tow BMW X3 3.0SI 2008 User Guide

Air conditioner
64
Air volume
You can vary the air volume in
steps 1 through 4. The heating or
cooling output is more effective
with a higher air volume.
Switching system on/off
Turn air volume rotary switch to 0. This com-
pletely shuts off the blower and air conditioning
system and stops the flow of air.
To switch on the air conditioning system, set an
arbitrary air volume.
Temperature
To increase the temperature, turn
to the right, toward red.
For a lower temperature, turn the
rotary switch counterclockwise
toward blue.
Air distribution
You can direct air to flow onto the
windows , toward the upper
body and into the footwell .
Intermediate settings are possible.
Rear window defroster
The rear window heating switches
off automatically after a certain
amount of time. Depending on
your equipment package, the upper wires are
used as an antenna and are not part of the rear
window defroster.
Switching cooling function on/off
When the cooling function 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.
Recirculated-air mode
You can respond to unpleasant
odors outside the vehicle by tem-
porarily suspending the supply of
outside air. The system then recirculates the air
currently within the vehicle.
If condensation starts to form on the
inside window surfaces during operation
in recirculated-air mode, you should switch it off
and increase the air supply as needed.
The recirculated-air mode should not be used
over a sustained period of time; otherwise, the
air quality inside the vehicle will steadily deteri-
orate.<
Defrosting windows and removing
condensation
1.Air volume 1 at level 4.
2.Temperature 2 toward right, red.
3.Air distribution 3 in position .
4.Deactivate recirculated-air mode 5.
5.Switch on the rear window heating 4 to
defrost the rear window.
6.Switch on cooling function.

Air conditioner
66
Automatic climate control*
1Airflow directed toward windshield and
side windows
2Airflow toward upper body68
3Airflow to footwell68
4Manually varying air distribution67
5Adjusting temperature67
6Temperature display67,
Air volume67
7Manually varying air volume678Defrosting windows and removing
condensation67
9Rear window defroster68
10Switching cooling function on/off67
11Outside air/AUC Automatic recirculated-air
control/recirculated-air mode68
12AUTO program67

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
67
A congenial climate
For almost all conditions, the AUTO program 12
offers the optimum air distribution and air vol-
ume, refer to AUTO program below. You need
only select an interior temperature 5 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 function is switched on automati-
cally 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.The highest setting produces the maximum
heat output regardless of the outside tempera-
ture. The lowest setting activates maximum air
conditioning.
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
Quickly removes ice and conden-
sation from the windshield and
front door windows.
Also switch on the cooling function.
Switching cooling function on/off
When the cooling function 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 when
the engine is running.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
75
Connecting
Connection for audio playback:
1/8 in/3.5 mm jack
For audio playback via the vehicle's speakers,
connect the headset or line out connection of
the device to the connection.
Depending on your vehicle's equipment pack-
age, the location of the connection may vary
slightly or be situated behind a protective cover.
Press briefly on the protective cover to open it.
Car phone preparation*
Hands-free microphone
In vehicles with car phone preparation*, the
hands-free microphone is located on the head-
liner near the interior lamp.
For more information on the car phone, refer to
the Owner's Manual for Telephone.
Ski bag*
The ski bag allows the safe and clean transport
of up to four pairs of standard skis or up to two
snowboards.
The ski bag allows you to stow skis up to a
length of up to 6.8 ft/2.1 m. When skis of 6.8 ft/
2.1 m in length are loaded, the ski bag will tend
to narrow, reducing its overall capacity.
Loading
1.Fold down the center armrest, pull off the
cover panel, press the button and disen-
gage the door.
2.Press the button again; the door in the
cargo area opens. If you press the button
firmly the first time, this also opens the door
in the cargo area.
3.Place the ski bag between the front seats
and load.
The zipper facilitates access to the stowed
items.
4.Insert the latch plate of the ski bag retaining
belt into the center safety belt buckle.
Make sure to load only clean skis into the ski
bag. Wrap sharp edges so that no damage
occurs.

