Technology for the 2012 3 Series includes a Heads Up Display and a Whole Lot More!
We have had a few days to digest some more of the information in the press release about the next generation 3 Series and are truly amazed at the amount of technology present. Some of it you might enjoy and other parts you will probably hate. Either way, here is a run down of what you may find on board with your next 3 Series.
Heads Up Display with Full Color
I have to be honest; the heads up display is one my personal favorite items on the new car. I have never understood why it took so long to put this in cars since it lets you keep your eyes on the road. The awesomeness of what BMW has done is to allow customization in what is displayed as well as offering a ton of information. The heads up display includes the following information:
I think this is a brilliant addition and one we should hope to see in many more cars in the future.
Handsfree Trunk Access
This may seem almost a bit gimicky but you are going to love it when you get used to it. I put this in the same realm as when comfort access was added to the car. Once you have had it and used it, you really do not know how to live without it.
Lane Departure and Lane Change Warning System
One common theme you will find is that BMW has equipped this car with enough cameras to do a lot of work figuring out what is going on for the driver. The lane departure system activates when traveling over 43mph and warns you when you stray from your lane. It uses image processing to look at lane markings on at least one side of the road in order to make this determination. In addition to cameras, the car also features radar sensors to help you figure out if there are cars in your blind spot.
Active Protection System
There are some positives and potential negatives in our view of this safety system. First the positives. At 11mph, the car will automatically tighten the driver and front passenger safety belts to take up any slack. If a potential collision is detected the car will once again tighten the safety belts as well as closing the windows and sunroof. The potentially negative part of this system is the fact that the car will automatically brake without any intervention required from the driver and slow the car after the initial collision. This is one of those things that sounds good in theory but could also prove to be a detriment depending on the situation you are in.
BMW Assist Emergency Call
Score one for safety here. The new 3 Series is equipped with crash sensors that pass along crash data to emergency services to better prepare them for the scene they will be arriving at. In addition to making the emergency call (independent of your mobile phone) and passing along the sensor data, a call center agent will be on the line to get any additional information that you can provide to aid emergency services. This can and will be a life saving feature.
Rear View Camera and Surround View
I mentioned it before but here it is again; BMW has equipped your new 3 Series with up to five cameras to give you plenty of views around your car. The rear view camera gives you support when parking and letting you know if there is enough room to park your car safely. The option Surround View system adds more cameras including two side view cameras in the front bumper as well as top view cameras mounted in exterior mirrors. Combined these cameras provide you with a 270 degree viewing angle to see everything around you.
BMW Parking Assistant - Let Your BMW do the Parking
It only makes sense that BMW has added Parking Assistance to the list of features on the new 3 Series. The cameras are there already so why not make things a little bit easier for the driver; especially for those of us who may not be so proficient at parallel parking. The one interesting feature here is that under 22mph the car is actively searching (though this can be disabled) for parking spaces that will fit your 3 Series. Once you find a suitable spot, pop the car into reverse and simply tell the iDrive that you would like to use Parking Assistance. You will still need to use the gas and brake pedals (and keep an eye on the camera view too!) but the Parking Assistant will handle the steering to put you in nice and clean.
There is a ton of technology in the new 3 Series and this is just a small sampling. Some of it you are going to love, some of it you will wish never existed and there may be some that you are never even aware of. No one could ever argue that making driving safer is a bad thing...as long as there is still a focus on making it the Ultimate Driving Machine.
What other technology have you seen on the 3 Series that you love or hate? Anything that you are reserving judgement for until you see it in person?
Heads Up Display with Full Color
I have to be honest; the heads up display is one my personal favorite items on the new car. I have never understood why it took so long to put this in cars since it lets you keep your eyes on the road. The awesomeness of what BMW has done is to allow customization in what is displayed as well as offering a ton of information. The heads up display includes the following information:
- Road Speed
- Road Signs including speed limits and restrictions
- Navigation Instructions
- Alerts from the Collision Warning and Lane Departure System
- Additional check control information from the car
I think this is a brilliant addition and one we should hope to see in many more cars in the future.
Handsfree Trunk Access
This may seem almost a bit gimicky but you are going to love it when you get used to it. I put this in the same realm as when comfort access was added to the car. Once you have had it and used it, you really do not know how to live without it.
Lane Departure and Lane Change Warning System
One common theme you will find is that BMW has equipped this car with enough cameras to do a lot of work figuring out what is going on for the driver. The lane departure system activates when traveling over 43mph and warns you when you stray from your lane. It uses image processing to look at lane markings on at least one side of the road in order to make this determination. In addition to cameras, the car also features radar sensors to help you figure out if there are cars in your blind spot.
Active Protection System
There are some positives and potential negatives in our view of this safety system. First the positives. At 11mph, the car will automatically tighten the driver and front passenger safety belts to take up any slack. If a potential collision is detected the car will once again tighten the safety belts as well as closing the windows and sunroof. The potentially negative part of this system is the fact that the car will automatically brake without any intervention required from the driver and slow the car after the initial collision. This is one of those things that sounds good in theory but could also prove to be a detriment depending on the situation you are in.
