[mrichione]

It only works on some roads when functional conditions are met. I imagine they're listed somewhere in the Driver's manual. For instance, the feature works on 80% of a major road near me, but it consistently refuses to work on a particular stretch where multiple lanes merge and the speed limit reduces as you near a traffic signal; it's incredibly intelligent. I'd advise trying it on an interstate with ideal traffic conditions (and you can't have Active Driving Assistant Plus active).

[VTENGR]

Originally Posted by LexxM3

On 401, in normal/standard traffic, you would (deservedly) immediately get creamed from behind if you do that.

In any case, driving lessons are over, the OP has found the root cause of his issues :-).

Can't imagine driving the 401 in such dynamic conditions would warrant driving with cruise control on. The features usefulness is on long road trips where you're on cruise control and you need to overtake slower traffic without cutting off traffic in the left lane. Obviously if there's traffic in the left lane and you need to aggressively overtake the car in front you would bypass this feature and gun it. This feature is supposed to be leisurely.

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by VTENGR

Can't imagine driving the 401 in such dynamic conditions would warrant driving with cruise control on. The features usefulness is on long road trips where you're on cruise control and you need to overtake slower traffic without cutting off traffic in the left lane. Obviously if there's traffic in the left lane and you need to aggressively overtake the car in front you would bypass this feature and gun it. This feature is supposed to be leisurely.

Let's recall that this sub-discussion started from my assertion that the feature is not that valuable and works best when turned off. Clearly this discussion that is gradually reducing the apparent applicability of this feature is in support of that assertion.

[OzJedi]

Originally Posted by TSMC55

i believe you are meant to hold the turn indicator down for about 3/4 of a second and then release. it then should respond about a second later if it is safe to change lanes.

Isn't it country specific? Is this feature available in Australia?
I tried but never got it working.

[nosnoop]

Originally Posted by VTENGR

Can't imagine driving the 401 in such dynamic conditions would warrant driving with cruise control on. The features usefulness is on long road trips where you're on cruise control and you need to overtake slower traffic without cutting off traffic in the left lane. Obviously if there's traffic in the left lane and you need to aggressively overtake the car in front you would bypass this feature and gun it. This feature is supposed to be leisurely.

Exactly, totally agreed.
It is working as it is designed.

[nosnoop]

Originally Posted by OzJedi

Isn't it country specific? Is this feature available in Australia?
I tried but never got it working.

It is possible.
Have you tried checking the online user manual or the Driver's Guide App in your phone? Those manuals (which uses your VIN) do not display sections not applicable to your car (unlike printed ones). You can check if it contains a section on "Lane Change Assistant". If it doesn't, it is likely not available in your car.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by LexxM3

On 401, in normal/standard traffic, you would (deservedly) immediately get creamed from behind if you do that.

In any case, driving lessons are over, the OP has found the root cause of his issues :-).

Used it on the 401 two weeks ago without any problems. Granted it was a Saturday afternoon so traffic was lighter but wouldn’t hesitate to use it at other times.

Before I got the X5 I thought it would just be a gimmick but it actually a very useful feature as far as making things a little easier. We currently are about 3,300 miles into this trip and I would guess I used it for well over 90% of my lane changes in various traffic conditions. Obviously it is not a necessity, just another of many things in the X5 that makes driving a little easier/more comfortable/less stressful/etc.

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

Used it on the 401 two weeks ago without any problems. Granted it was a Saturday afternoon so traffic was lighter but wouldn’t hesitate to use it at other times.

Before I got the X5 I thought it would just be a gimmick but it actually a very useful feature as far as making things a little easier. We currently are about 3,300 miles into this trip and I would guess I used it for well over 90% of my lane changes in various traffic conditions. Obviously it is not a necessity, just another of many things in the X5 that makes driving a little easier/more comfortable/less stressful/etc.

To each his own. But what I am saying for others is: turn it off for a while — makes ACC much more predictable, usable, and natural in the real world. I confirmed last night again that to be so, the system was clearly designed to work well (perhaps best) with manual lane changes.

[TurtleBoy]

Having auto lane change turned on or off should have no effect on the performance of ACC or the ability to make manual lane changes. Like you say, to each their own.

Originally Posted by OzJedi

Isn't it country specific? Is this feature available in Australia?
I tried but never got it working.

It's country specific - doesn't work in the UK either.

Easy check - CAR Settings-Driver assist-Driving-Steering Assist- if you only have the camera setting listed then its not available.

It's disappointing that it not available, as it would work really well on highways with Driver Assist mode engaged, while offering an extra level of safety.

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

Having auto lane change turned on or off should have no effect on the performance of ACC or the ability to make manual lane changes. Like you say, to each their own.

That is completely incorrect. I obviously meant ACC with lane tracking, not just ACC. If auto lane change is on, signalling activates it and it fights with you. Yes, you can overcome it, but that is nothing resembling smooth driving. With it off, I've described earlier what the system does and it is perfect.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by LexxM3

That is completely incorrect. I obviously meant ACC with lane tracking, not just ACC. If auto lane change is on, signalling activates it and it fights with you. Yes, you can overcome it, but that is nothing resembling smooth driving. With it off, I've described earlier what the system does and it is perfect.

Actually it was completely accurate. It could be that you missed the word "should" and that you are using your turn signals improperly in regards to both timing and position. Doesn't really matter though, do what you feel is best for your driving conditions, style and skill.

[nosnoop]

Originally Posted by LexxM3

That is completely incorrect. I obviously meant ACC with lane tracking, not just ACC. If auto lane change is on, signalling activates it and it fights with you. Yes, you can overcome it, but that is nothing resembling smooth driving. With it off, I've described earlier what the system does and it is perfect.

