BMW X3 3.0SI 2008 Owner's Manual

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
19
Examples of Vehicle Memory
>Different confirmation signals to confirm
locking/unlocking of the vehicle, refer to
page19.
>Activating/deactivating function for path-
way lighting, refer to page59.
>Activating/deactivating daytime running
lamps, refer to page59.
>Active PDC Park Distance Control is acous-
tically indicated by a signal tone when you
shift into reverse or move the selector lever
into position R, refer to page50.
>Different confirmation signals to confirm
arming/disarming of alarm system, refer to
page25.
>After an outside temperature warning has
been issued, the computer display returns
to the previous setting, refer to page48.
>Acoustic warning if the ignition key remains
in the ignition lock after the driver's door has
been opened, refer to page19.
Examples of Key Memory functions
>Locking the vehicle after starting to drive,
refer to page21.
>Automatic adjustment of the driver's seat
and exterior mirror position for each person
when unlocking the vehicle, refer to
page31.
>Setting units of measure for instrument
cluster displays of time, outside tempera-
ture, distance driven, and fuel consumption,
refer to page48.
Central locking system
The concept
The central locking system is ready for opera-
tion whenever the driver's door is closed.
The system locks or unlocks:
>doors
>liftgate
>fuel filler door
Operating from outside
>via the remote control
>via the driver's door lock
The central locking system simultaneously
operates the antitheft alarm system. This pre-
vents the doors from being unlocked via the
lock buttons or door handles. The remote con-
trol also switches the interior lamps on and off.
The alarm system
* is also armed or disarmed.
For additional details on the alarm system, refer
to page25.
You can set an acoustic signal to remind
you if the ignition key is still in the ignition
lock after you open the driver's door.<
Operating from inside
Via the central locking system button, refer to
page21.
When the system is locked from inside, the fuel
filler door remains unlocked.
In the event of an accident of sufficient severity,
the central locking system unlocks automati-
cally. In addition, the hazard warning flashers
and interior lamps switch on.
Opening and closing:
Using the remote control
Persons or animals left unattended in a
parked vehicle can lock the doors from
the inside. For this reason, bring the remote
control with you whenever you leave the vehicle
so that you will always be able to unlock the
vehicle from outside.<
Unlocking
1.Press the button.
The driver's door and fuel filler door are
unlocked.
2.Press the button again.
All remaining doors and the liftgate are
unlocked.

Opening and closing
20
Convenience opening mode
Press and hold the button.
The windows and the panorama glass sunroof
*
are opened.
If you wish, you can have this special fea-
ture activated/deactivated.<
Engaging locks
Press the button.
Hazard warning flashers flash once.
If you wish, you can have this special fea-
ture deactivated on vehicles without an
alarm system.<
Do not lock the vehicle from the outside
when people are in it since they will be
unable to unlock it from the inside if they do not
know the special procedure.<
If you unlock the vehicle, but do not open
any doors, the central locking system
automatically relocks the vehicle after a short
time. If you wish, you can have this special fea-
ture activated/deactivated.<
Switching off tilt alarm sensor*
and interior motion sensor*
Press the button again directly after
locking.
For details, refer to page26.
Switching on interior lamps
With the vehicle locked:
Press the button.
You can also use this function to locate your
vehicle in parking garages etc.
Panic mode*
You can also trigger the alarm system* in case
of danger:
Press the button for at least 3 seconds.
Deactivating alarm: press any button.
Unlocking liftgate
Press the button.
The liftgate will open slightly, regardless of
whether it was previously locked or unlocked.If you wish, you can have the liftgate open
only after the vehicle has been unlocked.
You may have this function activated/deacti-
vated.<
To avoid damage, make sure there is suf-
ficient space when opening the liftgate.
A previously locked liftgate is also locked again
after closing.
Before and after a drive, make sure that the lift-
gate has not been inadvertently released.<
Malfunction
The remote control may malfunction due to
local radio waves.
Should this occur, use the master key to unlock
and relock the vehicle via the door lock.
If it is no longer possible to lock the vehicle
using the remote control, its battery is dis-
charged. Use this remote control during an
extended drive; this will recharge the battery,
refer to page18.
For US owners only
The transmitter and receiver units comply with
part 15 of the FCC/Federal Communications
Commission regulations. Operation is gov-
erned by the following:
FCC ID:
LX8EWS
LX8FZVS
LX8FZVE
Compliance statement:
This device complies with part 15 of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
>This device must not cause harmful inter-
ference, and
>this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modifications or
changes to these devices could void the
user's authority to operate this equipment.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
21
Opening and closing:
Using door lock
Do not lock the vehicle from the outside
when people are in it since they will be
unable to unlock it from the inside if they do not
know the special procedure.<
1.Turn key.
The driver's door and fuel filler door are
unlocked.
2.Turn key again.
All remaining doors and the liftgate are
unlocked.
When locking, the hazard warning flashers flash
once.
If you wish, you can have this special fea-
ture deactivated on vehicles without an
alarm system.<
Convenience operation
You also have the option of using the door lock
to operate the windows and the panorama glass
sunroof
*.
Hold the key in the unlocking or locking posi-
tion.
Watch during the closing process to be
sure that no one is injured. Releasing the
key stops the operation.<
Manual operation
If an electrical malfunction occurs, you can
unlock or lock the driver's door with the key in
the end positions of the door lock.
Opening and closing:
from inside
You can use this button to operate the central
locking system when the front doors are closed.
This button only unlocks or locks the doors and
the liftgate. It does not activate the anti-theft
system.
If only the driver's door was unlocked
from the outside and you press the but-
ton, then, with the driver's door still open, the
passenger side door, the tailgate and the fuel
filler door will unlock, too.
If the driver's door is closed, it will be locked.<
The central locking system locks auto-
matically after you begin to drive. You can
have your vehicle set to do this if you wish.<
Unlocking and opening doors
>Either unlock all of the doors via the central
locking system button and then pull on the
door handle above the armrest or
>pull the door handle of each door twice: the
first time unlocks the door, the second time
opens it.
Engaging locks
>Either lock all doors via the central locking
system button or
>press down the lock buttons of the doors.
To prevent you from being locked out, the
opened driver's door cannot be locked
using the lock button.
Persons or animals left unattended in a
parked vehicle can lock the doors from
the inside. For this reason, bring the ignition key
with you whenever you leave the vehicle so that

