[jtzako]

Originally Posted by Zooks527

Tried it tonight on the way home. Turned the driver assist function off about a mile from home. Pulled into the driveway and advanced on my wife's car. Front sensors tripped about 2 feet from her bumper, just as it began to tickle the red zone on the display.

From that, I'd guess the ZDB option leaves them on all the time, regardless of how you have the auto-braking function set.

Could be. I dont have the Driver Assist. I just have the backup camera + sensors. I have to manually trigger the sensors for head-in parking.

[irondog168]

Just FYI, i have contacted bimmertech and I will have to purchase front camera retro fit unit and the multimedia unit total about 500 and leave some change.

They said every normal car audio shop would be able to do the job.
Does anyone knows any shop in Los Angeles have installed bimmertech unit around westside ?

I would love to show you guys how well the front camera work but not sure where to go to install it. i think the installation is beyond my ability and also not worth my time to ticker around.

Please let me know if you know any shop, thanks.

[tbonez3858]

Originally Posted by jtzako

I scrapped my lower front splitter (msport front) on some snow/ice build up in a parking spot the other day. The sensors did not even see it as it was only barely high enough to hit the splitter. It did ,unfortunately scrape some paint off since the paint on this car is complete crap.

Regretfully pain on most cars these days is crap. Its a combination of paint and environmental agencies. The cars I had in the 80s/90s had bomb proof paint until the EPA went nuts...

[Spydeputy]

When you drive a car a driver Should know where all 4 corners of your car are.

[jtzako]

Originally Posted by tbonez3858

Regretfully pain on most cars these days is crap. Its a combination of paint and environmental agencies. The cars I had in the 80s/90s had bomb proof paint until the EPA went nuts...

Both my 2005 xterra and my 2010 camaro have far better paint. This car's paint comes off if you look at it funny, its just sad.

[MrBucket]

Originally Posted by irondog168

Just FYI, i have contacted bimmertech and I will have to purchase front camera retro fit unit and the multimedia unit total about 500 and leave some change.

They said every normal car audio shop would be able to do the job.
Does anyone knows any shop in Los Angeles have installed bimmertech unit around westside ?

I would love to show you guys how well the front camera work but not sure where to go to install it. i think the installation is beyond my ability and also not worth my time to ticker around.

Please let me know if you know any shop, thanks.

Definitely let us know how that goes, I'd be interested in it if it works like oem.

[rich8566]

Originally Posted by 1LegitM235i

I believe someone here, has installed an aftermarket front camera which can help along with the front sensor. You'll need to search it.

Your front sensor when "on" should detect parking stopper or curb. I think it is defaulted on "off" when not in reverse.

I also used some line of sight measurement using my side mirrors. When I see the curb just below the driver side mirror, I stop and get out to see how far or close I am. Once you've done this two or three times, you'll get the right stopping clearance.

I use line of sight measurement using my driver side mirror. When I see the curb just below the driver side mirror, I know I am done. Once you've done this two or three times, you'll get the right stopping clearance.

[2msport]

Stop short of the curb?

[AlpsRider]

Originally Posted by 2msport

Stop short of the curb?

Yeah, be overly cautious and stop long before it's even possible to get close to the curb.

[2msport]

Originally Posted by AlpsRider

Yeah, be overly cautious and stop long before it's even possible to get close to the curb.

It amazes me how many people pull up until their wheels hit the curb then slam it in park and call it a day. Do people not understand that destroys their bumper/front lip?? I think their driving instructor failed to mention if you stop short of the curb, theres still plenty of room in the space.

I see it everyday with brand new Benz, BMWs, Audis, etc.

[irondog168]

so at the end, it just coast too much to get a front camera install.
the set of bimmer tech cost close to $500 USD and not to mention shipping and installing.
the quote i got to install was 200 to 300 and i would consider 300 because it is not a simple plug and play, many parts have to be taken apart and wire have to be run through the car than re-install all parts back that was taken off for installation.
i estimate around $800 on a safe bet but that is just too much. so i decided not to spend this money.

