Snow BMW X5 3.0I 2006 E53 Owner's Manual

ContentsOperation, maintenance
Owner service procedures
Special operating instructions:
Breaking-in136
General driving notes137
Driving your X5138
Safe braking140
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure141
Tire identification marks145
Wheel/tire condition146
Replacing wheels/tires148
Snow chains149
Under the hood:
Hood150
Engine compartment
essentials151
Washer fluid152
Engine oil152
Coolant154
Brake fluid155Care and maintenance:
The BMW Maintenance
System156
OBD interface socket157Replacement procedures:
Onboard tool kit160
Windshield wiper blades160
Lamps and bulbs161
Changing a wheel165
Vehicle battery171
Fuses172
Assistance, giving and
receiving:
Receiving assistance173
Jump starting174
Tow-starting and towing175

OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
71n
Washer/wiper system/rain sensor
*
Cruise control
*
Rear window wiper 0 Retracted position of the rear window
wiper
1 Rear window wiper in intermittent
mode. When the transmission is
shifted into reverse, continuous rear
wiper operation is switched on auto-
matically
2 Cleaning rear window
You can also program the interval:
>Switch briefly from position 0 to posi-
tion 1
>Wait the desired interval time and
th en sw itc h fr om p osit ion 0 to 1 again
to establish the programmed inter-
val; max. 30 seconds. 530de266
Programming is deleted:
>approximately 10 seconds after the
lever is placed in position 0 or
>after the engine is switched off.
For changing the wiper blade, refer to
page160.You can automatically maintain and
store any desired vehicle speed above
approx. 20 mph/30 km/h.
You can use cruise control whenever
the system is active while the engine is
running.
On the sports steering wheel
*, there
are +/– buttons on the right side of the
steering wheel for the cruise control.
Do not use the cruise control
when unfavorable conditions do
not permit driving at constant speed.
Otherwise you could lose control of the
vehicle and cause an accident. These
unfavorable conditions include winding
roads, heavy traffic or poor road condi-
tions, e.g. snow, rain, ice or a loose
road surface.<

91n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
PDC Park Distance Control
* Antilock Brake System
Signal tones The distance from an object is indicated
in front with a higher intermittent tone,
and at the rear with a lower intermittent
tone. As the distance between vehicle
and object decreases, the intervals
between the tones become shorter.
The signal tone becomes continuous
once the distance to the nearest object
falls to below roughly 1 ft/30 cm.
The warning signal is canceled after
approx. 3 seconds if you are moving
parallel to a wall. MalfunctionsThe LED flashes and a short steady sig-
nal tone is sounded
>if you activate PDC with the button
>when you select reverse for the first
time after switching on the ignition
>if a malfunction occurs while the PDC
system is active.
Switch the system off and have the
cause of the malfunction corrected by
your BMW Sports Activity Vehicle cen-
ter.
System limits
Even with PDC, final responsibility
for estimating the distance
between the vehicle and any obstruc-
tions always remains with the driver.
Even when sensors are involved, there
is a blind spot in which objects cannot
be detected. This applies especially in
those cases where the system
approaches the physical constraints of
ultrasonic measurement, as occurs with
tow bars and trailer couplings, and in
the vicinity of thin or wedge-shaped
objects. It is also possible that low
objects already displayed, such as curb
edges, may come into the blind spot of
the sensors before a continuous signal
sounds or that higher, protruding
objects, such as ledges, will not be
detected.
Loud sources of sound, inside and out-
side the vehicle, could drown out the
PDC signal tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free
of ice or snow in order to ensure
that they will continue to operate effec-
tively.
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 sensors.<
The concept The ABS Antilock Brake System pre-
vents the wheel brakes from locking
during braking. Safe steering response
is maintained even during full braking.
This increases active safety.
The ABS is operational every time you
start the engine. Safe braking, refer to
page 140.EBV Electronic brake-force
distribution EBV controls the brake system's appli-
cation pressure at the rear wheels to
ensure stable deceleration.DBC Dynamic Brake Control When the brake pedal is depressed
rapidly, this system automatically gen-
erates a maximum boost of braking
force and thus aids in keeping braking
distances as short as possible during
full braking. This system exploits all of
the benefits provided by ABS.
Do not reduce the pressure on the
brake pedal for the duration of the
brake application. DBC is deactivated
when you release the brake pedal.

