tow BMW X5 4.6IS 2003 Owners Manual

Contents

Operation, maintenance
Owner service procedures

Special operating instructions:

Break-in procedures130
Driving your BMW X5131
General driving notes132
Antilock Brake System132
Brake system132

Wheels and tires:

Tire inflation pressures134
Tire condition134
Tire replacement135
Wheel and tire
combinations137
Winter tires138
Snow chains138

Under the hood:

Hood139
Engine compartment
essentials140
Washer fluid141
Engine oil141
Coolant143
Brake fluid144

Care and maintenance:

The BMW Maintenance
System145

Laws and regulations:

Technical modifications146
California Proposition
65 Warning146
OBD interface socket147

Replacement procedures:

Onboard tool kit150
Windshield wiper blades150
Lamps and bulbs151
Changing a wheel154
Battery160
Fuses160

Assistance, giving and
receiving:

Jump-starting162
Towing the vehicle164

36n
LiftgateTo open from the outside Press the button, refer to arrow:
The liftgate opens slightly.
The cargo area is illuminated whenever
the liftgate is opened, refer also to
page 101.
When the liftgate is opened, the
clearance from the ground to the
upper edge is more than 6.6 ft/2 m.
Please keep this in mind when opening
the liftgate (in a garage, for example).<530de245
Opening from inside the vehiclePress this button to open the liftgate
when the vehicle is stationary.
If pointed or sharp-edged objects
could strike the rear window while
driving, be sure to provide protection
around all edges. If you do not do this,
the heating conductors of the rear
window could be damaged.<
For information on the cargo area cover
and on other details in the cargo area,
refer to Cargo area, beginning on
page 120.530de221
Manual release In the event of an electrical malfunction,
you can release the liftgate manually:
1. Remove the plastic plug from inside
the cargo area and pull toward the
interior, refer to arrow. The liftgate
will be released
2. Reinstall the plug. 530de316

38n
TailgateManual release In the event of an electrical malfunction,
you can release the tailgate manually:
1. Unfasten the trim panel clip with the
vehicle key or with a screwdriver,
refer to arrow 1, and remove it
toward the top, refer to arrow 2530de317
2. Using the same tool, press the latch
in the direction of the arrow; the
tailgate is released
3. Reinstall the trim panel. 530de241
Luggage strapsUse the retaining straps on the cargo
area floor to secure smaller items of
luggage.
Movement is reduced when objects are
placed on the straps.
The lashing eyes located at the corners
of the cargo area provide you with a
convenient means of attaching luggage
nets
* or flexible straps for securing
luggage.
Refer also to Stowing cargo on
page 126.
394de302

39n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Alarm system The concept The vehicle alarm system responds:
>When a door, the hood, or the liftgate
is opened
>To movement inside the vehicle Ð
interior motion sensor
>To variations in the vehicle tilt angle
such as occur during attempts to
steal the wheels or tow the vehicle
>To interruption of battery voltage.
The system responds to unauthorized
vehicle entry and attempted theft by
simultaneously activating the following:
>Sounding an acoustical alarm for
30 seconds
>The hazard warning flashers are acti-
vated for approx. five minutes
>The high beams flash on and off in
the same rhythm.
To arm and disarm the alarm
system When the vehicle is locked or unlocked
with the key or the remote control, the
alarm system is also simultaneously
armed or disarmed.
You can have different acknowl-
edgment signals set to confirm
system arming and disarming.<
You can still open the liftgate after the
system has been armed by pressing the
button of the remote control, refer to
page 32. When you close the liftgate, it
is secured again.
Indicator lamp displays>The indicator lamp below the interior
rearview mirror flashes continuously:
the system is armed
>The indicator lamp flashes during
arming: the door(s), the hood or lift-
gate are not completely 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
10 seconds. However, the interior
motion sensor is not activated
>If the indicator lamp goes out when
the system is disarmed: no manipula-
tion or attempted intrusions have
been detected in the period since the
system was armed530us018

