light BMW X5M 2012 Owners Manual

Replacing components
Tool kit
The tool kit is stowed under the cargo floor panel
in the cargo area.
Wiper blade replacement
Do
not fold down the wipers without wiper
blades
Do not fold down the wipers if wiper blades have
not been installed; this may damage the wind‐
shield.◀
Front 1.
Fold up the wiper arm.
2. Fold the wiper blade upwards.
3. Remove the wiper blade toward the wind‐
shield, refer to arrow. BMW X5: rear
1.
Lift off the wiper arm completely and pull off
the wiper blade, refer to arrow.
2. Mount the new wiper blade and press on
until it is heard to engage.
Lamp and bulb replacement
General information
Lamps

and bulbs make an essential contribution
to vehicle safety.
The manufacturer of your vehicle recommends
that you entrust corresponding procedures to
your service center if you are unfamiliar with
them or they are not described here.
You can obtain a selection of replacement bulbs
at your service center.
Danger of burns
Only change bulbs when they are cool;
otherwise, there is the danger of getting
burned.◀
Working on the lighting system
When working on the lighting system, you
should always switch off the lights affected to
prevent short circuits.
To avoid possible injury or equipment damage
when replacing bulbs, observe any instructions
provided by the bulb manufacturer.◀ Seite 270
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Replacing components

Do not touch the bulbs
Do not touch the glass of new bulbs with
your bare hands, as even minute amounts of
contamination will burn into the bulb's surface
and reduce its service life.
Use
a clean tissue, cloth or something similar, or
hold the bulb by its base.◀
Light-emitting diodes LED
Light-emitting diodes installed behind translu‐
cent lenses serve as the light source for many of
the controls, displays and other equipment in
your vehicle.
These light-emitting diodes, which operate us‐
ing a concept similar to that applied in conven‐
tional lasers, are officially designated as Class 1
light-emitting diodes.
Do not remove the covers
Do not remove the covers, and never stare
into the unfiltered light for several hours; other‐
wise, irritation of the retina could result.◀
Headlamp glass
Condensation can form on the inside of the ex‐
ternal lamps in cool or humid weather. When the
light is switched on, the condensation evapo‐
rates after a short time. The headlamp glasses
do not need to be changed.
If there is a large amount of moisture, e.g., water
droplets form in the lamp, have the lamp
checked by your service center.
BMW X5: bulb replacement
Xenon headlamps
Because of the long life of these bulbs, the like‐
lihood of failure is very low. Switching the lamps
on and off frequently shortens their life.
If a bulb fails, switch on the front fog lamps* and
continue the trip with great care. Comply with
local regulations. Do not perform work/bulb replacement on
xenon headlamps
Have
any work on the xenon lighting system, in‐
cluding bulb replacement, performed only by a
service center.
Due to the high voltage present in the system,
there is the danger of fatal injuries if work is car‐
ried out improperly.◀
Parking lamps, roadside parking lamps,
daytime running lights*
These lamps are made using LED technology.
Contact your service center in the event of a
malfunction.
Turn signals, front
24-watt bulb, PY24W
1. Rotate bulb holder to the left and remove it
along with the bulb. 2.
Rotate the bulb to the right along with the
socket and replace.
3. Install in the reverse order.
Side marker lamps, rear
Contact
the service center for bulb replacement.
Tail lamps
▷ Turn signal, brake lamp: 21-watt bulb,
P21W.
▷ Brake force display: 21-watt bulb, P21W.
▷ Backup lamp: 16-watt bulb, W16W
▷ Tail lamp: LED technology.
Contact

your service center in the event of a
malfunction. Seite 271
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Arrangement of tail lamps
1
Tail lamp
2 Brake force display
3 Brake lamp
4 Tail lamp/side marker lamp
5 Backup lamp
6 Turn signal
Turn signals, brake lamps and backup
lamps
The
bulbs are integrated in a single bulb holder.
1. Open the side panel in the cargo area.
2. Remove the first aid kit* and warning trian‐
gle* if necessary. Fold up the insulation. 3.
Press the button, arrow 1, down, press the
catches, arrows 2, outward slightly, and re‐
move the bulb holder.
4. Apply gentle pressure to the P21W bulb
while

