09-04-2018, 08:05 AM | #1 |
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A ‘Driving Assistance Plus’ (ZDB) Convert!
Some may recall I’ve not been a huge proponent of this option, mainly because I enjoy driving and never felt I needed it to actively cruise or maintain a lane for me.
Given the positive Forum comments supporting it during the past 6 months, however, we opted for it in our 2019 G01 X3 M40i figuring we’d give it a try. After using it on Interstates for our recent 600 mile trip, I’ve got to say my opinion has changed. For those who don’t have this option, I put together some images of our Instrument Cluster showing some of the different settings and information it can provide. I’ve had some trouble understanding some of the previously posted comments since I didn’t have experience with it, so I thought these images might help those unfamiliar with this system as I was. Page 1 identifies the additional steering wheel buttons which come with this option. The top image on Page 2 shows Active Cruise has detected a vehicle on the farthest setting of four bars and has smoothly slowed us down from the 79mph setting. The green hwy ‘lanes’ and steering wheel show Active Lane Keeping Assist is active and monitoring our position in the lane. The bottom image shows a detected vehicle now closer to us as I adjusted the distance down to only two bars. Just roughly eyeing the distances these bars actually represent, it seems the bars equal somewhere around 50-75’, but others may know the exact distance these represent. FWIW, 1-2 bars seemed about right for us with fairly busy hwy volume (otherwise the distance seemed too wide allowing others to move in front of us, which kept slowing us down as the cruise re-expanded our distance from this new vehicle). Page 3 shows clear sailing at 2 bars distance with the bottom image showing how Active Lane Assist inactivates briefly while I had the turn signal on to change lanes (the hwy ‘lanes’ and steering wheel are now grey). Page 4 shows the Active Cruise distance now at only 1 bar, clear at the top but car in front at the bottom. I didn’t realize while I was driving but the digital vehicle image also gets bigger as it gets closer. Page 5 illustrates what showed when I wasn’t touching the wheel - after 3 sec or so the steering wheel gets bigger, filling up the space where the Active cruise bars usually show, and it turns yellow. This is your first warning, but as the hwy lanes are still green it is still actively maintaining the lane. I didn’t count the sec (should have, sorry), but if you don’t place your hand back on the wheel within 3-5 sec the wheel turns red and the hwy lanes completely disappear, telling you it is no longer actively maintaining a lane. If you still don’t touch the wheel after a few more seconds it abruptly sounds an alarm and drops the active cruise with a rather sudden exaggerated slowing, designed I suspect to really get your attention (which it did). [Disclaimer – for safety reasons this latter test was done only when there were no vehicles within 500’ front or back] So in summary, the system is really quite remarkable and I honestly didn’t encounter any negatives while using it on the Interstate. Whether it was serendipitous or related to having it active, I can say it was one of the most relaxing drives I can remember. I didn’t find any instances where the Lane Assistant fought me as I was deliberately trying to drive as it seemed to recognize my input and also inactivated itself in those situations, much as if I put my turn signal on. It allowed for improved situational awareness as I felt secure spending a bit more time looking in the rear view and side mirrors as I knew the front was being monitored. That was helpful when analyzing fast-moving packs of vehicles coming up from behind and sorting out whether we were going to be caught behind slower tractor trailers in front of us, for example. And the active cruise did a great job of smoothly slowing us down without ever needing to brake (even when on only one bar distance, although it was even gentler at the farther distance settings). Will we ever use this system in City driving? No, although I can understand those caught in Metropolitan grid-lock appreciating what it brings to the table in those situations. We’ll reserve it for Interstate trips, where it has already proven itself a trustworthy ‘Assistant’ providing us with an added layer of confidence and safety. Last edited by Max Well; 09-04-2018 at 08:53 AM.. Reason: Corrected bottom caption on page 5 |
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09-04-2018, 09:27 AM | #2 | |
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My thoughts on the tech after a couple long trips this weekend: The ACC works amazing, and I trust it. I turn it on and feel like I'm the backup for it. If all goes smooth, I'll never touch the gas or brake while it's on. The Lane Keep Assist (LKA) is a little less polished than the ACC. I turn it on, and it's the backup for me. If all goes smooth, I never feel it move the wheel because I already am staying in the middle of the lane. When I let it be in charge, I wouldn't say it ping-pongs me from side to side like others have, but it definitely drives a little erratically. At least to the point where I feel it's better to steer myself and let it just back me up. The LKA definitely prefers to follow the car in front of you than to read the lines. It's probably more reliable that way, but it's a little scary when the car in front of you is making a turn you're not, and your car starts to turn out of the lane to follow them. The car is definitely more fun to drive without ACC and LKA on, but it tires you out a little less using them, and you feel very safe taking your hands off the wheel for a moment to take a drink from a water bottle or put on your sunglasses etc. One problem I have with the ACC, for use in stop-and-go traffic, when it brings me to a complete stop, and then it's time to "go" again, the car doesn't start by itself. You have to hit the accelerator or press resume I believe. Is there a way around this? Feels like ACC is only doing half the work in traffic for me this way. It stops yes, but I have to start the go. |
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09-04-2018, 06:07 PM | #3 | |
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09-04-2018, 06:10 PM | #4 |
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09-04-2018, 06:53 PM | #5 |
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I too have a 2019 M40i with Driver Assistance Plus, and agree with your observations.
