fuel BMW ACTIVEHYBRID X6 2010 Owners Manual

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find specific topics is to use
the index, refer to page48.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
At a glance
8Cockpit
Controls
12Driving
21Everything under control
23Climate
Driving tips
26Things to remember when driving
Mobility
32Refueling
34Wheels and tires
35Engine compartment
36Replacing components
37Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
44Technical data
48Everything from A to Z

Cockpit
8
Cockpit
Instrument panel
For the description of components with-
out page references, please refer to the
respective keyword in the Owner's Manual of
the BMW X6.<
1Indicator lamps for turn signals
2Speedometer
3Indicator and warning lamps
4Tachometer
5Display for
>Charge state21
>Activating/deactivating drive
readiness14
>Electric driving: eDRIVE15
>Assisted combustion engine:
eBOOST16
>Energy recovery/regeneration:
CHARGE166Display for
>Clock/date
>Outside temperature
>Indicator/warning lamps
>Speed of cruise control19
7Display for
>Odometer and trip odometer
>Computer
>Date and remaining travel distance
for service requirements
>Transmission positions16
>HDC Hill Descent Control
>High-beam assistant
*
> There is a Check Control message
8Fuel gauge22
9Resetting trip odometer Displaying service
requirement

Driving
12
Driving
BMW ActiveHybrid X6
The concept
Through the interplay of the combustion engine
and electric motors, your BMW ActiveHybrid X6 achieves a particularly efficient fuel consump-
tion and optimizes vehicle performance.
Components of the system
1High-voltage battery
2High-voltage wires: orange
3Two-Mode Active Transmission with 2
integrated electric motors
4Combustion engine
5Control-system electronics
Do not damage orange high-voltage
wires. Otherwise, there is the risk of fatal
injury by electrocution. is stored in the high-voltage battery stored
under the luggage compartment floor in the
luggage compartment.
To produce electrical energy, the two electric
motors in the Two-Mode Active Transmission
function as generators. They are driven by the
combustion engine or by kinetic energy during
braking.
This permits an energy conversion of kinetic
energy into electrical current.

Driving
14
Drive readiness
With drive readiness activated, the vehicle is
ready to drive.
Switching on drive readiness corresponds to
starting the engine in conventional vehicles.
Drive readiness can take the following forms:
>Electric driving
The combustion engine is not switched on.
>Driving with combustion engine
The vehicle is driven by the combustion
engine.
Drive readiness in detail
Never leave the vehicle unattended with
drive readiness activated; such a vehicle
represents a potential safety hazard.<
Activating drive readiness
1.Close the driver's door.
2.Insert the remote control as far as possible
into the ignition lock. With comfort access
*,
place the remote control into the vehicle,
refer to BMW X6 Owner's Manual.
3.Depress brake pedal.
To initialize the brake system, the
brake pedal travel is longer than usual
during activation of drive readiness. After
the brake pedal is released, the pedal travel
returns to normal.<
4.Press the Start/Stop button.5.Drive readiness is active:
>Starting the combustion engine
>or electric drive readiness, silent start:
The tachometer pointer moves into the
READY position.
Electric drive readiness can be acti-
vated within an interval of approx. 2 to
60 seconds after radio readiness is
switched on, provided that the function
conditions for electric driving have been
met, refer to page15.<
Electric drive readiness, silent start
The vehicle is ready to drive without starting the
combustion engine.
Silent start, the noiseless starting of the vehicle,
can be activated within an interval of approx. 2
to 60 seconds after radio readiness is switched
on, under the following conditions:
>driver's door closed
>conditions met to allow electric driving,
refer to page15
During electric driving, please note that
pedestrians and other road users may fail
to notice the vehicle in the usual way due to the
lack of engine noise. For example, proceed with
particular caution when pulling into and out of a
parking space.<
Starting the combustion engine
When drive readiness is switched on under the
following circumstances, the combustion
engine is started:
>drive system not at operating temperature
>high temperature of hybrid system
>insufficient charge state of high-voltage
battery or fully charged high-voltage battery
If a Silent start is not possible:
Avoid frequent starting of the combustion
engine in quick succession or repeated starting
attempts in which the engine does not start.
Otherwise, the fuel is not burned or inade-
quately burned and there is a danger of over-
heating and damaging the catalytic converter.<

