Pressure BMW X3 3.0I 2007 E83 Owner's Manual

Cockpit
12
Indicator and warning lamps
Technology that monitors itself
Indicator and warning lamps that are identified
with
+ are checked for proper function each
time you turn the ignition key. They each light
up once for different periods of time.
When a malfunction occurs in a monitored sys-
tem, the corresponding lamp will either fail to go
o u t w h e n t h e e n g i n e i s s t a r t e d , o r i t w i l l c o m e o n
again during normal driving. Detailed informa-
tion is provided on the specified pages.
Battery charge current
+111
Headlamp flasher40
High beams59
Engine oil
+99
Driving stability control systems/
ABS Antilock Brake System
+50
ABS Antilock Brake System/chassis
control system for Canadian models
Brake system
+
With handbrake released52, 101
With handbrake engaged38
With other warning lamps52
Brake warning lamp for Canadian
models
Brake pads
+82
Please fasten safety belt
+31
Airbags
+56
Front fog lamps59
Automatic transmission +39
Turn signals40
DSC Dynamic Stability Control/
xDrive
+ 50, 51
Dynamic Traction Control DTC
+51
Service Engine Soon
+103
Service Engine Soon warning lamp for
Canadian models.
Check Gas Cap
* +88
Engine electronics
+37
Topping off washer fluid42
Coolant low101
Flat Tire Monitor
* +53
Tire Pressure Monitor
* +54
Lamp defective58
Cruise control43
With ignition key in position 2, this
warning lamp indicates that a door
or the liftgate is open.

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*/
audio sources*
>Press the button: answer and terminate call,
begin dialing selected phone number
>Extended pressure: activate/deactivate
voice command system
Display/hide phonebook. Display entries con-
secutively with buttons for fast forward/reverse
Fast forward/reverse
>Radio
Press the button: next stored station
Extended pressure: station search function
>CD
Press the button: skip track
Extended pressure: fast forward/reverse
>Phone
Browse through list of names
Volume
Cruise control*
Resume
+ accelerate and store, – decelerate and store
Activate/interrupt/deactivate

Reference
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Mobility
31
Storing
1.Turn the ignition key to position 1 or 2.
2.Set the desired seat and exterior mirror
position.
3.Press the 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 adjustment procedure is canceled 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 the button has been pressed inadvert-
ently:
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 optimum protection,
please follow the instructions on page27.<
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-
tection, they are not a substitute for safety
belts.
Fastening
Make sure you hear the latch plate engage in
the belt buckle.
Safety belt reminder for front seats
The indicator lamp flashes or lights up.
In addition, a signal sounds. Please
make sure that the safety belts are
being worn correctly.
The safety belt reminder is activated if the
safety belt on the driver's side has not yet been
fastened.
At speeds greater than 5 mph/8 km/h, the

Reference
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43
Cruise control*
The vehicle maintains and stores the speed that
you set at speeds greater than approx. 20 mph/
30 km/h.
You can use cruise control whenever the sys-
tem is active while the engine is running.
Do not use the cruise control under unfa-
vorable conditions that do not permit a
constant speed, e.g. when driving on winding
roads or in heavy traffic or when negotiating
poor road conditions such as snow, rain, ice, or
a loose road surface. Otherwise, you could lose
control of the vehicle and cause an accident.<
Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp lights up green: sys-
tem ready for operation using the but-
tons on the steering wheel.
Activating system
With ignition key in position 2 or higher:
Press button on steering wheel; the indicator
lamp in the instrument cluster comes on. The
cruise control mode is enabled.
Deactivating system
Press the button repeatedly until the indicator
lamp in the instrument cluster goes out.
The cruise control is also deactivated when the
ignition key is turned to position 0. The speed
stored in the memory is deleted in the process.
Maintaining speed, storing, and
accelerating
Briefly press + button:
The system maintains and stores the current
vehicle speed. Each additional touch of the but-ton increases the speed by approx. 1 mph/
1km/h.
Press and hold + button:
The vehicle accelerates without pressure on
the accelerator pedal. When you release the
button, the system maintains and stores the
current speed.
If the braking action of the engine is insufficient
on a downhill stretch, then the set vehicle can
exceed the set speed. Speed can drop on uphill
grades if the engine output is insufficient.
Decelerating
Briefly press – button:
Each press of the button decreases the vehi-
cle's speed by roughly 1 mph/1 km/h, provided
that you have already activated the cruise con-
trol.
Press and hold – button:
With the cruise control active, the system auto-
matically reduces the fuel supply to slow the
vehicle. When you release the button, the sys-
tem maintains and stores the current speed.
Interrupting cruise control
When the system is activated, press the button.
The indicator lamp stays on. You can use the
cruise control again whenever required by
requesting the speed that was stored last.
In addition, the system is automatically inter-
rupted in response to the following conditions:
>When you apply pressure to the brake pedal
>When you apply pressure to the clutch
pedal or when you move the automatic
transmission selector lever from D to N
>If you exceed or fall below the set speed for
an extended period, by pressing the accel-
erator, for example
>When DSC is activated