Opening and closing
22 you will always be able to unlock the vehicle
from outside.<
You can set an acoustic signal to remind
you if the ignition key is still in the ignition
lock after you open the driver's door.<
Liftgate
To avoid damage, make sure there is suf-
ficient space when opening the liftgate.<
Opening from outside
Press the button, refer to arrow, or the but-
ton on the remote control. The liftgate opens
slightly. It can be pivoted upward.
When the liftgate is open, the cargo area and
interior are illuminated.
Opening manually
In the event of an electrical malfunction:
1.Lift up the floor cover in the cargo area.
2.Release the jack from the bracket.
3.Press the lever behind the cover to the side,
refer to arrow. The liftgate is released.
The liftgate is locked again as soon as it is
closed.
Closing
The handle recesses on the interior trim of the
liftgate make it easier to pull down.
Avoid injuries by making sure that the lift-
gate's closing region is clear and unob-
structed.<
Windows
Keep windows in your line of sight while
closing. Failure to do so can result in
bodily injury.
Always remove the key when leaving the vehi-
cle; otherwise, children could operate the win-
dows and injure themselves.<
Opening, closing
With the ignition key in position 1 or higher:
>Press the switch to the resistance point:
The window continues to open as long as
you press the switch.
>Press the switch past the resistance point:
The window opens automatically. Pressing
again stops the opening motion.
You can close the windows in the same manner
by pulling the switch.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
23
In the back, separate switches are provided in
the armrests.
For convenience operation using the remote
control or the door lock, refer to pages20, 21.
After switching off ignition
You can operate the windows for up to 1 minute
as long as no door has been opened.
Pinch protection system
If the closing force rises beyond a predefined
threshold when a window is being closed, the
system will interrupt the closing of the window
prior to lowering it slightly.
Despite the presence of the pinch protec-
tion system, inspect the window's travel
path prior to closing it, as the safety system
might fail to detect certain kinds of obstruc-
tions, such as very thin objects, and the window
would continue closing.
Do not install any accessories in the movement
range of the window as this could impair the
function of the pinch protection system.<
Closing without pinch protection
system
When there is danger outside or when, for
example, ice on the window prevents a normal
closing, press the switch past the resistance
point and hold it there. The window will close
without the pinch protection system.
Following interruptions in electrical
power supply
After disconnecting the battery, the pinch pro-
tection system must be reinitialized. To do this,
open and close the windows once and continue
pull the switch for longer than approx. 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 chil-
dren, for example. The LED lights up when this
safety function is activated.
Press the safety switch when children
ride in the rear; otherwise, unsupervised
closing of the windows could lead to injuries.<
Panorama glass sunroof*
The panorama glass sunroof is ready for opera-
tion with the ignition key in position 2.
Keep panorama glass sunroof in your line
of sight while closing. Failure to do so can
result in bodily injury.
Always remove the key when leaving the vehi-
cle; otherwise, children could operate the sun-
roof and injure themselves.<
Raising
Press the switch.
The closed roof is raised and the sliding visor
opens slightly.