42n
Sliding/tilt sunroof with glass moonroof
*
To prevent injuries, exercise care
when closing the sliding/tilt
sunroof and keep it in your field of
vision until it is shut.
Before leaving the vehicle, switch off
the electric sunroof mechanism by
removing the ignition key. Do not leave
children unattended in the vehicle with
access to vehicle keys. Use of the key
can result in starting of the engine and
operation of vehicle systems such as
the power sunroof, etc. Unsupervised
use of these systems can result in
serious personal injury.<
Lifting Ð Opening Ð Closing With the ignition key in position 1 or
higher, press the switch or slide it in the
desired direction until you feel resis-
tance.
The headliner slides back somewhat
when you raise the sunroof. When the
sunroof is opened the headliner retracts
with it. It remains open, and it is possible
to slide it back and forth as long as the
sunroof is not completely open.
The headliner insert cannot be
closed with the sliding/tilt sunroof
in its raised position.<530de247
After the ignition has been switched off,
you can still operate the sliding/tilt
sunroof as long as neither of the front
doors has been opened.
For the convenience mode via the
remote control or the door lock, refer to
pages 32 and 34. Automatic
* opening and closing
Press the switch briefly past the pres-
sure point and then release it.
Other automatic operations are:
>With the sunroof open, press the
switch briefly toward Lift: the sunroof
automatically extends to its fully
raised position.
Pressing the switch again briefly stops
the motion.
>With the sunroof raised, hold the
switch toward Open until the roof has
reached the desired position.

60n
Transporting children safelyChild-restraint system securityAll of the rear belt retractors and the
front passenger's safety belt can be
locked for mounting and securing child-
restraint systems. Information regarding
this is located near the buckle latch of
each safety belt. Lock the safety belt Pull the entire length of the belt from
the belt retractor. Allow the reel to
retract the belt somewhat and engage
the buckle, then tighten the belt against
the child-restraint system. The retrac-
tion mechanism is now locked. Release the safety belt Release the buckle, remove the child-
restraint device and allow the belt
retractor to reel the belt completely in. 530us104
LATCH child-restraint systemLATCH: Lower Anchors and Tethers for
CHildren

The rear outer seating positions are
provided with anchorage points for a
LATCH child-restraint system. The
illustration shows the anchorage points
in the left rear seat as an example.
Canadian models only:
The anchorage points for the LATCH
child-restraint system are indicated by
buttons, refer to illustration.
Remove cover panel by pulling it off
toward the front.
Simply put it back on to reattach it.
To install a LATCH child-restraint
system, please follow the manu-
facturer's operating instructions and
safety precautions.<530ue229
Child-safety locksSlide the safety lever on the rear doors
downward:
The door can now be opened from the
outside only. 530de226

67n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
Automatic transmission with Steptronic
*
M/S Manual mode and
Sport Program When you change from D to M/S, the
Sport Program is activated. This is indi-
cated by D S in the transmission range
display. The Sport Program is designed
for performance-oriented driving.
With the first brief touch, the automatic
transmission shifts from the Sport Pro-
gram to the manual mode.
Whenever you tap the selector lever in
the
+ direction, the transmission shifts
up, and when you tap it in the
Ð direc-
tion, the transmission will shift down.
Depending on the equipment version,
1 to 5 or M1 to M5 is indicated in the
transmission range display.
530de264
Upshifts or downshifts will only be
carried out at appropriate engine
speeds and road speeds. If the engine
speed is too high, for instance, the
downshift will not be executed. The
gear selected will appear briefly in the
instrument cluster followed by the
current gear.
If you are driving in the manual
mode and wish to accelerate rap-
idly Ð to pass another vehicle, for
example Ð shift down manually or with
the kickdown function.<
You can only change from M/S to
selector lever positions P, R and N via
the D position.
Electronic transmission control
module
If the indicator lamp comes on
or the message Ð TRANS.FAIL-
SAFE PROG Ð appears in the
Check Control, there is a fault in the
transmission system.
Bring the vehicle to a stop. Move the
transmission selector lever to P. Set the
parking brake and switch the engine
off, ignition key to position 0.
Wait a few seconds, then start the
engine.
If the indicator lamp goes out after a
few seconds, normal transmission per-
formance has been restored. You may
continue to drive as usual. If the indi-
cator lamp does not go out, you can
place the selector lever in all positions.
However, the vehicle will now only drive
forward with limited gear selection.
If this happens, avoid extreme engine
loads and consult the nearest
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center.
Do not work in the engine com-
partment when a drive gear is
engaged. If you do this, the vehicle
could move.<
Information on jump-starting, tow-
starting and towing begins on page 162.

