BMW X5 XDRIVE 50I 2012 Repair Manual

Driving
Ignition lock
Insert the remote control into the
ignition lock
Insert the remote control all the way into the ig‐
nition lock.
Radio
ready state is switched on. Individual elec‐
trical consumers can operate.
Comfort Access*
If the car is equipped with Comfort Access, only
insert the remote control into the ignition lock,
refer to page 37, under special circumstances.
Removing the remote control from the
ignition lock Do not forcibly pull the remote control out
of the ignition lock
Do not forcibly pull the remote control out of the
ignition lock as this may cause damage.◀
Before removing the remote control, push it all
the way in to release the locking mechanism.
The ignition is switched off if it was on. Start/Stop button
Pressing the Start/Stop button switches the ig‐
nition on or off and starts the engine.
The engine starts if the brake pedal is pressed
when you press the Start/Stop button.
Radio ready state
Individual electrical consumers can operate.
The time and the external temperature are dis‐
played in the instrument cluster.
Radio ready state is switched off automatically:
▷
When the remote control is removed from
the ignition lock.
▷ With Comfort Access*, refer to page 37, by
touching the area above the door lock.
Ignition on
All electrical consumers can operate. The od‐
ometer and trip odometer are displayed in the
instrument cluster.
To save battery power when the engine is off,
switch off the ignition and any unnecessary
electronic systems/power consumers.
Radio ready state and ignition off
All indicator and warning lamps as well as dis‐
plays in the instrument cluster go out. Transmission position P with the ignition
off
When the ignition is switched off, position P is
engaged automatically. When in an automatic Seite 61
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Controls At a glance

car wash, for example, ensure that the ignition is
not switched off accidentally.◀
For example, the ignition is not switched off in
the following situations:
▷
The brake is applied.
▷ The low beams are switched on
Starting the engine
General information Enclosed areas
Do not let the engine run in enclosed
areas; otherwise, breathing of exhaust fumes
may lead to loss of consciousness and death.
The
exhaust gases contain carbon monoxide, an
odorless and colorless but highly toxic gas.◀
Unattended vehicle
Do not leave the car unattended with the
engine running; otherwise, it presents a poten‐
tial source of danger.
Before leaving the car with the engine running,
set the parking brake and place the transmission
in position P or neutral to prevent the car from
moving.◀
Frequent starting in quick succession
Avoid repeated futile attempts at starting
the car and avoid starting the car frequently in
quick succession. Otherwise, the fuel is not
burned or is inadequately burned, and there is
the danger of overheating and damaging the
catalytic converter.◀
Do not wait for the engine to warm up while the
vehicle remains stationary. Start driving right
away, but at moderate engine speeds. Starting the engine
Remote control in the ignition lock or, with Com‐
fort

Access, inside the vehicle, refer to page 37.
1. Depress the brake pedal.
2. Press the Start/Stop button.
The starter operates automatically for a certain
time,
and stops automatically as soon as the en‐
gine has started.
Diesel engine
If the engine is cold and temperatures are below
approx. 32 ℉/0 ℃, the start process may be de‐
layed somewhat due to automatic preheating.
A message is displayed.
Engine stop
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 windows and injure them‐
selves.◀
Set the parking brake and further secure
the vehicle as required
Set the parking brake firmly when parking; oth‐
erwise, the vehicle could roll. On steep upward
and downward inclines, further secure the vehi‐
cle, for example, by turning the steering wheel in
the direction of the curb.◀ Seite 62
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Driving

