wheels and tires BMW X5 2011 E70 Owner's Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: BMW, Model Year: 2011, Model line: X5, Model: BMW X5 2011 E70Pages: 312, PDF Size: 8.91 MB
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Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
Contents
The fastest way to find information on a partic-
ular topic or item is by using the index, refer to 
page292.
Using this Owner's Manual
4Notes
7Reporting safety defects
At a glance
10Cockpit
16iDrive
21Letters and numbers
22Voice activation system
Controls
26Opening and closing
42Adjusting
54Transporting children safely
58Driving
76Controls Overview
88Technology for comfort, convenience 
and safety
111Lamps
116Climate
124Practical interior accessories
Driving tips
138Things to remember when driving
Navigation
148Navigation system
149Destination entry
158Destination guidance
165What to do if …
Entertainment
168On/off and tone
171Radio
174Satellite radio
179CD/DVD player and CD/DVD changer
187Music collection
192External devices
196DVD system in rear
Communications
212Telephone
224Contacts
226BMW Assist
Mobility
234Refueling
239Wheels and tires
251Under the hood
256Maintenance
258Care
262Replacing components
273Giving and receiving assistance
Reference
280Technical data
285Short commands of voice activation 
system
292Everything from A - Z 
Page 101 of 312

Controls
 99Reference
At a glance
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Mobility
reduces the steering angle requirement, 
improves the running comfort and increases 
the dynamic driving characteristics of your 
BMW.
Chassis and suspension tuning
You can choose between two types of chassis 
and suspension tuning.
>Normal:
The comfortable basic setting offers opti-
mum comfort when traveling.
>Sport:
The sporty basic setting offers increased 
driving agility.
Selecting chassis and suspension 
tuning
Press the button. 
The system switches between the two chassis 
and suspension tuning settings.
>Sport:
The LED in the button lights up and SPORT 
is displayed in the instrument panel.
>Normal:
The LED in the button goes out.
The selection of the chassis and suspension 
tuning setting is stored for the remote control 
currently in use.
Drive-off assistant
The drive-off assistant enables you to start off 
conveniently on slopes. The parking brake is 
not required for this purpose.1.Hold the vehicle with the brake pedal.
2.Release the brake pedal and immediately 
drive off quickly.
The drive-off assistant holds the vehicle 
for approx. 2 seconds after releasing the 
brake pedal. Depending on the load, the vehicle 
may also roll back slightly during this time. 
After releasing the brake pedal, immediately 
start quickly, otherwise the drive-off assistant 
no longer holds the vehicle after approx. 
2 seconds and it begins to roll back.<
Self-leveling suspension*
The concept
The self-leveling suspension on the rear axle 
assures a continuous ground clearance.
To do so, the height of the vehicle is measured 
by sensors at both rear wheels.
If the actual height deviates from the defined 
height, e.g. due to loading of the vehicle, then 
this difference is compensated for very quickly. 
In addition, spring motions resulting from cor-
nering or irregularities in the road surface are 
reduced to a minimum.
The system functions automatically.
Malfunctions
Malfunctions are displayed via Check Control, 
refer to page82.
FTM Flat Tire Monitor*
The concept
The system does not measure the actual infla-
tion pressure in the tires.
The system detects a pressure loss in a tire by 
comparing the rotational speeds of the individ-
ual wheels while moving.
In the event of a pressure loss, the diameter and 
therefore the rotational speed of the corre-
sponding wheel change. This is detected and 
reported as a flat tire. 
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Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
100
Function requirements
The system must have been initialized while the 
tire inflation pressure was correct; otherwise, 
reliable signaling of a flat tire is not ensured.
Initialize the system after every correction of the 
tire inflation pressure and after every tire or 
wheel change.
System limits
Sudden serious tire damage caused by 
external influences cannot be indicated in 
advance.<
A natural, even pressure loss in all four tires 
cannot be detected. Therefore, check the tire 
inflation pressure regularly.
In the following situations, the system could be 
delayed or malfunction:
>System has not been initialized
>Driving on snowy or slippery road surface
>Sporty driving style: slip in the drive wheels, 
high lateral acceleration
>Driving with snow chains
*
When you are driving with the compact wheel* 
the Flat Tire Monitor is unable to function.
Status display
The current status of the Flat Tire Monitor can 
be displayed on the Control Display, e.g. 
whether or not the FTM is active.
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status"
3."Flat Tire Monitor"
The status is displayed.
Initialization
The initialization process adopts the set infla-
tion tire pressures as reference values for the 
detection of a flat tire. Initialization is started by 
confirming the inflation pressures.
Do not initialize the system when driving with 
snow chains
* or with the compact wheel*.
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status"
3."Reset"
4.Start the engine – do not drive away.
5.Start the initialization using "Reset".
6.Start to drive.
The initialization finishes during driving, 
which can be interrupted at any time. 
When driving resumes, the initialization is con-
tinued automatically.<
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamp lights up red. A 
message appears on the Control Dis-
play. In addition, an acoustic signal 
sounds. There is a flat tire or a major loss in tire 
inflation pressure.
Actions in the event of a flat tire
Run-flat tires
You can continue driving with a damaged tire at 
speeds up to 50 mph/80 km/h.
If the vehicle is not equipped with run-flat 
tires as provided at the factory, refer to 
page249, do not continue driving. Continuing 
to drive with a flat tire could cause severe acci-
dents.< 
Page 103 of 312