Auto lane change only activates when you push and hold in position.
If you want to signal without auto lane change, just push and release immediately for the 3 flashes (or whatever you set it to).
For longer signaling, you can also push past the resistance, auto lane change won't activate in this case, but you have to manually cancel the signaling.

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by nosnoop

Auto lane change only activates when you push and hold in position.
If you want to signal without auto lane change, just push and release immediately for the 3 flashes (or whatever you set it to).
For longer signaling, you can also push past the resistance, auto lane change won't activate in this case, but you have to manually cancel the signaling.

Yes, I do know this, but the fraction of a second timing difference between push-and-release vs push-and-hold is something that I've not mastered in a number of weeks and am not willing to master under real driving conditions. If you get it wrong, the system does something other than expected and I want less of unexpected on the road. Hence my position.

[Dex05]

It works for me only on highways or wide roads with more then three lanes.

look what I found in owner manual:

Functional requirements:

▷ Depending on country specifications: driving on a road without pedestrians or cyclists a with physical barriers to oncoming traffic, such as crash barriers.

[gpitts]

Mine works like a champ where the number of lanes is static, AND there are no merging lanes. Of course the system is looking for adequate distance in the lane you desire to change into. I personally use it very routinely.

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by imdexter

It works for me only on highways or wide roads with more then three lanes.

look what I found in owner manual:

Functional requirements:

▷ Depending on country specifications: driving on a road without pedestrians or cyclists a with physical barriers to oncoming traffic, such as crash barriers.

FWIW, also in Canada, auto lane change works fine for me on 2 lanes in each direction DIVIDED highways — 3 lanes not required.

But after a week of driving with ACC + lane keeping on, and auto-lane change off, I am telling you fellow forumites, that's the way to do it — the system was clearly carefully tuned for that use case. You have to try it to understand, but lane keep —> to lane change —> to lane keep again transition is just seamless in this setup.

[OzJedi]

Originally Posted by nosnoop

It is possible.
Have you tried checking the online user manual or the Driver's Guide App in your phone? Those manuals (which uses your VIN) do not display sections not applicable to your car (unlike printed ones). You can check if it contains a section on "Lane Change Assistant". If it doesn't, it is likely not available in your car.

Yes, you are right, checked my manual and option is not there.

Sad, why BMW haven't enabled it but available in GLE.

Originally Posted by LexxM3

FWIW, also in Canada, auto lane change works fine for me on 2 lanes in each direction DIVIDED highways — 3 lanes not required.

But after a week of driving with ACC + lane keeping on, and auto-lane change off, I am telling you fellow forumites, that's the way to do it — the system was clearly carefully tuned for that use case. You have to try it to understand, but lane keep —> to lane change —> to lane keep again transition is just seamless in this setup.

I'm confused by this. This is the opposite of my experience so I'm wondering if something is off in your setup.

I've used the system with ALC off for a few months. Using Assisted Driving mode with no ALC is anything but seamless. You indicate, move the steering wheel, then hold and wait in-lane until lane keep/assisted driving mode re-engages. This can take a few seconds and breaks the assisted driving flow.

With ALC enabled, again indicate, car moves itself into the lane, carries on driving with Assisted Driving still engaged, no break. Seamless.

Is that not your experience?

I don't use it in heavy competitive traffic as it takes too long to check it's safe to move, missing lane change opportunities us humans would go for, but in light to moderate traffic it works great.

[LexxM3]

Originally Posted by eaglesrest

I'm confused by this. This is the opposite of my experience so I'm wondering if something is off in your setup.

I've used the system with ALC off for a few months. Using Assisted Driving mode with no ALC is anything but seamless. You indicate, move the steering wheel, then hold and wait in-lane until lane keep/assisted driving mode re-engages. This can take a few seconds and breaks the assisted driving flow.

With ALC enabled, again indicate, car moves itself into the lane, carries on driving with Assisted Driving still engaged, no break. Seamless.

Is that not your experience?

I don't use it in heavy competitive traffic as it takes too long to check it's safe to move, missing lane change opportunities us humans would go for, but in light to moderate traffic it works great.

I think we're going to have to get to videos. But if I understood your experience correctly, then no, that is not my experience. With ALC off, signal and steer the lane change; about 2/3-3/4 into the new lane, the lane tracking kicks back in and aligns me in the new lane. That's what I experience and what I describe as seamless. There is no delay in lane tracking in the new lane — in fact my lane tracking takes over when I am almost there in the new lane. In other words, I don't even need to align/straighten myself in the new lane, the lane tracking does it for me.

I know this is hard to describe in words. I can try for a video, but would have to figure out a camera mount somehow.

Update: What you describe I would never call seamless. It occurs to me now that there could be software version differences and/or the behaviour might be affected by other settings such as the sensitivity of the lane departure warning/intervention settings. We might need to document all of that in our respective setups to get to the bottom of this.

[NoCompromise]

Originally Posted by eaglesrest

Pretty sure this is region specific

Can someone who has it working check the following setting please - CAR-Settings-Driver Assistance-Driving-Steering Assistant

On my UK car I only have the 'driver attention camera' setting. There is no 'Lane Change Assistant'.

Anyone in the UK have this working? Wonder if it's some regulatory thing.

Ditto - option is not there on mine. Who does one email about this kind of stuff?

I emailed bmw UK who said it should have been available on my car.

However, I've coded it myself and I can confirm categorically that BMW have coded it out for the UK market in 2 places - England VO code and 8TR VO Code. Unless a future official code/firmware release changes that configuration, it will never work for us in the UK.

It's possible it's in 19-07 but I doubt it. Anyone in the UK have 19-07 and Auto Lane Change?

For what it's worth I've been using it for a month and it's a great feature.