steering BMW X5 4.4I 2000 Owner's Manual

80n
Onboard computer Mode selection From ignition key position 1 and up, you
can call up information from the
onboard computer using the button in
the turn signal lever. By pressing the
button briefly in the direction of the
steering column, you can call up a new
function for display.
The displays appear in the following
order: outside temperature, average
fuel consumption, cruising range,
average speed.
Starting with ignition key position 1, the
last active setting is displayed.
The range of available displays varies
according to your individual vehicle's
equipment. 530us047
Outside temperature and average
fuel consumption You can change the units of measure-
ment (6/7) for the outside tempera-
ture display by
1 pressing and holding the trip odome-
ter reset button (in ignition key posi-
tion 1).
2 and then turning the ignition key to 0.
Refer also to page 74. 390us126
Operating range and average
speed The computer bases its calculations of
the cruising range on the previous driv-
ing style and conditions.
This computer ignores any time spent
when the vehicle is stationary and the
engine is not running in its average
speed calculations. 390us125

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
83n
PDC
*
Dynamic Stability Control (DSC)
The PDC system does not remove
the driver's personal responsibility
for evaluating the distance between the
vehicle and any obstacles. Even when
sensors are involved, there is a blind
spot in which objects cannot be de-
tected. 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 and painted objects.
Certain sources of sound, such as a
loud radio, could drown out the PDC
signal tone.<
Keep the sensors clean and free
of ice or snow in order to ensure
that they continue to operate effectively.
Do not apply high pressure spray to the
sensors for a prolonged period of time.
Maintain an adequate distance of more
than 4 inches (10 cm).<
The concept DSC maintains vehicle stability, even in
critical driving situations.
The system optimizes vehicle stability
during acceleration and when starting
from a full stop, as well as optimizing
traction. In addition, the system recog-
nizes unstable vehicle conditions (un-
dersteering or oversteering, for exam-
ple) and helps to keep the vehicle on a
sure course by intervening via the en-
gine and by braking intervention at the
individual wheels.
The system starts up automatically
each time you start the engine. Indicator lamp
The indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster goes out shortly
after you switch on the ignition.
Refer to page 24.
Indicator lamp ßashes:
The system is active and governs drive
force and braking force.
If the indicator lamp fails to go out after
the engine is started, or comes on dur-
ing normal driving and stays on:
There is a system malfunction or the
system was deactivated with the but-
ton. You can continue to drive the vehi-
cle normally, but without DSC. Consult
your authorized BMW center to have
the system repaired.
To deactivate the system Press the button (arrow); the indicator
lamp comes on and stays on.
Traction intervention remains active;
that is, braking intervention will con-
tinue. Refer also to Four-wheel drive on
page 177.
In the following exceptional circum-
stances, it may be effective to deacti-
vate the DSC for a short period:
>when rocking the vehicle or starting
off in deep snow or on loose
surfaces.
>on sandy road surfaces.
>on poor surfaces with deep ruts.
>if the wheels "churn" on muddy
surfaces.
>or when driving with snow chains. 530us048

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
93n
Automatic climate control Air supply
In the "AUTO" program,
the air flow is controlled
automatically. AUTO will appear in the
display 9 (refer to the overview on
page 90). Use "+" and "-" to vary the air
flow. When your setting is displayed by
bars, the automatic air flow is switched
off. Automatic air distribution maintains
its setting. You can reactivate the auto-
matic air supply by pressing the
"AUTO" button.
When you press "Ð " during operation at
minimum blower speed all displays are
canceled: the blower, heating and air
conditioner are switched off. The out-
side air supply is closed. You can
switch the system back on by pressing
any button of the automatic climate
control (except the REST button 16).
To defrost the windshield and
door windows
This program quickly re-
moves ice and condensa-
tion from the windshield and the side
windows.
Air conditioner
The air is cooled and de-
humidified and Ñ depend-
ing on the temperature setting Ñ
warmed again when the air conditioner
system is switched on. Depending on
the weather, the windshield may fog
over briefly when the engine is started.
Use the button to switch the air condi-
tioner off at outside temperatures be-
low approx. 41 7(5 6). This will help
to prevent the windows from fogging
up.
If the windows fog over after switching
the air conditioner off, switch it back
on.
Condensation forms in the air
conditioner system during opera-
tion, which then exits under the vehicle.
Traces of condensed water of this kind
are thus normal.<
Automatic recirculated air
control (AUC)
If there are unpleasant
odors or pollutants in the
outside air, you can temporarily block
the air flow from the outside. The sys-
tem then recirculates the air currently
within the vehicle.
Press the button repeatedly to run
through the following control sequence:
>Indicator lamps off: outside air flow
operational.
>Left-hand indicator lamp on Ð AUC
mode: the system recognizes pollut-
ants in the outside air and blocks the
flow of air when necessary. The sys-
tem then recirculates the air currently
within the vehicle.
Depending on the air quality, the
automatic system then switches back
and forth between outside air supply
and recirculation of the air within the
vehicle.
>Right-hand indicator lamp on: the
flow of external air into the vehicle is
completely blocked. The system then
recirculates the air currently within
the vehicle.
If you have a multifunction steering
wheel with the button for recirculated
air (refer to page 26), you can also use
this button to switch between "Off" and
the recirculated air mode or AUC and
the recirculated air mode.