Controls
 101Reference
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Mobility
If you have deactivated DSC, it will be activated 
automatically.
When driving with a damaged tire:
1.Avoid sudden braking and steering maneu-
vers.
2.Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph/80 km/h.
If the defective tire continues to lose pres-
sure, its position will be indicated to you on 
the Control Display.
3.At the next opportunity, check the air pres-
sure in all four tires.
If the tire inflation pressure in all four 
tires is correct, the Flat Tire Monitor 
may not have been initialized. The system 
must then be initialized.<
Possible driving distance with complete loss of 
tire inflation pressure.
>With a light load: 
1 to 2 persons without luggage: 
Approx. 155 miles/250 km
>With a medium load: 
2 persons, cargo area full, or 
4 persons without luggage: 
Approx. 95 miles/150 km
>With a full load: 
4 or more persons, cargo area full: 
Approx. 30 miles/50 km
Drive cautiously and do not exceed 
speeds of 50 mph/80 km/h or else you 
run the risk of causing an accident.
A loss of tire inflation pressure results in a 
change in the handling characteristics, e.g. 
reduced lane stability during braking, a longer 
braking distance and altered self-steering prop-
erties.<
Vibrations or loud noises while driving can 
indicate complete failure of the tire. 
Reduce your speed and stop; otherwise, pieces 
of the tire could come loose and cause an acci-
dent. Do not continue driving, and contact your 
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle Center.
Monitoring of the tire inflation pressure in the 
four mounted tires. The system reports when 
the tire inflation pressure has dropped consid-
erably in one or several tires.
Function requirements
The system must have been reset while the 
inflation pressure was correct; otherwise, reli-
able signaling of a flat tire is not ensured.
Always use wheels with TPM electronics to 
ensure that the system will operate properly.
Reset the system again after each correc-
tion of the tire inflation pressure and after 
every tire or wheel change.<
System limits
Sudden serious tire damage caused by 
external influences cannot be indicated in 
advance.<
The system does not operate correctly if it has 
not been reset. For example, a flat tire may be 
indicated despite correct tire inflation pres-
sures.
The system is inactive and cannot indicate a flat 
tire:
>If a wheel without TPM electronics is 
mounted, e.g. a compact wheel
*
>If the TPM is disturbed by other systems or 
devices with the same radio frequency
Status display
The current status of the Tire Pressure Monitor 
TPM can be displayed on the Control Display, 
e.g. whether or not the TPM is active.
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status" 
Page 104 of 312

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
102 3."Tire Pressure Monitor - TPM"
The status is displayed.
Status display on Control Display
The tire and system status is indicated by the 
color of the tires.
A change in the tire inflation pressure during 
driving is taken into account.
A correction is only necessary if indicated by 
the TPM.
Green
The tire inflation pressure corresponds to the 
target value.
"TPM active" appears on the Control Display.
One wheel is yellow
A flat tire or major drop in inflation pressure in 
the indicated tire.
All wheels are yellow
>A flat tire or major drop in inflation pressure 
in several tires.
>The system was not reset after a wheel 
change and thus issues a warning based on 
the inflation pressures initialized last.
Gray
The system cannot detect a flat tire.
Reasons for this may be:
>TPM is being reset
>Interference due to systems or devices that 
use the same radio frequency
>Malfunction
Resetting system
Reset the system again after each correction of 
the tire inflation pressure and after every tire or 
wheel change.
Resetting finishes during driving, which can be 
interrupted at any time. When driving resumes, 
resetting is continued automatically. Do not 
reset the system when driving with a compact 
wheel
*.
1."Vehicle Info"
2."Vehicle status"
3."Reset TPM"
4.Start the engine – do not drive away.
5.Start the initialization using "Reset TPM".
6.Start to drive.
The tires are shown in gray and "Resetting 
TPM..." is displayed.
After a few minutes of driving, the set tire infla-
tion pressures in the tires are applied as the set 
values to be monitored. The resetting process 
is completed automatically as you drive. On the 
Control Display, the tires are shown in green 
and "Status: TPM active" is displayed again.
The trip can be interrupted at any time. When 
driving resumes, resetting is continued auto-
matically.
If a flat tire is detected while the system is 
resetting, all tires on the Control Display 
are displayed in yellow. The message "Low 
tire!" is shown.< 
Page 106 of 312

