sensor BMW X3 XDRIVE 30I 2009 E83 Owner's Manual

Cockpit
10
Cockpit
Controls
1Parking lamps/low beams59
2Front fog lamps
*61
3>Turn signals41
>Roadside parking lamps60
>High beams60
>Headlamp flasher41
>Computer484Horn, the entire surface
5Washer/wiper system/rain sensor*42
6Hazard warning flashers
7Central locking system19
8Unlocking hood101

Opening and closing
20 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
>When vehicle is unlocked
Press button for unlocking or locking
>When vehicle is locked
Press button for unlocking
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. 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
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
page117, 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 manip-
ulations 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.<

Driving
42 Atypically rapid flashing of the indicator
lamp indicates that a turn signal bulb has
gone out.<
Signaling briefly
Press lever to resistance point and hold for as
long as you wish to signal.
Touch signaling
Press lever to resistance point.
The signal flashes three times.
If you wish, you can have this function
deactivated.<
Washer/wiper system/
rain sensor*
0Wipers retracted
1Intermittent or rain sensor operation
2Normal wiper speed
3Fast wipe
4Brief wipe
5Select interval time or set sensitivity of
rain sensor
Fold-out position
The right wiper is partially concealed by the
hood.
To move the wipers into a vertical position:
1.Switch on wipers in lever position 1.
2.When the wipers are approximately vertical,
move the ignition key to position 0.
For changing the wiper blades, refer to
page112.Fold the wipers back down onto the wind-
shield before you turn the ignition key to
position 1 or 2 again. If you do not, they could be
damaged.<
Intermittent mode
Not provided in vehicles with rain sensor.
You can set the wipe interval to four stages with
the serrated dial 5.
In addition, the wipe interval is varied automati-
cally depending on road speed.
Rain sensor*
The rain sensor automatically controls wiper
operation as a function of the rain intensity.
The sensor is mounted on the windshield,
directly in front of the interior rearview mirror.
Deactivate the rain sensor when passing
through an automatic car wash. Failure to
do so could result in damage caused by undes-
ired wiper activation.<
Activating
With the ignition key in position 1 or higher,
move the lever to position1. The wipers travel
once across the windshield, regardless of the
weather conditions.
You can leave the lever permanently in posi-
tion1 and then only need to activate the rain
sensor whenever the ignition key is in position 1
or higher. To do so:
>Briefly turn the serrated dial 5 or
>Clean the windshield 1, refer to page43
Adjusting sensitivity
Turn the serrated dial 5.
Deactivating
Switch lever to position 0.
Normal wiper speed
The system switches automatically to intermit-
tent mode when the vehicle is stationary, not on
vehicles with rain sensor.

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
43
Fast wipe
The wipers operate at normal speed when the
vehicle is stationary, not on vehicles with rain
sensor.
Cleaning windshield, rear window and
headlamps*
0Wipers retracted
1Cleaning windshield and headlamps
2Rear window wiper intermittent mode
3Cleaning rear window
Do not activate the washer if there is
any danger of the fluid freezing on the
windshield. If you do so, your vision could be
obscured. To avoid freezing, use a washer fluid
antifreeze, refer to Washer fluid. Do not activate
the washer when the washer fluid is empty as
this will damage the washer pump.<
Cleaning windshield
The system sprays washer fluid against the
windshield and activates the wipers for a brief
period.
The washer jets are automatically heated
whenever the engine is running or the ignition is
switched on.
Cleaning headlamps*
When the vehicle lighting system is switched
on, the headlamps are cleaned at regular and
appropriate intervals.
Rear window wiper
Rear window wiper in intermittent mode. When
reverse gear is engaged, the wiper operates
continuously.You can also program the interval:
1.Briefly move the wiper lever from position 0
to position 2.
2.Wait for desired interval; maximum of
30 seconds.
3.Move the wiper lever from position 0 to
position 2 again.
Washer fluid
Washer fluid antifreeze is flammable. For
this reason, keep it away from sources of
flame and store it only in its original containers.
Store it so that it is inaccessible to children.
Always follow the instructions for use provided
on the containers.<
Filler neck for Washer fluid
Only refill washer fluid when the engine is
cool in order to prevent contact with hot
engine components. Otherwise, there is a risk
of fire and personal injury if the fluid spills.<
All of the washer jets are supplied from one res-
ervoir.
Fill with water and, if required, with an antifreeze
additive according to manufacturer's recom-
mendations.
To maintain the mixing ratio, mix the
washer fluid before adding it to the reser-
voir.<
Capacity
Approx. 3.2 US quarts/3 liters.
With headlamp washer system
*
approx. 6.9 US quarts/6.5 liters.

