Park Distance Control (front)

eppisgood · 01-03-2018, 04:23 PM

Hey all, just picked up a 2018 440i GC (comes standard with Park Distance Control) and have a question about PDC. Coming from a 2016 X4, the front PDC would automatically provide acoustic warning alerts as you approached an object at the front of your car (wall, hedge, curb, etc.). With the 440i, there have been no automatic acoustic warning alerts as the car approaches an object (unless in reverse, for example if I parked and then put it in reverse, the acoustic warning alerts will come on if the front of the car is too close to an object - unnecessary since you are reversing). When parking head in, I have to press the Parking Assistant button to get the alerts (and the overhead visual). Is this the only way on the 4-series to get acoustic warning alerts on the front, or is there a way to automatically get the acoustic warning alerts?

I watched the BMW Genius How-To video on Park Distance Control at

and they refer to a setting in the iDrive menu called "Automatic PDC Activation" which is described as "When activated, the parking view is shown automatically when approaching an obstacle at low speeds". I have no such setting option on the 440i.

Billfitz · 01-03-2018, 05:02 PM

You have to push the button.

tristantumble · 01-03-2018, 06:32 PM

PDC comes on automatically when car is put in reverse, once you switch to drive/put in gear the front will come on as well. If you are just fronting it in you need to press the button to activate PDC. I had to ask the forum as well when I first got my car as I didn't find it intuitive.

xlover · 01-03-2018, 06:41 PM

I have an 18 440 with the auto on pdc feature for objects in front. As I approach an object at low speed pdc will automatically engage. It is under idrive in the vehicle settings area. Not in the car at the moment but I can find the submenu if needed...

Update
My vehicle
Vehicle settings
Parking

Possible it's related to a package? Mine is exec pack.

Untdrums · 01-03-2018, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xlover

Possible it's related to a package? Mine is exec pack.

I believe this to be correct. The "auto pdc" is also not on my 2018 440i GC (7/2017 build). I have auto pdc on my wife's 2015 i3 and can access it through the menus but not on my GC. When I asked the genius at my dealership, he said it wasn't included with my packages.

So yes, I too have to push the parking sensor button when pulling forward. I also have to toggle the iDrive controller left once and then push down on it to activate my backup camera when I get into the garage to make sure I'm in all the way.

eppisgood · 01-04-2018, 02:29 AM

Thank you for the confirmations that the parking assist button needs to be pushed for the front sensor acoustic warning to come on, but that is pretty lame. I wonder if it can be coded for the acoustic warning to automatically come on?

eppisgood · 01-04-2018, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xlover

I have an 18 440 with the auto on pdc feature for objects in front. As I approach an object at low speed pdc will automatically engage. It is under idrive in the vehicle settings area. Not in the car at the moment but I can find the submenu if needed...

Update
My vehicle
Vehicle settings
Parking

Possible it's related to a package? Mine is exec pack.

I believe you are correct, as I don't have that "Auto PDC" feature that is shown in the YouTube video I linked, and I do not have the exec package.

CoopersF15 · 01-04-2018, 05:42 PM

It's f'king lame alright - my old Volvo had it come on automatically and only worked when intended, i.e when doing slow maneuvers- it wouldn't come on in stop go traffic for example. Very few false alarms.

BMW though...pathetic. Even my $75k+ 2017 X5 doesn't do it.

Imagine my surprise when I have a close shave in my own parking space coming home with it the first time

Billfitz · 01-04-2018, 05:50 PM

It's the first car I've had with PDC at all, so I'm not bent out of shape that if I want it to come on when traveling forward I have to...shudder, shudder,gasp, gasp...Push a Button!

Another First World Problem.

Climb Mode · 01-04-2018, 07:02 PM

For those with 'auto on PDC' does it come on and start making a racket every time you creep up towards the car in front of you in bumper to bumper traffic?

eppisgood · 01-04-2018, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

It's the first car I've had with PDC at all, so I'm not bent out of shape that if I want it to come on when traveling forward I have to...shudder, shudder,gasp, gasp...Push a Button!

Another First World Problem.

Haha yeah it does seem pretty trivial in the scope of things, however it's a $60k automobile and doesn't seem terribly complicated for it to just be automatically on all the time.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Climb Mode

For those with 'auto on PDC' does it come on and start making a racket every time you creep up towards the car in front of you in bumper to bumper traffic?

On my 2016 X4 it was on all the time and would start to beep if you got close to the car in front of you. If you are within 6 feet (which I think is the radius) of the car in front of you, you should probably back off even in stop & go traffic.

juggsy · 01-05-2018, 01:36 AM

It's strange that my online manual refers to the automatic PDC setting, yet I don't have it in my iDrive either, I thought the online manuals were designed to mirror your options/region? Also seems odd not to be available if you have front PDC as standard.

Wonder what combination of options/regions you need to get this setting?

Billfitz · 01-05-2018, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eppisgood

On my 2016 X4 it was on all the time and would start to beep if you got close to the car in front of you.