93n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
DSC Dynamic Stability ControlSwitching DSC offPress the button; the indicator lamp
comes on and stays on.
Stabilizing interventions of the chassis
control system DSC are no longer avail-
able. However, the braking interven-
tions that simulate the function of the
differential lock continue to be active.
In the following exceptional circum-
stances, it may be effective to switch off
the DSC for a short period:
>When rocking a stuck vehicle free
and when starting off in deep snow or
on loose road surfaces
>On sandy road surfaces
>On poor surfaces with deep ruts 530de414
>If the wheels churn on muddy sur-
faces
>When driving with snow chains.
When the DSC system is switched
off, braking maneuvers may sub-
ject the brakes to additional loads.
Automatic limitation of braking action
may briefly occur in order to limit brake
temperatures.
To maintain vehicle stability, always
drive with the system switched on when
possible.<
Switching DSC on Press the button a second time – the
indicator lamp goes out. DSC is now
activated.MalfunctionsPlease be sure to read the information
on the DSC Dynamic Stability Control/
xDrive warning lamp on page 22 and on
the possible lamp combinations that
can light up on page 20.530de414

98n
Brake force display Flat Tire MonitorThe brake lamps light up in two stages,
depending on how forcefully you apply
the brakes.
>Normal braking:
The brake lamp 1 and the center
brake lamp light up
>Heavy braking:
The brake lamps 1 and 2 light up
together with the center brake lamp.530de400
The concept The Flat Tire Monitor keeps track of the
inflation pressures in the four fitted tires
as you drive. The system provides an
alert whenever the inflation pressure in
one tire drops significantly in relation to
the pressure in another tire.
The check of the tire inflation pressure
is based on monitoring the relative
speeds of the wheels. A flat is detected
and reported on the basis of a deviation
in certain speed ratios.Functional requirementTo ensure reliable operation, the sys-
tem should have been initialized with
the correct tire inflation pressure.
System limits
The Flat Tire Monitor cannot indi-
cate sudden severe tire damage
caused by outside factors and does not
detect a natural, even pressure drop in
all four tires.<
In the following situations, the system
could be delayed or malfunction:
>When driving on snow-covered or
slippery road surfaces
>In the case of performance-oriented
driving: slip in the drive wheels, high
lateral acceleration
>False alarms and undetected loss of
pressure may occur when you are
driving with snow chains fitted.

99n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Flat Tire MonitorInitializing system
Perform the initialization immedi-
ately every time you correct the
inflation pressure, change a tire or
change a wheel or all wheels. The vehi-
cle must be driven during initialization.<
1. Start the engine, but do not begin to
drive immediately.
2. Press the button until the yellow indi-
cator lamp in the instrument cluster
lights up for a few seconds.
3. Begin driving.
530de419
It takes a few minutes of driving before
the Flat Tire Monitor can detect and
report a flat tire.
When driving with snow chains,
do not initialize the system.<
Indication of a flat tire
The warning lamp lights up yel-
low. There is a flat tire or exten-
sive inflation pressure loss.
1. Reduce speed and stop the vehicle
carefully. Avoid sudden braking and
steering maneuvers
2. Identify damaged tire
If identification is not possible,
contact your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center.<
3. Replace the damaged wheel, refer to
Changing a wheel on page 165.

100n
Parking lamps/side marker lamps
The front, rear and side vehicle
lighting is switched on. You can
use the parking lamps for park-
ing. For lighting on one side for parking
as an additional feature, refer to
page101.
Low beams
When the ignition is switched off
and the low beams are on, only
the parking lamps/side marker
lamps remain on.
530us215
Pathway lighting:
When you activate the headlamp
flasher after parking the vehicle and
switching off the lamps, the low beams
will come on for a brief period. You may
also have this function deactivated if
you wish.<
Lights on warning Whenever you open the driver's door,
after having turned the ignition key to
position 0, an acoustic signal will sound
for a few seconds to remind you that
the lamps have not been switched off.
Alphanumeric Check Control
*:
The reminder is given through the
Check Control.
Daytime driving lamps
*
The headlamps are automatically
switched on for daytime driving at igni-
tion key position 2.
Automatic headlamp control
*
When you set the switch to this
position, the system activates
and switches on and off the low
beams in response to changes in ambi-
ent light conditions, for instance, in tun-
nels, at dawn and dusk, and in rain and
snow.
The low beams remain switched
on regardless of the ambient light
when you switch on the front fog
lamps.<
Automatic headlamp control can-
not serve as a substitute for the
driver's judgment in determining when
the vehicle lamps should be switched
on. For example, the system cannot
detect fog. To avoid safety risks, you
should always switch on the lamps
manually under these conditions.<
You can have the sensitivity of the
headlamp control system adjusted
on your vehicle.<
Parking lamps/low beams

