[MomoM3]

So, I just got a production number for a 340i xDrive 6MT M Package yesterday.

I originally speced the car with the Driver's Assistance Plus ZDB ($1,700) but am now having 2nd thoughts on just adding the Side & Top View Camera 5DL ($750) to save me $950 on my build.

I have driven loaners with Lane Departure and Blindspot Detection and found them annoying. I added ZDB because I thought the added safety technology would be cool to have but now I'm wondering if it's even worth it. I mean, the package has Speed Limit Info and that's great and all but kinda unnecessary. The Active Driving Assistant warnings and brake priming/activating is appealing but am worried I'd get annoyed at this too and turn them off.

Thoughts? Save the $950 (~$15/mo on a lease) or just get ZDB? Anyone love ZDB?

Thanks!

[DrivenByE30]

I have none of the above options and i am very happy with the car.

Would be cool to have them but IMHO, you dont nerd them if you are driving the way you are supposed to be driving according to the DMV. None of these are necessary.

The camera i think are more useful to aid in very tight parking maneuvers.

The blind spot warning should be standard on this kind of car. Shame Bmw is charging dor these... But like i said above, you dont realy need them since you are supposed to be fully aware of your surrounding at Alll time when driving.... If you are not then maybe you shouldnt be...

If you have money to spend without worries, go right ahead... The more toys the better... Whether you actually used them enough time, thats up to you.

Cheers.

[newoldbeemer]

Top view camera would be cool when parking in tight spots. I also wish it had the blind-spot camera like Hondas when you turn on the indicator, however I wouldn't worry about it if you adjust your mirrors properly. Just something cool to have.

Speed-limit info on the heads-up-display can be useful I guess. I had it on one of my cars, not on heads-up-display but on the nav display. Its useful to be able to glance and find out what the speed limit is at anytime, instead of searching for road signs.

So yeah I wouldn't consider this an important package but would add it if it fits my budget.

[Blubaron79]

I had the DAP with my 435 and I never used it. Lane departure is annoying. However mine did not have the blind spot warning. When ordering my 335 I debated it. My Sales guy said: Do you actively drive? Do you look over your shoulder when changing lanes. The system is for old people. I laughed, and then spent the money I saved on my MPE. No regrets. I did add the top down and side cameras though.

[smithf80]

Only thing I would want from it is the Side and Top View Cameras which are available separate, so I would just get those.

[MomoM3]

Originally Posted by Blubaron79

I had the DAP with my 435 and I never used it. Lane departure is annoying. However mine did not have the blind spot warning. When ordering my 335 I debated it. My Sales guy said: Do you actively drive? Do you look over your shoulder when changing lanes. The system is for old people. I laughed, and then spent the money I saved on my MPE. No regrets. I did add the top down and side cameras though.

These are my thoughts exactly, thank you!

I checked off every package and then I went back to realize I might not even use anything in ZDB sans Side and Top View Camera but can always add just that.

The Active Driving Assistant stuff looks awesome but probably not worth the extra $950 itself. I certainly don't have money to burn and the cost difference per month wouldn't be crazy but I have a hard time spending money on things I might not use.

I do, however, find myself on the highway a lot so thought ZDB would be a good idea...

[NightWriter]

I opted for 5DL instead of the full ZDB for the reasons you stated. Blind spot alerts can be helpful, but I learned in driver's ed how to properly change lanes. And agreed that lane departure warnings are annoying and akin to having your mother nagging you. Just pay attention when driving and you'll be fine.

[MomoM3]

Originally Posted by NightWriter

I opted for 5DL instead of the full ZDB for the reasons you stated. Blind spot alerts can be helpful, but I learned in driver's ed how to properly change lanes. And agreed that lane departure warnings are annoying and akin to having your mother nagging you. Just pay attention when driving and you'll be fine.

Great, thanks. Yes, I consider myself to be a safe driver so I'm convincing myself I don't need everything ZBD has. Adding the 5DL back in, $950 is a significant saving too.

One of my buddies just told me the $950 is worth it if it saves you just once, so I'm still conflicted.

[BDWonder]

Originally Posted by MomoM3

So, I just got a production number for a 340i xDrive 6MT M Package yesterday.

I originally speced the car with the Driver's Assistance Plus ZDB ($1,700) but am now having 2nd thoughts on just adding the Side & Top View Camera 5DL ($750) to save me $950 on my build.

I have driven loaners with Lane Departure and Blindspot Detection and found them annoying. I added ZDB because I thought the added safety technology would be cool to have but now I'm wondering if it's even worth it. I mean, the package has Speed Limit Info and that's great and all but kinda unnecessary. The Active Driving Assistant warnings and brake priming/activating is appealing but am worried I'd get annoyed at this too and turn them off.

