[Jon D]

Does anyone know whether it's possible to adjust the sensor sensitivity?
They go to solid red/continuous tone when I still have a good 12 inches to go and that's what contributed to my error when I scraped the edge of a wall.
I was trying to negotiate a particularly tight space with both front and rear sensors blasting at me. It was a case of multiple back and forth nudges, repeatedly getting out and in of the car, just to see that I still had ample space left to go. Of course, the inevitable happened and I made contact; fortunately just a few scratches, but nonetheless extremely annoying as the car was only two weeks old.
If the continuous tone was at about 3 inches, I'd well and truly believe it, as opposed to this state of uncertainty - talk about 'crying wolf'!
PS: it's ok for you lot over the pond - you get parking spaces the size of a football pitch. Just come and see the measly allocation we get in the UK and then, once you're parked, make like you're Houdini in order to get out of the car. Mind you, it does encourage light lunches .

[nosnoop]

It is definitely not user adjustable. You probably need to ask your dealership if they can be calibrated.

Have you considered installing convex mirrors on the wall at strategic locations/tightest spots? They work very well and direct visual is much easier than relying on sensors' beeps.

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by nosnoop

It is definitely not user adjustable. You probably need to ask your dealership if they can be calibrated.

Have you considered installing convex mirrors on the wall at strategic locations/tightest spots? They work very well and direct visual is much easier than relying on sensors' beeps.

Mirrors are a good idea but, of course, only applicable where you can fix them - ie, on your own property.
It would be a great help if the gear selector didn't immediately jump into 'park' whenever you open the driver's door to lean out for an old fashioned look-see.
That's progress I suppose, but all this technology sometimes gets a bit too big for it's boots.

[dada23]

The solid red/continuous tone when you still have 12 inches is the reference...just know there's less than 12 inches when it becomes red
anyway in a few weeks I guess you'll know the dimensions of the car and how to deal with parking spaces with this particular car..

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by dada23

The solid red/continuous tone when you still have 12 inches is the reference...

No offence intended, but that's clearly stating the obvious - of course it's just a reference .
As per my original post, I think 3 inches bears a closer resemblance to reality than 12.

[Touring]

It must be difficult to park with the steeringwheel on the wrong side of the car :-)

Maybe you can retrofit backup-camera?? Without it Im sure I would have scratched my car too.

[SAuchterlonie]

I've also noticed that the sensors don't pick up the curbs when reversing, which is taking a little getting used to since the old Volvo I had used to pick them up really well.

S

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by Touring

It must be difficult to park with the steeringwheel on the wrong side of the car :-)

Maybe you can retrofit backup-camera?? Without it Im sure I would have scratched my car too.

I have the reversing camera and find it very useful - unfortunately it was the front corner which contacted the wall .

[raleedy]

Sounds like Top View would be (have been) the best answer. Reminds me of my first real experience with Park Distance Control. When my 2001 530i came through the Vehicle Processing Center in the US after Euro delivery, they very nicely repaired some damage to the front bumper. They forgot, though, to reconnect the PDC sensors. I learned this when I backed the car into a brick wall opposite my garage.

[grimlock]

I can never park my car straight, i guess im still not used to the BMW 'driver oriented' thingy..
If you're maneuvering within that last 12inches thats one small parking space ! i only just started venturing into solid tone territory and i freeze immediately

One solution is to install (multiple) camera(s) on the front. they can be source cheapily from ebay.com.hk, pair them up with a tiny monitor which u can hide somewhere, i plan to install a load of cameras +lasers (for alignment and distance) when i get around to it

[Touring]

Originally Posted by grimlock

I can never park my car straight

Now you sound like a woman

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by Touring

Now you sound like a woman

How do you know she isn't one .

[Touring]

Originally Posted by Jon D

How do you know she isn't one .

Maybe I should ask for a picture or is that off-topic??

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by Touring

Maybe I should ask for a picture or is that off-topic??

Certainly not off-topic, but, depending on what you get, it might be off-putting .

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by Touring

Now you sound like a woman

no, im serious. there is something with this BMW .. i havent parked it straight once (ok, but that required getting out of the car)

and the front is closer than it seems, the rear is further ..

sitting in this bmw means space has warped

but then im used to the perfect 90deg angles of stodgy old benzes

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by Jon D

How do you know she isn't one .

haha very funny

(edited from "screw u" .. lest it be construed as an invitation to such, such is the horndog-ed-ness around here )

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by Touring

Maybe I should ask for a picture or is that off-topic??

whoa ... buddy

[grimlock]

Jon

wait. I thought of a good comeback:


It beats having to repaint your car.

[Touring]

Originally Posted by grimlock

Jon

wait. I thought of a good comeback:


It beats having to repaint your car.

Im sure Jons car will be fine with some paint after his little parking incident.

[grimlock]

Originally Posted by Touring

Im sure Jons car will be fine with some paint after his little parking incident.

hope so ...
thats what 600nm of torque will do to you