[LexxM3]

Notwithstanding software changes if any, this is an extensive discussion with ideas, manuals and guides excerpts, etc. Worth a review in full: https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1625701

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by LexxM3

This is news, not sure how I missed that. Can someone provide a pointer to read about that change. Here is what it says in the training guides anyway:

I'm not sure if they updated the on-line manual or if it always was like this but I definitely use it on roads without physical barriers.

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

In early releases of iDrive 7 what LexxM3 is referring to was true and it didn't work on all types of roads. I believe it was one of the 03/2019.xx releases that opened it up to all types but it could have been in 07/2019.xx.

@TurtleBoy, you might be referring to the LCA/ALC smoothness improvements from 07/2019.xx onwards relative to prior versions, such as at the post below, but that was not a change in pre-conditions to activate. Country differences are mentioned in the manuals, so that could be, but we've usually found safety systems to be identical between Canada and USA builds (but not non-safety aspects).

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=25278703

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by LexxM3

@TurtleBoy, you might be referring to the LCA/ALC smoothness improvements from 07/2019.xx onwards relative to prior versions, such as at the post below, but that was not a change in pre-conditions to activate. Country differences are mentioned in the manuals, so that could be, but we've usually found safety systems to be identical between Canada and USA builds (but not non-safety aspects).

https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...php?p=25278703

That could have been when the road types were changed also but I thought when I was on my trip in July (after getting updated to 03/2019.55 I think) I was able to use it on roads that I wasn't able to prior to that. It could be that the change was later.

[Paladin1]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

That could have been when the road types were changed also but I thought when I was on my trip in July (after getting updated to 03/2019.55 I think) I was able to use it on roads that I wasn't able to prior to that. It could be that the change was later.

Mine has worked on all road types as well - just needs visible lane markers and center line (and over 40mph). v7/2019.53.

[LexxM3]

I did some testing today, ultimately ending in below test which I would describe as pretty conclusive IN MY ENVIRONMENT. For posterity, my car is:

• 2019 BMW G05 X5 xDrive40i
• April 2019 build, Canadian edition
• on I-STEP S18A-19-11-540 (aka 11/2019.40)
• no coding expected to have had any affect on ALC functionality

Experiment SETUP:

• found a good quality road with following attributes
  • fairly straight
  • same speed limit on entire stretch and below ALC threshold (road is 50km/h, ALC threshold is 70km/h)
  • 4 lanes (2 each way) along entire test stretch
  • good quality roadway and bright markings
  • 3 segments: 1. undivided, 2. divided by a physical barrier/boulevard, 3. undivided
• drove the entire segment with
  • ALC on, ensuring both speed and steering assist were active entire length
  • speed set and maintained at 75km/h
• performed ALC multiple times in both directions (left and right) on each segment

Experiment RESULT:

• Segment 1 - UNDIVIDED: ALC failed to activate
• Segment 2 - DIVIDED: ALC activated
• Segment 3 - UNDIVIDED: ALC failed to activate

Experiment CONCLUSION:

• on my car, in my setup, in my environment, ALC behaved exactly per documentation, i.e.
  • DOES NOT activate on UNDIVIDED roads
  • DOES activate on DIVIDED roads, if other conditions are met

Experiment SETUP PHOTOS:

• Overview of the road that meets above requirements
• Zoom of Segment 1 = UNDIVIDED
• Zoom of Segment 2 = DIVIDED
• Zoom of Segment 3 = UNDIVIDED

[TurtleBoy]

I had to run out for something this morning and tested it on a road with 4 lanes that wasn't divided and all worked fine. I tested on both sides of the road and changing from both lanes and all worked. I wonder I the difference is somehow in the road designation in the navigation versus physically how the road is set up and our roads are set up as divided.

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

I had to run out for something this morning and tested it on a road with 4 lanes that wasn't divided and all worked fine. I tested on both sides of the road and changing from both lanes and all worked. I wonder I the difference is somehow in the road designation in the navigation versus physically how the road is set up and our roads are set up as divided.

Yes, divided vs undivided can only come from maps and GPS, so designations in map data are critical for this functionality. Considering that the X5 voice still calls most major Canadian streets by RR designations rather than names and considering that we haven't heard of that issue from US owners, it is clear there are fundamental map structure differences between the two regions. Perhaps these two issue are loosely related?

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by LexxM3

Yes, divided vs undivided can only come from maps and GPS, so designations in map data are critical for this functionality. Considering that the X5 voice still calls most major Canadian streets by RR designations rather than names and considering that we haven't heard of that issue from US owners, it is clear there are fundamental map structure differences between the two regions. Perhaps these two issue are loosely related?

In this case though, your map data may be more accurate and that is why your vehicle is functioning in line with the docs and ours isn't. Not sure I have ever said this before but, I will happily take the incorrect data in this case.

[perikifi]

Doesn't a divided road show a bit thicker in navigation? That way you could figure out what road the car thinks it is driving.

[TurtleBoy]

I just drove into the city and went on some different four lane roads to test it and found that it did not do the ALC on about half of them I tried. I was not able to determine if they looked different on the nav screen or not. I think it goes back to what lex said about the road designation being in the Nav and it being incorrect for some and that is why US drivers say it works on all road types. My tests today show there are roads here it doesn’t work on.

[X5 45e]

I just tested and like other posts (with 11/2019?) my lane change is more fluent and usable now. (07/2019 to 03/2020). I have the impression that even the indicating arrow went from a 90 deg angle to a more fluent one.

And like mentioned somewhere here just moving the handle up just before the point of resistance and letting it go again also starts the action.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by X5 45e

I just tested and like other posts (with 11/2019?) my lane change is more fluent and usable now. (07/2019 to 03/2020). I have the impression that even the indicating arrow went from a 90 deg angle to a more fluent one.

And like mentioned somewhere here just moving the handle up just before the point of resistance and letting it go again also starts the action.

I'm on 07/2019.55. I wonder if it was the earlier versions of 07/2019 that had the situation you described.

[X5 45e]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

I'm on 07/2019.55. I wonder if it was the earlier versions of 07/2019 that had the situation you described.

I think I had .49

[ifr]

There are different lane change systems in use for MY2020 vs MY2019. Might explain the discrepancy between I-step versions.

The MY2020 system is cumbersome up to and including istep 11/2019. MY2019 system became fluent with istep 07/2019.

Good to hear MY2020 is now fluent with 03/2020