Get Driving -> Steptronic transmission Guide for BMW X6 4 Door Second Generation (2015-2019)

Driving

Controls

Do not add silicon-containing additives to the

washer fluid.◀

Washer fluid

General information

All washer nozzles are supplied from one res‐

ervoir.

NOTE

Mixing different windshield washer con‐

centrates or antifreeze can damage the wash‐

ing system. There is a risk of damage to prop‐

erty. Do not mix different windshield washer

concentrates or antifreeze. Follow the informa‐

tion and mixing ratios provided on the contain‐

ers.◀

Use a mixture of tap water and windshield

washer concentrate. If desired, a windshield

washer concentrate containing antifreeze can

be used.

Recommended minimum fill quantity:

0.2 US gal/1 liter.

Overview

Safety information

WARNING

Some antifreeze agents can contain

harmful substances and are flammable. There

is a risk of fire and a risk of injury. Observe the

instructions on the containers. Keep antifreeze

away from ignition sources. Do not refill oper‐

ating materials into different bottles. Store op‐

erating materials out of reach of children.

United States: the washer fluid mixture ratio is

regulated by the U.S. EPA and many individual

states; do not exceed the allowable washer

fluid dilution ratio limits that apply. Follow the

usage instructions on the washer fluid con‐

tainer.

The washer fluid reservoir is located in the en‐

gine compartment.

Malfunction

The use of undiluted windshield washer con‐

centrate or alcohol-based antifreeze can lead

to incorrect readings at temperatures below

+5 ℉/-15 ℃.

Use of BMW’s Windshield Washer Concen‐

trate or the equivalent is recommended.◀

WARNING

Washer fluid can ignite and catch fire on

contact with hot engine parts. There is a risk of

injury or risk of property damage. Only add

washer fluid when the engine is cooled down.

Next, fully close the lid of the washer fluid res‐

ervoir.◀

Steptronic transmission

Concept

The Steptronic transmission combines the

functions of an automatic transmission with

the possibility of manual shifting, if needed.

NOTE

Silicon-containing additives in the

washer fluid for the water-repelling effect on

the windows can lead to damage to the wash‐

ing system. There is a risk of property damage.

81

Controls

Driving

▷

After the engine is switched off when the

vehicle is in radio-ready state, refer to

page 70, or when the ignition is switched

off, refer to page 70, and when selector

lever position R or D is set.

Safety information

WARNING

An unsecured vehicle can begin to move

and possibly roll away. There is a risk of an ac‐

cident. Before exiting, secure the vehicle

against rolling.

If, with the vehicle stationary and the selec‐

tor lever in position D or R, the driver's

safety belt unbuckled, the driver's door is

opened, and the brake pedal is not de‐

pressed.

In order to ensure that the vehicle is secured

against rolling away, observe the following:

▷

Set the parking brake.

On uphill grades or on a downhill slope,

turn the front wheels in the direction of the

curb.

Engaging selector lever positions

General information

To prevent the vehicle from creeping after you

select a drive mode, maintain pressure on the

brake pedal until you are ready to start.

▷

On uphill grades or on a downhill slope,

also secure the vehicle, e.g., with a wheel

chock.◀

Selector lever positions

Drive mode D

Selector lever position for normal vehicle oper‐

ation. All gears for forward travel are activated

automatically.

Functional requirements

Only when the engine is running and the brake

pedal is depressed is it possible to change

from selector lever position P to another selec‐

tor lever position.

Engaging selector lever position D, N,

R

A selector lever lock prevents the following

faulty operation:

Reverse R

Engage selector lever position R only when the

vehicle is stationary.

▷

Unintentional shifting into selector lever

position R.

Neutral N

The vehicle may be pushed or roll without

power, for instance in vehicle washes, refer to

page 83, in selector lever position N.

▷

Unintentional shifting from selector lever

position P into another selector lever posi‐

tion.

Parking position P

Selector lever position, for instance for parking

the vehicle.

1. Press and hold the button to release the

selector lever lock.

The transmission blocks the drive wheels in

selector lever position P.

Engage selector lever position P only when the

vehicle is stationary.

Selector lever position P is engaged automati‐

cally in the following situations:

82

Driving

Controls

2. With the driver's safety belt fastened,

briefly push the selector lever in the de‐

sired direction, past a resistance point, if

needed. The selector lever automatically

returns to the center position when re‐

leased.

5. Touch the selector lever lock and engage

selector lever position N.

6. Switch the engine off.

In this way, the ignition remains switched

on, and a Check-Control message is dis‐

played.

The vehicle may roll.

NOTE

Selector lever position P is automatically

engaged when the ignition is switched off.

There is a risk of property damage. Do not

switch drive-ready state off in vehicle

washes.◀

Irrespective of the ignition, the selector lever

position P is automatically engaged after ap‐

prox. 15 minutes.

Engaging selector lever position P

If there is a malfunction, you may not be able to

change the selector lever position.

Electronically unlock the transmission lock, if

needed, refer to page 85.

Kickdown

Kickdown is used to achieve maximum driving

performance.

Step on the accelerator pedal beyond the re‐

sistance point at the full throttle position.

Press button P.

Rolling or pushing the vehicle

General information

Sport program M/S

Concept

In some situations, the vehicle is to roll without

its own power for a short distance, for instance

in a vehicle wash, or be pushed.

The shifting points and shifting times in the

Sport program are designed for a sportier driv‐

ing style. The transmission, for instance shifts

up later and the shifting times are shorter.