Have you tried the “Lane Departure Warning” feature yet? My understanding is that It should be active when Lane Keeping Assist is turned off. However, I’ve not been able to have it work. I’ve configured it in iDrive and set the steering wheel vibration level to the max, but haven’t noticed any vibration when crossing highly visible lane lines at 60mph. I have a 2013 328i with this feature, and it works well. Any thoughts on why it’s not working on my M40i? Perhaps the chunky M steering wheel muffles the vibrations? |
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09-04-2018, 07:58 PM | #6 |
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I like all the assistance packages EXCEPT the DA+ Lane thingy....Today it was following a car and that car did not move and the X3 swerved me over the center line (just barely) then back to the white line before I took over....
Also, Seems I have to work to steer while it is active. It is tiring really.. I am convinced mine is possessed. I will not be using it any more. The ACC is great EXCEPT when a car it is following turns. It takes forever for the X3 to see the car has completed its turn and continue on when not coming to a complete stop. The car is usually driving down their new road before the X3 starts to accelerate....Been honked at several times and watched several cars start to go then hit the brakes because the X3 was still decelerating....It is easily fixed by manually accelerating.... Overall though for what they are they work well... |
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09-05-2018, 02:52 AM | #7 | |
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G01 X3 30d 2018-09 - Sophistograu Brillanteffekt Metallic/ Leder Vernasca Mokka Dekorsteppung
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09-05-2018, 02:53 AM | #8 | |
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G01 X3 30d 2018-09 - Sophistograu Brillanteffekt Metallic/ Leder Vernasca Mokka Dekorsteppung
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09-05-2018, 07:11 AM | #9 |
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Appreciate the review and pictures. It's definitely something I'm thinking about on my next BMW. The technology is pretty amazing in these vehicles. I was a late adopter of certain features but have come to rely on them whether it be head up display, frontal collision warning and surround cameras for parking.
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09-11-2018, 06:07 PM | #10 | |
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...until I dropped my car in this month for an unrelated software update (solving HVAC issues as covered in other thread). My LKA is now massively improved and I used it on a test run this week at speed. It now follows a sensible line and isn't fighting against my hand which I can now confidently rest lightly on the wheel and let myself move with the car. I'd experienced "LKA" on Tesla, MB and an older 7 series so was looking forward to having it, then disappointed that in my case it was only useful at super low speed crawling stop/start etc. So glad to actually have it working for what it is realistically meant for - freeways. |
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09-11-2018, 08:12 PM | #11 | ||
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09-11-2018, 09:10 PM | #12 | |
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Dealer has an appointment to recalibrate the camera. Not sure if that might solve it or cause more problems. But they seem to think it might help. The were clear they have no idea why it is doing it and they were able to replicate it. |
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09-11-2018, 10:59 PM | #13 | |
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09-19-2018, 03:00 AM | #14 | |
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I didn't realise straight away the traffic had started going again. At that point I was happy I still needed to perform some type of action to get the vehicle moving. I think it's mainly for that; people stopped in traffic for longer than 5s may have their attention wander. It's a dangerous thing to get a vehicle going if the person behind the wheel is unaware of it, or not paying attention. Especially in cellphone-behind-the-wheel prone countries. |
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09-21-2018, 03:53 AM | #15 |
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09-22-2018, 10:08 AM | #16 |
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Seems like having to touch the steering wheel every 3-5 seconds can be annoying. I'd like to have this for my long drives but if I have to keep moving my hand all the time it seems tiring. How much pressure do you need on the wheel to stay active? Can you just rest a couple fingers on the wheel?
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09-22-2018, 10:45 AM | #17 | |
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So yes, even resting a few fingers on the wheel was adequate I found, but that actually required more thought and focus for me than just naturally allowing my hand to rest as mentioned on the bottom portion of the wheel. |
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09-24-2018, 11:51 AM | #18 | |
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basically any sort of contact with the wheel should work. so whatever position is comfortable enough to be left for a long relaxing drive. I'd just recommend keeping your hand in a position where by you can quickly grab the wheel again, if necessary. |
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09-25-2018, 08:12 PM | #19 |
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OK thanks for the replies. I guess it's better than nothing. I just read about the self-passing ability and that seems pretty cool too. Is it still true that if you get the driver assistant plus package that you lose the heated steering wheel?
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09-25-2018, 09:01 PM | #20 |
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I'm in Canada, and have DA and DA+. And I still have the heated steering wheel. Other markets could be different however.
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09-25-2018, 09:01 PM | #21 | |
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No. You don't lose the heated wheel with DA+, and I'd be shocked if you ever did! |
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09-25-2018, 09:41 PM | #22 |
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In the x1, if you order driver assistant plus, you loose the heated steering wheel. I know because my previous car was exactly this way. I’m not sure what other bmw’s are like this and if it has been resolved in the x1. BMW does weird things sometimes, like this and omitting blind spot monitoring all together.
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