[gtsussex]

Regular trip up to Pinewood Studios this morning. ACC turned on at bottom of A23. Turned it off as left the M4. It dealt with roadworks and traffic going as low as 4mph. As for people cutting you up, doesn't bother me anymore and I stick in inside two lanes anyway. So stressless and 1hr 20mins to do the 75 mile trip. Reset computer when filled up at Lewes - end result 49.4mpg.

This car still has the ability to impress me.

[....,,,,..,,..]

It is an amazing system and I can see it becoming a standard safety device (in one form or another).

A bit like traction control is mandatory on new cars (or it's supposed to be).

Acc will link up well with proactive drive, with the car having the ability to use more than one input for it's surroundings.

[Arwmjc]

I'm glad I added to my order.. been a lot of good feedback with this feature especially with the hud and speed limit display which I also added so can't wait...

[SkyJawa]

ACC is epic. End of (as mentioned above with the HuD and speed limit)

[Tengocity]

Yeah it's good at times, and I do find myself in wonder at how clever it seems on occasion. But then on other times find its limitations frustrating! I feel you do need to develop a 'technique' or driving style to get the best from it.

I think there is one thing they could do easily to improve it- come to a a 'soft stop' like a human would... Im sure that can't be hard to program.

[SkyJawa]

That is a point, like right at the last minute it very gradually eases off the brake pressure a fraction. It does tend to stop a little bit hard!

[JustChris]

Sounds great, does this have the traffic jam assist feature, I think I saw it on the X5 launch maybe. Does all the start stop as well as distance following, sounds incredible.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by SkyJawa

That is a point, like right at the last minute it very gradually eases off the brake pressure a fraction. It does tend to stop a little bit hard!

Exactly! I think whoever is following me in a jam must think I'm a right clutz!

[UK_]

I haven't used it much on my 320 mostly because I forget I have it but it is amazing. Miffed they don't do it on the M4 as an option, probably due to extra cooling needed on front grill but I am sure they could find a way around this.

[gtsussex]

Originally Posted by UK_

I haven't used it much on my 320 mostly because I forget I have it but it is amazing. Miffed they don't do it on the M4 as an option, probably due to extra cooling needed on front grill but I am sure they could find a way around this.

I think it's more to do with the fact that you have the M1/2 buttons on the steering wheel which means no room for distance adjustment buttons.

[gtsussex]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Exactly! I think whoever is following me in a jam must think I'm a right clutz!

Secret is to add distance bars when going slower - calms down the stop/start. I also know speed down to 30ish so acceleration not excessive in between gaps.

As you say, there's a learning curve in using it.

[Alkidrew]

I wonder if anyone has tried to get off a speeding ticket by claiming they were just ACC'd to the car in front...."wasn't my fault m'lud, it was the guy ahead of me!"

[zofinger]

Have not had the benefit of test driving it but am seriously considering adding it to an upcoming order...what are it's 'limitations' and annoyances? For example, I gather whilst there's a setting to dictate how far behind you follow, it probably leaves a gap for someone to jump in even on it's closest setting?

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by zofinger

Have not had the benefit of test driving it but am seriously considering adding it to an upcoming order...what are it's 'limitations' and annoyances? For example, I gather whilst there's a setting to dictate how far behind you follow, it probably leaves a gap for someone to jump in even on it's closest setting?

Yes that's a downside on the M25 in rush hour for sure. It can only look one car ahead whereas you look several cars, so you would have lifted off the throttle having seen the traffic is slowing, but it won't, so it feels a bit unnatural at times, and you feel it's braking and accelerating in too much of an on/off way is how is describe it.

It's like being driven by a bad driver who doesn't read the road!

Often it works well though, just in certain traffic conditions it could be better.

[SkyJawa]

I thought it performed admirably on my last run round a rush hour m25/m1!

[zofinger]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Yes that's a downside on the M25 in rush hour for sure. It can only look one car ahead whereas you look several cars, so you would have lifted off the throttle having seen the traffic is slowing, but it won't, so it feels a bit unnatural at times, and you feel it's braking and accelerating in too much of an on/off way is how is describe it.

It's like being driven by a bad driver who doesn't read the road!

Often it works well though, just in certain traffic conditions it could be better.

That's a great insight. Like you all I always look way ahead and kinda hate it when drivers continuously brake/accelerate rather than anticipating and lifting. More people braking 'unnecessarily' leads to the person behind braking a little harder...and so on. Not to mention it's not as fuel efficient as anticipating/lifting. That's definitely made me think twice about it as I'm not sure I could use it. Though interesting to read above adding a few distance bars calms the braking action when slowing. I'm about to place an order and maybe my money would be better spent on the HUD instead. It's one or the other.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by zofinger

That's a great insight. Like you all I always look way ahead and kinda hate it when drivers continuously brake/accelerate rather than anticipating and lifting. More people braking 'unnecessarily' leads to the person behind braking a little harder...and so on. Not to mention it's not as fuel efficient as anticipating/lifting. That's definitely made me think twice about it as I'm not sure I could use it. Though interesting to read above adding a few distance bars calms the braking action when slowing. I'm about to place an order and maybe my money would be better spent on the HUD instead. It's one or the other.

You can do things to get the most of it. If you add distance bars and are on a busy nose to tail kind of motorway then you're inviting every chancer there is to fill that gap... And then it drops back and creates another gap, and so on.

In a really boring A road it works fabulously, but then I'm quite happy to drive myself on those roads.

In real grinding stop start conditions I think it's great, but then I put it in Eco pro to tone down the on/off nature of it.

I'd probably still have it than not, but really not sure I would pay £600 or whatever again for the privilege. So for me I would go for HUD over it, but I think ACC and the HUD work very well together, so wouldn't have ACC unless I had the HUD.

[gtsussex]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

You can do things to get the most of it. If you add distance bars and are on a busy nose to tail kind of motorway then you're inviting every chancer there is to fill that gap... And then it drops back and creates another gap, and so on.

In a really boring A road it works fabulously, but then I'm quite happy to drive myself on those roads.

In real grinding stop start conditions I think it's great, but then I put it in Eco pro to tone down the on/off nature of it.

I'd probably still have it than not, but really not sure I would pay £600 or whatever again for the privilege. So for me I would go for HUD over it, but I think ACC and the HUD work very well together, so wouldn't have ACC unless I had the HUD.

Completely agree with Terry's comments above.

[zofinger]

HUD first priority, ACC next... got it. Thanks!

[Notechy]

V helpful inputs here. Op's first post gave me pause for further thought about having omitted ACC from order. But ultimately, looks like right decision for me.

[Tengocity]

The things I'd like to change on it are:

1) more progressive and natural way to how it brakes and also accelerates, so that it mimics how a human would do this.
2) ability to change the level of acceleration. ie. how quickly it tries to get back up to speed.

I think these systems will only get better and better as the develop them.

[Southern Jay]

I love using my ACC especially on those long trips up and down the country, I'm fast approaching 6k miles. must admit I didn't spec the HUD but from seeing pics I might have to next time around.