turning it to the left for removal and re‐
placement.
Remove the W16W bulb and replace.
5. Re-engage the bulb holder so that it audibly
clicks into place.
6. Remount the side panel. Brake Force Display
1.
Carefully remove the cover in the tailgate
panel with a screwdriver. 2.
Push the catch on the bulb holder to the left,
arrow, and remove it. 3.
Apply gentle pressure to the bulb while turn‐
ing

it to the left for removal and replacement.
4. Re-engage the bulb holder so that it audibly
clicks into place.
5. Before installing the cap, unclip the cargo
area lamp.
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Replacing components

Then lay the cap on its upper side and close
it, refer to arrow.
6.
Position the cargo area lamp and clip it in,
refer to arrow. License plate lamps
These lamps are made using LED technology.
Contact your service center in the event of a
malfunction.
Center brake lamp
This lamp uses LED technology for operation.
Contact your service center in the event of a
malfunction.
BMW X6: bulb replacement
Xenon headlamps
Because
of the long life of these bulbs, the like‐
lihood of failure is very low. Switching the lamps
on and off frequently shortens their life.
If a bulb fails, switch on the front fog lamps* and
continue the trip with great care. Comply with
local regulations. Do not perform work/bulb replacement on
xenon headlamps
Have

any work on the xenon lighting system, in‐
cluding bulb replacement, performed only by a
service center.
Due to the high voltage present in the system,
there is the danger of fatal injuries if work is car‐
ried out improperly.◀
Parking lamps, roadside parking lamps,
daytime running lights*
35-watt bulb, H8
Wear protective goggles and gloves
Halogen bulbs are pressurized. Therefore,
wear protective goggles and gloves. Otherwise,
there is a danger of injuries if the bulb is acci‐
dentally damaged during replacement.◀
1. Turn the cover to the left and remove. 2.
Left side of vehicle: rotate the bulb holder to
the right, see arrow, and remove.
Right side of vehicle: rotate the bulb holder
to the left and remove. 3.
Disconnect plug and replace bulb.
4. Install in the reverse order. Seite 273
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1.
Remove the tool mount.
2. Release the wing nut 1.
3. Remove the washer 2 laterally.
4. Remove the compact wheel.
Preparing wheel change
1. Observe the safety precautions above.
2. Loosen the lug bolts a half turn.
Jacking up vehicle
1. Position the vehicle jack at the jacking point
closest to the wheel so that the entire sur‐
face of the jack base rests on the ground
perpendicularly beneath the jacking point.
The vehicle jack is designed for
changing wheels only.
The vehicle jack is designed for changing
wheels
only. Do not attempt to raise another
vehicle model with it or to raise any load of
any kind. To do so could cause accidents
and personal injury.◀ 2.
Guide the jack head into the rectangular re‐
cess of the jacking point when cranking up,
refer to illustration detail. 3.
Jack the vehicle up until the wheel you are
changing is raised from the ground.
Mounting a wheel
1. Unscrew the lug bolts and remove the
wheel.
2. Remove accumulations of mud or dirt from
the

mounting surfaces of the wheel and hub.
Also clean the lug bolts.
3. Position the new wheel or compact wheel.
Secure the wheel by screwing at least two
lug bolts into opposite bolt holes.
When

you mount wheels other than Genuine
BMW light-alloy wheels, different lug bolts
may also be required.
4. Screw in the remaining lug bolts. Tighten all
the bolts securely in a diagonal pattern.
5. Lower the vehicle and remove the jack from
beneath the vehicle.
After mounting
1. Tighten the lug bolts in a diagonal pattern.
Checking that the lug bolts are tight
To ensure safety, always have the lug
bolts checked with a calibrated torque
wrench as soon as possible to ensure that
they are tightened to the specified torque.
Otherwise, incorrectly tightened lug bolts
are a hidden safety risk. The tightening tor‐
que equals 101 lb ft/140 Nm.