96n
Seat heating
*
Steering wheel heating
*
Front The seat cushion and backrest can be
heated when the ignition key is in posi-
tion 2.
You can call up different heating modes
by repeatedly pressing the keys.
When the three indicator lamps are illu-
minated, the highest heating mode is
activated. One lamp indicates the low-
est heating mode. The temperature is
regulated with a thermostat in each
mode.
You can also switch the higher heating
modes off directly:
Press the button and hold it slightly
longer. 530us064
Rear The function is the same as for front
seat heating. You can select between
two heating modes. 530us065
Steering wheel heating functions in
ignition key position 2.
Press the button (arrow) to activate or
deactivate this system.
The lamp within the button lights up
when the steering wheel heater is in
operation.
If you have a multifunction steering
wheel without steering wheel heating,
the button for the recirculated air mode
is in this location (refer to page 26). 390de014

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
113n
Roof-mounted luggage rack
*
Roof-mounted luggage racks raise the
center of gravity of the vehicle when
they are loaded. For this reason, they
exercise a major effect on the vehicle's
handling and steering response.
You should therefore always remember
not to exceed the approved roof
weight, the approved gross vehicle
weight or the axle weights when load-
ing the rack. You will find the specifica-
tions under "Technical Data" on
page 186.
Make sure that the load is not too
heavy, and attempt to distribute it
evenly. Always load the heaviest pieces
first (on the bottom). Be sure that ade-
quate clearance is maintained for rais-
ing the sliding/tilt sunroof, and that ob-
jects do not project into the opening
path of the liftgate. Secure the roof luggage correctly and
securely to prevent it from shifting or
being lost during driving (danger to
following traffic).
Drive smoothly. Avoid sudden accelera-
tion and braking maneuvers. Take cor-
ners gently.
The roof load increases the aerody-
namic resistance. Increased fuel con-
sumption is the immediate results.

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
Overview
Controls and features
Operation, care
and maintenance
Owner service procedures
Technical data
Index Advanced technology
115n
Car care Special operating instructions:
Break-in procedures116
Driving your BMW X5117
General driving notes118
Catalytic converter118
Antilock Brake System
(ABS)119
Disc brakes122
Brake system123
Winter operation123
Power steering125
Level control system125
Cellular phone126
Radio reception126
Wheels and tires:
Tire inflation pressure127
Tire condition127
Tire replacement128
Tire rotation129
Wheel and tire
combinations130
Winter tires131
Snow chains131
Approved wheel and tire
specifications132Under the hood:
Hood133
Engine compartment134
Washer fluid136
Washer nozzles136
Engine oil137
Coolant140
Brake fluid141
Vehicle Identification No.141
Care and maintenance:
The BMW Maintenance
System142
Caring for your vehicle143
Airbags148
Vehicle storage148
Laws and regulations:
Technical modifications149
OBD interface socket150