Switching off the engine
Procedure
1.
Engage transmission position P with the ve‐
hicle stopped.
2. Press the Start/Stop button.
3. Set the parking brake.
4. Remove the remote control from the ignition
lock, refer to page 61.
Before driving into a car wash
The vehicle is able to roll when the following
steps are adhered to:
1. With Comfort Access*: insert the remote
control in the ignition lock.
2. Depress the brake pedal.
3. Engage transmission position N.
4. Release the parking brake or deactivate Au‐
tomatic Hold.
5. Switch the engine off.
Transmission position P will be engaged:
▷ Automatically after approx. 30 minutes.
▷ If you remove the remote control from the
ignition lock.
Parking brake
The concept
The parking brake is primarily intended to pre‐
vent the vehicle from rolling while parked; it
brakes the rear wheels.
The parking brake can be set manually or auto‐
matically:
▷ Manual: by pulling and pushing the switch.
▷ Automatic: by activating Automatic Hold. Setting manually Pull the button. The parking brake is set.
The indicator lamp lights up in red. The
parking brake is set.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
To set the parking brake, the remote control
does not need to be in the ignition lock. Set the parking brake and further secure
the vehicle as required
Set the parking brake firmly when parking; oth‐
erwise, the vehicle could roll. On steep upward
and
downward inclines, further secure the vehi‐
cle, for example, by turning the steering wheel in
the direction of the curb.◀
While driving
Use while driving:
Pull the switch and hold it. The vehicle brakes
hard while the button is being pulled.
The indicator lamp lights up in red, a sig‐
nal sounds and the brake lamps light up.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
If the vehicle is braked to a speed of approx.
2 mph/3 km/h, the parking brake remains set. Seite 63
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Releasing manually
Press the button with the brake depressed.
The LED and indicator lamp go out.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving
the vehicle so that children, for example,
cannot release the parking brake.◀
Automatic Hold
The concept
This system assists the driver by automatically
setting and releasing the brake, such as when
moving in stop-and-go traffic.
The vehicle is automatically held in place when
it is stationary.
On inclines, the system prevents the vehicle
from rolling backward when driving away.
For your safety
Automatic Hold is deactivated automatically and
the parking brake is set when:
▷ The engine is switched off.
▷ A door is opened and the driver's safety belt
is unbuckled.
▷ The vehicle is braked to a standstill with the
parking brake while driving.
The indicator lamp switches from green
to red and the letters AUTO H go out. Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
Before driving away:
▷ Release the parking brake manually.
▷ Reactivate Automatic Hold.
Leaving the vehicle with the engine run‐
ning
Before leaving the vehicle with the engine run‐
ning, engage position P of the automatic trans‐
mission

and ensure that the parking brake is set.
Otherwise, the vehicle may begin to roll.◀
Activating Press the button. The LED in the button lights
up

and the indication AUTO H appears in the in‐
strument panel.
Automatic Hold is activated.
If the vehicle is being held by Automatic
Hold, the indicator light in the instrument
panel also lights up in green.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
Deactivating
Press the button again, the LED in the button
and the indication AUTO H in the instrument
panel go out.
Automatic Hold is deactivated.
If the vehicle is being held by Automatic Hold,
then press on the brake pedal to deactivate it.
When the parking brake is set manually, refer to
page 63, Automatic Hold is deactivated auto‐
matically. Seite 64
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Driving

Driving
Automatic
Hold is activated: the vehicle is auto‐
matically secured against rolling when it stops.
The indicator lamp lights up in green.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
Step on the accelerator pedal to drive off.
The brake is released automatically.
The indicator lamp goes out. Before driving into a car wash
Deactivate Automatic Hold; otherwise, the
parking brake will be set when the vehicle is sta‐
tionary and the vehicle will no longer be able to
roll.◀
Parking
The parking brake is automatically set if the en‐
gine is switched off while the vehicle is being
held by Automatic Hold.
The indicator lamp changes from green
to red.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
The parking brake is not set if the engine is
switched off while the vehicle is coasting to a
halt. Automatic Hold is deactivated. Take the remote control with you
Take the remote control with you when
leaving the vehicle so that children, for example,
cannot release the parking brake.◀
Malfunction
In the event of a failure or malfunction of the
parking brake, secure the vehicle against rolling
using a wheel chock, for example, when leaving
it. Releasing the parking brake manually
In the event of an electrical power loss or elec‐
trical malfunction, you can release the parking
brake manually.
Secure the vehicle against rolling
Before releasing the parking brake man‐
ually,
and whenever you park the vehicle with the
parking brake released, ensure that position P of
the automatic transmission is engaged. Note
the display in the instrument cluster.
In addition, secure the vehicle against rolling,
e.g. with a wheel chock. Otherwise there is a
danger that the vehicle could roll if parked on a
steep slope.◀
Jump-starting and towing, refer to page 282.
Unlocking
1. Open the left-hand side panel in the cargo
area.
2. Remove the first aid kit* and the warning tri‐
angle*.