Thoughts? Save the $950 (~$15/mo on a lease) or just get ZDB? Anyone love ZDB?

Thanks!

I love the top view cameras. Use it all the time instead of rear view camera. Having said that, all the other tech like lane departure and speed limit reader are all useless to me. I never ever use them or pay attention to them. In my opinion they are useless. My steering wheel vibrates, and it is quite annoying at times. Also, it doesnt recognize lane lines many times in order to propely activate. The only safety tech I'd choose would be perhaps the blind spot detection, and def the auto stopping capability function (which i dont think you can get without the that cruise control feature). Having something that will enable your car to completely come to a stop in case of emergency is an excellent and ideal feature in my opinion. Good luck dude!

[bimmercar]

I got the top view, its great for parking in parking lots, make sure your car is parallel to the lines, so you dont suffer any dings from other cars

[MomoM3]

UPDATE:

Well... I ordered the car on 11/2 and just got my VIN today 11/4, so I can't delete the ZBD package... Oh well.... It's ok...

Thanks everyone for your feedback!

[tex2670]

Originally Posted by MomoM3

Great, thanks. Yes, I consider myself to be a safe driver so I'm convincing myself I don't need everything ZBD has. Adding the 5DL back in, $950 is a significant saving too.

One of my buddies just told me the $950 is worth it if it saves you just once, so I'm still conflicted.

It's hard to argue with that. In the grand scheme of what you are paying, $950 isn't really a significant price increase. My wife's Mazda has the blind spot monitor, and it works great. I've never seen the BMW system, but the Mazda system is completely unintrusive. And the surround cameras will come in handy more often than you think.

[Goody4]

Or, how about this argument from the dopes who think PDC is unnecessary: "I'm such a wonderful parker, I would never hit anything anyway, so I'll save the 500 bucks"

I'm glad those people have never had to park in tight situations, but park distance control has saved me from curbing my rims and from potential bumper damage many, many times.

Yeah, as a poster has already stated above, the extra $950 will pay for itself, likely more than once. Let's not skimp here.

[QuikSilver_]

Question: If you drift into another lane, does the Lane Departure Warning gently nudge the car back into your lane, or does it just vibrate the steering wheel? Just out of curiosity

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by Goody4

Or, how about this argument from the dopes who think PDC is unnecessary: "I'm such a wonderful parker, I would never hit anything anyway, so I'll save the 500 bucks"

I disagree that these are analogous. Parking is a game of inches, and it can be very challenging to correctly place the car near obstacles that you can't see. The parking sensors and cameras help enormously in this effort and take away a lot of the guesswork.

Blind spot detection informs you when there's an object (vehicle) adjacent and slightly behind yours. You can either angle your mirrors permanently to include this field of view, or you can turn your head to look. Never fails.

[Zirenz2006]

Can the blind spot detection be turned on independent of the other features in DAP other than the side and top view cameras?

I am debating on my next car getting Drivers Assistance with side & top view or Drivers Assistance and DAP. I would like the blind spot warning but might not want the other stuff on at all times.

[Blubaron79]

Originally Posted by gpjustinn

Question: If you drift into another lane, does the Lane Departure Warning gently nudge the car back into your lane, or does it just vibrate the steering wheel? Just out of curiosity

Just vibrates.

[G30 B58]

Originally Posted by Blubaron79

Just vibrates.

and can be turned off.

[casperM4]

If you never had it before, you're fine, otherwise you'll regret not getting these features (like I do now)

[Brian_R]

Originally Posted by MomoM3

So, I just got a production number for a 340i xDrive 6MT M Package yesterday.

I originally speced the car with the Driver's Assistance Plus ZDB ($1,700) but am now having 2nd thoughts on just adding the Side & Top View Camera 5DL ($750) to save me $950 on my build.

I have driven loaners with Lane Departure and Blindspot Detection and found them annoying. I added ZDB because I thought the added safety technology would be cool to have but now I'm wondering if it's even worth it. I mean, the package has Speed Limit Info and that's great and all but kinda unnecessary. The Active Driving Assistant warnings and brake priming/activating is appealing but am worried I'd get annoyed at this too and turn them off.

Thoughts? Save the $950 (~$15/mo on a lease) or just get ZDB? Anyone love ZDB?

Thanks!

That's what I did. The Lane Departure shimmy vs. other brands methods sucks. Couldn't be happier.

[zman1237]

Can the side and top view cameras be retrofitted to a car? Would like to have that for parking.

[NightWriter]

Originally Posted by zman1237

Can the side and top view cameras be retrofitted to a car? Would like to have that for parking.

It would probably be cheaper to hire a chauffeur to jump out of the car and guide you in with hand signals.