118n
General driving notes Catalytic converter
Brakes:
Do not drive with your foot resting
on the brake pedal. Even light but con-
sistent pedal pressure can lead to high
temperatures, brake wear and possibly
even brake failure.
Aquaplaning:
When driving on wet or slushy roads,
reduce vehicle speed. If you do not, a
wedge of water may form between the
tires and the road surface. This phe-
nomenon is referred to as aquaplaning
or hydroplaning. It is characterized by a
partial or complete loss of contact be-
tween the tires and the road surface.
The ultimate results are loss of steering
and braking control.
Cargo area cover:
Do not place heavy or hard objects on
the cargo area cover. These objects
could endanger vehicle occupants dur-
ing heavy brake applications or evasive
maneuvers.
Clothes hooks:
When suspending articles of clothing
from the hooks, be sure that they will
not obstruct the driver's vision. Do not
hang heavy objects on the hooks. If you
do so, they could cause personal injury
during braking or evasive maneuvers.< The catalytic converter reduces harmful
exhaust emissions.
It is designed for use with unleaded fuel
only. Even minute quantities of lead
would be enough to permanently dam-
age both the catalytic converter and the
system oxygen sensor.
To ensure efficient, trouble-free engine
operation and avoid potential damage:
>Be sure to comply with the scheduled
maintenance requirements.
>Fill the fuel tank well before it is
empty.
>When the battery is discharged, start
the engine with an outside starting
aid.
>Avoid other situations in which the
fuel is not burned, or burns incom-
pletely, such as engaging the starter
frequently or for extended periods, or
repeated start attempts in which the
engine does not start (stopping and
restarting an engine which is running
properly does not present a problem).
Never allow the engine to run with
any of the spark plug cables discon-
nected.

IndexDataTechnologyRepairsCar careControlsOverview
119n
Catalytic converter Antilock Brake System (ABS)
Be sure to comply with the in-
structions above to prevent un-
burned fuel from reaching the catalytic
converter. Otherwise, the catalytic con-
verter could respond by overheating,
leading to serious damage.
Extreme temperatures occur at the cat-
alytic converter on this and every cata-
lyst-equipped vehicle. Heat shields are
installed adjacent to some sections of
the exhaust system. Never remove
these shields; do not apply undercoat-
ing to their surfaces. When driving,
standing at idle, and parking the vehi-
cle, take care to avoid contact between
the exhaust system and flammable ma-
terials (grass, hay, leaves, etc.). Such
contact could lead to a fire, resulting in
serious personal injury and property
damage.<
The concept ABS enhances active safety by helping
to prevent the wheels from locking un-
der braking. This is because: locked
wheels are dangerous. When the front
wheels slide, the driver loses steering
control over the vehicle. Traction loss at
the rear wheels can cause the rear end
to break into an uncontrolled skid.
With ABS, you will achieve the shortest-
possible braking distances under all
given conditions (braking while driving
straight ahead or in curves, different
road surfaces).
ABS is designed to meet two essential
requirements during every brake appli-
cation:
>To help provide vehicle stability.
>To help retain steering and maneu-
vering capability on all types of road
surfaces (asphalt, cement, dirt, wet
surfaces, snow and ice).
Braking with ABS The system becomes operative once
the vehicle exceeds a speed of approx.
6 mph (10 km/h). The ABS is deactivated
whenever the vehicle's speed drops
back below approx. 4 mph
(6 km/h).
To shorten the braking distance Ñ espe-
cially on steep, poor road surfaces when
driving slowly straight ahead Ñ the sys-
tem allows one or both front wheels to
lock for a short time. Nevertheless, the
vehicle still retains steering response
since this "poor road logic" is deacti-
vated again automatically as you steer.
If you are in a situation that requires full
braking, you will exploit the full beneÞts
of the ABS system if you apply maxi-
mum brake pressure ("panic stop").
Since the vehicle maintains steering
responsiveness, you can avoid possible
obstacles with a minimum of steering
effort, despite the full brake application.
The ABS system's closed-loop control
circuit cycles in fractions of a second.
A pulsation at the brake pedal, together
with the sounds associated with the
hydraulic controls, tells you that the
brake system is within its maximum
limit range and reminds you that you

