Though our 2009 BMW 750i is somewhat light on equipment, it does have the Camera Package that adds front sideview cameras and a rear backup camera. The sideview cameras are pretty trick, as James first noted in one of his old TFTC posts. In certain situations, they are very useful.
More on how they work after the jump.
One camera is mounted on each side of the car on the front fender near the wheel. If you're stopped or moving at low speed, you can push a button next to the iDrive controller and the views of the cameras are displayed on the navigation screen via a split-screen.
The camera's main use is in situations when you're pulling out into oncoming traffic and your visibility is blocked. Alleys or crowded city streets with parked cars are both very good environments to use the cameras in.
For example, take a look at the lead photo. You can see how pulling out into the alley could be dangerous.
Here's a representative photo of my completely blocked view out the driver-side window. (It's representative as the lead and next two photos taken weren't quite in the same place, but the result is the same.)
Now here's the view from the cameras.
The left camera gives a clear view of what's in (or coming down) the alley. The displayed yellow lines indicate the leading edge of the car so you know exactly how far you've pulled out.
I used the cameras a few times durning the time I had the 750i. It sure beats the alternative of slowly inching out into traffic.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor
JayG1989 says:
11:23 AM, 04/29/09
wow, that's amazingly helpful technology. kudos to these cameras.
1487 says:
12:01 PM, 04/29/09
thats best angle of the car
jstandefer says:
12:02 PM, 04/29/09
This is one of those few options that would heavily sway my purchase decision on a vehicle. Put them on the rear as well, and I'm sold!
roar02ram says:
12:54 PM, 04/29/09
jstandefer - the 2010 Ford Fusion has something to that effect, although I'm not sure if it projects a display or just illuminates an idiot light.
mrryte says:
01:07 PM, 04/29/09
jstandefer-
I believe you're referring to this:
"Lincoln has also adopted the Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) first introduced on the Volvo S80 and working its way into the Ford lineup. The MKZ also features the Cross Traffic Alert (CTS) system that uses BLIS' radar sensors to warn of oncoming traffic when backing out of a parking spot."
Taken from here:http://www.worldcarfans.com/9081119.038/lincoln-mkz-joins-its-siblings-at-la-auto-show
carlisimo says:
01:24 PM, 04/29/09
Yeah, I love this feature.
A lot of people argue that being aware, responsible, and having big windows make rear-view cameras unnecessary, but sometimes there's no escape from the problem of inching out of a parking spot.
mercedesfan says:
01:41 PM, 04/29/09
That is a great feature! It also appears to be extremely well thought out and executed. Kudos to BMW for adding some very useful technology.
roadburner says:
01:41 PM, 04/29/09
The cameras might also help with vehicle placement during an autocross run...;)
jstandefer says:
01:46 PM, 04/29/09
mrryte- I think you meant to direct your comment at roar02ram...
But, I have to say that I much prefer the video feed rather than the system used by the BLIS sensors. I doubt the BLIS sensors would pick up pedestrians and bicyclists. And I would want them front AND rear. Perhaps a combination of the two (BLIS sensors and video feed) would be even better...
audisport says:
01:48 PM, 04/29/09
I'm adopting my own system. It's called paying attention and turning my head to look both ways. I'm all about safe vehicles and driving carefully, but it seems like this is getting out of hand! I do like backup cameras on certain vehicles like the IL FX that are hard to see past the C pillars and headrests but come on now. Why don't we just drive tanks with no windows at all " for safety" and we can just have cameras fore and aft.
cwmoo740 says:
03:56 PM, 04/29/09
@ audisport: because it's not always you who makes the mistake, but you still end up with a damaged car, or worse. Like in my case, when some mother let her 3 year old wander around in a grocery store parking lot. He was way below the line of sight off to my right. If he had wandered a foot farther forward, he would have been right in front of my wheel when I started inching forward. I didn't do anything wrong, but who cares if it was my fault or not if a 3 year old gets injured? These cameras help protect you when other people do stupid stuff too.
dubaizen says:
04:13 PM, 04/29/09
i thought the all around view camera thing on my 09 infiniti fx were an overkill but now after using it for more than 4months i often wonder how i lived without this feature all these years.
jstandefer says:
07:26 PM, 04/29/09
audisport... There are situations where paying attention and turning your head to look both ways just don't work. I encounter plenty of intersections where I just can't see cross traffic around the parked cars (I have a stop sign, they don't and they're moving 40 mph). I either have to pull out far enough to see (blocking half a lane) and hope that I don't get hit, or just guess and pull out.
Or there are times when you're parked between bigger vehicles and you can't see cross traffic backing out. You just have to resort to slowly backing out and hope other cars will stop for you.
These situations usually aren't a problem when I'm driving my truck because I can see over the parked cars. I feel so blind in the same situations when I'm driving my other cars.
This isn't some system that stops your car for you, or warns you about a vehicle that you can see by looking over your shoulder. This is truly a useful feature that allows you to see when you otherwise can't.
ttummy says:
09:56 AM, 04/30/09
BMW wasn't the first with this though. Rolls Royce has had this with the release of the Phantom about 5 years ago.
ttummy says:
09:58 AM, 04/30/09
I forgot to add, maybe in another 5 years we'll find these in normal cars.
allthingshonda says:
06:53 PM, 04/30/09
Am I the only one who thinks the rear of the BMW looks just like a Lexus LS?
bimmerjay says:
07:27 PM, 04/30/09
"BMW wasn't the first with this though. Rolls Royce has had this with the release of the Phantom about 5 years ago."
ttummy, you realize that Rolls-Royce is owned by BMW, right?
tsy says:
08:42 PM, 04/30/09
Actually I saw this on a luxury car in Korea 3 years ago. It's a neat idea if you drive a lot in a very urban setting, but for suburbia I'm not sure how useful it really is.
majin_ssj_eric says:
09:17 PM, 04/30/09
I like Infiniti's all around view technology is more useful than this setup personally...