Heat control BMW X3 2.5I 2006 E83 Owner's Manual

At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility Reference
13
Colors
The indicator and warning lamps can light up in
different colors and combinations.
The following section explains the significance
of the individual colors as well as how you
should respond when they appear.
>red:
Stop the vehicle immediately
or
an important reminder
>yellow:
Have the system inspected as soon as
possible
or
for your information
>green:
For your information
>blue:
For your information
Buttons on steering wheel*
The buttons integrated into the steering wheel
are provided so that you can operate a number
of accessories quickly and without being dis-
tracted from traffic conditions. You may oper-
ate:
>Selected audio source functions
>Recirculated-air mode/steering wheel
heater
>Cruise control
>Selected telephone functions
>Voice command system
In order to operate a system, it must be
switched on.<
Telephone*/voice command system*
Press briefly:
Accept incoming call, start dialing, terminate
call.
Extended pressure:
Activate/deactivate voice command system
Telephone*/audio sources*
Display/hide phonebook. Display entries con-
secutively with buttons for fast forward/reverse
Fast forward/reverse
>Radio
Press briefly: next station
>CD
Press briefly: skip track
Extended pressure: fast forward/reverse
>Phone
Browse through list of names
Volume
On the sports steering wheel* and M sports
steering wheel
*, the +/– buttons for the volume
are on the left side of the steering wheel.
Cruise control*
Cruise control: resuming
Cruise control: accelerating and storing + as
well as decelerating and storing –
On the sports steering wheel
* and M sports
steering wheel
*, the +/– buttons for the cruise
control are on the right side of the steering
wheel.
Cruise control: activating/interrupting/deacti-
vating

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
29
Heated seats*
Press once for each temperature level. Highest
preselected temperature when three LEDs are
illuminated.
To switch off:
Press the button and hold it longer.
Seat and mirror memory*
You can store and select three different adjust-
ment settings for the driver's seat and exterior
mirrors.
The adjustment of the lumbar support is not
stored in the memory.
Storing
1.Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 2.
2.Set the desired seat and exterior mirror
position.
3.Press the
MEMORY button:
The LED in the button lights up.
4.Press the desired memory button 1, 2 or3:
The LED goes out.
Requesting a stored setting
Do not request a position from the mem-
ory while the vehicle is moving; otherwise,
there is a risk of accident from unexpected seat
movement.<
Convenience mode
1.Open the driver's door after unlocking or
turn the ignition key to position 1.
2.Briefly press the desired memory button 1,
2 or3.
The system immediately cancels the adjust-
ment procedure when you press one of the seat
adjustment buttons or use one of the memory
buttons.
Safety feature
1.Close the driver's door and turn the ignition
key to position 0 or 2.
2.Press the desired memory button 1, 2 or3
and maintain pressure until the adjustment
process has been completed.
If you press the
MEMORY button accidentally:
Press the button again, the LED goes out.
You can have your vehicle programmed
to automatically recall your own individual
stored adjustment settings for the seat and
exterior mirror position whenever you use your
personal remote control to unlock the vehicle.<
If you make use of this setting, be sure
that the footwell behind the driver's seat
is unobstructed before unlocking the vehicle.
If you fail to do so, any persons, animals or
objects behind the seat could be injured or
damaged by a rearward movement of the
seat.<
Safety belts
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimal protection,
please follow the instructions on page26.<
Make sure the safety belts are worn in all occu-
pied seats every time you drive. Although air-
bags enhance safety by providing added pro-

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
31
Automatic heating*
When the outside temperature falls below a
specified temperature, both outside mirrors are
automatically heated whenever the engine is
running or the ignition is switched on.
Tilting down passenger's mirror,
automatic parking function*
Activating
1.Select the driver's exterior mirror with
switch 1.
2.When you shift into reverse or move the
selector-lever into position R, the exterior
mirror glass on the front passenger side tilts
downward slightly. This allows the driver to
see the area immediately adjacent to the
vehicle – such as a curb – when parking, etc.