◀ 2.
Stow the defective wheel in the cargo area.
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The defective wheel cannot be stored under
the floor panel flap due to its size.
3. Check and correct the tire inflation pressure
at the earliest opportunity.
4. Initialize the Flat Tire Monitor, refer to
page 88,
or reset the Tire Pressure Monitor,
refer to page 90.
5. Replace the damaged tire as soon as possi‐
ble and have the new wheel/tire balanced.
Driving with compact wheel Do not exceed a speed of 50 mph/80 km/
h.
Drive

conservatively and do not exceed a speed
of 50 mph/80 km/h. Otherwise, changes in the
driving characteristics could result, for example
reduced track stability on braking, extended
braking distance, and altered self-steering char‐
acteristics in the limit range. In conjunction with
winter tires, these characteristics are more pro‐
nounced.◀
Only mount one compact wheel
Only one compact wheel may be
mounted. Restore the wheels and tires to their
original size as quickly as possible. Failure to do
so is a safety risk.◀
Vehicle battery
Maintenance
The battery is maintenance-free, i.e., the elec‐
trolyte will last for the life of the battery.
Your service center will be glad to advise you on
questions regarding the battery.
Battery replacement
Use approved vehicle batteries
Only use vehicle batteries that have been
approved for your vehicle by the manufacturer;
otherwise, the vehicle could be damaged and
systems or functions may not be fully availa‐
ble.◀ After a battery replacement, have the battery
registered

on the vehicle by your service center
to ensure that all comfort functions are fully
available.
Charging the battery
In the vehicle, only charge the battery via the
terminals in the engine compartment, refer to
page 281, with the engine switched off.
Power failure
After a temporary power loss, some equipment
needs to be reinitialized.
Individual settings need to be reprogrammed:
▷ Seat and mirror memory: store the positions
again, refer to page 53.
▷ Time: update, refer to page 78.
▷ Date: update, refer to page 79.
▷ Radio station: save again, refer to page 174.
▷ Navigation system: wait for the navigation
system to be operational.
▷ Glass sunroof/panoramic glass sunroof: it
may

only be possible to raise the roof. Have
the system initialized by the service center.
▷ Digital compass: recalibrate, refer to
page 129.
▷ Active steering: the system automatically in‐
itializes for a short time as you drive. During
this

time, the system is deactivated, refer to
page 101.
▷ xDrive: the system automatically initializes
as you drive. During this time, indicator
lamps

light up. If the lamps do not disappear
during the current trip, have the system
checked.
Disposing of old batteries Have old batteries disposed of by your
service center or bring them to a recy‐
cling center.
Maintain the battery in an upright position for
transport and storage. Secure the battery so
that it does not tip over during transport. Seite 278
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Replacing components

Breakdown assistance
Hazard warning flashers
The button for the hazard warning system is lo‐
cated on the center console.
Emergency Request
*
Requirements
▷ Equipment version with full preparation
package mobile phone.
An Emergency Request can be made, even
if no mobile phones are paired with the ve‐
hicle.
▷ BMW Assist is activated.
▷ Radio readiness is switched on.
▷ The BMW Assist system is logged in to a
wireless communications network sup‐
ported by BMW Assist.
▷ The Assist system is operable.
Only press the SOS button in an emergency.
Emergency Request not guaranteed
For

technical reasons, the Emergency Re‐
quest cannot be guaranteed under unfavorable
conditions.◀
Service contract
▷ After your contract with BMW Assist has ex‐
pired,

the BMW Assist system can be deac‐
tivated by the service center without you
having to visit a workshop. After deactivation, an Emergency Request
is no longer possible.
▷ Under certain circumstances, the system
can be reactivated by a service center after
you sign a new contract.
Initiating an Emergency Request
1. Press the cover briefly to open it. 2.
Press the SOS button until the LED in the
button lights up.
▷ The LED lights up: an Emergency Request
was initiated.
If

the circumstances allow this, remain in the
vehicle until the connection has been estab‐
lished.
▷ The LED flashes if the connection to the
BMW