Technology for comfort, convenience and safety
104 possible, and inflate them to the proper pres-
sure. Driving on a significantly underinflated tire 
causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire 
failure. Underinflation also reduces fuel effi-
ciency and tire tread life, and may affect the 
vehicle's handling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute 
for proper tire maintenance, and it is the driver's 
responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure, 
even if underinflation has not reached the level 
to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire 
pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a 
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when 
the system is not operating properly. The 
TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with 
the low tire pressure telltale. When the system 
detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for 
approximately one minute and then remain con-
tinuously illuminated. This sequence will con-
tinue upon subsequent vehicle startups as long 
as the malfunction exists. When the malfunc-
tion indicator is illuminated, the system may not 
be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as 
intended. TPMS malfunctions may occur for a 
variety of reasons, including the installation of 
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the 
vehicle that prevent the TPMS from functioning 
properly. Always check the TPMS malfunction 
telltale after replacing one or more tires or 
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the 
replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow 
the TPMS to continue to function properly.
Lane departure warning*
The concept
On roads with lane markings, this system warns 
you at speeds exceeding approx. 40 mph/
65 km/h when the vehicle is about to leave the 
lane.
The steering wheel begins vibrating lightly.
The system does not issue a warning if the turn 
signal is set before leaving the lane.
Switching on/off
Press button 1 on the steering wheel.
>On: lane markings 2 light up.
>Off: lane markings 2 go out.
The system can issue warnings at speeds 
exceeding approx. 40 mph/65 km/h.
The state is stored for the remote control cur-
rently in use.
Display
1The system is activated.
2Arrows: at least one lane marking was 
detected and warnings can be issued.
Issuing a warning
If the vehicle begins leaving the lane and a lane 
marking has been detected, the steering wheel 
begins vibrating.
If the turn signal is set before the lane is 
changed, a warning is not issued.
Canceling a warning
The warning is canceled:
>Automatically after approx. 3 seconds.
>After the vehicle returns to its lane.
>During heavy brake application. 
Page 146 of 312

Things to remember when driving
144 >After driving through water at low speed, 
lightly press the brake pedal several times 
to dry the brakes and to prevent the braking 
effect from being reduced by wetness.
>Depending on the condition of the surface, 
it may be practical to briefly activate DTC, 
refer to DTC Dynamic Traction Control on 
page96.
>If the drive wheels spin on one side, depress 
the accelerator pedal sufficiently so that the 
driving stability control systems can distrib-
ute the drive forces to the individual wheels.
Please note the following points after driving on 
poor roads to maintain the driving safety of your 
BMW:
>Clean the coarsest dirt from the body.
>Clean mud, snow, ice etc. from the wheels 
and tires and check the tires for damage. 
Page 235 of 312

Mobility
This section helps you maintain your
mobility by supplying important information
on vital topics including fuels and lubricants,
wheels and tires, service, maintenance
and roadside assistance.
Mobility 
Page 241 of 312

Mobility
 239Reference
At a glance
Controls
Driving tips
Communications
Navigation
Entertainment
Wheels and tires
Tire inflation pressure
Information for your safety
The condition of the tires and the maintenance 
of the specified tire pressure are crucial not only 
to the tire's service life, but also to driving com-
fort and most importantly, driving safety.
Checking pressure
Only check tire inflation pressure when the tires 
are cold. This means after a maximum of 
1.25 miles/2 km driving or when the vehicle has 
been parked for at least 2 hours. When tires are 
warm, the tire inflation pressure increases.
Check the tire inflation pressure regularly 
and correct it as needed, even on the 
compact tire
*: at least twice a month and before 
starting long trips. If you fail to observe this pre-
caution, you may be driving on tires with incor-
rect tire pressures, a condition that can not only 
compromise your vehicle's driving stability, but 
also lead to tire damage and the risk of an acci-
dent. Do not drive with depressurized, i.e. flat 
tires, except run-flat tires. A flat tire will seri-
ously impair your vehicle's handling and braking 
response. Attempts to drive on a flat tire can 
lead to a loss of control over the vehicle.<
After correcting the tire inflation pressure, 
reinitialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to 
page100, or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor, 
refer to page102.<
Pressure specifications
The tables below provide all the correct inflation 
pressures for the specified tire sizes at ambient 
temperature.
The inflation pressures apply to the tire 
sizes and tire brands respectively 
approved and recommended by BMW; a list of 
these is available from your BMW Sports Activ-
ity Vehicle Center.
ing:
>Tire sizes of your vehicle
>Load conditions
>Maximum allowable driving speed
Tire inflation pressures for speeds 
up to 100 mph/160 km/h
For normal driving up to 100 mph/160 km/h, 
adjust pressures to the respective tire inflation 
pressures listed on the following pages in the 
column Traveling speeds up to max. of 
100 mph/160 km/h to achieve optimum driving 
comfort.
These pressure specifications can be found on 
the door post when you open the driver's door.
The permissible top speed for these tire 
inflation pressures is 100 mph/160 km/h. 
Do not exceed this speed, otherwise tire dam-
age and accidents may result.<
Tire inflation pressures for speeds 
above 100 mph/160 km/h
In order to drive at maximum speeds in 
excess of 100 mph/160 km/h, please 
observe, and, if necessary, adjust tire pressures 
for speeds exceeding 100 mph/160 km/h from 
the relevant table on the following pages. Oth-
erwise tire damage and accidents could 
occur.< 
Page 242 of 312

Wheels and tires
240 Observe all national and local maximum speed 
limits, otherwise violations of the law could 
occur.