You can have the angle of downward tilt
adjusted.<
Deactivating
Select the passenger side mirror with switch1.
Interior rearview mirror
To reduce glare from vehicle headlights behind
you when driving at night, turn the knob.In vehicles without an alarm system: tilt the
small lever forward.
Automatically dimming mirrors, refer to
page77.
Steering wheel
Adjustments
Do not adjust the steering wheel while the
vehicle is moving. There is a risk of acci-
dent from unexpected movement.<
1.Fold the lever down.
2.Adapt the longitudinal position and height
of the steering wheel to the seat position.
3.Fold the lever back up.
Steering wheel heater*
The button for steering wheel heater is located
on the steering wheel, refer to page13.
Steering wheel heater: switching on/off
The steering wheel heater operates as of igni-
tion key position 2.
Press the button to activate or deactivate this
system.
When the heater is switched on, the LED in the
button lights up.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
37
If the clutch pedal is not depressed,
the motor will not start.<
3.Start the engine.
Automatic transmission
1.Step on the brake.
2.Move selector lever into position P.
3.Start the engine.
Special starting conditions
In the following situations, press the accelerator
pedal halfway down while starting:
>If the engine fails to start on the first
attempt, for instance, if it is very hot or cold.
>When starting the engine at very low tem-
peratures, below approx. +57/–156, at
high altitudes over approx. 3,300 ft/
1,000 m.
Avoid frequent starting in quick succes-
sion or repeated start attempts in which
the engine does not start. Otherwise, the fuel is
not burned or inadequately burned and there is
a danger of overheating and damaging the cat-
alytic converter.<
Switching off engine
Do not remove the ignition key when the
vehicle is rolling; otherwise, the steering
wheel lock would engage during steering.
When leaving the vehicle, remove the ignition
key and lock the steering. When parking on
downward inclines, engage the handbrake; oth-
erwise, the vehicle could start to roll.<
Manual transmission
1.Apply the handbrake.
2.Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.
3.Shift into first gear or reverse.
Automatic transmission
1.With the vehicle at a stop, move the selector
lever into position P.
2.Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 0.3.Apply the handbrake.
Handbrake
The handbrake is primarily intended to prevent
the vehicle from rolling while parked; it brakes
the rear wheels.
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp lights up; an acous-
tic signal also sounds when you begin
to drive. The handbrake is still engaged.
Indicator lamp for Canadian models.
Engaging
The lever engages automatically.
Releasing
Pull up slightly on the lever, press the button
and lower the lever.
If exceptional circumstances should
make it necessary to engage the hand-
brake while the vehicle is in motion, do not pull it
too strongly. In doing so, continuously press the
button of the handbrake lever. Otherwise,
strong application of the handbrake can lead to
overbraking of the rear axle and to associated
'fishtailing' of the vehicle rear end.<
To prevent corrosion and one-sided brak-
ing action, occasionally engage the hand-
brake lightly when the vehicle is slowly coming
to a stop if the traffic conditions are suitable.
The brake lamps do not light up when the hand-
brake is applied.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
41
Cleaning windshield, rear window and
headlamps*
0Wipers retracted
1Cleaning windshield and headlamps
2Rear window wiper intermittent mode
3Cleaning rear window
Do not activate the washer if there is
any danger of the fluid freezing on the
windshield. If you do so, your vision could be
obscured. To avoid freezing, use a washer fluid
antifreeze, refer to Washer fluid. Do not activate
the washer when the washer fluid is empty as
this will damage the washer pump.<
Cleaning windshield
The system sprays washer fluid against the
windshield and activates the wipers for a brief
period.
The washer jets are automatically heated
whenever the engine is running or the ignition is
switched on.
Cleaning headlamps*
When the vehicle lighting system is switched
on, the headlamps are cleaned at regular and
appropriate intervals.
Rear window wiper
Rear window wiper in intermittent mode. When
reverse gear is engaged, the wiper operates
continuously.
