[Doc5513]

Holy crap I've read over the years people complain that the back up cross traffic alerts suck but I just experienced it for myself. Was backing out of my driveway onto a residential street got to the edge of the driveway truck came blaring by barely stopped in time no alert whatsoever. I'm on 11/2021.30.

[schandok]

I have also experienced same. Somehow I feel the backup camera doesn't display that wide angle to see incoming traffic from side. Always have to keep an eye. Not sure if I am missing some setting. Have parking package. (my 2014 CRV has much wider view on 5" screen and never have to look back).

[jiggie]

I've had it trigger for me a few times, but its not as sensitive as other vehicles I have been in.

[Benztir]

It's the one thing I miss from my Audi!

Get ready for BMW fans to come and say "it's the drivers responsibility etc etc" lol because it's always what I hear.

But at the end of the day, it's a feature I had and that I loved.

[HouseMD]

Mine has never sounded but I hear it quite frequently in my wife's car in situations similar.

I drive as if it isn't there.

[boba_balla]

Originally Posted by schandok

I have also experienced same. Somehow I feel the backup camera doesn't display that wide angle to see incoming traffic from side. Always have to keep an eye. Not sure if I am missing some setting. Have parking package. (my 2014 CRV has much wider view on 5" screen and never have to look back).

I recently learned you can press the camera button again and it will show a wider angle. I wish it was the default.

[mitch57]

Welcome to BMW. Shittiest cross traffic alert system in the Auto industry. It's useless and does not work as advertised. It's failed me multiple times. I don't use it all anymore.

Why there hasn't been a safety recall on this is a big mystery. It is, after all, considered a safety feature. Of course, a safety feature that does not work.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by boba_balla

I recently learned you can press the camera button again and it will show a wider angle. I wish it was the default.

Anyone know if this wider view can be coded to be the default with an OBD reader/coder?

[MystroX5]

Actually my cross traffic worked great this past month backing out of a parking spot with a car traveling 25mph toward my rear left 1/4. I was shocked it worked so well considering my last G05 X5 didn’t work at all.

[kukula]

Yup! That’s about the only thing I miss in my 10 year old Jeep, which have a perfect cross traffic alert. It warns me of incoming cars a block away, just when I hit start backing out of my driveway. Now that’s something BMW has to learn from

[Doc5513]

Originally Posted by Benztir

It's the one thing I miss from my Audi!

Get ready for BMW fans to come and say "it's the drivers responsibility etc etc" lol because it's always what I hear.

But at the end of the day, it's a feature I had and that I loved.

I knew it was bad system based on the good folks here, but was my first experience. I am a surgeon so I live my life not relying on anyone but myself to take care of business..but it was such a glaring example of a situation where a less vigilant bozo would have gotten creamed without a blip on the proverbial radar!!

[mitch57]

Originally Posted by kukula

Yup! That’s about the only thing I miss in my 10 year old Jeep, which have a perfect cross traffic alert. It warns me of incoming cars a block away, just when I hit start backing out of my driveway. Now that’s something BMW has to learn from

BMW is incapable of learning or just plain refuses to learn. Apparently this issue has been an issue for many years with BMW.

I think the only way BMW is going to learn is if they're forced to learn/change by government intervention.

[B///MWGuy]

Yeah it is what it is.
I drive very slowly back up so that the sensor has time to sense incoming traffic.

Also, I like to use my wide angle rear view camera (not the PDC, the one you have to press "camera" button for) too, when the traffic behind me is quite busy.

[11001X101]

Originally Posted by Benztir

It's the one thing I miss from my Audi!

Get ready for BMW fans to come and say "it's the drivers responsibility etc etc" lol because it's always what I hear.

But at the end of the day, it's a feature I had and that I loved.

The sad part is … you don’t need an Audi to compare this **** RCTA. All my less expensive cars work fine. Don’t be surprised if your parking assistance sensors stop working. They hold no value for me

[jad03060]

Keep in mind that radar tends to not go through things, so if you have a hedge or plants, or maybe even a mailbox, or trees, it can't see through them or get a reliable result. Same is true when backing out between cars in a parking lot...it depends on how big, long and low those are before the radar is clear so it can get a view.

Out of curiosity, take a look out based on the radar's viewpoint (where, it shows a diagram in the owner's manual), and see what it can see.

A pulse radar is programmed to ignore targets below a certain distance (and ground clutter is an issue, too), and a CW radar below a certain velocity (as it can't differentiate the transmitted signal from the doppler return).

[11001X101]

I don’t know if you are trying to back this system up but I have no issue backing out in a parking lot with cars next to me and got alerts no issues. This bmw system is something else. In fact I almost got hit by the fedex truck today. Noone drives fast in our circle but those delivery guys. Wide open no car no big tree and here he came … right behind me.

[jad03060]

If the PDC display is up, or the 360-degree view, it should show any detected vehicles on the display. The mirrors should show the warning triangle.

I wonder if hitting the Parking assist button before backing or moving forward would make any difference? It does say, if checked, the radars come on as long as you don't exceed a certain speed from a stop when going forward (if you have forward radars) or in reverse, but it also says they come on when you hit the parking assist button.

[nosnoop]

Always use the Panorama camera view when backing out.
You can see everything with that view.
This is the safest view and you don't need to rely on any system, though the cross traffic alert will flash red at the edge of the screen with incoming traffic.

I also use the front panorama when exiting my parking spot if I don't have a clear view of the cross traffic.

[XGoober]

Originally Posted by nosnoop

Always use the Panorama camera view when backing out.
You can see everything with that view.
This is the safest view and you don't need to rely on any system, though the cross traffic alert will flash red at the edge of the screen with incoming traffic.

I also use the front panorama when exiting my parking spot if I don't have a clear view of the cross traffic.

This is easily one of my favorite features. I don't think I'll ever again buy a car without a full 180° view for both front and rear. It makes life so much easier. I don't really care about the cross traffic alert when using this camera mode.

[BRB-Prsch928S]

I think BMW has some logic built in where you have to be moving in order for the alert to sound. The only (few) times mine has gone off, I was moving and a collision was imminent. I prefer to know something is coming before I start to move. My previous vehicles with this feature always alerted me to oncoming cross traffic that I couldn't see (parked between 2 Suburbans, for example) before I started moving.

[thenew3]

Originally Posted by BRB-Prsch928S

I think BMW has some logic built in where you have to be moving in order for the alert to sound. The only (few) times mine has gone off, I was moving and a collision was imminent. I prefer to know something is coming before I start to move. My previous vehicles with this feature always alerted me to oncoming cross traffic that I couldn't see (parked between 2 Suburbans, for example) before I started moving.

On my X7, the side that has the incoming vehicle will flash red on the idrive screen if you are not moving. If you start to back up while there's a car coming it'll beep and slam on the brakes.
Has worked well for me.

[JerZBMerLife]

Originally Posted by Benztir

It's the one thing I miss from my Audi!

Get ready for BMW fans to come and say "it's the drivers responsibility etc etc" lol because it's always what I hear.

But at the end of the day, it's a feature I had and that I loved.

Agree about Audi. I remember the first time I was backing up in my S4 and the car abruptly put on the brakes. I thought I actually hit something 😂😂😂. I got out to check and then realized it was the cross traffic system kicking in because a car was passing. I felt like it was a little sensitive but that's better than not doing anything and getting hit.