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
50
Malfunction
The LED in the button flashes and a short con-
tinuous tone sounds. PDC is malfunctioning.
Switch off PDC. Have the system checked.
To prevent this problem, keep the sensors
clean and free of ice or snow in order to ensure
that they will continue to operate effectively.
When using high-pressure washers, do not
spray sensors for long periods and keep the
sprayer at least 4 in/10 cm away from the sen-
sors.
System limits
Even with PDC, final responsibility for
estimating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstructions always remains
with the driver. Even when sensors are involved,
there is a blind spot in which objects cannot be
detected. The system is also subject to the
physical limits that apply to all forms of ultra-
sonic measurement, such as those encoun-
tered with tow bars and trailer couplings, or thin
and wedge-shaped objects. Low objects
already displayed, e.g. curb edges, can come
into the blind spot of the sensors before or after
a continuous tone sounds. The system may fail
to detect higher obstacles such as projections
from walls.
Loud sources of sound, inside and outside the
vehicle, could drown out the PDC signal tone.<
Driving stability control
systems
Your BMW is equipped with an extended array
of systems designed to enhance and maintain
vehicle stability even under unfavorable driving
conditions.
ABS Antilock Brake System
ABS prevents the wheels from locking during
braking. Safe steering response is maintained
even during full braking. This results in an
increase in the active safety.
ABS is operational every time you start the
engine. Safe braking, refer to page81.
Electronic brake-force distribution
The system controls the brake pressure in the
rear wheels to ensure a stable braking behavior.
Brake assistant
When the brake pedal is depressed quickly, this
system automatically generates a maximum
braking force distribution and thus helps keep
the braking distance to a minimum during full
braking. This system exploits all of the benefits
provided by ABS.
As long as you want full braking to continue, do
not reduce pressure on the brake.
DSC Dynamic Stability Control
DSC prevents slip at the drive wheels when
starting off and accelerating. The system also
detects unstable driving conditions, such as a
fishtailing of the vehicle's rear end or the sliding
of the vehicle on its front wheels. In these cir-
cumstances, DSC helps keep the vehicle on a
safe path, within physical limits, by reducing
engine output and by applying the brakes in
individual wheels.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed,
even with DSC. An appropriate driving
style always remains the responsibility of the
driver. Do not squander the additional margin of
safety by driving dangerously; otherwise, you
run the risk of causing an accident.<
Deactivating DSC
Maintain pressure on the button until the DSC
indicator lamp lights up, but do not press for
longer than approx. 10 seconds. DTC Dynamic
Traction Control and DSC are deactivated

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53
After releasing the brake, start driving immedi-
ately; otherwise, the acceleration assistant will
no longer hold the vehicle after approx. 2 sec-
onds and the vehicle will start to roll back-
ward.<
Malfunction
The warning lamp for the brake system
lights up in yellow. The acceleration
assistant has failed. The vehicle will not
be held after the brake is released. Have the
system checked as soon as possible.
Flat Tire Monitor FTM*
The concept
The Flat Tire Monitor keeps track of the infla-
tion pressures in the four mounted tires as you
drive. The system triggers an alert whenever
the inflation pressure in one tire drops signifi-
cantly in relation to the pressure in another tire.
When a loss of pressure occurs, the rolling
radius changes and with it, the rotational speed
of the wheels. This change is detected and sig-
naled as a flat tire.
Functional requirement
To ensure the reliable signaling of a flat tire, the
system must be initialized at the correct tire
inflation pressure.
The initialization must be carried out after
each correction of the tire inflation pres-
sure and after every tire or wheel change.<
System limits
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot predict sud-
den severe tire damage caused by out-
side factors and does not detect a natural, even
pressure drop in all four tires.<
In the following situations, the system could be
delayed or malfunction:
>When the system has not been initialized
>When driving on snow-covered or slippery
road surfaces>Sporty driving style: slip in the drive wheels,
high lateral acceleration.
>When driving with snow chains
*
When driving with a compact wheel, the Flat
Tire Monitor cannot operate.
Initializing system
The initialization is completed while driv-
ing and can be interrupted at any time.
The initialization automatically continues when
driving resumes.
Do not initialize the system when driving with
snow chains
* or with a compact wheel.<
1.Start the engine just before driving, but do
not begin to drive.
2.Press the button for at least 4 seconds, but
not longer than 2 minutes. After the button
is released, the indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up yellow for a few sec-
onds.
3.Begin driving.
The initialization is completed while driving,
without requiring any further input from you.
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamp lights up red. In addi-
tion, an acoustic signal sounds. There is
a flat tire or extensive inflation pressure
loss.
1.Reduce speed and stop the vehicle care-
fully. Avoid sudden braking and steering
maneuvers.
2.Identify damaged tire.
If identification is not possible, con-
tact your BMW Sports Activity Vehi-
cle Center.<