You can also program the interval:
1.Briefly move the wiper lever from position 0
to position 2.
2.Wait for desired interval; maximum of
30 seconds.3.Move the wiper lever from position 0 to
position 2 again.
Washer fluid
Washer fluid antifreeze is flammable. For
this reason, keep it away from sources of
flame and store it only in its original containers.
Store it so that it is inaccessible to children.
Always follow the instructions for use provided
on the containers.<
Reservoir for washer fluid
Fill with water and, if required, with an antifreeze
additive according to manufacturer's recom-
mendations.
To maintain the mixing ratio, mix the
washer fluid before adding it to the reser-
voir.<
Capacity
Approx. 3.2 US quarts/3 liters.
With headlamp washer system
* approx.
6.9 quarts/6.5 liters.
Cruise control*
The vehicle maintains and stores the speed
that you set as of a speed of approx. 20 mph/
30 km/h.
You can use cruise control whenever the sys-
tem is active while the engine is running.
On the sports steering wheel
* and M sports
steering wheel
*, the +/– buttons for the cruise
control are on the right side of the steering
wheel.

Everything under control
44
Coolant temperature gauge
Blue
The engine is still cold. Drive at moderate
engine and vehicle speeds.
Between blue and red fields
Normal operating range. It is permissible for the
dial to drift up to the red field.
Red
Comes on while driving:
The engine is overheated. Switch off the engine
immediately and allow it to cool down.
Checking coolant level, refer to page95.
When you switch on the ignition, the warning
lamp1 comes on briefly to confirm that the sys-
tem is operational.
Service Interval Display
Remaining distance until next service
due
The displays shown in the illustration appear for
a few seconds as of ignition key position 1 or
after starting the engine.Together with the message OIL SERVICE or
INSPECTION, the next scheduled service and
remaining distance to this service are displayed
in miles/kilometers.
The remaining distance is determined on the
basis of the past driving style.
A flashing display and a – sign before the
numerical value mean that the service interval
has been passed by the displayed number of
miles/kilometers. Please make an appointment
with your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
Clock
If you wish to have a continuous clock display,
you can also have the time displayed in the dis-
play of the car radio, refer to Owner's Manual for
Radio.
You can set the clock to also be displayed in the
radio, as follows.
Setting time
As of ignition key position 1:
Hours
1.Hold button2 pressed for a few seconds
until the hours are displayed and the colon
flashes.
2.Press button1 repeatedly until the desired
hour is set.
Minutes
3.Press button2 to change to the minutes
display.
4.Press button1 repeatedly until the desired
minutes are set.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
63
A congenial climate
For almost all conditions, the AUTO pro-
gram12 offers the optimal air distribution and
air volume, refer to AUTO program below. You
need only select an interior temperature that
you find pleasant.
The following sections contain more detailed
information on the available setting options.
Your vehicle has been designed to auto-
matically select your personal climate-
control settings whenever you unlock the doors
using your individually programmed remote
control.<
AUTO program
The AUTO program handles the
adjustment of air distribution to the
windshield and side windows, in
the direction of the upper body, and in the foot-
well. It also adapts your instructions for the air
volume and temperature to outside influences
throughout the year, e.g. solar radiation or win-
dow condensation.
The cooling is switched on automatically along
with the AUTO program.
Manually switching air distribution on/
off
You can direct air to flow onto the
windows , toward the upper
body and into the footwell .
You can reactivate the automatic
air distribution mode by selecting
the AUTO button.
Temperature
Set the desired temperature.
The automatic climate control
assures that this temperature is
reached as quickly as possible any
time of year, using maximum cool-
ing or heating capacity as needed, and then
keeps this temperature constant.When you change between different tem-
perature settings in rapid succession, the
system does not have enough time to achieve
the desired temperature.<
Manually adjusting air volume
By pressing the lower button, you
can reduce the air volume. You can
increase it by pressing the upper
button.