120n
Antilock Brake System (ABS) should adapt road speed to the road
conditions.
On road surfaces that have a loose sur-
face layer on a firm base with good
traction (on gravel, deep sand or snow,
for example), braking distances may be
longer than with locked wheels.This is
also true if snow chains are mounted.
However, ABS continues to provide en-
hanced vehicle stability and steering re-
sponse under these conditions. Information for your safety Not even ABS can suspend the laws of
physics. ABS alone cannot prevent
accidents when the brakes are applied
without an adequate safety distance
between vehicles, if the vehicle is
driven with excessive speed, or if aqua-
planing occurs. Responsibility for these
types of situations remains in the hands
(and at the feet) of the driver. You
should never allow the added safety of
ABS to lull you into a false sense of
security, or mislead you into taking
increased risks that could affect your
own safety and that of others.
Do not make any modifications to
the ABS system.
Service procedures on ABS are to be
performed by authorized technicians
only.<
Cornering Brake Control (CBC) CBC is an advanced engineering de-
sign of the ABS. When braking during
cornering with high lateral accelera-
tion, or when braking during a lane
change, vehicle stability is further im-
proved and the steering response is
enhanced. Electronic Brake Force Distribu-
tion (EBV) EBV governs brake application pres-
sure at the rear wheels to achieve sta-
ble brake response.
If the EBV fails (refer to the next
page), avoid full or "panic" brake
applications. Full or panic brake appli-
cations can result in overbraking at the
rear axle, and braking stability is no
longer ensured.<
Dynamic Brake Control (DBC)

If you apply the brakes rapidly, this sys-
tem automatically produces the maxi-
mum braking force boost and thus
helps to achieve the shortest possible
braking distance during "panic stops."
All of the benefits of the ABS system
are exploited under these circum-
stances.
Do not reduce the pressure on the
brake pedal for the duration of the
brake application. When the brake
pedal is released, the DBC is deacti-
vated.
In the event of a malfunction,
the yellow warning lamp comes
on. Have the system checked
and repaired at your BMW cen-
ter as soon as possible.
Refer to the "Information for your
safety" covering the ABS system.
This information also applies in general
for DBC.<

122n
Disc brakes Disc brakes furnish optimum decelera-
tion and braking control and greater
fade resistance under heavy use.
When the vehicle is driven only occa-
sionally, during extended periods when
the vehicle is not used at all, and in op-
erating conditions where brake applica-
tions are less frequent, there is an in-
creased tendency for corrosion of the
rotors and accumulation of contamina-
tion on the brake pads. This occurs be-
cause the minimal pressure which must
be exerted by the pads to clean the ro-
tors by brake applications is not
reached.
If the brake rotors are corroded, they
will tend to respond to braking with a
pulsating effect which even extended
application will fail to cure.
For your own safety: use only
brake pads that BMW has re-
leased for your particular vehicle
model. BMW cannot evaluate non-ap-
proved brake pads to determine if they
are suited for use, and therefore cannot
ensure the operating safety of the vehi-
cle if they are installed.<
Driving notes When driving in wet conditions and in
heavy rain, it is advisable to apply light
pressure to the brake pedal every few
miles (kilometers). Watch traffic condi-
tions to ensure that this maneuver does
not endanger other road users. The
heat which is generated by the brake
applications helps to dry the brake
pads and rotors.
Maximum braking force is obtained
while the wheels continue to rotate,
peaking when the wheels remain on the
verge of locking without actually doing
so. ABS maintains this state automati-
cally. If the ABS fails, you should revert
to the staggered braking technique
(refer to page 124).
Extended or steep mountain descents
do not necessarily have to lead to re-
duced braking efficiency. Move the se-
lector lever to the appropriate lower
range in which only minimal periodic
brake applications are required.
You can increase the engine's braking
effect by selecting progressively lower
gears, downshifting as far as 1st gear,
on steep descents. If engine braking should prove to be in-
adequate, you should still avoid ex-
tended, continuous braking. Instead of
maintaining low to moderate pressure
over an extended period of time, you
should decelerate by applying more
substantial pressure to the brake pedal
(watch for following traffic), then releas-
ing the pedal, then repeating the appli-
cation. This staggered braking tech-
nique allows the brakes to cool in the
intervals between active braking
phases, preventing overheating and en-
suring that full braking capacity remains
available at all times.
Do not coast with the selector le-
ver in ÒNeutralÒ. Do not drive with
the engine shut off. The engine pro-
vides no braking effect when the trans-
mission is in ÒNeutralÒ, and there is no
power-assist for braking or steering
when the engine is not running.
Have brake inspections performed at
an authorized BMW center only. If you
do not, parts of the four-wheel drive
system could be damaged.
Never allow floor mats, carpets or any
other objects to protrude into the area
around the accelerator and brake ped-
als and obstruct their movement.<