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
54 3.Replace the damaged wheel, refer to
Wheel changes on page108.
Malfunction
The warning lamp lights up yellow. The
Flat Tire Monitor is malfunctioning or
out of order. Have the system checked
as soon as possible.
TPM Tire Pressure Monitor*
The concept
TPM controls the tire inflation pressure in the
four mounted wheels. The system notifies you
if the tire inflation pressure has fallen signifi-
cantly in one or more tires.
Functional requirement
To ensure the reliable signaling of a flat tire, the
system must be reset at the correct tire inflation
pressure.
Always use wheels equipped with TPM elec-
tronics, including a metal valve; otherwise, there
is no guarantee that the system will function
properly.
The system must be reset after every cor-
rection of tire inflation pressure and after
every tire or wheel change.<
System limits
TPM cannot warn you of sudden, serious
tire damage due to external factors.<
The system does not function properly if it has
not been reset, e.g. it may identify a tire as flat in
spite of the fact that the tire is filled to the cor-
rect inflation pressure.
The system is deactivated and is unable to
detect flat tires if a wheel not equipped with
TPM electronics has been mounted, e.g. a
compact wheel, or if TPM is experiencing tem-
porary interference from other systems or
devices that use the same frequency.
Resetting system
The system must be reset after every cor-
rection of tire inflation pressure and after
every tire or wheel change.<
1.Start engine, but do not begin to drive.
2.Press the button until the yellow warning
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up for a
few seconds.
3.Begin driving.
After a few minutes of driving, the tire infla-
tion pressures in the tires are adopted as
the desired values to be monitored. The
resetting is completed during driving and
can be interrupted at any time without
requiring any input from you. The resetting
automatically continues when driving
resumes.
Low tire pressure message
The warning lamp lights up yellow. In
addition, a signal sounds. You have a
flat tire or a significant loss of tire pres-
sure in one or more tires.
1.Reduce speed and stop the vehicle care-
fully. Avoid sudden braking and steering
maneuvers.
2.Identify the damaged wheel or wheels.
If identification is not possible, con-
tact your BMW Sports Activity Vehi-
cle Center.<
3.Replace the damaged wheel, refer to
Wheel changes on page108.
4.Check tire inflation pressure and correct as
needed.