You can reactivate the automatic
air volume mode by pressing the AUTO button.
Switching system on/off
At the lowest fan speed, press the lower button
to turn off the automatic climate control com-
pletely. All displays disappear.
Press any button to turn the automatic climate
control back on again.
Defrosting windows and removing
condensation
This program quickly removes ice
and condensation from the wind-
shield and front door windows.
Switching cooling function on/off
When the air conditioning is on, the
air is cooled, dehumidified, and
then reheated depending on the
temperature setting. Depending on the
weather, the windshield may fog over briefly
when the engine is started.
The cooling function is automatically switched
on along with the AUTO program. It is only pos-
sible to cool the passenger compartment with
the engine running.
AUC Automatic Recirculated-air
Control/recirculated air mode
You can set the desired operating
mode by pressing the button
repeatedly:
>LEDs off: outside air continuously flows into
the vehicle.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
77
1.Close all windows and the panorama glass
sunroof.
2.Greatly increase the air supply of the air
conditioning system or automatic climate
control, refer to page60 or63.
Hot exhaust system
High temperatures occur in the exhaust
system of every vehicle. Do not remove
the heat shields installed adjacent to various
sections of the exhaust system, and never apply
undercoating to them. When driving, standing
at idle, and parking, take care to avoid possible
contact between the hot exhaust system and
any highly flammable materials such as hay,
leaves, grass, etc. Such contact could lead to
a fire, resulting in serious personal injury and
property damage.<
Mobile communications devices in
vehicle
BMW does not recommend using mobile
communications devices, e.g. mobile
phones, on the interior of the vehicle without a
direct connection to an outside antenna. Other-
wise, the vehicle electronics and mobile com-
munications device can affect each other. In
addition, there is no assurance that the radia-
tion which results during transmission will be
dissipated from the vehicle interior.<
Interior and exterior mirror,
automatically dimming*
Two photocells are used to control the auto-
matically dimming interior and exterior mirrors.
One is integrated into the mirror glass, the other
is located on the back of the mirror.For trouble-free operation, keep the photocells
clean and do not cover the area between the
interior rearview mirror and the windshield. Do
not attach any kind of sticker to the windshield
in front of the mirror, either.
When the vehicle is parked
Condensation forms in the air conditioner sys-
tem during operation, and then exits under the
vehicle. Traces of condensed water under the
vehicle are therefore normal.
Before driving into a car wash
Fold in the exterior mirrors, refer to page30;
otherwise, they could be damaged due to the
width of the vehicle.
Deactivate the rain sensor; otherwise, damage
could result from undesired wiper activation,
refer to page40.
Hydroplaning
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce road speed. If you do not, a wedge
of water can form between tires and road sur-
face. This phenomenon is referred to as hydro-
planing, and is characterized by a partial or
complete loss of contact between tires and
road surface, ultimately undermining your abil-
ity to steer and brake the vehicle.<
The danger of hydroplaning increases as tire
tread depth decreases, also refer to Minimum
tread depth on page89.
Driving through water
Do not drive through water on the road if it
is deeper than 20 in/50 cm, and then only
at walking speed. Otherwise, the vehicle's
engine, the electrical system, and the transmis-
sion may be damaged.<
Using handbrake on inclines
Do not hold the vehicle in place on slopes
by slipping or riding the clutch, use the
handbrake instead. Otherwise, greater clutch
wear will result.<

Things to remember when driving
78
Safe braking
Your BMW is equipped with ABS as standard
equipment. In situations in which it is required, it
is best to apply the brakes fully. Since the vehi-
cle maintains steering responsiveness, you can
nevertheless avoid possible obstacles with a
minimum 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.
Wet roads
On wet roads or in heavy rain, briefly apply light
pressure to the brake pedal every few miles.
Watch traffic conditions to ensure that this
maneuver does not endanger other road users.
The heat that is generated by the brake applica-
tions helps to dry the brake pads and rotors.
