This overview explains the function and operation of the most important BMW assistants. Some assistance systems are model-dependent or only available in conjunction with extensive packages. This can lead to higher surcharges. The full functionality of certain assistants also depends heavily on the combination with other systems.
Active Park Distance Control
Active Park Distance Control is designed to prevent parking damage when maneuvering. The system detects obstacles in the rear and sides of the vehicle. If the accelerator pedal is pressed and there is a risk of a collision, it warns the driver by applying the brakes lightly. If the vehicle rolls without accelerating and an obstacle occur, the vehicle brakes automatically to a standstill.
Active Protection
In dangerous or accident situations, this system automatically initiates measures to protect the occupants. This includes pre-tensioning the seat belts and closing the side windows and sunroof. In addition, the system automatically brakes after a collision to avoid secondary accidents.
Collision and personal warning
The assistance system recognizes vehicles, people, and static obstacles. Should an accident inevitably be imminent, the brakes are automatically applied to reduce the impact speed? At higher speeds of 85 km / h or more, the vehicle issues a collision warning to the driver and prepares the brakes to respond quickly.
Attention assistant
The attention assistant analyzes the driving behavior based on steering commands from the driver and the previous driving time. If it discovers a lack of concentration, it suggests a break via a message in the instrument cluster.
BMW Evasive aid
The vehicle monitors its surroundings with the help of sensors and camera images. If there is a risk of collision with an obstacle lying ahead, it first issues a warning. If the driver then gives a steering command, the system intervenes in a supportive manner to steer the vehicle in a targeted manner into the recognized free space.
Wrong-way warning
The wrong-way warning recognizes no entry signs and warns the driver accordingly to effectively prevent ghost drives.
Remote-controlled parking
With the help of the BMW display key, you can remotely park the vehicle straight ahead or backward from a short distance. The system automatically detects and brakes in front of obstacles or as soon as you release one of the buttons.
BMW High beam assistant
The high beam assistant can be switched on and off using a button on the indicator lever. The system automatically activates the high beam in a dark environment and automatically fades out and then fades it up again in the case of vehicles driving ahead, oncoming traffic, or sufficiently illuminated lanes such as in built-up areas.
Front collision warning
The front collision warning includes the collision warning and personal warning and extends the speed range in which the system works automatically with braking intervention up to 250 km / h. When an obstacle is detected, the brake intervenes before a collision becomes unavoidable, up to and including full braking.
BMW Cruise control
BMW models have different levels of speed control, each with a different scope of functions. There is cruise control with braking, cruise control with distance control, and active cruise control with stop & go function.
Cruise control with brake function
BMW calls cruise control with braking function a conventional cruise control that can also activate the brake to reduce the speed to the selected speed or not to exceed it on steep slopes.
Cruise control with distance control
The cruise control with distance control includes the braking function and is adaptive cruise control (ACC) that automatically measures the safety distance to the vehicle in front and adjusts the driving speed accordingly. The distance control can be switched on or off completely at the desired distance.
Active Cruise Control with Stop & Go function
The active speed control with stop & go function includes distance control. The system automatically maintains the set distance from the vehicle in front and, if necessary, reduces the speed to a standstill. The Stop & Go function acts like a traffic jam assistant, which automatically starts up again after a short idle time of up to 3 seconds and accelerates to the selected speed.
Rear collision warning
The rear collision warning, also known as rear collision prevention, detects possible accident risks from the following traffic via sensors at the rear and warns them via hazard warning lights with double-frequency flashing. At the same time, occupant protection measures such as belt tensioning and closing the windows are carried out similar to Active Protection.
Intersection warning
The intersection warning extends the function of the cross-traffic warning at the front and also recognizes right-of-way situations and stop signs. In the event of an impending collision with cross-traffic, an optical and acoustic warning is given with braking assistance or active braking intervention up to a speed of 85 km / h.