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The compact wheel is not equipped with the
required TPM electronics and is not monitored
when mounted.
When driving with the compact wheel, the sys-
tem indicates a malfunction.
Have the damaged tire replaced by your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center or a workshop
that is familiar with TPM and works in accor-
dance with BMW repair procedures, using
appropriately trained personnel.
Malfunction
The yellow warning lamp flashes and
then lights up continuously. Flat tires
cannot be detected.
Such a message is displayed in the following
situations:
>When a malfunction is occurring:
Have the system checked
>When a wheel without TPM electronics is
mounted, e.g. a compact wheel
>When TPM is experiencing temporary inter-
ference from other systems or devices that
use the same frequency
NHTSA/FMVSS-required explanation
of 138 Tire Pressure Monitoring
System
Each tire, including the spare, should be
checked monthly when cold and inflated to the
inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tire infla-
tion pressure label. If your vehicle has tires of a
different size than the size indicated on the
vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure label,
then you should determine the proper tire infla-
tion pressure for those tires. As an added safety
feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a
tire pressure monitoring system, TPMS, that
illuminates a low tire pressure warning lamp
when one or more of your tires are significantly
under-inflated. When the low tire pressure
warning lamp lights up, you should stop and
check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure. Driving on a signif-
icantly underinflated tire causes the tire to over-
heat and can lead to tire failure. Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life,
and may affect the vehicle’s handling and stop-
ping ability. Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire maintenance, and it is
the driver's responsibility to maintain correct
tire pressure, even if underinflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure warning lamp.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined
with the low tire pressure warning lamp. When
the system detects a malfunction, the warning
lamp will flash for approximately one minute and
then remain continuously illuminated. This
sequence will continue upon subsequent vehi-
cle startups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated,
the system may not be able to detect or signal
low tire pressure as intended. TPMS malfunc-
tions may occur for a variety of reasons, includ-
ing the installation of replacement or alternate
tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the
TPMS from functioning properly. Always check
the TPMS malfunction warning lamp after
replacing one or more tires or wheels on your
vehicle to ensure that the replacement or alter-
nate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to con-
tinue to function properly.Brake force display
The brake lamps light up in two stages,
depending on how heavily you apply the brakes.
>Normal braking
The brake lamps and the center brake lamp
light up.
>Heavy braking
The rear fog lamps light up as well.

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
56
Airbags
The following airbags are located beneath the
marked covers:
1Front airbags
2Head airbags
3Side airbags in front and rear
*
Protective action
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimum protection,
please follow the instructions on page27.<
The front airbags help protect the driver and
front passenger by responding to frontal
impacts in which safety belts alone cannot pro-
vide adequate restraint. When needed, the
head and side airbags help provide protection in
the event of side impact. The relevant side air-
bag cushions the side upper body area. The
respective head airbag cushions the head.
The airbags are intentionally not triggered in
every collision situation, e.g. they are not trig-
gered not in less serious accidents, or rear-end
collisions.
Do not apply adhesive materials to the
cover panels of the airbags, cover them or
modify them in any other way.
Do not attempt to remove the airbag retention
system from the vehicle. Do not modify the indi-
vidual components of the system or its wiring in
any way. This includes the padded covers in the
center of the steering wheel, on the dashboard,
the doors, and the roof pillars as well as the
sides of the headliner. Do not attempt to
remove or dismantle the steering wheel.
Do not touch the individual components
directly after the system has been triggered, because there is a danger of burns.
In the event of malfunctions, deactivation, or
triggering of the airbag restraint system, have
the testing, repair, removal, and disposal of air-
bag generators executed only by a BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle Center or a workshop that
works according to BMW repair procedures
with correspondingly trained personnel and
that has the required explosives licenses. Oth-
erwise, unprofessional attempts to service the
system could lead to failure in an emergency or
undesired airbag activation, either of which
could result in personal injury.<
Airbag warnings and information are also pro-
vided on the sun visors.
Automatic deactivation of front
passenger airbags
By evaluating the pressure on the seat cushion
of the front passenger seat, the system detects
whether or not the seat is occupied. Depending
on the detection result, the system correspond-
ingly activates or deactivates the front and side
airbags for the passenger.
The indicator lamp located above the
inside rearview mirror indicates whether
the front passenger airbag system is currently
deactivated or activated, refer to Status of pas-
senger airbag in the section below.<
Before transporting a child in the front
passenger seat, read the safety notices
and follow the safety instructions under Trans-
porting children safely on page34.
When teenagers or adults assume certain sit-
ting positions, the front and side airbags on the
passenger side can deactivate; this causes the
indicator lamp for the front passenger airbag to
light up. If this happens, have them change their
sitting position so that the passenger airbag is
activated and the indicator lamp goes out. If the
desired status cannot be achieved by changing
their sitting position, then have the person ride
in the back. Do not attach seat covers, seat
cushion padding, ball mats or other items to the
passenger seat unless they are specifically rec-
ommended by BMW. Do not place any items
under the seat which could press against the

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2.Greatly increase the air supply of the air
conditioning system or automatic climate
control, refer to page62 or65.
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. Do not touch hot exhaust
pipe, it can cause burns.<
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.<
When the vehicle is parked
Condensation forms in the air conditioner/auto-
matic climate control system during operation,
and then exits under the vehicle. Traces of con-
densed water under the vehicle are therefore
normal.
Before driving into a car wash
Fold in the exterior mirrors, refer to page32;
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 page41.
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 page94.
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 systems, and the trans-
mission 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.<
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.