Driving
18
D Drive, automatic position
Position for normal vehicle operation. All for-
ward gears are shifted automatically. Depend-
ing on operating conditions, the vehicle is
driven electrically or with the combustion
engine.
The fuel consumption is the lowest in transmis-
sion position D.
Kick-down
The kick-down mode provides maximum accel-
eration.
Press the accelerator pedal beyond the
increased resistance at full throttle.
Due to the high power requested, the combus-
tion engine is started and is assisted by the
electric motors as needed.
Sport program and manual mode M/S
Press selector lever out of transmission
position D toward the left:
The sport program is activated, S and the
engaged gear are displayed in the instrument
panel. This position is recommended for a per-
formance-oriented driving style.
With the sport program activated, the combus-
tion engine is always started.
When the selector lever is pressed forward or
back, the manual mode is activated and the
Steptronic shifts the gear. For example, M3 is
displayed in the instrument panel.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combination
of engine and vehicle speed; thus, for example,
a downshift that would cause the engine to
overrev will not be executed by the system. The selected gear is briefly displayed in the instru-
ment panel, followed by the current gear.
To use the automatic function again, press the
selector lever to the right into position D.
Changing gears using shifting paddles
on steering wheel
The shifting paddles make it possible to quickly
change gears since both hands can remain on
the steering wheel.
>Upshifting: pull on one of the shifting pad-
dles, arrows +.
>Downshifting: press on one of the shifting
paddles, arrows –.
The gear change using the shifting paddles can
be executed in automatic mode D or in manual
mode M/S.
When the shifting paddles are actuated during
electric driving, the combustion engine starts.
Changing gears in manual mode M/S
With manual mode activated, gear changes are
executed using the shifting paddles or the
selector lever.
With the transmission position M/S selected,
the manual mode remains active.
Changing gears in automatic mode D
Even in automatic mode D, gear shifts can be
executed using the shifting paddles.
The combustion engine starts.
Then if a certa in amount of time pas ses witho ut
a gear change being executed using the shifting
paddles or a corresponding acceleration, then
the transmission returns to automatic shifting
of the forward gears.

Everything under control
22
Electric driving: eDRIVE
During electric driving, the power output by the
electric motors is indicated by arrows:
Depending on the position of the accelerator
pedal, up to four arrows light up one after
another.
The tachometer pointer is in the READY posi-
tion.
If all four arrows have already lit up, when addi-
tional drive power is needed, e.g. for accelera-
tion, the combustion engine is switched on.
Assisted combustion engine: eBOOST
At the maximum output from the electric
motors, all four arrows light up simultaneously.
Energy recovery: CHARGE
The energy recovery is indicated in the tachom-
eter as an arrow with the + symbol: The high-
voltage battery is charged.
Fuel gauge
Fuel tank capacity: approx. 22.5 US gal/
85 liters. You will find information on refueling
on page32.
If the tilt of the vehicle varies for a longer period,
when you are driving in mountainous areas, for
example, the indicator may fluctuate slightly.
Reserve
After the reserve quantity has been reached, a
message briefly appears on the Control Display;
the remaining range is shown in the computer.
Below a range of approx. 30 miles/50 km, the
message remains on the Control Display.
Refuel as soon as possible once your
cruising range falls below 30 miles/
50 km, otherwise engine functions are not
ensured and damage can occur.<

