battery BMW X3 3.0I 2004 E83 Owner's Manual

Cockpit
12
Indicator and warning
lamps
Technology that monitors itself
The indicator and warning lamps identified
by the
+ symbol are subjected to an oper-
ation check each time you switch on the
engine. They each light up once for differ-
ent periods of time.
When a malfunction occurs in a monitored
system, the corresponding lamp will either
fail to go out when the engine is started, or
it will come on again during normal driving.
Detailed information is provided on the
specified pages.
Please fasten safety belt
+ 30
Airbags
+ 54
Brake system
+
With handbrake released 52/ 96
With handbrake set 38
With other warning lamps 52
Brake warning lamp for Canadian
models
Driving stability control systems/
Antilock Brake System
+ 53
Antilock Brake System ABS/
Chassis control system for Cana-
dian models
Brake pads
+ 96
Dynamic Stability Control DSC/
xDrive
+ 50/ 52
Flat Tire Monitor
+ 53
Automatic transmission
+ 39
Engine oil + 94
Service Engine Soon
+ 98
Service Engine Soon
+ 37
warning lamp for Canadian
models.
Check Gas Cap
+
Engine electronics + 37
Battery charge current
+ 105
Topping up coolant 95
Topping up washer fluid 94
Lamp defective 57
Turn signal indicators 41
Fog lamps 58
Headlamp flasher 41
High beams 58
Cruise control 43

Opening and closing
18
Opening and closing
Key set
1Master keys with remote control deter-
mine the functions of the Key Memory,
refer to page 33.
You can mark the keys using the col-
ored decals you received on taking
delivery of the vehicle
There is an extended-life battery
in every master key which is
charged automatically in the ignition
lock as you drive.
If you have any master keys that are not
being used on a regular basis, you
should therefore remember to recharge
these units by using them to drive the
vehicle for an extended period at least
once a year.<
2Spare key for storage in a safe place,
such as in your wallet.
This key cannot be used to open the
lock for the glove compartment. This is
an advantage, e.g. at a hotel. The key is
not intended for constant use.
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system is ready for
operation whenever the driver's door is
closed. The system engages or releases
the locks on the
>doors
>tailgate >fuel filler door.
The central locking system can be oper-
ated from the outside
>via the remote control
>via the driver's door lock
and from inside via the button for the cen-
tral locking system.
When the system is locked from inside, the
fuel filler door remains unlocked, refer to
page 20.
The anti-theft system is automatically acti-
vated whenever you activate the central
locking system from outside the vehicle.
This prevents the doors from being
unlocked via the safety lock buttons or
door handles. The alarm system is also
armed or disarmed.
In an accident, the central locking system
automatically unlocks the vehicle. In addi-
tion, the hazard warning flashers and inte-
rior lamps switch on.
You can have an acknowledgment
signal set to confirm that the vehicle is
correctly locked.<
Opening and closing Ð from
outside
Using the remote control
The remote control provides two additional
functions for the central locking system:
>Switching on the interior lamps, refer to
page 19.
You can also use this function to locate
your vehicle in parking garages etc.
>Opening the tailgate, refer to page 19.
The tailgate will open slightly, regard-
less of whether it was previously locked
or unlocked.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
19
In addition, the remote control offers you
another function:
>Panic mode
In case of danger, you can trigger an
alarm.
When you engage/release the vehicle
locks, you simultaneously activate/deacti-
vate the anti-theft system, arm/disarm the
alarm system, and switch the interior lamps
on/off.
As a reminder that the ignition key is
still in the ignition lock after you open
the driver's door, you can have a sound sig-
nal set.<
Protect the remote control against
unauthorized use by handing over
only the spare key, for example when using
hotel valet parking.<
Because any persons or animals left
unattended in a parked vehicle could
lock the doors from the inside, you should
always take the vehicle's keys with you so
that the vehicle can be opened again from
the outside at any time.<
Unlocking
Press the button.
Press the button once to unlock the driverÕs
door only; press a second time to unlock all
remaining doors as well as the tailgate and
the fuel filler door.
Convenience opening mode
Press and hold the button. The windows
and the sliding panel of the panorama glass
roof are opened.
Press the button a second time and hold.
The panorama glass roof is opened.
If you desire, you can have this spe-
cial feature activated/deactivated on
a vehicle-specific basis.<
Locking and securing
Press the button.
If you desire, the vehicle locks auto-
matically if no door or lid is opened
after unlocking. You may have this function
set on a vehicle-specific basis if you wish.<
Switching off the tilt alarm sensor*
and interior motion sensor*
Press the button once again directly
after locking.
For details, refer to page 25.
Switching on the interior lamps
If the vehicle is locked, press the
button.
Panic mode*
By pressing and holding the button for
more than approx. two seconds, you can
trigger the alarm system in response to any
impending danger.
To switch off the alarm: press any of the
buttons.
Unlocking tailgate
Press the button.
The tailgate will open slightly, regardless of
whether it was previously locked or
unlocked.
Before and after a trip, ensure that the
tailgate has not been opened uninten-
tionally.
A previously locked tailgate is also locked
after closing.<
If you desire, the tailgate can only be
opened using the remote control if the
vehicle is unlocked. This can be adjusted.<
Malfunctions
The remote control system may be affected
by other units or equipment operating in
the immediate vicinity of your vehicle.
Should the remote control fail to operate
owing to interference of this kind, you can
respond by using the master key to unlock
your vehicle at one of the doors.
In case of faults, please contact your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center. You can
also obtain replacement keys there.
If it is no longer possible to lock the vehicle
via the remote control, the battery is dis-
charged. Use this remote control during an
extended drive; this will recharge the bat-
tery, refer to page 18.