Opening and closing
24 Do not use force to close the sliding visor
when the sunroof is in its raised position,
as this could damage the mechanism.<
Opening, closing
Sliding visor
You can move the sliding visor independently
when the roof is in the closed or raised position.
>Slide the switch backward to the resistance
point.
The sliding visor continues to open for as
long as you hold the switch in this position.
>Press the switch backward briefly past the
resistance point.
The sliding visor opens automatically. Press
the switch briefly to stop the movement.
You close the sliding visor in the same way by
sliding the switch forward.
Panorama glass sunroof
With the sliding visor open, proceed as
described under Sliding visor.
For convenience operation using the remote
control or the door lock, refer to page20 or21.
Opening and closing sunroof and
sliding visor together
Briefly press the switch past the resistance
point twice consecutively.
Press the switch briefly to stop the movement.
Convenience functions
>With the sunroof open, press the switch
twice:
The sunroof is raised.
>With the sunroof raised, briefly press the
switch twice in the opening direction:
The sunroof is completely opened.
Comfort position
In the comfort position, the sunroof is not com-
pletely open. This reduces the wind noise in the
passenger compartment.
Each time the panorama glass sunroof is com-
pletely opened or closed, it stops in the comfort
position. If you wish, you can resume the motion
by activating the switch.
After switching off ignition
You can operate the panorama glass sunroof for
approx. 1 minute as long as no door has been
opened.
Pinch protection system
If the panorama glass sunroof or sliding visor
encounter resistance when closing from
roughly one third of the roof opening or when
closing from the raised position, then the clos-
ing action is interrupted and the panorama
glass sunroof and sliding visor reopen slightly.
Despite the presence of the pinch protec-
tion system, inspect the sunroof's travel
path prior to closing it, as the safety system
might fail to detect certain kinds of obstruc-
tions, such as very thin objects, and the sunroof
would continue closing.<
Closing without pinch protection
system
If there is danger outside, press the switch
beyond the resistance point and hold it there.
The sunroof will close without the pinch protec-
tion system.
Following interruptions in electrical
power supply
After a power supply interruption, it may only be
possible to raise the sunroof. Have the system
reinitialized. BMW recommends having this
work carried out by your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
25
Moving manually*
In the event of an electrical malfunction, you can
move the sunroof manually.
1.Pull the cover firmly downward to remove.
2.Take the Allen wrench
* from the compart-
ment under cargo area floor, refer to
page112, and insert it into the opening pro-
vided. Move the sunroof into the desired
position. The arrow in the illustration indi-
cates the rotation direction for closing the
sunroof.
Alarm system*
The concept
The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood, or the liftgate is
opened.
>To movements inside the vehicle: interior
motion sensor, refer to description below.
>When the car's inclination changes, for
instance if an attempt is made to jack it up
and steal the wheels or to raise it prior to
towing away.
>To interruptions in battery voltage.The alarm system signals unauthorized
manipulations for a short time by:
>Sounding an acoustic alarm
>Switching on the hazard warning flashers
>Flashing the high beams
Arming and disarming alarm system
When you lock or unlock the vehicle, either with
the remote control or at the door lock, the alarm
system is armed or disarmed at the same time.
If the alarm system has been properly armed,
the hazard warning flashers light up once.
You can have different confirmation sig-
nals set to confirm arming and disarm-
ing.<
You can open the liftgate even when the system
is armed by using the button of the remote
control, refer to page20. When the liftgate is
closed, it is locked again and monitored.
Switching off alarm
>Unlock the vehicle using the remote control,
refer to page19.
>Turn the ignition key to position 1.
Indicator lamp displays
>The indicator lamp below the interior rear-
view mirror flashes continuously: the sys-
tem is armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes after the vehicle
is locked: doors, hood, or liftgate are not
properly closed. Even if you do not close the
alerted area, the system begins to monitor
the remaining areas, and the indicator lamp
flashes continuously after approx. 10 sec-