Engaging selector lever position N

1. Start the engine while pressing on the

brake pedal.

2. If necessary, release the parking brake.

3. If necessary, deactivate Automatic Hold,

refer to page 75.

4. Depress the brake pedal.

83

Controls

Driving

Manual mode becomes active and the gear is

changed.

Activating the sport program

The engaged gear is displayed in the instru‐

ment cluster, for instance M1.

Shifting

▷

To shift down: press the selector lever for‐

ward.

▷

To shift up: pull the selector lever rear‐

wards.

Press the selector lever to the left out of selec‐

tor lever position D.

The transmission continues shifting automati‐

cally in certain situations, for instance when

speed limits are reached.

The engaged gear is displayed in the instru‐

ment cluster, for instance S1.

Steptronic Sport transmission:

prevent automatic upshifting in M/S

manual mode

The sport program of the transmission is acti‐

vated.

The Steptronic Sport transmission does not

automatically upshift in M/S manual mode

once the maximum speed is reached, if one of

the following conditions is met:

Ending the Sport program

Push the selector lever to the right.

D is displayed in the instrument cluster.

▷

DSC Dynamic Stability Control deacti‐

vated.

Manual mode M/S

Concept

Manual gear-shifting is possible in manual

mode.

▷

Dynamic Traction Control DTC activated.

SPORT+ activated.

Depending on the BMW M drive configuration,

this function is active independently of the

above-specified conditions.

Activating manual mode

In addition, there is no downshifting for kick‐

down.

1. Press the selector lever to the left out of

selector lever position D, arrow 1.

With the respective transmission version, the

lowest possible gear can be selected by simul‐

taneously operating the kickdown and the left

shift paddles. This is not possible by switching

briefly via the shift paddles from selector lever

position D to manual mode M/S.

Ending the manual mode

Push the selector lever to the right.

D is displayed in the instrument cluster.

2. Push the selector lever forward or pull it

backward, arrows 2.

84

Driving

Controls

▷

To shift down: briefly pull left shift paddle.

Shift paddles

Concept

The shift paddles on the steering wheel allow

you to shift gears quickly while keeping both

hands on the steering wheel.

With the respective transmission version,

the lowest possible gear can be selected

by pulling and holding the left shift paddle.

The selected gear is briefly displayed in the in‐

strument cluster, followed by the current gear.

General information

Shifting

Displays in the instrument cluster

The selector lever position is dis‐

played, for example P.

The vehicle only shifts at suitable engine and

road speeds.

Short-term manual mode

Electronic unlocking of the

transmission lock

In selector lever position D, actuating a shift

paddle switches into manual mode tempora‐

rily.

General information

Electronically unlock the transmission lock to

maneuver vehicle from a danger area.

After conservative driving in manual mode

without acceleration or shifting via the shift

paddles for a certain amount of time, the trans‐

mission switches back to automatic mode.

Unlocking is possible, if the starter can spin the

engine.

With some transmission versions it is possible

to switch into automatic mode as follows:

Before unlocking the transmission lock, set the

parking brake to prevent the vehicle from roll‐

ing away.

▷

Pull and hold right shift paddle.

In addition to the briefly pulled right shift

paddle, briefly pull the left shift paddle.

Engaging selector lever position N

1. Press and hold down brake pedal.

Continuous manual mode

2. Press the Start/Stop button. The starter

must audibly start.

In selector lever position S, actuating a shift

paddle switches into manual mode perma‐

nently.

3. Press the button on the selector lever, ar‐

row 1, and press and hold the selector

lever into selector lever position N, ar‐

row N, until selector lever position N is dis‐

played in the instrument cluster.

Shifting

▷

To shift up: briefly pull right shift paddle.

85

Controls

Driving

A Check Control message is displayed.

Start with launch control

While the engine is running:

1.

Press button or select Sport+ with

the Driving Dynamics Control.

TRACTION is displayed in the instrument

cluster and the indicator light for DSC OFF

lights up.

2. Engage selector lever position S.

3. With the left foot, forcefully press down on

the brake.

4. Release the selector lever.

5. Release brake, as soon as the starter

stops.

4. Press and hold down the accelerator pedal

beyond the resistance point at the full

throttle position, kickdown.

6. Maneuver the vehicle from the danger area

and secure it against moving on its own.

A flag symbol is displayed in the instru‐

ment cluster.

For additional information, see the chapter on

tow-starting and towing.

5. The starting engine speed adjusts. Within

3 seconds, release the brake.

Steptronic Sport transmission:

Launch Control

Repeated use during a trip

After Launch Control was used, the transmis‐

sion must cool down for approx. 5 minutes, be‐

fore Launch Control can be used again.

Concept

Launch Control enables optimum acceleration

on surfaces with good traction under dry sur‐

rounding conditions.

Launch Control adjusts to the surrounding

conditions, when used again.

General information

After using Launch Control

To increase vehicle stability, activate DSC Dy‐

namic Stability Control again.

The use of Launch Control causes premature

component wear since this function represents

a very heavy load for the vehicle.

Do not use Launch Control during the break-in,

refer to page 200, period.

System limits

An experienced driver may be able to achieve

better acceleration values in DSC OFF mode.

To start with Launch Control do not steer the

steering wheel.

Functional requirements

Launch Control is available when the engine is

warmed up, that is, after uninterrupted driving

of at least 6 miles/10 km.

86

Driving -> Steptronic transmission for Your BMW X6 4 Door Second Generation (2015-2019)

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