Assist Response Center has been es‐
tablished.
Once the BMW Assist Response Center has
received your Emergency Request, the
BMW Assist Response Center contacts you
and takes further steps to help you.
Even if you are unable to respond, the BMW
Assist Response Center can take further
steps to help you under certain circumstan‐
ces.
For this purpose, data that are used to de‐
termine the necessary rescue measures,
such as the current position of the vehicle if
it can be established, are transmitted to the
BMW Assist Response Center.
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Breakdown assistance

Tow truck
Do not tow with only the front or rear axle
raised
Do not tow the BMW with just the front or rear
axle
raised; otherwise, the wheels could lock up
and the transfer case could be damaged.◀
Do not lift the vehicle
Do not lift the vehicle by the tow fitting or
body and chassis parts; otherwise, damage may
result.◀
Towing other vehicles
General information
Light towing vehicle
Your vehicle must not be lighter than the
vehicle being towed; otherwise, it will not be
possible to control vehicle response.◀
Attaching the tow bar/tow rope correctly
Attach the tow bar or tow rope to the tow
fitting; connecting it to other vehicle parts may
cause damage.◀
▷ Switch on the hazard warning system, de‐
pending on local regulations.
▷ If the electrical system has failed, clearly
identify the vehicle being towed by placing
a sign or a warning triangle in the rear win‐
dow. Towing methods when towing other
vehicles
Tow bar
The tow fittings used should be on the same
side on both vehicles.
Should it prove impossible to avoid mounting
the tow bar at an offset angle, please observe
the following:
▷
Clearance and maneuvering capability will
be sharply limited during cornering.
▷ The tow bar will generate lateral forces if it
is attached offset.
Tow rope
When
starting to tow the vehicle, make sure that
the tow rope is taut.
To avoid jerking and the associated stresses on
the vehicle components when towing, always
use nylon ropes or nylon straps.
Attaching the tow rope correctly
Only secure the tow rope on the tow fit‐
ting; otherwise, damage can occur when it is se‐
cured on other parts of the vehicle.◀
Tow fitting
The screw-in tow fitting should always be car‐
ried in the vehicle. It can be screwed in at the
front or rear of the BMW.
It is stored with the tool kit under the cargo floor
cover in the cargo area, refer to page 270.
Tow fitting, information on use
▷ Use only the tow fitting provided with
the vehicle and screw it all the way in.
▷ Use the tow fitting for towing on paved roads
only.
▷ Avoid lateral loading of the tow fitting, e.g.,
do not lift the vehicle by the tow fitting.
Otherwise, damage to the tow fitting and the ve‐
hicle can occur.◀ Seite 283
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▷
Thaw ice with de-icing spray; do not use an
ice scraper.
After washing the vehicle
After washing the vehicle, apply the brakes
briefly
to dry them; otherwise, braking action can
be reduced and corrosion of the brake discs can
occur.
Vehicle care
Car care products
BMW recommends using cleaning and care
products from BMW, since these have been
tested and approved.
Car care and cleaning products
Follow the instructions on the container.
When cleaning the interior, open the doors or
windows.
Only use products intended for cleaning vehi‐
cles.
Cleansers can contain substances that are dan‐
gerous and harmful to your health.◀
Vehicle paint
Regular care contributes to driving safety and
value retention.
Environmental influences can act on the vehicle
paint. Tailor the frequency and extent of your car
care to these influences.
Leather care
Remove dust from the leather often, using a
cloth or vacuum cleaner.
Otherwise, particles of dust and road grime
chafe in pores and folds, and lead to increased
wear and premature degradation of the leather
surface.
To guard against discoloration, such as from
clothing, provide leather care roughly every two
months.
Clean light-colored leather more frequently as
dust and dirt are more noticeable. Use leather care products; otherwise, dirt and
grease will gradually break down the protective
layer of the leather surface.
Suitable care products are available from the
service center.
Upholstery material care
Vacuum regularly with a vacuum cleaner.
If

