ECU BMW X3 3.0SI 2008 Owners Manual

X3 3.0i
X3 3.0siOwner's Manual for Vehicle
Congratulations, and thank you for choosing a BMW.
Thorough familiarity with your vehicle will provide you with
enhanced control and security when you drive it. We therefore
have this request:
Please take the time to read this Owner's Manual and familiarize
yourself with the information that we have compiled for you
before starting off in your new vehicle. It contains important data
and instructions intended to assist you in gaining maximum use
and satisfaction from your BMW's unique range of technical fea-
tures. The manual also contains information on maintenance
designed to enhance operating safety and contribute to main-
taining the value of your BMW throughout an extended service
life.
This manual is supplemented by a Service and Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet for US models or a Warranty and Service Guide
Booklet for Canadian models.
We wish you an enjoyable driving experience.
BMW AG

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

Opening and closing
18
Opening and closing
Key set
1Master keys with remote control
2Spare key
Master keys with remote control
Each master key contains a battery that is auto-
matically charged in the ignition lock during
driving. Use the master key at least twice a year
in order to maintain its charge condition.
Depending on which master key is detected by
the vehicle during unlocking, different settings
in the vehicle are requested and executed, refer
to Key Memory.
Spare key
For storage in a safe place, such as in your wal-
let.
This key does not fit in the lock of the glove
compartment. This is an advantage, e.g. when
valet parking. The key is not intended for con-
stant use.
New keys
You can get replacement keys or spare keys
from your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
Vehicle Memory, Key Memory
How the system functions
You have probably frequently wished that you
could configure individual functions of your
vehicle to reflect your own personal require-
ments. In developing your vehicle, BMW has
incorporated a number of options for personal
adjustment. You can have these programmed
at your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
There are vehicle-related and person-related
adjustments: Vehicle Memory and Key Mem-
ory. You can configure up to four different basic
adjustments for four different persons. The only
requirement is that each person use his or her
own master key with remote control.
When your vehicle is unlocked with the remote
control, the vehicle recognizes the individual
user by means of a data exchange with the key,
and makes adjustments accordingly.
In order for you to distinguish between the mas-
ter keys with remote control, color-coded
decals are supplied together with the keys.
What the system can do
Ask your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center
about the possibilities of Vehicle Memory and
Key Memory.
You will see this symbol throughout the
Owner's Manual. It is to remind you at
appropriate places of the settings that are avail-
able to you.<
Following configuration of memory func-
tions, vehicle operation may differ from
the description in the Owner's Manual. Should
you wish to sell your BMW some day, please
remember to have the memory functions reset
to the factory default settings.<

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
35
Transporting children safely
The right place for children
Do not leave children unattended in the
vehicle; otherwise, they could endanger
themselves and/or others, for example by open-
ing the doors.<
Children always in the rear
Accident research has demonstrated that the
safest place for children is in the rear seat.
Children younger than 13 or smaller than
5 ft/150 cm should only ride in the rear, in
child restraint systems provided in accordance
with their age, weight, and height. Otherwise,
there is an increased risk of injury in the event of
an accident.<
Children older than 13 must be secured with a
safety belt as soon as they have outgrown a
suitable child restraint system due to their age,
height, and weight.
Exception for the front passenger seat
If it should be necessary to use a child
restraint system on the front passenger
seat, the front and side airbags must be deacti-
vated. Otherwise, there is an increased risk of
injury to the child if the airbag is triggered, even
with a child restraint system.<
For more information on automatic deactivation
of the front passenger airbags, refer to page57.
Installing child restraint
systems
Follow the child restraint system manu-
facturer's instructions for selection,
installation and use of the child restraint sys-
tem. Otherwise, the degree of protection can be
reduced.<
On the passenger's seat
After installing a child restraint system on
the passenger seat, make sure that the
front and side airbag on the front passenger
side have been deactivated. Otherwise, there is
an increased risk of injury when the airbags are
triggered.<
Child seat security
In order to permit installation of child restraint
systems, all rear safety belts and the front pas-
senger safety belt can be locked to prevent
them from being pulled out.
Locking safety belt
1.Secure child restraint system with the belt.
2.Pull safety belt strap all the way out.
3.Allow safety belt to retract and pull it snugly
against the child restraint system. The
safety belt is locked.
Unlocking safety belt
1.Open safety belt buckle.
2.Remove child restraint system.
3.Allow safety belt strap to retract all the way.