Opening and closing
22
Electric power windows
Opening and closing windows
As of ignition key position 1:
>Press the switch up to the resistance
point:
The window continues to move as long
as you continue to press the switch
>Press the switch beyond the resistance
point:
The window moves downward auto-
matically. Briefly press the switch again
to stop the opening movement.
You can close the windows in the same
manner by pulling the switch.
After switching off the ignition
You can operate the electric power win-
dows for up to 15 minutes as long as nei-
ther of the front doors has been opened.
When leaving the vehicle parked,
always remove the remote control
from the ignition lock and close the doors;
this precaution prevents children from
operating the electric power windows and
injuring themselves, etc.<
For convenience operation with the door
lock, refer to page 20.
Anti-trapping mechanism
If the closing force rises beyond a pre-
defined threshold during closing, the sys-
tem will immediately stop moving the win-
dow prior to lowering it slightly.
Despite the anti-trapping mechanism
you should always inspect the win-
dow's travel path prior to closing it, as the
safety system might fail to detect certain kinds of obstructions, such as very thin
objects, and the window would continue
closing.
You can disable the anti-trapping mecha-
nism by pressing the switch beyond the
resistance point and holding it.<
Following interruptions in electrical
power supply
After disconnecting the battery, the anti-
trapping mechanism must be reinitialized.
To do this, open and close the windows
once and continue pull the switch for 2 sec-
onds after closing.
Safety switch
With the safety switch, you can prevent the
rear windows from being opened or closed
via the switches in the rear passenger area,
by children, for example. The indicator
lamp lights up when this safety feature is
activated.
Press the safety switch whenever
children are riding in the rear of the
vehicle. Careless use of the electric power
windows can lead to injury.<
You can deactivate the function again
as of ignition key position 1.<
Accessories in the window area
After installing any accessory Ð such as a
clamp-on antenna for a portable phone Ð
within the window's travel range, you will
need to have the system reinitialized for
use under the new conditions. Please con-
tact your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Cen-
ter.

Opening and closing
24 If the glass roof and sliding panel are
closed:
Press the switch once.<
Anti-trapping mechanism
If the glass roof and sliding panel encoun-
ter resistance when closing from roughly
one third of the roof opening or when clos-
ing from the raised position, the closing
action is interrupted and the glass roof and
sliding panel reopen a little.
Despite the anti-trapping mechanism
you should always inspect the roof's
travel path prior to closing it, as the safety
system might fail to detect certain kinds of
obstructions, such as very thin objects, and
the window would continue closing.
The anti-trapping mechanism for closing
the panorama glass roof is deactivated if
the switch is pressed beyond the resis-
tance point and held there. The closing
action is interrupted when you release the
switch.<
Following interruptions in electrical
power supply
Following interruptions in electrical power,
for instance, when the battery is discon-
nected, it is possible that the glass roof will
extend to its tilt-up position, but fail to
respond to other commands. For initializa-
tion, please contact your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center.
Manual operation
In the event of an electrical malfunction,
you can operate the glass roof manually:1.Pull the cover downward
2.Insert the Allen key from the compart-
ment beneath the cargo area floor, refer
to page 103, in the proper opening and
turn the panorama glass roof in the
desired direction. Direction of rotation
for closing, refer to arrow.
Alarm system*
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood, or the tailgate is
opened
>To movement in the vehicle's interior Ð
interior motion sensor
>To variations in the vehicle tilt angle
such as occur during attempts to steal
the wheels or tow the vehicle
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized vehi-
cle entry and attempted theft by simulta-
neously activating:
>An acoustic alarm, which lasts for a
period of approx. 30 seconds
>The hazard warning flashers for approx.
5 minutes