I have been testing out the front sensor and it does work but just not really all that accurate. For stoppers in parking lot, it would detect it in a split sec than disappear.
Now to try to detect that stopper, a few time i went in the spot very slow and to catch that stopper showing on sensor, it worked, when i go slow i see it pop up and i stop and went out the car to check, as showing yellow almost to red on the sensor screen, the stopper was about 15" away to the bumper itself, after i knew how far i went in just a bit more about 6" away to the stopper but you would not see it on the sensor anymore.
same as concrete curb, if you go head in in front of a store, just go slow, it would detect it.
at the end of the day $800 bucks is not worth for its function that i can simply put some effort and try out to get it right. but if its cheaper, i would probably do it just because..... Thanks for everyone's help.....I just need to get use to this car.

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by 2msport

Stop short of the curb?

When parking in a spot with a curb in front, I always press the button to engage the front parking sensors and then drive in slowly and stop when the yellow band starts to turn red and the beeping start. At that point you're still about 1.5 feet from the front of the curb.

[2msport]

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

When parking in a spot with a curb in front, I always press the button to engage the front parking sensors and then drive in slowly and stop when the yellow band starts to turn red and the beeping start. At that point you're still about 1.5 feet from the front of the curb.

Ah. I use the sensors too, my eye ball sensors I didn't get the parking sensors. At first I was bummed but I've learned very well how to judge it.

1.5feet is a pretty big buffer. Guess if I were you I'd get to the beeps and then move another 6-12inchs then stop.

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by 2msport

Ah. I use the sensors too, my eye ball sensors I didn't get the parking sensors. At first I was bummed but I've learned very well how to judge it.

1.5feet is a pretty big buffer. Guess if I were you I'd get to the beeps and then move another 6-12inchs then stop.

The 2er is sufficiently short so that even if you're 18" from a curb, your ass-end isn't sticking out any further then most full sized vehicles.

[2msport]

Originally Posted by bimmerfile

The 2er is sufficiently short so that even if you're 18" from a curb, your ass-end isn't sticking out any further then most full sized vehicles.

yeah isn't it great

[1gkek]

I either back in or park short. No cameras or sensors on either end for me.

[wjones14]

The front sensors included with the Driver Assist Package work really well as far as I'm concerned, but you have to get used to them. I find that they will detect a low curb from 3 to 5 feet away, but as you get closer, the sensors will go over the curb and no longer detect it. With experimentation you should be able to turn the camera/sensors on before you get say 5 feet from the curb. The sensors should detect it, and if you stop when the visual indicator is flashing red, you should be good.

[Outrun]

Do any of the BMW models come with a front view camera? I love my Bimmertech Front View Camera. I originally was planning on getting their rear-view camera and then realized I could package the front view camera with it. It was pricey but has come in handy so many times in parking garages, parking lots, street parking, and driveways. IMHO, just like the rear view camera, once you have used it, you don't want a car without it.

[Zooks527]

Originally Posted by Outrun

Do any of the BMW models come with a front view camera?

"Any"? Yes.

2-series? No.

[keylime503]

This is precisely why I back into every parking spot no matter where I am. Not only can you use your rear-view camera to park exactly how you want, your rear bumper is much higher than your front bumper so you can pull in farther and avoid people on your sides hitting you when pulling in an out. It's also way easier to pull out of spots when you've backed in, I don't understand why more people don't do this. Can anyone name an advantage to pulling in vs. backing in?

[Zooks527]

Originally Posted by jtzako

Could be. I dont have the Driver Assist. I just have the backup camera + sensors. I have to manually trigger the sensors for head-in parking.

Scrolling through the Settings menu today and I saw an entry for "Parking". There's a checkbox in there to turn the sensors on automatically if you're at low speed. This may be the reason for the differences people see in the parking sensor behavior.

[pimp4cheddar]

I reverse into as many parking spots as possible.

The rear sits higher than the front and I would rather scrap my exhaust than crack my front bumper.

Always reverse in...