Transporting children safely
36
LATCH child restraint fixing
system
LATCH: Lower Anchor and Tethers for CHil-
dren.
For attachment and use of LATCH child
restraint fixing systems, follow the oper-
ating and safety instructions of the system
manufacturer.<
Before attaching the child's seat, pull the belt
out of the vicinity of the child's seat attachment
points.
Make sure that the LATCH anchors have
correctly engaged and the child restraint
system is resting snugly against the backrest.<
Rear seats
The anchorage points for the LATCH mounts
are located behind the cover caps. Before
installing the child's seat, pull the cover caps
out toward the front.
Child restraint system with tether strap
The top tether strap attachment points
are only intended for attachment of child
restraint systems; other uses can damage the
attachment points. there are three additional attachment points,
refer to arrows, under covers in the floor of the
cargo area. Remove the corresponding cover
before use.
Routing of tether strap
Make sure that the tether strap is not
routed over sharp objects and does not
twist on its way to the attachment point; other-
wise, the belt can fail to properly secure the
child restraint system in the event of an acci-
dent.<
1Direction of travel
2Head restraint
3Child restraint system tether strap
4Tether strap hook
5Cargo area floor
6Attachment point
7Backrest
Before using the attachment points, remove the
cover caps.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
41
P Park
Select only when the vehicle is stationary. The
transmission locks to prevent the rear wheels
from turning.
R Reverse
Select only when the vehicle is stationary.
N Neutral
You can shift into neutral, for example, in auto-
matic car washes. This allows the vehicle to roll.
D Drive, automatic position
Under normal operating conditions, fuel con-
sumption is the lowest when the vehicle is
driven in position D.
Kick-down
The kick-down mode provides maximum accel-
eration.
Press the accelerator pedal past the increased
resistance point at the full-throttle position.
Sport program and manual mode M/S
Move the selector lever from position D toward
the left into the M/S shifting slot.
The Sport program is activated and SD appears
in the instrument cluster. This position is rec-
ommended for a performance-oriented driving
style.
When you push the selector lever forward or
pull it back, this activates the manual mode and
Steptronic changes gear. The instrument clus-
ter displays M1 to M6.
Upshifts and downshifts are executed only
when they will result in a plausible combination
of engine and vehicle speed; as a result, for example, a downshift that would cause the
engine to overrev will not be executed by the
system. The gear selected will appear briefly in
the instrument cluster, followed by the current
gear.
To use the automatic function again, move the
selector lever to the right into position D.
Malfunction
Red warning lamp
The transmission is overheated.
Reduce speed immediately and stop at
a suitable location so that the transmis-
sion can cool down again. It is possible to con-
tinue driving moderately.
Have the system checked immediately.
Yellow warning lamp
A malfunction has occurred in the trans-
mission system. Avoid heavy loads.
While it will still remain possible to move
the selector lever to any desired position, the
transmission will revert to its default mode with
only a limited number of forward gears.
Have the system checked as soon as possible.
Instructions on towing, tow starting and jump
starting begin on page117.
Turn signals/
headlamp flasher
1High beams
2Headlamp flasher
3Turn signals

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
57
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 page35.
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

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
69
Practical interior accessories
Integrated universal remote
control*
The concept
The integrated universal remote control can
replace as many as three hand-held transmit-
ters for various radio-controlled accessories,
such as garages, exterior gates, or lighting sys-
tems. The integrated universal remote control
recognizes and learns the transmitted signal of
each of the original hand-held transmitters.
The signal of an original hand-held transmitter
can be programmed on one of the three mem-
ory buttons1. Then, the programmed memory
button1 can operate the device whenever the
ignition is switched on. The LED2 indicates
transmission of the signal.
Should you sell your vehicle one day, be sure to
delete the stored programs beforehand for your
security, refer to page70.
To prevent possible damage or injury,
before programming or using the inte-
grated universal remote control, always inspect
the immediate area to make certain that no peo-
ple, animals or objects are within the travel
range of the device. Also, comply with the
safety precautions of the original hand-held
transmitter.<
Checking compatibility
If you see this symbol on the packaging
or in the manual supplied with the origi-
nal hand-held transmitter, then it is safe
to assume that the radio-controlled device is
compatible with the integrated universal
remote control.
If you have additional questions, please
ask at your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle
Center or call: 1-800-355-3515.
You can find also information on the Internet at:
www.bmwusa.com or
www.homelink.com. HomeLink is a registered trademark of
Johnson Controls, Inc.<
Programming
1Memory buttons
2LED
Fixed-code hand-held transmitters
1.Turn the ignition key to position 2.
2.For initial use: press the left and right mem-
ory button1 for approx. 20 seconds until
the LED2 flashes rapidly. All stored pro-
grams are deleted.
3.Hold the original hand-held transmitter at
a distance of approx. 4 in/10 cm to 12 in/
30 cm from the memory buttons1.
The required distance between the
hand-held transmitter and memory
buttons1 depends on the relevant system
of the original hand-held transmitter used.<
4.Simultaneously press the transmit button
on the original hand-held transmitter and
the desired memory button 1 of the inte-
grated universal remote control. Initially, the
LED2 flashes slowly. Release both buttons
as soon as the LED2 flashes rapidly. If the
LED2 does not flash rapidly after approx.
15 seconds, then change the distance and
repeat the step.
5.To program other original hand-held trans-
mitters, repeat steps 3 and 4.

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.