BMW Emergency stop assistant
In the event of a medical emergency, the emergency stop assistant can safely steer the vehicle and bring it to a standstill thanks to the lane departure warning system and braking intervention. At the same time, other road users are made aware of the hazard warning lights. In addition, the rescue service is informed by an emergency call.
BMW Parking assistant
When driving slowly below 35 km / h, the parking assistant automatically measures parking spaces across and along the direction of travel, even without prior activation. The assistant can then maneuver into the recognized parking space independently after engaging reverse gear or by pressing a button, taking overall steering movements as well as accelerating and braking.
BMW Cross-traffic warning
BMW distinguishes between the rear cross-traffic warning and the front cross-traffic warning. While both assistants have similar functions, the rear cross-traffic warning is available for more models and partly built-in as standard or in cheaper packages than the corresponding system at the front.
Rear cross-traffic warning
The rear cross-traffic warning provides support when reversing out of parking spaces. It warns of a possible risk of accidents from cross-traffic even before the driver has the opportunity to see it. In conjunction with a reversing camera, the system is expanded to include real images in the display.
Cross-traffic warning in front
With the cross-traffic warning at the front, you are warned of possible collisions with approaching vehicles in difficult-to-see traffic situations, for example at intersections or exits.
BMW Remote 3D view
With the Remote 3D View function, you can view static images in the form of a 360 ° photo of the vehicle’s surroundings on your smartphone.
Reversing assistant
While you are driving slower than 35 km / h, the vehicle automatically saves your steering movements over the last 50 meters. After activating the reversing assistant at the push of a button, the system can reverse this route exactly backward even days later to maneuver out of narrow spaces more easily.
All steering movements are carried out independently, while the driver only operates the pedals and monitors the environment. If the driver exceeds the maximum possible speed of 7 km / h, the system deactivates.
BMW Speed Limit Assist
As a continuation of the Speed Limit Info, there is the Speed Limit Assist in manual and automatic execution.
The manual Speed Limit Assist recognizes speed limits, which the driver can accept with confirmation when the cruise control is switched on. The vehicle then automatically adjusts the cruising speed to the maximum permitted speed.
The automatic Speed Limit Assist does not require manual confirmation and adapts automatically to the prevailing speed limits when the cruise control is activated.
Speed limit info
The camera-based Speed Limit Info is a traffic sign recognition system that automatically recognizes speed limits as well as additional signs or no-overtaking signs and displays them in the digital instrument cluster.
Lane Keeping Assist
In addition to the lane departure warning, the lane departure warning system can actively follow the detected lane in the speed range of 70 – 210 km / h so that the driver does not have to make any steering movements of his own. However, the driver must keep his hands on the steering wheel, otherwise, the assistant deactivates itself after a while.
Active side collision protection is also used in many models. If a parallel driving vehicle approaches from the adjacent lane, the assistant can easily evade within the lane.
Lane Departure Warning
The lane departure warning recognizes lane markings from 70 km / h. If the vehicle threatens to run over them without the indicator set, the driver is warned by steering wheel vibration. Some models also have a lane return system that brings the vehicle back on track through active steering intervention.
BMW Lane change warning
This system monitors the surrounding area and detects vehicles in the blind spot from 20 km / h. If an attempt is made to change lanes despite an obstacle being detected, a warning is given using steering wheel vibration and a display in the exterior mirror.
Depending on the model, the system, in combination with lane departure warning and cruise control with distance control, can carry out overtaking maneuvers independently. To do this, the driver simply sets the indicator in the direction of the desired lane change and briefly holds it in position. The vehicle independently checks whether it is safe to change lanes and then pulls out of the way.
BMW Surround-view
The camera and sensor-based system automatically visualize the surroundings of the vehicle in various selectable perspectives in the infotainment display during maneuvering and parking processes. You can choose from among others Top View, Panorama View, and 3D View. The cameras enable an all-around view of the vehicle as well as three-dimensional visualization.