91n
OverviewControlsMaintenanceRepairsDataIndex
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 objects. 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. Similarly, low objects that have
already been detected - e.g. a curb-
stone - may disappear out of the range
of the sensors before a continuous tone
is emitted.
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 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 in/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, it recognizes
unstable vehicle conditions, such as
understeering or oversteering, and, as
far as is possible within the laws of
physics, keeps the vehicle on a steady
course by adapting the rpms and brake
applications to 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 21.
Indicator lamp ßashes:
The system is active and governs drive
and braking force.
If the indicator lamp fails to go out after
the engine is started, or comes on
during normal driving and stays on:
The system is either defective or was
switched off with the button: the stabi-
lizing applications described to the left
are no longer available. The vehicle will
remain completely operational, how-
ever, without DSC.
Consult your BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center to have the system
repaired.

94n
Self-leveling suspension
*
2-axle self-leveling suspension
*
The warning lamp for the self-
leveling suspension comes on,
or the message Ð SELFLEVEL
SUSP.INACT Ð appears in the Check
Control: there is a malfunction in the
self-leveling suspension.
Stop and inspect the vehicle. If it is
riding significantly lower in the rear than
in the front, or if it is sitting at an incline
Ð left rear compared to right rear - con-
sult the nearest BMW Sports Activity
Vehicle center. Drive with appropriate
caution in the meantime. The vehicle
has reduced ground clearance or
driving comfort is noticeably reduced.
Even if the attitude of the vehicle is
normal, you should consult the nearest
BMW Sports Activity Vehicle center if
the warning lamp indicates a system
malfunction.
The conceptYour vehicle is equipped with 2-axle
self-leveling suspension acting on both
the front and rear suspension. This
system combines automatic self-lev-
eling, which compensates for variations
in front-to-rear load-distribution pat-
terns, with a selection feature allowing
drivers to choose from among several
ride-height options.
You may choose from among the fol-
lowing ride heights:
>Standard
The standard setting is intended for
most operating conditions, including
trailer towing
>Off-Road
Higher ride height for increased
ground clearance
>Access
Lowers vehicle for more convenient
cargo handling or easier passenger
ingress and exitsChanges in ride height are initiated
either manually, using the control
button, refer to page 95, or automati-
cally in response to specific speeds.
When the ride height is selected manu-
ally, the driver has the additional option
of revising the ride-height selection by
entering a new command during the
adjustment process.
When the vehicle is stationary, the
system executes ride-height changes in
both directions (up and down) when-
ever the doors are closed. The tailgate/
liftgate may be open. The system raises
the vehicle only when the engine is run-
ning.
The system's automatic self-leveling
feature automatically compensates for
variations in the vehicle's load.
Frequent changes in ride height
initiated at short intervals can
overheat the compressor, causing the
system to briefly suspend active opera-
tion.<

102n
1 Airflow directed toward the wind-
shield and side windows
2 Airflow for the upper body104
3 Front footwell ventilation 4 Rear footwell ventilation
5 Airflow for the upper body in the rear
seat104
6 Temperature103
7 Air distribution1038 Air supply103
9 Rear window defroster103
10 Air conditioning103
11 Recirculated-air mode103
Air conditioner
530us222