seats BMW X3 3.0SI 2008 Owners Manual

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.

Adjustments
30 Do not use seat or head-restraint covers
which could impair the operability of the
active head restraint. Otherwise, the protective
function of the active head restraint is not
ensured and its potential to reduce injuries in a
rear-end collision cannot be fully utilized.
Have the active head restraints reset after being
triggered in a rear-end collision. Have work on
your vehicle done only by a BMW Sports Activ-
ity Vehicle Center or a workshop that works
according to BMW repair procedures with cor-
respondingly trained personnel. Otherwise, this
restraint device will not function.<
Please contact a BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle Center if the front head restraints
are to be removed and installed.<
Front seats: adjusting height
>To raise: pull upward.
>To lower: press button, arrow 1, and slide
head restraint downward.
Front seats: adjusting distance to back
of head
>To move forward: pull upward.
>To move back: press button and slide back
head cushion.Do not insert objects behind head cush-
ion, as otherwise operability of head
restraint is impaired.<
Luxury seat*
You can adjust the distance to the back of the
head with the shoulder support, refer to
page28.
Adjusting height
You can adjust the height of the head restraint
electrically.
Adjusting side extensions
You can fold the side extensions on the head
restraint forward for increased lateral support in
the resting position.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
31
Rear seats: adjusting height
>To raise: pull upward.
>To lower: press button, arrow 1, and slide
head restraint downward.
The center head restraint is not height-adjust-
able.
Removal
1.Pull the head restraint upward to the stop.
2.Press button, arrow 1, and pull head
restraint all the way out.
Heated seats*
Front
Press once for each temperature level. Maxi-
mum temperature when three LEDs are lit.
To switch off:
Press the button and hold it longer.
Rear
Functions the same as front seat heating, two
temperature levels.
Seat and mirror memory*
You can store and select three different adjust-
ment settings for the driver's seat and exterior
mirrors.
The adjustment of the lumbar support is not
stored in the memory.
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.

Adjustments
32
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
safety belt reminder is also activated if the pas-
senger side safety belt has not yet been fas-
tened, if objects are placed on the passenger's
seat, or if the driver or front passenger's safety
belt is released.
Releasing
1.Hold the belt firmly.
2.Press the red button in the buckle.
3.Guide the belt back into its reel.
The upper shoulder strap's anchorage point will
be in the correct position for seat occupants of

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
37
Outer seats:
1.Slide head restraint upward.
2.Guide upper tether strap between the sup-
ports of the head restraint.
3.Attach tether strap hook to attachment
point.
4.Slide head restraint into the lowest position.
5.Pull tether strap tight.
Middle seat:
1.Fold center armrest slightly forward.
2.Guide tether strap through the opening.
3.Fold center armrest back.
4.Attach tether strap hook to attachment
point.
5.Pull tether strap tight.
When using the cargo area cover:
Guide tether strap through between the rear
seat backrest and the cargo area cover.When driving
With side airbags in the rear, make sure
that children do not lean out of the child's
seat toward the door panel; otherwise, injuries
can result if the side airbags are triggered.<
Child-safety lock of rear doors
Slide down the safety levers on the rear doors:
The door can now be opened from the outside
only.
Safety switch for power windows
Press the safety switch for the power windows,
refer to page23, when children are in the rear of
the vehicle.

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
58 seat from below. Otherwise, a correct analysis
of the seat cushion is not ensured.<
Status of passenger airbags
The indicator lamp for the passenger airbag
indicates the functional status of the front and
side airbag on the passenger side depending on
whether or not the seat is occupied. By lighting
up, the indicator lamp indicates that the pas-
senger airbags deactivated.
>The indicator lamp lights up when a child
sitting as directed in a child restraint system
designed for this is detected.
The front and side airbags on the passenger
side are deactivated.
Most child seats are detected by the
system. It is particularly advisable to
use the child seats approved by NHTSA at
the time the vehicle was produced. After
installing a child's seat, make sure that the
indicator lamp for the front passenger air-
bags has illuminated. This indicates that the
system has detected the child's seat and
that the front passenger airbags have been
deactivated.<
>The indicator lamp does not come on as
long as a person of sufficient size and in a
correct sitting position is detected on the
seat. The front and side airbags for the pas-
senger are activated.
>The indicator lamp does not light up when
the seat is empty.
In this case, the front and side airbags for
the passenger are deactivated.
Operational readiness of airbag system
When the ignition key is moved into position 1,
the warning lamp lights up briefly, thus indicat-
ing the operational readiness of the entire air-
bag system and the safety belt tensioners.
Airbag system malfunction
>Warning lamp does not come on when the
ignition key is moved into position 1.
>The warning lamp lights up continuously.
Have the airbag system checked immedi-
ately if a malfunction occurs; otherwise,
there is a danger of the system failing to
respond in the expected manner to an impact
occurring within its normal response range.<

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.