The full braking force will then be available
when you need it.
Hills
To prevent overheating and reduced effi-
ciency of the brake system, drive long or
steep downhill grades in the gear in which the
least braking is required. Otherwise, even light
but continuous pressure on the brake can lead
to high temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.<
The braking action of the engine can be further
intensified by downshifting, all the way down to
first gear if need be. This strategy helps you
avoid placing excessive loads on the brake sys-
tem. Downshifting in manual mode of automatic
transmission, refer to page39. When descend-
ing hills slowly, use HDC Hill Descent Control,
refer to page49.
Never drive with the clutch depressed,
with the transmission in neutral, or with
the engine switched off; otherwise, you will
have neither the braking action of the engine or
nor its power assistance to the brakes or steer-
ing.
Never allow floor mats, carpeting, or other arti-
cles to protrude into the area around the brake
or accelerator pedals and obstruct their move-
ment.<
Corrosion on brake rotors
When the vehicle is driven only occasionally,
during extended periods when the vehicle is not
used at all, and in operating conditions where
brake applications 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
during brake applications to clean the rotors is
not reached.
Should corrosion form on the brake rotors, the
brakes will tend to respond with a pulsating
effect that even extended application will fail to
cure.
Cargo loading
To avoid loading the tires beyond their
approved carrying capacity, never over-
load the vehicle. Overloading can lead to over-
heating and increases the rate at which damage
develops inside the tires. The ultimate result
can assume the form of a sudden blow-out.<
Determining load limit
1.Locate the following statement on your
vehicle's placard
*:
The combined weight of occupants
and cargo should never exceed
XXX lbs. or YYY kg. Otherwise, the vehicle
may be damaged and unstable driving con-
ditions may result.<
2.Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passengers that will be riding in
your vehicle.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
89
Temperature
The temperature grades are A, B, and C, A
being highest, and represent the tire’s resis-
tance to the generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under controlled
conditions 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 temperature can
lead to sudden tire failure. The grade C corre-
sponds to a level of performance that all pas-
senger 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 sep-
arately or in combination, can cause heat
buildup and possible tire failure.<
M+S
Winter and all-season tires.
These have better winter properties than sum-
mer tires.
Tire condition
Inspect your tires frequently for tread wear,
signs of damage and for foreign objects lodged
in the tread. Check the tread depth.
Minimum tread depth
The tread depth should not fall below 0.12 in/
3 mm. At tread depths below 0.12 in/3 mm,
there is an increased risk of high-speed hydro-
planing, even when only small amounts of water
are present on the road surface.
Winter tires display a noticeable loss in their
ability to cope with cold-weather driving condi-
tions once the tread wears to below 0.16 in/
4 mm. To ensure continued safety you should
always have such tires replaced.Wear indicators at the tread-groove base, refer
to arrow, are distributed over the tire's circum-
ference and are marked on the side of the tire
with TWI – Tread Wear Indicator. If the tire tread
has worn down to the wear indicators, then the
legally permissible tread depth limit of 0.063 in/
1.6 mm has been reached.
Wheel/tire damage
Please note that low-profile tires, make
wheels, tires and suspension parts more
susceptible to road hazard and consequential
damages.<
Unusual vibrations encountered during normal
vehicle operation can indicate tire failure or
some other vehicle defect. This can, for exam-
ple, be caused by driving over curbs. The same
applies to any other abnormal road behavior,
such as pulling severely to the right or left.
In these cases, reduce speed immedi-
ately and have wheels and tires checked
immediately. Drive carefully to the nearest
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center or tire spe-
cialist. Have the vehicle towed to one of these
locations if necessary.
Tire damage can pose a potentially lethal safety
hazard for the vehicle's occupants and other
road users alike.<
New wheels and tires
Have new wheels and tires installed only
by your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center or a tire shop that works according to
BMW repair procedures with correspondingly
trained personnel. If this work is not carried out
properly, there is a danger of subsequent dam-