BMW X5: Towing a trailer

General information

If the trailer socket is occupied, some driver assistance systems are unavailable, or available to a limited extent. A Check Control message is displayed where applicable.

When driving with a trailer or load carrier and the trailer socket not occupied, some driver assistance systems may have functional limitations or may malfunction.

To prevent malfunctions, activate trailer towing.

When the trailer socket is occupied or trailer towing is activated, some driver assistance systems are unavailable, or available to a limited extent. A Check Control message is displayed where applicable.

Additional information: Activating trailer towing.

Safety information

Warning

Depending on the design and loading of trailers, they may begin swinging at speeds exceeding approx. 50 mph/80 km/h. There may be a risk of accident or risk of damage to property.

Immediately brake in the case of swinging. Apply necessary steering corrections as carefully as possible.

Warning

The tire inflation pressure must be adjusted to the increased axle weight in trailer towing. Driving with too low tire inflation pressure can damage the tires. There may be a risk of accident or risk of damage to property. Do not exceed a speed of 60 mph / 100 km/h. Increase the tire inflation pressure of the towing vehicle by 0.2 bar. Note the maximum possible tire inflation pressure indicated on the tire.

Uphill grades

General information

In the interest of safety and to avoid hindering the smooth flow of traffic, the towing of trailers is permissible on uphill grades up to 12 %.

If higher trailer loads are approved at a later point in time, the gradient limit is 8 %.

Starting on uphill grades

The parking brake is automatically released when the accelerator pedal is activated.

In order to prevent rolling back during starting, use the parking brake.

1. Pull and release switch before starting off.

The parking brake is set.

2. Step on the accelerator pedal sufficiently to drive off.

Hills

A vehicle-trailer combination has the tendency to swing more readily on hills.

Manually shift down to the next-lowest gear before driving on a hill and drive downhill slowly.

Trailer stabilization control

Principle

This system supports the driver in stopping the swinging of a trailer.

The trailer stabilization control detects swinging and automatically brakes the vehicle quickly to leave the critical speed range and stabilize the vehicle-trailer combination.

General information

If the trailer power socket is occupied but a trailer has not been hitched, the system can become active in certain driving situations, such as when using a bicycle rack with lighting.

Functional requirement

The system is functional at speeds beginning at approx. 40 mph/65 km/h while a trailer is being towed and the trailer power socket is occupied.

System limits

The system cannot intervene or not intervene in time in the following situations, for instance:

• If a trailer jackknifes suddenly, for instance on slippery roads or loose surfaces.
• If a trailer with a high center of gravity tilts, before swinging is detected.
• If DSC Dynamic Stability Control is deactivated or has malfunctioned.
• When the power consumption of a trailer is too low, for instance due to tail lights in LED technology, to be detected by the system.

Activating trailer towing

Principle

When driving with a trailer or load carrier and the trailer socket not occupied, some driver assistance systems may have functional limitations or may malfunction. To prevent malfunctions, activate trailer towing.

Activating

1. "CAR".

2. "Settings".

3. "General settings".

4. "Trailer mode".

5. "Trailer mode".

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