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
37
Driving
Ignition lock
0 Steering locked
The key can only be inserted or removed in
this position.
After removing the key, turn the steering
wheel slightly to the left or right until you
hear the lock engage.
Vehicles with automatic transmission:
Only move the selector lever from
position P with the engine running. To turn
the key back to position 0 or to remove it,
first place the selector lever in position P:
Interlock.<
1 Steering unlocked
A slight steering wheel movement often
makes it easier to turn the key from 0 to 1.
Individual current consumers are ready for
operation.
2 Ignition switched on
All vehicle systems are ready for operation.
3 Engine start
Engine
Do not allow the engine to warm up while
idling. Drive off immediately at moderate
engine speed.
Engine idle speed is controlled by the
engine computer system. Increased
speeds at startup are normal and should decrease as the engine warms up. If engine
speed does not decrease, service is
required.
To prevent the battery from discharging,
always switch off electrical devices which
are not in use and the ignition when the
vehicle is not being driven.
Do not run the engine in closed
rooms, as otherwise inhaling toxic
exhaust gases can cause unconsciousness
and death. The exhaust gases contain car-
bon monoxide, an odorless and colorless,
but highly toxic gas. Do not leave the vehi-
cle unattended with the engine running,
since an unattended vehicle with a running
engine represents a safety hazard.
When driving, standing at idle and while
parking take care to avoid possible contact
between a 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.<
Indicator lamps
If the Service Engine Soon indicator
lamp comes on either continuously
or intermittently, this indicates a
fault in the emissions-related electronic
systems. Although the vehicle remains
operational, you should have the systems
checked by your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center at the earliest possible
opportunity.
The illuminated indicator informs you of the
need for service, not that you need to stop
the vehicle. However, the systems should
be checked by your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center at the next opportunity.
If the indicator blinks or flashes, this indi-
cates a high level of engine misfire. Reduce
speed and contact the nearest BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center immediately.
Severe engine misfiring over even a short
period of time can seriously damage emis-

Everything under control
46
Between the blue and red fields
Normal operating range. The dial may wan-
der into 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 page 96.
When you switch on the ignition, the warn-
ing lamp 1 comes on briefly to confirm that
the system 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 lettering OILSERVICE or
INSPECTION, the next scheduled service
and remaining distance to this service is
shown in miles/kilometers.
The remaining distance is determined on
the basis of the past driving style.
A flashing display and a Ð 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.
Replacing brake fluid
You can have the month and year for the
scheduled brake fluid replacement dis-
played by pressing the right button in the
instrument cluster while the next sched-
uled service is being displayed. With each
button touch, the display switches
between the scheduled service and
scheduled brake fluid replacement.
When the brake fluid replacement is due,
the clock symbol also lights up. Please
make an appointment with your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
Immobilization periods in which the
battery is disconnected are not taken
into account by the display. Please remem-
ber that brake fluid should be changed
every two years at the latest, even if the
display does not yet indicate that service is
required, refer to page 96.<
Clock
If you want to have a permanent clock dis-
play, you can also have the time displayed
in the display of the car radio, refer to the
Owner's Manual for Radio.
You can adjust the clock, also for display in
the radio, as follows.

