These instructions apply to the BMW X5 Mk3 (F15/F85) 2013-2019.
For other models, please choose your vehicle here.
The BMW X5 (F15, 2013–2019) keeps its battery in the luggage compartment, so you jump-start from the engine-bay jump terminals, not the boot. Use them in the right order and the car starts without you having to reach the under-floor battery.
How to Jump-Start a BMW X5 (F15)
- Park the donor car close but not touching; both ignitions off.
- Open the X5’s bonnet and lift the cover on the positive (+) jump terminal in the engine bay.
- Connect red to the X5’s positive jump post, then the other red end to the donor’s positive.
- Connect black to the donor’s negative, then the other black end to a bare metal engine earth point on the X5 (not the boot battery).
- Start the donor, wait a minute, then start the X5. With it running, remove the leads in reverse order and refit the terminal cover.
Important
- Always use the engine-bay jump posts — never clamp onto the boot battery.
- Earth the black lead to engine metal, not the battery negative, to keep sparks away from the battery.
- If it won’t hold a charge afterward the battery is likely tired — it’s in the boot, right side, under the floor/trim. Some F15s also have a small auxiliary battery nearby.
Fuse Boxes — Locations & Replacing a Fuse
If a 12V accessory has died, check its fuse first. The F15 has fuse/relay boxes in two main places:
- Passenger compartment — the interior fuse box (behind a trim panel at the side of the dash).
- Luggage compartment — the main/rear fuse box (right-hand side, near the battery), which carries a lot of the body and lighting fuses.
To change a fuse: identify the right one from the label on the fuse-box lid for YOUR car, pull it with the plastic puller (not pliers) and fit a new fuse of the same amp rating. If it blows again there’s a circuit fault — get it diagnosed rather than refusing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I connect jump leads on a BMW X5 F15?
To the engine-bay jump terminals: the positive post under its cover, and a metal engine earth for the negative. The actual battery is in the boot and isn’t used for jumping.
Where is the fuse box?
Two main boxes: one in the passenger compartment (side of the dash) and the main one in the luggage compartment on the right. Use your car’s lid legend to find the fuse.
If a circuit keeps blowing fuses or a warning stays on, look the code up on autodtcs.com.
Independent guide — not affiliated with BMW. Always follow your official service manual and safety precautions. Read our full disclaimer.