Practical interior accessories
76
Securing load
After loading, secure the ski bag and its con-
tents. Tension the retaining strap on the ten-
sioning buckle for this purpose.
Always secure the ski bag in this way.
If you fail to do so, it can endanger occu-
pants during braking or evasive maneuvers.<
To store the ski bag, perform the above steps in
reverse order.
Inserting ski bag
The ski bag is located in the cargo area under
the floor cover.
1.Fold down the center armrest and pull off
the cover.
2.Remove the tray behind the cover panel
with a screwdriver. Pivot the handle of the
screwdriver upward, arrow1, and simulta-
neously pull toward the front, arrow2.3.Position the ski bag on the lower edge of the
opening, refer to arrow 1, then insert it, refer
to arrow 2.
Removing ski bag
Pull the handle forward and remove the ski bag
upward.
Do not position cargo at the opening. If
you do, it can endanger the passengers
during braking or evasive maneuvers.<
Cargo area
When loading, follow the instructions on
page85.
Enlarging cargo area
The rear backrest is split. You can fold down
both seats individually to enlarge the cargo
area.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
77
Reach into the opening and pull forward, refer
to arrow.
Before folding down the rear backrests,
remove the cover caps for the LATCH
child restraint fixing system. Otherwise, impres-
sions can be left in the seat cushion.<
When you fold the backrest upright again,
be sure that the catch engages securely.
This causes the red warning field in the recess
to disappear. Otherwise, cargo can be thrown
into the passenger compartment during brak-
ing or evasive maneuvers, thus endangering the
passengers.<
To ensure that the safety belts continue
to provide optimum protection, please
follow the instructions on page27.<
Ski bag*
To create a flat cargo surface, you can remove
the ski bag and replace it with a tray before fold-
ing the rear backrest forward. The tray is
inserted in the same way as inserting the ski
bag, refer to Inserting ski bag on page76.
Cargo area cover
Pull the cargo area cover out by the handle and
hook it into the rear holders.You can carry light objects such as articles of
clothing on the cargo area cover.
Never place heavy, hard objects on the
cover. If you do so, they could endanger
passengers during braking or evasive maneu-
vers.
Do not allow the cover to snap back into place;
this can damage it.<
Removal
1.Press the side buttons, refer to arrow1.
2.Pull the case toward the rear, refer to
arrow2.
Installation
Push the case forward into the two side holders
until it locks into place.
Stowing* when rear backrest is folded
down
Holders for the case are mounted on the backs
of the rear seat backs, refer to arrows1.
Guide the case in from the right side until it
locks into place, refer to arrow 2. As you do this,
the cargo area cover must always point in the
direction of travel and the loop of the partition
net must point upward.

Practical interior accessories
78 You can pull out the partition net and insert it
into the holders in the roof area above.
Partition net*
Do not allow the partition net to snap back
into place; otherwise, there is a danger of
injury and the partition net could be damaged.<
Hooking partition net into place
Pull the partition net out of the case by the
strap. Press the ends of the bar toward each
other, refer to arrows 1, and insert into the
brackets. Then press the bar all the way upward
in the middle, refer to arrow 2, so that it engages
in the brackets.
Lowering partition net
Grasp bar on one side on the partition net, press
upward and push the ends of the bar together,
then release from the brackets.
Behind side trim panel
Press the button to open.
Floor cover
Opening
For access to the jack etc.
To open, raise the cover by the handle, refer to
arrow.
If needed, you can remove or raise the floor
cover.
Raising
Swing up the floor cover and hook it onto the
handle of the cargo area cover by its catch.
Lashing eyes, rail*
You can secure heavy-duty cargo straps to the
lashing eyes on the cargo area floor.
The lashing eyes are stored in the cargo area
under the floor cover. They can be inserted into

Things to remember when driving
82
Things to remember when driving
Breaking-in
Moving parts should be allowed to adjust to one
another. To ensure that your vehicle provides
maximum economy throughout a long service
life, we request that you comply with the follow-
ing instructions.
Engine and differential
Always obey all official speed limits.
For the first 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Drive at varying engine and driving speeds, but
do not exceed 4,500 rpm or 100 mph / 160 km/h
in the process.
Generally avoid full throttle or kick-down posi-
tion of the accelerator pedal.
After 1,200 miles/2,000 km
Engine and road speed can be gradually
increased.
Tires
Due to technical factors associated with their
manufacture, tires do not achieve their full trac-
tion potential until after an initial break-in
period. For this reason, drive with extra care
during the initial 200 miles/300 km.
Obey your local and state maximum speed lim-
its.
When the vehicle is operated on wet or
slushy roads, a wedge of water may form
between the tire and the road surface. This phe-
nomenon is referred to as hydroplaning and can
lead to partial or complete loss of traction, vehi-
cle control and braking effectiveness. Reduce
your speed on wet roads.<
Brake system
Your vehicle must travel approx. 300 miles/
500 km before the brake pads and rotors
achieve the optimum pad-surface and wear
patterns required for trouble-free operation and
long service life later on.
To break in the separate handbrake drums,
apply the handbrake lightly when coasting to a
stop – at a traffic signal, for instance; use cau-
tion to avoid posing a danger to other road
users.
To avoid corrosion, repeat this procedure from
time to time.
The brake lamps do not come on when the
handbrake is applied.
Vacuum for the brake system servo unit
on your BMW is available only when the
engine is running. When you move the car with
the engine off – e.g., by towing – substantially
higher levels of pedal force will be required to
brake the vehicle.<
Clutch
The function of the clutch reaches its optimum
level only after a distance driven of approx.
300 miles/500 km. During this break-in period,
engage the clutch gently.
Following component replacements
Follow the breaking-in instructions again when-
ever subsequent driving requires replacement
of previously mentioned components.