Laws and regulations
98
Laws and regulations
California Proposition 65
Warning
California laws require us to state the fol-
lowing warning:
Engine exhaust and a wide variety of
automobile components and parts,
including components found in the interior
furnishings in a vehicle, contain or emit
chemicals known to the State of California
to cause cancer and birth defects and
reproductive harm. In addition, certain flu-
ids contained in vehicles and certain prod-
ucts 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 chemi-
cals that have caused cancer in laboratory
animals. Always protect your skin by wash-
ing thoroughly with soap and water.<
OBD connector
The interface socket for the Onboard Diag-
nostic is located on the left of the driver's
side at the bottom of the instrument cluster
and under a cover. The cover has the let-
ters OBD on it.
The most important components for the
composition of the emissions can be
checked by a device across this interface. If the Service Engine Soon indicator
lamp comes on either continuously
or intermittently, this indicates a
fault in the emissions-related electronic
systems. Although the vehicle remains
operational, you should have the systems
checked by your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center at the earliest possible
opportunity.
The illuminated indicator lamp informs you
of the need for service, not that you need to
stop the vehicle. However, the systems
should be checked by your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center at the next opportu-
nity.
If the indicator lamp blinks or flashes, this
indicates a high level of engine misfire.
Reduce speed and contact the nearest
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center imme-
diately. Severe engine misfiring over even a
short period of time can seriously damage
emission control system components,
especially the catalytic converter.
Service Engine Soon indicator lamp
for Canadian models.
If the fuel filler cap is not on tight
enough, the OBD system can detect
leaking vapor and the indicator lamp will
light up. If the fuel filler cap is then tight-
ened, the indicator lamp will usually go out
after a short period of time.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
99
Replacing components
Onboard tool kit
The onboard tool kit is located in a com-
partment on the left under the cargo area.
Replacing wiper blades
Front
1.Move the wiper to a fold-out position,
refer to page 42
2.Lift the wiper arm and press the secur-
ing spring, refer to arrow
3.Pull the wiper blade off toward the
wiper arm
4.Insert the new blade and snap it into
place.
Fold the wipers back down onto the
windshield before you turn the igni-
tion key to position 1 or 2 again. If you do
not, they could be damaged.<
Rear
1.Lift the wiper arm
2.Pull off the wiper blade, refer to arrow
3.Insert a new wiper blade.
Lamps and bulbs
The lamps and bulbs make essential contri-
butions to the safety of your vehicle. There-
fore, comply fully with the following instruc-
tions during bulb replacement. If you are
not familiar with the specified procedures,
BMW recommends having the replace-
ments carried out at your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center.
Never touch the glass of new bulbs
with your bare fingers, as even minute
amounts of contamination will burn into the
bulb's surface and reduce its service life.
To install, use a clean cloth, napkin etc. or
hold the bulb by its metal socket.<
A replacement bulb set is available from
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
To prevent short circuits, before
working on any electrical system,
equipment or accessory you should always
switch it off and disconnect the cable from
the battery's negative terminal before start-
ing.
To avoid possible injury or equipment dam-
age when changing bulbs, observe any
instructions provided by the bulb manufac-
turer.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
105
Mounting compact wheel
1.Unscrew the lug bolts and remove the
wheel
2.Remove accumulations of mud or dirt
from the mounting surfaces of the
wheel and hub. Clean the lug bolts
3.Position the new wheel or compact
wheel. Secure the wheel by turning at
least two lug bolts into opposite bolt
holes
4.Screw in the remaining lug bolts.
Tighten all the bolts securely in a diag-
onal pattern
5.Lower the jack and remove it from
beneath the vehicle
6.Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pat-
tern
7.Check and correct the tire inflation
pressure at the earliest opportunity.
Protect valve stems and valve stem
seal caps against dirt and contamina-
tion. Dirt in valve stems is a frequent source
of gradual air loss.<
After mounting the compact wheel or cor-
recting the inflation pressure, reinitialize
the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to page 53.
The vehicle jack is designed for
changing wheels only. Do not attempt
to raise another vehicle model with it or to
raise any load of any kind. To do so could
cause accidents and personal injury.
To ensure safety, always have the lug bolts
checked with a calibrated torque wrench to
ensure that they are tightened to the spec-
ified torque of 101 lb ft/140 Nm as soon as
possible.<
Stow the defective wheel in the luggage
compartment.
When you mount wheels other than Genu-
ine BMW light-alloy wheels, different lug
bolts may also be required.
Replace the defective tire as soon as pos-
sible and have the new wheel/tire bal-
anced.
Driving with the compact wheel
Drive reservedly and do not exceed a
speed of 50 mph/80 km/h. Do not
deactivate DSC, as otherwise unstable
driving conditions may result.<
The driving characteristics change, for
example reduced track stability on braking,
extended braking distance, and altered
self-steering characteristics in the limit
range. In conjunction with winter tires,
these characteristics are more pro-
nounced.
Only one compact wheel may be
mounted. You should re-equipping to
wheels and tires of the original size as
quickly as possible.<
Battery
Battery care
The battery is 100% maintenance-free, i.e.,
the electrolyte will last for the life of the bat-
tery when the vehicle is operated in a tem-
perate climate.
Please contact your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center with any ques-
tions concerning the battery.<
Do not disconnect the battery when
the engine is running. If you do so, the
ensuing voltage surge will damage the
vehicle's onboard electronics.<
Indicator lamp
The battery charge-current indica-
tor lamp lights up:
The battery is no longer being
charged. There is a defect on the alternator
V-belt or charge current circuit of the alter-
nator. Contact the nearest BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center.
Do not continue driving if the V-belt is
defective. The engine could be dam-
aged due to overheating.
Moreover, an increased amount of force is
required for steering if the onboard supply
voltage falls dramatically.<