Close the bracket of the warning tri‐
angle.
3. Insert the releasing tool or screwdriver, con‐
tained in the tool kit under the cargo floor
panel, refer to page 270, at the releasing
point. 4.
Firmly pull the releasing tool or screwdriver
upward against the mechanical resistance,
refer to arrow, until a considerable increase
in force is felt and the parking brake is then
clearly heard to release.
5. Stow the releasing tool or screwdriver,
warning

triangle*, and first aid kit* and close
the left side panel in the cargo area. Seite 65
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Controls At a glance

Have the malfunction corrected
Have the malfunction corrected at the
nearest service center or at a workshop that
works
according to BMW repair procedures with
correspondingly trained personnel. If the park‐
ing brake has been released manually in re‐
sponse to a malfunction, only technicians can
return it to operation.◀
Following manual release, the actual status of
the parking brake may deviate from that dis‐
played by the indicator lamp.
Putting into operation after a power
failure
Putting the parking brake into operation
The parking brake should only be put into
operation again if it was manually released due
to an interruption in the supply of electrical
power. Otherwise the operation of the parking
brake is not ensured and there is a danger of the
vehicle rolling despite the parking brake being
set.◀
Procedure
1. Switch on the ignition.
2. Press the button with the brake depressed.
The indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out as soon as the parking
brake is ready for operation.
Indicator lamp in Canadian models.
Any

noises which occur are normal. Startup may
take several seconds. Turn signal, high beams,
headlamp flasher
1
High beams
2 Headlamp flasher
3 Turn signal
Signaling a turn
Press the lever beyond the resistance point.
To

switch off manually, press the lever to the re‐
sistance point.
Unusually rapid flashing of the indicator lamp in‐
dicates that a turn signal bulb has failed.
Signaling a turn briefly
Press the lever to the resistance point and hold
it there for as long as you want the turn signal to
flash.
Triple turn signal activation
Press the lever to the resistance point.
The turn signal flashes three times.
This function can be activated or deactivated:
1. "Settings"
2. "Lighting"
3. "Triple turn signal" Seite 66
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Driving

The setting is stored for the remote control cur‐
rently in use.
Washer/wiper system
Do not switch on the wipers if frozen
Do
not switch on the wipers if they are fro‐
zen onto the windshield; otherwise, the wiper
blades and the windshield wiper motor may be
damaged.◀ 1
Switching on wipers
2 Switching off wipers or brief wipe
3 Activating/deactivating the rain sensor
4 Cleaning the windshield and headlamps*
5 Setting the sensitivity of the rain sensor
Switching on wipers
Press the wiper lever upward, arrow 1.
The lever automatically returns to its initial po‐
sition when released.
Normal wiper speed
Press up once.
The system switches to operation in the inter‐
mittent mode when the vehicle is stationary.
Fast wiper speed
Press

up twice or press once beyond the resist‐
ance point.
The system switches to normal speed when the
vehicle is stationary.
Switching off wipers or brief wipe
Press the wiper lever down, arrow 2. The lever automatically returns to its initial po‐
sition when released.
▷
Brief wipe: press down once.
▷ To switch off normal wipe: press down once.
▷ To switch off fast wipe: press down twice.
Rain sensor
If
the car is equipped with a rain sensor, the time
between wipes is controlled automatically and
depends on the intensity of the rainfall.
The rain sensor is mounted on the windshield,
directly in front of the interior rearview mirror.
Activating the rain sensor Press the button, arrow 3.
The LED in the button lights up.
Rain sensor sensitivity
Turn thumbwheel 5 up or down.
Deactivating the rain sensor
Press the button again, arrow 3.
The LED goes out.
Deactivate the rain sensor in car washes
Deactivate the rain sensor when passing
through

an automatic car wash; otherwise, dam‐
age could be caused by undesired wiper activa‐
tion.◀
Cleaning the windshield and
headlamps*
Pull the lever, arrow 4.
The system sprays washer fluid on the wind‐
shield and activates the wipers briefly. Seite 67
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Controls At a glance

When the vehicle lighting system is switched on,
the headlamps are cleaned at regular and ap‐
propriate intervals.
Do not use the washer system at freezing
temperatures
Do not use the washers if there is any danger
that the fluid will freeze on the windshield; oth‐
erwise, your vision could be obscured. For this
reason, use antifreeze.
Avoid using the washer when the reservoir is
empty; otherwise, you could damage the
pump.◀
Windshield washer nozzles
The windshield washer nozzles are heated au‐
tomatically
while the engine is running or the ig‐
nition is switched on.
BMW X5: rear window wiper 1
Intermittent wipe
When reverse gear is engaged, the system
switches to continuous operation.
2 Cleaning the rear window
Do not use the washing mechanisms
when the washer fluid reservoir is empty
Do not use washing mechanisms when the
washer fluid reservoir is empty, otherwise you
will damage the washer pump.