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
50
Technology for comfort, convenience and
safety
PDC Park Distance Control*
The concept
PDC provides extra safety and convenience
during parking maneuvers. Audible signals indi-
cate that you are approaching an object in front
of or behind your vehicle. To measure the dis-
tance, there are four ultrasonic sensors in each
bumper.
An acoustic signal begins to sound when the
front sensors and the rear corner sensors are
within approx. 2 ft/60 cm of an obstacle and
when the rear middle sensors are within approx.
5 ft/1.50 m of an obstacle.
PDC is a parking aid that can indicate
objects when they are approached
slowly, as is usually the case when parking.
Avoid approaching objects too fast; otherwise,
the system may give warning of physical obsta-
cles too late.<
If you are driving with a trailer, the rear sensors
cannot take any meaningful measurements.
Consequently, they do not switch on.
Automatic mode
In ignition key position 2, the system is auto-
matically activated after approx. 1 second each
time you shift into reverse or move the selector-
lever into position R. Wait for one second to
pass before moving.
You can have a signal tone programmed
into the system to verify that the PDC is
active.<
Activating manual mode
In ignition key position 2, press the button; the
LED lights up.
Deactivating manual mode
Press the button again, the LED goes out.
The system is automatically deactivated once
the vehicle travels approx. 160 ft/50 m or
exceeds a speed of roughly 20 mph/30 km/h;
the LED goes out. You can reactivate the sys-
tem manually as needed.
Signal tones
An intermittent tone from a rear speaker signals
the distance to an object behind the vehicle as
you approach it.
An intermittent tone from a speaker beneath
the instrument cluster signals the distance to an
object in front of the vehicle as you approach it.
As the distance between vehicle and object
decreases, the intervals between the tones
become shorter. The signal tone becomes con-
tinuous once the distance to the nearest object
falls to below roughly 1 ft/30 cm.
An intermittent tone is interrupted after approx.
3seconds:
>If you remain in front of an object that is only
detected by one of the corner sensors
>If you are moving parallel to a wall

Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Mobility
51
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 page84.
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

Air conditioner
68
AUC Automatic Recirculated-air
Control/recirculated air mode
You can set the desired operating
mode by pressing the button
repeatedly:
>LEDs off: outside air continuously flows into
the vehicle.
>Left LED on, AUC mode: a sensor detects
pollutants in the outside air. The system
suspends the supply of outside air as
needed and recirculates the air currently
within the vehicle. As soon as the concen-
tration of pollutants in the outside air has
decreased sufficiently, the system switches
automatically back to supplying outside air.
>Right LED on, recirculated-air mode: the
outside air supply into the vehicle is shut off
continuously. The system then recirculates
the air currently within the vehicle.
If the windows fog over in recirculated-air
mode, then press the AUTO button or
switch off the recirculated air mode and
increase the air volume 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.<
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.
Ventilation
1Serrated dials for opening and closing the
air vents through an infinitely variable range
2Levers for changing airflow direction
3Serrated dial for more or less cool air from
the air vents for the upper body region,
independent of the temperature selected
on the automatic climate control
Ventilation for cooling
Adjust the vents to direct the flow of cool air in
your direction, for instance, if the interior has
become too warm.
Draft-free ventilation
Set the vent outlets so that the air flows past
you and is not directed straight at you.
Microfilter/activated-charcoal filter*
The microfilter removes dust and pollen from
the incoming outside air. The activated-char-
coal filter provides additional protection by fil-
tering gaseous pollutants from the outside air.
This combined filter is replaced when mainte-
nance is performed by your BMW Sports Activ-
ity Vehicle Center. A substantial reduction in
air supply indicates that the filter should be
replaced before normal maintenance.

Things to remember when driving
84
General driving notes
Closing liftgate
Operate the vehicle only when the liftgate
is completely closed; otherwise, exhaust
fumes could enter the interior of the vehicle.<
If special circumstances should make it abso-
lutely necessary to operate the vehicle with the
liftgate open:
1.Close all windows and the panorama glass
sunroof.
2.Greatly increase the air supply of the air
conditioning system or automatic climate
control, refer to page64 or67.
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.<
When 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 page33;
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 page42.
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 page98.
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 rotors and pads.
The full braking force will then be available
when you need it.