharp or angular objects can hit the rear
window while driving and damage the heating
wires of the rear window. Provide edge protec‐
tion.◀
Confirmation signals from the vehicle
1. "Settings"
2. "Door locks"
3. "Flash when lock/unlock" Retrieving the seat, mirror, and
steering wheel settings

*
The driver's seat, exterior mirror, and steering
wheel positions* selected last are stored for the
currently used remote control.
When the vehicle is being unlocked, these po‐
sitions are automatically retrieved if the setting
is activated.
Pinch hazard when moving back the seat
If this function is used, first make sure that
the footwell behind the driver's seat is empty.
Failure to do so could cause injury to persons or
damage to objects behind the seat as a result of
a rearward movement of the seat.◀
The adjustment procedure is interrupted:
▷ When a seat position switch is pressed.
▷ When a button of the seat and mirror mem‐
ory is pressed.
Selecting automatic activation
1. "Settings"
2. "Door locks"
3. "Last seat position auto." Malfunctions
Local

radio waves may interfere with the remote
control.
In this case, unlock and lock the car at the door
lock with the integrated key.
If the car can no longer be locked with a remote
control, the battery in the remote control is dis‐
charged. Use the remote control during an ex‐
tended drive in order to recharge the battery,
refer to page 28. The remote control for Comfort Seite 31
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Warning lamps
The warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up when you attempt to
start
the engine: the engine cannot be
started.
The remote control is not in the vehicle or has a
malfunction. Take the remote control with you
inside the vehicle or have it checked. If neces‐
sary, insert another remote control into the ig‐
nition switch.
The warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up while the engine is
running: the remote control is no lon‐
ger inside the vehicle.
After switching off the engine, the engine can
only be started again within approx. 10 seconds
if no door has been opened.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster comes on and a message ap‐
pears on the Control Display: replace
the remote control battery.
Replacing the battery
The remote control for Comfort Access con‐
tains a battery that will need to be replaced from
time to time.
1. Take the integrated key out of the remote
control, refer to page 28.
2. Remove the cover. 3.
Insert a new battery of the same type with
the positive side facing upwards.
4. Press the cover closed.
Return used battery to a recycling collec‐
tion point or to your service center. Alarm system
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds to:
▷
Opening of a door, the hood or the tailgate.
▷ Movements in the vehicle: interior motion
sensor, refer to page 40.
▷ Changes in the vehicle tilt, e.g., during at‐
tempts to steal a wheel or tow the car.
▷ Interruptions in battery voltage.
The alarm system briefly indicates tampering:
▷ By sounding an acoustic alarm.
▷ By switching on the hazard warning system.
▷ By flashing the high beams.
Arming and disarming the alarm
system
When

you lock or unlock the vehicle, either with
the remote control or at the door lock, the alarm
system is armed or disarmed at the same time.
Door lock and armed alarm system
Unlocking via the door lock will trigger the alarm
on some market-specific versions.
This alarm can only be ended by pressing the
button on the remote control.
Tailgate and armed alarm system
The tailgate can be opened using the remote
control, even if the alarm system is armed. Press the button on the remote control.
After
the tailgate is closed, it is locked and moni‐
tored again by the alarm system. The hazard
warning system flashes once.
In some market-specific versions, the tailgate
can only be opened using the remote control if
the vehicle was unlocked first.
Switching off the alarm
▷ Unlock the vehicle using the remote control,
refer to page 30.
▷ Insert the remote control all the way into the
ignition lock.
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Indicator lamp on the interior rearview
mirror
▷
The indicator lamp flashes continuously:
The system is armed.
▷ The indicator lamp flashes after locking:
The doors, hood or tailgate is not closed
properly, but the rest of the vehicle is se‐
cured.
The indicator lamp flashes continuously af‐
ter approx. 10 seconds. The interior motion
sensor is not active.
▷ The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking:
The vehicle has not been tampered with.
▷ If the indicator lamp flashes after unlocking
until
the remote control is inserted in the ig‐
nition, but for no longer than approx. 5 mi‐
nutes:
An alarm has been triggered.
Panic mode*
In dangerous situations, trigger the alarm sys‐
tem: Press the button on the remote control for at
least 3 seconds.
To switch off the alarm: press any button.
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored.
The alarm system responds in situations such
as attempts to steal a wheel or tow the car.
Interior motion sensor
For

the sensor to function properly, the windows
and glass sunroof*/panoramic glass sunroof*
must be closed. Avoiding unintentional alarms
The

tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor
can be switched off together, such as in the fol‐
lowing situations:
▷ In duplex garages.
▷ During transport on car-carrying trains, at
sea or on a trailer.
▷ When animals are to remain in the vehicle.
Switching off the tilt alarm sensor and
interior motion sensor Press
the button on the remote control
twice in succession.
The indicator lamp lights up for approx. 2 sec‐
onds and then flashes continuously.
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor
remain switched off until the vehicle is locked
again.
Power windows
General information
Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for example,
cannot operate the power windows and injure
themselves.◀ Opening
▷
Press the switch to the resistance
point.
The window opens while the switch is held. Seite 40
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Opening and closing