they are very dirty, e.g., beverage stains, use a
soft sponge or microfiber cloth with a suitable
interior cleaner.
Clean the upholstery down to the seams using
large sweeping motions. Avoid rubbing the ma‐
terial vigorously.
Damage from Velcro® fasteners
Open Velcro® fasteners on pants or other
articles of clothing can damage the seat covers.
Ensure that any Velcro® fasteners are closed.◀
Caring for special components
Light-alloy wheels
Use wheel cleaner, particularly during the winter
months. Do not use aggressive, acidic, strongly
alkaline or abrasive cleaners, or steam jets
above 140 ℉/60 ℃; follow the manufacturer's
instructions.
Chrome surfaces*
Carefully clean components such as the radiator
grille or door handles with an ample supply of
water, possibly with shampoo added, particu‐
larly when they have been exposed to road salt.
Aluminum running boards*
A rust film on the aluminum running boards can
be removed with a special cleaning agent.
Rubber components
Aside from water, treat only with rubber cleans‐
ers.
When cleaning rubber seals, do not use any sil‐
icon-containing car care products in order to
avoid damage or reduced noise damping. Seite 286
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Care

Fine wood parts*
Clean fine wood facing and fine wood compo‐
nents
only with a moist rag. Then dry with a soft
cloth.
Plastic components
These include:
▷ Imitation leather surfaces.
▷ Headliner.
▷ Lamp lenses.
▷ Instrument cluster cover.
▷ Matte black spray-coated components.
Clean with a microfiber cloth.
Moisten the cloth lightly and use plastic
cleanser, if necessary.
Do not soak the headliner.
Do not use cleansers that contain alcohol
or solvents
Do

not use cleansers that contain alcohol or sol‐
vents, such as lacquer thinners, heavy-duty
grease removers, fuel, or such; this could lead to
surface damage.◀
Safety belts
Dirty belt straps impede the reeling action and
thus have a negative impact on safety.
No chemical cleaning
Do not clean chemically; this can destroy
the webbing.◀
Use only a mild soapy solution, with the safety
belts clipped into their buckles.
Do not allow the reels to retract the safety belts
until they are dry.
Carpets and floor mats*
No objects in the area around the pedals
Keep floor mats, carpets, and any other
objects out of the area of motion of the pedals;
otherwise, the function of the pedals could be
impeded while driving
Do not place additional floor mats over existing
mats or other objects. Only use floor mats that have been approved for
the vehicle and can be properly fixed in place.
Ensure

that the floor mats are securely fastened
again when they are returned after being re‐
moved, such as for cleaning.◀
Floor mats can be removed from the passenger
compartment for cleaning.
When returning the floor mats, secure them
again to prevent slipping.
If the floor carpets are very dirty, clean with a
microfiber cloth and water or a textile cleaner. To
prevent matting of the carpet, rub back and forth
in the direction of travel only.
Sensors/cameras
To clean sensors or cameras, use a cloth mois‐
tened with a small amount of glass cleaner.
Displays/screens
Use a microfiber cloth to clean the Control Dis‐
play or instrument cluster, for example.
Cleaning displays
Do not use chemical or household cleans‐
ers.
Keep all fluids and moisture away from the unit.
Otherwise, they could affect or damage surfa‐
ces or electrical components.
Avoid pressing too hard when cleaning and do
not use abrasive materials; otherwise, damage
can result.◀
Long-term vehicle storage
Your service center can advise you on what to
consider when storing the vehicle for longer
than three months. Seite 287
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