Things to remember when driving
86 5.Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded into and/or onto the
vehicle. This combined weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo and lug-
gage load capacity calculated in step 4.
6.If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, part of
the load from your trailer will be transferred
to your vehicle. Consult the manual for
transporting a trailer to determine how this
may reduce the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.
Load
The permitted load is the total of the weight of
occupants and cargo/luggage. The greater the
weight of occupants, the less cargo/luggage
can be transported.
Stowing cargo
>To protect passengers, use the partition
net, refer to page78.
>Load heavy cargo as far forward and as low
as possible, placing it directly behind the
rear seat backrests.
>Cover sharp edges and corners.
>Do not stack cargo higher than the upper
edge of the backrests.>Items that could bump against the rear win-
dow while driving must be adequately cov-
ered.
>For very heavy cargo when the rear seat is
not occupied, secure the safety belt on
each side in the buckle on the opposite
side.
Securing cargo
>Use the luggage net* o r d r a w s t ra p s t o h o ld
down small and lightweight luggage and
cargo, refer to page78.
>For larger and heavier pieces, heavy-duty
cargo straps
* are available from your BMW
Sports Activity Vehicle Center. These
heavy-duty cargo straps are secured to
lashing eyes mounted in the cargo area,
refer to page78.
Read the information provided with the
heavy-duty cargo straps.
Always position and secure cargo as
described above. If you do not, it can
endanger the passengers during braking or
evasive maneuvers.
Use only the lashing eyes, refer to page78, to
fasten the heavy-duty cargo straps; otherwise,
the heavy-duty cargo straps could loosen or the
vehicle could be damaged.
Never exceed either the approved gross vehicle
weight or either of the approved axle loads, refer
to page124, as excessive loads can pose a
safety hazard and may also put you in violation
of road safety laws.
You should never transport unsecured heavy or
hard objects in the passenger compartment, as
they could be thrown around and pose a safety
hazard to the vehicle's occupants during abrupt
braking or evasive maneuvers.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
87
Roof-mounted luggage rack*
A special rack system is available as an optional
accessory for your BMW. Please familiarize
yourself with the information contained in the
installation instructions.
Loading luggage rack
Because roof racks raise the vehicle's center of
gravity when loaded, they have a major effect on
its handling and steering response. You should
therefore always remember not to exceed the
approved roof load capacity, the approved
gross vehicle weight, or the axle loads when
loading the rack.
These specifications can be found under
Weights on page124.
The roof load must be evenly distributed and
must not extend outward beyond the limits of
the loading surface. Always stow the heaviest
pieces on the bottom. Be sure that adequate
clearance is maintained for raising the glass
sunroof and that objects do not project into the
opening path of the liftgate.
Secure roof-mounted cargo correctly and
securely to prevent it from shifting or falling off
while you drive.
Drive smoothly. Avoid sudden acceleration and
braking maneuvers. Take corners gently.
Driving on poor roads
Your X3 is at home on all paved and unpaved
roads. It combines all-wheel drive with the
advantages of a normal passenger car.
Do not drive off-road, as otherwise the
vehicle may be damaged.<
When you are driving on poor roads, there are a
few points which you should strictly observe –
for your own safety and that of your passengers,
as well as to protect the vehicle:
>Familiarize yourself with the vehicle before
you begin driving. Do not take risks with the
vehicle under any circumstances.
>Always adapt your driving speed to the
road conditions. The more steep and uneven the roadway is, the lower the speed
should be.
>You can operate your vehicle on uphill and
downhill gradients with a maximum slope
of 50 %. If you wish to drive on uphill and
downhill grades of this nature, make sure
beforehand that the engine oil and coolant
levels are near the MAX mark, refer to
pages102 and104.
>When descending very steep hills, use
HDC Hill Descent Control, refer to page52.
It is possible to start off on inclines of up
to 32 %.
The permitted side tilt is 32 %.
>While driving, watch carefully for obstacles
such as rocks or holes. Try to avoid these
obstacles whenever possible.
>Avoid having the body make contact with
the ground, e.g. on the crests of hills and
bumpy roads. The ground clearance of the
vehicle is a maximum of approx. 8.0 in/
20 cm. Please be aware that the ground
clearance can vary depending on the load
and operating conditions of the vehicle.
>Do not drive in water that is deeper than
20 in/50 cm. If you must drive through water
up to that depth, drive at a walking speed
and do not stop.
After leaving the water, press on the foot-
brake gently several times while driving at a
low speed. The brake applications will help
to dry the brakes, thus preventing a reduc-
tion in braking performance caused by the
moisture.
To clean the handbrake, apply the lever
slightly at approx. 25 mph/40 km/h and con-
tinue to drive for approx. 200 yards/
200 meters, provided that traffic conditions
allow you to do so.
>Depending on the road condition, it can be
useful to temporarily activate DTC, refer to
DTC Dynamic Traction Control on page52.
>If the drive wheels spin on one side, depress
the accelerator pedal far enough to permit
the driving stability control systems to dis-
tribute the drive torque to the individual
wheels.