Opening and closing
26 onds. However, the interior motion sensor
is not activated.
>The indicator lamp goes out after unlocking:
no manipulation or attempted intrusions
have been detected in the period since the
system was armed.
>The indicator lamp flashes for 10 seconds
after the vehicle is unlocked: an attempted
entry has been detected in the period since
the system was armed.
Following triggering of an alarm, the indicator
lamp will flash continuously.
Tilt alarm sensor
The tilt of the vehicle is monitored. The alarm
system reacts, e.g. in case of an attempted
wheel theft or towing.
Interior motion sensor
In order for the interior motion sensor to func-
tion properly, the windows and panorama glass
sunroof must be completely closed.
Avoiding unintentional alarms
The tilt alarm sensor and interior motion sensor
may be switched off at the same time. This pre-
vents unintentional alarms, e.g. in the following
situations:
>In duplex garages
>When being transported on car-carrying
trains, aboard ship, or on a trailer
>When animals are to remain in the vehicle
Switching off tilt alarm sensor and
interior motion sensor
Press the button on the remote con-
trol again as soon as the vehicle is locked.
The indicator lamp lights up briefly and then
flashes continuously. The tilt alarm sensor and
the interior motion sensor are switched off until
the next time the vehicle is unlocked and subse-
quently locked again.If you wish, you can have the tilt alarm
sensor and interior motion sensor perma-
nently deactivated. You can have this setting
made at your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center.<

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
27
Adjustments
Sitting safely
The ideal sitting position can make a vital con-
tribution to relaxed driving that is as fatigue-free
as possible. Together with safety belts, head
restraints, and airbags, sitting position plays an
important role in an accident. Compliance with
the following instructions is important; failure to
do so could impair the protective function of the
safety systems.
For additional information on transporting chil-
dren safely, refer to page35.
Airbags
Always maintain an adequate distance
between yourself and the airbags. Always
hold the steering wheel by its rim with hands at
the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions, to mini-
mize the risk of injuries to your hands and arms
in the event of airbag deployment.
No one and nothing is to come between the air-
bags and the seat occupant.
Do not use the cover of the front airbag on the
front passenger side as a storage area. Make
sure that the passenger sits correctly, e.g. does
not rest his feet or legs on the dashboard. Oth-
erwise, a triggering of the front airbag could
result in leg injuries. Make sure that passengers
do not lean their heads against side or head air-
bags. Otherwise, a triggering of the airbag could
result in injuries.<
Even if you adhere to all the instructions, inju-
ries resulting from contact with airbags cannot
be entirely ruled out, depending on the circum-
stances. The ignition and inflation noise may
provoke a mild – usually temporary – hearing
loss in extremely sensitive individuals.
For airbag locations and additional information
on airbags, refer to page57.
Head restraint
A correctly adjusted head restraint reduces the
risk of damage to the cervical vertebrae in acci-
dents.
Adjust the head restraint so that its mid-
dle lies approximately at the height of
your ears. Otherwise, there is an increased risk
of injury in the event of an accident.<
Head restraints, refer to page29.
Safety belts
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.
Your vehicle has five seats that are each
equipped with a safety belt.
Never allow more than one person to
wear a single safety belt. Infants and chil-
dren must not ride on a lap. Make sure that the
belt in the lap area sits low against the hips and
does not press against the abdomen. The
safety belt must never rest against the throat,
rub against sharp edges, pass over hard or frag-
ile objects or be pinched. Fasten the safety belt
around your body snugly, making sure that it is
pulled taut across your lap and shoulder and
that it is not twisted; otherwise, the belt can
slide over the hips in the event of a frontal colli-
sion and injure your abdomen. Avoid wearing
clothing that prevents the belt from fitting prop-
erly and pull the shoulder belt upward periodi-
cally to readjust the tension across your lap in
order to avoid a reduction in the restraining
action of the safety belt.
If the middle safety belt is used, the larger part
of the backrest must be locked in position, refer
to page76; otherwise, the middle safety belt
cannot exert any restraining action.<
Safety belts, refer to page32.

Adjustments
28
Seats
Note before adjusting
Never try to adjust your seat while operat-
ing the vehicle. The seat could respond
with unexpected movement, and the ensuing
loss of vehicle control could lead to an accident.
On the passenger seat as well, do not incline
the backrest too far to the rear while the vehicle
is being driven; otherwise, there is a danger in
the event of an accident of sliding under the
safety belt, eliminating the protection normally
provided by the belt.<
Also follow the instructions regarding the
height of head restraints on page29 and
regarding safety belt damage on page33.
Adjusting manually
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection,
follow the adjustment instructions above.<
Longitudinal direction
Pull the lever 1 and slide the seat into the
desired position.
After you release the lever, move the seat for-
ward or backward slightly so that it engages
fully.
Height
Pull the lever 2 and apply weight to or remove
weight from the seat as needed.
Backrest
Pull the lever 3 and apply weight to or remove
weight from the backrest as needed.
Adjusting electrically*
To ensure that the safety systems con-
tinue to provide optimized protection, fol-
low the adjustment instructions above.<
1Tilt
2Longitudinal direction
3Height
4Backrest
Manually adjusting head restraint, refer to Head
restraints on page29.
Luxury seat*
With this seat, you can also electrically adjust
the height of the head restraint and the shoul-
der support.