◀ Washer fluid
General information
Antifreeze for washer fluid
Antifreeze is flammable. Therefore, keep
it away from sources of ignition.
Only

keep it in the closed original container and
inaccessible to children.
Follow the instructions on the container.◀
Washer fluid reservoir
Adding washer fluid
Only add washer fluid when the engine is
cool, and then close the cover completely to
avoid contact between the washer fluid and hot
engine parts.
Otherwise, there is the danger of fire and a risk
to personal safety if the fluid is spilled.◀ All washer nozzles are supplied from one reser‐
voir.
Fill with water and – if required – with a washer
antifreeze,

according to the manufacturer's rec‐
ommendations.
Mix the washer fluid before adding to maintain
the correct mixing ratio.
Capacity
Approx. 6.3 US quarts/6 liters. Seite 68
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Driving

Automatic transmission with
Steptronic
Transmission positions
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for‐
ward gears are available.
Under normal operating conditions, fuel con‐
sumption is lowest when you are driving in po‐
sition D.
Kickdown
Kickdown is used to achieve maximum driving
performance. Press on the accelerator beyond
the resistance point at the full throttle position.
R is Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N is Neutral
Use in automatic car washes, for example. The
vehicle can roll.
When the ignition is switched off, refer to
page
61, position P is engaged automatically.
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is stationary. The
drive wheels are blocked.
P is engaged automatically as soon as the en‐
gine
is switched off unless N is engaged and, in
vehicles with Comfort Access, the remote con‐
trol is inserted in the ignition lock, refer to
page 61. Before leaving the vehicle, ensure that
the transmission position P is engaged; other‐
wise, the vehicle may begin to roll.
Engaging transmission position
▷ Transmission position P can only be disen‐
gaged

if the engine is running and the brake
pedal is pressed.
▷ With the vehicle stationary, press on the
brake pedal before shifting out of P or N;
otherwise, the shift command will not be
executed: shift lock. Press on the brake pedal until you start
driving
To prevent the vehicle from creeping after you
select a driving position, maintain pressure on
the brake pedal until you are ready to start.

◀
Shifting into D, R, N Briefly push the selector lever in the desired di‐
rection, beyond a resistance point if necessary.
When

shifting out of P or into R, simultaneously
push the unlock button 1.
The engaged transmission position is displayed
on the selector lever.
After releasing the selector lever, it returns to its
center position.
Engaging P Press button P.
P

is engaged if the driver's safety belt is unbuck‐
led and the driver's door is opened while the ve‐
hicle is stationary and transmission position R or
D is engaged. Before leaving the vehicle, ensure
that the transmission position P is engaged; oth‐
erwise, the vehicle may begin to roll. Seite 69
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Controls At a glance

Sport program and manual mode M/S
Activating the sport program
Push the selector lever to the left out of trans‐
mission position D.
The Sport program is activated and DS is dis‐
played
in the instrument cluster; in the BMW X6,
S4 is displayed, for example.
This position is recommended for a perform‐
ance-oriented driving style.
Activating the M/S manual mode
Push the selector lever to the left out of trans‐
mission position D.
Push the selector lever forward or backward.
Manual mode becomes active and the gear is
changed.
The engaged gear is displayed in the instrument
cluster, e.g., M1.
▷ To shift down: press the selector lever for‐
ward.
▷ To shift up: press the selector lever back‐
ward.
The transmission only shifts up or down if the
rpm and vehicle speed are appropriate. If the
engine

speed is too high, the transmission does
not shift down.
The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐
strument panel, followed by the current gear.
Ending the sport program/manual
mode
Push the selector lever to the right.
D is displayed in the instrument cluster. BMW X6: Gear change using the shift
paddles on the steering wheel
The

shifting paddles make it possible to quickly
change gears since both hands can remain on
the steering wheel.
▷ If the shift paddles on the steering wheel are
used

to shift gears while in automatic mode
D, the transmission temporarily switches to
manual mode.
▷ If the shift paddles are not used to accelerate
or shift gears for a certain amount of time,
the transmission switches back to auto‐
matic mode D.
With the transmission position M/S selected,
the manual mode remains active. ▷
Shift up: pull right shift paddle.
▷ Shift down: pull left shift paddle.
The vehicle only shifts up or down at appropriate
engine and road speeds, e.g., it does not shift
down if the engine speed is too high.
The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐
strument cluster, followed by the current gear.
Displays in the instrument cluster The gear position is displayed and the engaged
gear, such as M4, is displayed in manual mode.
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