I have mine, along with the rear camera, coded to be able to come on at any speed and stay on for any length of time. I use it as a blind spot warning, as it will light up the 'green zone' if there's a car six feet or so to either side as well as forward and aft. It doesn't beep unless said car is within about three feet, so it's not going off all the time, and if I am within 3 feet of another car I want to know about it.

kern417 · 01-05-2018, 10:32 AM

I've noticed that it will make noise and then go off sometimes when pulling in. Like If I'm pulling into my garage, it will beep a few times initially and then stop. I'm not sure if it's because I'm pulling in slowly or some other feature. When I'm reversing, it won't stop no matter how slow I am going.

I also have the executive package and auto pdc enabled. The only time I had it go off unexpectedly was when I taped up my front bumper on the way home from delivery. I got a clear bra installed and they cut holes around the sensors, so I assume that anything covering them will set it off. I've even seen some people say that the tow hook license plate mounts can set it off if you leave auto pdc on.

On a side note, I spent extra money on the executive package partially because I wanted to use the top view camera, but for the life of me I can't get it to default to top view when putting the car in reverse. I always have to bump over and uncheck the "rear camera" box. Very annoying.

01-03-2018, 04:23 PM	#1
eppisgood Private First Class 14 Rep 162 Posts Drives: 2008 e90 335i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	Park Distance Control (front) Hey all, just picked up a 2018 440i GC (comes standard with Park Distance Control) and have a question about PDC. Coming from a 2016 X4, the front PDC would automatically provide acoustic warning alerts as you approached an object at the front of your car (wall, hedge, curb, etc.). With the 440i, there have been no automatic acoustic warning alerts as the car approaches an object (unless in reverse, for example if I parked and then put it in reverse, the acoustic warning alerts will come on if the front of the car is too close to an object - unnecessary since you are reversing). When parking head in, I have to press the Parking Assistant button to get the alerts (and the overhead visual). Is this the only way on the 4-series to get acoustic warning alerts on the front, or is there a way to automatically get the acoustic warning alerts? I watched the BMW Genius How-To video on Park Distance Control at and they refer to a setting in the iDrive menu called "Automatic PDC Activation" which is described as "When activated, the parking view is shown automatically when approaching an obstacle at low speeds". I have no such setting option on the 440i. __________________ 2018 440i GC
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01-03-2018, 05:02 PM	#2
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8270 Rep 16,128 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	You have to push the button.
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01-03-2018, 06:32 PM	#3
tristantumble Private First Class 24 Rep 145 Posts Drives: '17 340xi msport 6MT, MPPk Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	PDC comes on automatically when car is put in reverse, once you switch to drive/put in gear the front will come on as well. If you are just fronting it in you need to press the button to activate PDC. I had to ask the forum as well when I first got my car as I didn't find it intuitive.
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01-03-2018, 06:41 PM	#4
xlover Colonel 2197 Rep 2,558 Posts Drives: 2023 X7 40i Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	I have an 18 440 with the auto on pdc feature for objects in front. As I approach an object at low speed pdc will automatically engage. It is under idrive in the vehicle settings area. Not in the car at the moment but I can find the submenu if needed... Update My vehicle Vehicle settings Parking Possible it's related to a package? Mine is exec pack.
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01-04-2018, 02:29 AM	#6
eppisgood Private First Class 14 Rep 162 Posts Drives: 2008 e90 335i Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (0)	Thank you for the confirmations that the parking assist button needs to be pushed for the front sensor acoustic warning to come on, but that is pretty lame. I wonder if it can be coded for the acoustic warning to automatically come on? __________________ 2018 440i GC
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01-04-2018, 05:42 PM	#8
CoopersF15 Second Lieutenant 96 Rep 274 Posts Drives: F15 Xdrive 40e Performance Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: . iTrader: (0)	It's f'king lame alright - my old Volvo had it come on automatically and only worked when intended, i.e when doing slow maneuvers- it wouldn't come on in stop go traffic for example. Very few false alarms. BMW though...pathetic. Even my $75k+ 2017 X5 doesn't do it. Imagine my surprise when I have a close shave in my own parking space coming home with it the first time __________________ 2017 F15 40i ePerformance -M Sport
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01-04-2018, 05:50 PM	#9
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8270 Rep 16,128 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	It's the first car I've had with PDC at all, so I'm not bent out of shape that if I want it to come on when traveling forward I have to...shudder, shudder,gasp, gasp...Push a Button! Another First World Problem.
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01-04-2018, 07:02 PM	#10
Climb Mode First Lieutenant 119 Rep 322 Posts Drives: G01 X3 M40i Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	For those with 'auto on PDC' does it come on and start making a racket every time you creep up towards the car in front of you in bumper to bumper traffic?
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01-05-2018, 01:36 AM	#12
juggsy Private 53 Rep 90 Posts Drives: BMW 440i GC Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Oxfordshire, UK iTrader: (0)	It's strange that my online manual refers to the automatic PDC setting, yet I don't have it in my iDrive either, I thought the online manuals were designed to mirror your options/region? Also seems odd not to be available if you have front PDC as standard. Wonder what combination of options/regions you need to get this setting?
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