Things to remember when driving
26
Things to remember when driving
Break-in period
Moving parts need breaking-in time to adjust to
each other. To ensure that your vehicle contin-
ues to provide optimized economy of operation
throughout an extended service life, we request
that you devote careful attention to the follow-
ing section.
Engine and rear axle differential
Always obey all official speed limits.
Up to 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at various engine and vehicle speeds, but
do not exceed:
>4,500 rpm or 100 mph/160 km/h
Avoid full-throttle operation and use of the
transmission's kick-down mode during these
initial miles.
From 1,200 miles/2,000 km
The engine and vehicle speed can gradually be
increased.
Brake system
Brakes require an initial break-in period of
approx. 300 miles/500 km to achieve optimized
contact and wear patterns between brake pads
and rotors. Drive in a reserved manner during
this break-in period.
Following part replacement
Observe the break-in instructions again if com-
ponents mentioned above must be replaced
after subsequent driving operation.
Saving fuel
The fuel consumption of your vehicle depends
on various factors. Through a few simple steps,
your driving style, and regular maintenance, you
can have a positive influence on your fuel con-
sumption and environmental impact.
Removing unnecessary cargo
Additional weight increases fuel consumption.
Removing add-on parts after use
Remove unneeded auxiliary mirrors, roof or rear
luggage racks after use. Add-on parts attached
to the vehicle impede the aerodynamics and
increase the fuel consumption.
Closing windows and glass sunroof*
An open glass sunroof or window likewise
increases air resistance and thus fuel consump-
tion.
Checking tire inflation pressures
regularly
Check and correct the tire inflation pressure as
needed at least twice a month and before long
trips.
An insufficient tire inflation pressure increases
the rolling resistance and thus increases the
fuel consumption and tire wear.
Driving off immediately
Do not allow the engine to warm up by leaving it
running while the vehicle remains stationary.
Instead, begin to drive at a moderate engine
speed. This is the fastest way for the cold
engine to reach its operating temperature.
Thinking ahead when driving
Avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking.
To do so, maintain the appropriate distance
from the vehicle in front of you. An anticipatory
and smooth driving style reduces fuel con-
sumption.
Avoiding high engine speeds
Driving at a low engine speed reduces fuel con-
sumption and minimizes wear.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
27
Using energy recovery
Energy recovery is displayed in the instrument
panel.
Coasting mode
In coasting mode, e.g. when rolling toward a
traffic signal, the high-voltage battery is
charged by energy recovery.
Braking
The most efficient energy recovery and charg-
ing of the high-voltage battery are achieved
with moderate braking.
Switching off functions currently not
required
Functions such as air conditioning, seat heat-
ing, or rear window defrosting consume a lot of
energy and require additional fuel. Their influ-
ence is particularly pronounced in city traffic
and stop & go operation. For this reason, it is a
good idea to switch these functions off when
they are not really needed.
Having maintenance carried out
Have the vehicle serviced regularly in order to
achieve the optimum economy and service life
of your vehicle. BMW recommends having the
maintenance performed by a BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center. Also pay attention to
the BMW maintenance system, refer to the
BMW X6 Owner's Manual.
General driving notes
Driving through water
Maximum water depth: 17 in/45 cm
Only drive through water up to the above-
mentioned depth at no greater than walk-
ing speed; otherwise, the engine, electrical sys-
tem, and transmission can be damaged.<
Braking safely
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as a standard
feature. In situations that require it, it is best to
brake with full force. Since the vehicle maintains
steering responsiveness, you can still avoid
possible obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort.
Pulsation of the brake pedal, combined with
sounds from the hydraulic circuits, indicate that
ABS is in its active mode.
Hills
To prevent overheating and the resulting
reduced efficiency of the brake system,
drive long or steep downhill gradients in the
gear in which the least braking is required. Even
light but consistent pressure on the brake pedal
can lead to high temperatures, brake wear and
possibly even brake failure.<
With a fully charged high-voltage battery,
the combustion engine is switched on
when driving downhill in order to avoid over-
loading the high-voltage battery.<
The braking effect of the engine can be further
increased by downshifting in the manual mode
of the automatic transmission, if necessary into
first gear, refer to page18. This prevents an
excessive strain on the brakes.
Do not drive in idle or with drive readiness
mode deactivated; otherwise, there is no
braking action from the energy recovery or from
the engine and no power-assistance for braking
and steering.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any other
objects to protrude into the area of movement
of the pedals and impair their operation.<

Mobility
This section helps you maintain your
mobility by supplying important information
on vital topics including fuels and lubricants,
wheels and tires, service, maintenance
and roadside assistance.
Mobility

Refueling
32
Refueling
Before refueling, deactivate drive readi-
ness. When handling fuel, always observe
all applicable precautionary measures and reg-
ulations. Never transport reserve fuel contain-
ers in the vehicle. These could become leaky
and cause an explosion or a fire in an accident.<
Refueling
The BMW ActiveHybrid X6 is equipped with a
special fuel tank. It is designed for special
requirements that arise in the hybrid operation
of the vehicle, e.g. alternating driving with the
combustion engine or electric motors. Fuel
vapors can cause pressure to build up in the fuel
tank, which is reduced before the fuel tank
catch is opened.
Preparation
Unlocking fuel filler door
1.Deactivate drive readiness, refer to
page15.
2.Push the button to start pressure compen-
sation.
3.Messages indicate that the fuel filler door
has been released and refueling is possible.
In rare cases, the pressure decrease can
take several seconds. A message on the
Control Display indicates when the fuel filler
door has been released.
4.Open the fuel filler door.
If the fuel filler door is not opened within
10 minutes after the fuel tank catch is released, the fuel filler door locks again.
Press the button again.
Opening fuel filler door
1.Open the fuel filler door. To do this, briefly
press the lower edge.
The fuel filler door can only be opened if the
fuel tank catch has been released.
2.Turn the fuel filler cap counterclockwise.
3.Place the fuel filler cap in the bracket
attached to the fuel filler door.
Closing
Fit the cap and turn it clockwise until you clearly
hear a click.
Do not crush the band attached to the
cap; otherwise, the cap may not properly
seal and fuel vapors can escape.<
Manually releasing fuel filler door
If an electrical malfunction should occur and the
system does not release the fuel filler door, you
can unlock the fuel filler door manually.