123n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Ski bag
*
The ski bag allows the safe and clean
transport of up to four pairs of standard
skis or up to two snowboards.
With the length of the ski bag and the
additional space in the cargo area, you
can store skis up to 6.8 ft/2.1 m length.
Because stowing skis of this maximum
length causes the ski bag to narrow, it
can only accommodate two pairs of
skis with a length of 6.8 ft/2.1 m.
Loading 1. Fold down the center armrest.
Loosen the trim from the upper
Velcro® fastener and place it onto the
armrest 530us077
2. Press button 1 downward and swing
the cover forward
3. Press button 2: the cover in the
cargo area is unlocked.
With pull-out cargo floor, refer to
page128: pull out floor, release
cover and push back floor again; the
floor then conceals the cover
4. Place ski bag between the front
seats and load. The zip fastener facil-
itates access to the stowed items.
Make sure that only clean skis are
loaded into the ski bag. Wrap sharp
edges so that no damage occurs.530de283

139n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Driving your X5>Please note that it is possible for the
undercarriage to touch the ground,
for example on crests and bumpy
roads. The ground clearance of the
vehicle is:
– without self-leveling suspension
X5 3.0i, 4.4i: 8 in/20 cm
X5 3.0d: 7 in/17.5 cm
– with 2-axle self-leveling suspen-
sion
*
6.5-9 in/16.5-22 cm, depending on
the level selected.
>Only drive through water up to a max-
imum depth of 20 in/50 cm and only
at walking speed, making sure not to
stop in the process. When equipped
with 2-axle self leveling suspension
*,
switch the vehicle to the Off-Road
setting before driving through, refer
to page97.
After leaving the water, apply the
footbrake lightly several times while
driving at low speeds so as to dry the
brakes by braking and to prevent
decreased braking action due to wet-
ness.
Back onto paved road Our recommendation that you observe
the following points after driving on
adverse road surfaces is not intended
as a beauty treatment for your BMW.
Instead, it is intended to maintain driv-
ing safety:
>Clean the worst of the dirt from the
body and inspect the undercarriage
for damage.
>Clean mud, snow, ice etc. from the
wheels and tires and check the
wheels for damage.
>Check to determine whether rocks,
gravel or accumulations of dirt on the
brake rotors and calipers could influ-
ence braking performance. Remove
all such foreign objects.
>In order to clean the brake rotors,
apply the footbrake gently several
times while driving at a low speed.
Be sure that following traffic is not
endangered by this.
>For cleaning the handbrake, apply the
lever slightly at approx. 25 mph/
40 km/h and continue to drive for
approx. 200 yards/200 meters, pro-
vided that traffic conditions allow you
to do so.

149n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Replacing wheels/tires Snow chains
*
Special features of winter tires BMW recommends winter tires for use
in cold winter driving conditions.
Although all-season M+S tires provide
better winter traction than summer
tires, they generally fail to provide the
same levels of cold-weather perfor-
mance as winter tires.
When switching to winter tires, observe
the description under Tire condition,
page146, and Replacing wheels/tires.
Observing speed ratings:
Never exceed the maximum
speed for which the winter tires
are rated. Unprofessional attempts by
laymen to service tires can lead to dam-
age and accidents. Have this work per-
formed by skilled professionals only.
The technicians at your BMW Sports
Activity Vehicle center will be glad to
assist you with the required profes-
sional knowledge and specialized
equipment.<
Storage Store wheels or tires in a cool, dry
place, protecting them against light
whenever possible. Always protect tires
against all contact with oil, grease and
fuels.
Do not exceed the maximum tire infla-
tion pressure indicated on the side wall
of the tire.Only certain fine-link snow chains are
tested, classified as road-safe, and rec-
ommended by BMW. Consult your
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center for
details. Use is only permitted in pairs on
the rear wheels with the following tire
sizes:
X5 4.8is: 255/55 R 18
All other models: 235/65 R 17
Follow the manufacturer's instructions
when installing snow chains. Do not
exceed a maximum speed of 30 mph/
50 km/h.
Do not initialize the Flat Tire Moni-
tor after mounting snow chains, as
the monitor may then incorrectly indi-
cate flat tires.
When you are driving with snow chains,
it can be beneficial to switch off DSC
briefly, refer to page93.<