[Lanscar]

My wife bumped the front of the car thinking that the PDC would kick in, but it didn't hence the little bump. Lucky there was no damage.

I do recall the salesman saying you have to switch the front PDC on for it to activate.

Now in our previous car (not BMW) they came on automatically when nearing an object.

My opinion is that the BMW front PDC should always be on and the option to switch it off not the other way round.

[suff]

That would make sense so long as the threshold of "close" was low (say 30cm?) just enough space to allow you to brake, but not large enough to become a pain during general driving (ie bumper to bumper traffic)

What was your previous car?

[Lanscar]

My wife went to a Merc.

She's now back to where she is very happy.

[RaihaX]

that is pretty dumb didnt realise the front PDC needs to be turned on. Lucky never had to test it! I am an ex merc owner as well so I would have not realised that.

[Lanscar]

Being in a Merc for a few years you get use to the front PDC coming on automatically, that's why in the BM my wife got caught out.

[johnnydad]

If you stick it in reverse it comes on front and back. Otherwise you have to push the button such as if you are driving towards a wall. Not having driven anything with auto - on it never occurred to me it would be a problem but thinking about it I can see what an easy mistake it would be to make!

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

Yeh it should come on automatically. I mean how else would you know not to drive into things in front of you unless something beeps

[GT1977]

Originally Posted by bmroxm5

Yeh it should come on automatically. I mean how else would you know not to drive into things in front of you unless something beeps

It would make it easier to drive at night with dark sunglasses so you can look cool without compromsing safety. Sometimes I find things directly in front of me to be at an awkward angle.

On a serious note, I think that the Merc 'auto on' concept would be in a minority group. I can't think of any brand of car I have driven that has the system on all the time (front or back).

[Lanscar]

Originally Posted by bmroxm5

Yeh it should come on automatically. I mean how else would you know not to drive into things in front of you unless something beeps

My wife has been driving for 32 years and has never caused an accident.
She got caught out bumping the front of the car in a car park as she was use to having the front PDC coming on automatically, as in the Merc.

At least she knows now to switch the front BMW PDC on.
Lesson learnt.

However I say the Merc's system makes more sense.

[Cadillac]

Does anyone ever think of reading the manual...just remind me when she is on the road so I can ensure I am somewhere else!!!
They put a manual in the car so you will understand the controls...sounds to me like she deserved to hit a wall.

[Cadillac]

I was just thinking some more about this...I used to drive cars with no PDC (still do in rentals) and never hit things...I think you are allowed to look!!!
I guess she follows the navigation to the letter as well!!!

As someone else highlighted in their sig
I have nothing against stupid people but let's remove the warning labels and let nature take its course...................

[RaihaX]

Originally Posted by Cadillac

Does anyone ever think of reading the manual...just remind me when she is on the road so I can ensure I am somewhere else!!!
They put a manual in the car so you will understand the controls...sounds to me like she deserved to hit a wall.

That's a bit harsh! Who read the manual now days

[VGR00]

Originally Posted by RaihaX

That's a bit harsh! Who read the manual now days

So lets just blame the car manufacture cause they should follow like sheep and make things universal so everythings the same.

[QLD]

Originally Posted by Cadillac

...sounds to me like she deserved to hit a wall.

[Lanscar]

Originally Posted by Cadillac

sounds to me like she deserved to hit a wall.

What wall? I never said my wife hit a wall.

If you must know it was a small circular steel bollard about 300mm high. She just bumped the front bar.

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

[QUOTE=Cadillac;9926686]sounds to me like she deserved to hit a small circular steel bollard about 300mm high[QUOTE]

ok fixed

[Lanscar]

[QUOTE=bmroxm5;9933333][QUOTE=Cadillac;9926686]sounds to me like she deserved to hit a small circular steel bollard about 300mm high

ok fixed

Stuart you shouldn't put words in other people's post.

[Stuart@BMRAutowerkes]

[QUOTE=Lanscar;9933788][QUOTE=bmroxm5;9933333]

Originally Posted by Cadillac

sounds to me like she deserved to hit a small circular steel bollard about 300mm high

Stuart you shouldn't put words in other people's post.

I jest

[Snakes]

Originally Posted by Cadillac

Does anyone ever think of reading the manual...just remind me when she is on the road so I can ensure I am somewhere else!!!
They put a manual in the car so you will understand the controls...sounds to me like she deserved to hit a wall.

I know I am 5 months late on this topic but I have just bought an E92 and joined the forum.

I think this is a bit harsh. I am a bit of a petrolhead (and probably a bit sad as I like to read user manuals before "playing" with whatever new bit of kit I have bought) and I think the manual is a bit unclear onb this point.

It states that "PDC is a parking aid which is capable of registering objects approached at low speed....". I think this could fairly be thought to include when going forward - the usual method of approaching something.

I concede that under "Automatic Activation" it does say it is activated after approx one second when you.. ... move the gear selector to R" but as the whole of that page is written in such a way that refers to the features of the "standard" rear facing PDC, it is easy to assume that the same features apply to the front PDC option.

[pcockley]

It should IMHO come on in front at low speed but the wife does not drive my car so it's all ok ;-)

[Haydrick]

Good thing my sales rep told me about that button - otherwise I'll be driving full speed ahead with my eyes shut!

Although I did ask him how is the sensor activated to prompt him...

[e92sydney]

I think the back and front sensors are both controlled by the same switch, but will also turn on if you switch to reverse.

But it is also smart enough to stay on for a tad longer if you go into reverse then back to drive, useful when parking or adjusting within a spot.

I agree it should come on when it's very close to hitting something, but mum had a toyota that use to beep in traffic like crazy when people come close to you or bikes drive past. She had to turn it off manually all the time.