BMW Assist Emergency Call
Score one for safety here. The new 3 Series is equipped with crash sensors that pass along crash data to emergency services to better prepare them for the scene they will be arriving at. In addition to making the emergency call (independent of your mobile phone) and passing along the sensor data, a call center agent will be on the line to get any additional information that you can provide to aid emergency services. This can and will be a life saving feature.
Rear View Camera and Surround View
I mentioned it before but here it is again; BMW has equipped your new 3 Series with up to five cameras to give you plenty of views around your car. The rear view camera gives you support when parking and letting you know if there is enough room to park your car safely. The option Surround View system adds more cameras including two side view cameras in the front bumper as well as top view cameras mounted in exterior mirrors. Combined these cameras provide you with a 270 degree viewing angle to see everything around you.
BMW Parking Assistant - Let Your BMW do the Parking
It only makes sense that BMW has added Parking Assistance to the list of features on the new 3 Series. The cameras are there already so why not make things a little bit easier for the driver; especially for those of us who may not be so proficient at parallel parking. The one interesting feature here is that under 22mph the car is actively searching (though this can be disabled) for parking spaces that will fit your 3 Series. Once you find a suitable spot, pop the car into reverse and simply tell the iDrive that you would like to use Parking Assistance. You will still need to use the gas and brake pedals (and keep an eye on the camera view too!) but the Parking Assistant will handle the steering to put you in nice and clean.
There is a ton of technology in the new 3 Series and this is just a small sampling. Some of it you are going to love, some of it you will wish never existed and there may be some that you are never even aware of. No one could ever argue that making driving safer is a bad thing...as long as there is still a focus on making it the Ultimate Driving Machine.
What other technology have you seen on the 3 Series that you love or hate? Anything that you are reserving judgement for until you see it in person?
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Latest Forum Discussions
October 18, 2011, 6:20 pm
I'm not sure if this would belong or not, but since it deals with electronics I thought it was worth mentioning. Not ground-breaking, but it looks nice.
The F30 instrument panel display "blanks out" when off, showing only the four dials:
October 19, 2011, 9:04 am
would love to see active vent seats
October 19, 2011, 10:48 am
I wonder how much 335i convertible will cost with all the options. I wouldn't be surprised if it reaches 85k in Canada (maybe 75k in US?). And I wonder how much of these will be available in Canada... 3 series in Canada doesn't have the radar cruise control offered as option. And F10 in Canada is not offered with auto-closing doors. And I'm a bit skeptical about handsfree trunk. If some animal walks by under the rear bumper, it can pop open the trunk. Or some plastic bag, leaves, cardboard box, road garbage carried by wind can trigger the system as well. You can be standing next to the car with the key in your pocket when this happens. And you can be looking in the other direction, and walk inside restaurant, movie theater, mall, etc., clueless about the open trunk. I hope there is a way to deactivate this, or at least they add a beep whenever the trunk opens.
October 19, 2011, 11:35 am
October 19, 2011, 11:35 am
I find it hard to believe that someone wouldn't both hear and see the trunk lid raising if they're close enough behind the trunk to allow the system to trigger. Our car has Comfort Access and while we have to "squeeze" the rubber switch underneath the trunk lid, there is a noticeable motorized sound and a "pop" when the trunk opens. The trunk will probably also make some kind of mechanical sound when it swings open. I'm not at all concerned.
October 19, 2011, 11:36 am
I hope the improvements include more comfortable seats (even if an option)...another big complaint of mine with the 2011 328xi that we have. It is great for short trips and horrible on long trips....
October 19, 2011, 12:49 pm
Heads Up Display with Full Color
I have to be honest; the heads up display is one my personal favorite items on the new car. I have never understood why it took so long to put this in cars since it lets you keep your eyes on the road. The awesomeness of what BMW has done is to allow customization in what is displayed as well as offering a ton of information. The heads up display includes the following information:
I think this is a brilliant addition and one we should hope to see in many more cars in the future.
Handsfree Trunk Access
This may seem almost a bit gimicky but you are going to love it when you get used to it. I put this in the same realm as when comfort access was added to the car. Once you have had it and used it, you really do not know how to live without it.
Lane Departure and Lane Change Warning System
One common theme you will find is that BMW has equipped this car with enough cameras to do a lot of work figuring out what is going on for the driver. The lane departure system activates when traveling over 43mph and warns you when you stray from your lane. It uses image processing to look at lane markings on at least one side of the road in order to make this determination. In addition to cameras, the car also features radar sensors to help you figure out if there are cars in your blind spot.
Active Protection System
There are some positives and potential negatives in our view of this safety system. First the positives. At 11mph, the car will automatically tighten the driver and front passenger safety belts to take up any slack. If a potential collision is detected the car will once again tighten the safety belts as well as closing the windows and sunroof. The potentially negative part of this system is the fact that the car will automatically brake without any intervention required from the driver and slow the car after the initial collision. This is one of those things that sounds good in theory but could also prove to be a detriment depending on the situation you are in.
BMW Assist Emergency Call
Score one for safety here. The new 3 Series is equipped with crash sensors that pass along crash data to emergency services to better prepare them for the scene they will be arriving at. In addition to making the emergency call (independent of your mobile phone) and passing along the sensor data, a call center agent will be on the line to get any additional information that you can provide to aid emergency services. This can and will be a life saving feature.
Rear View Camera and Surround View
I mentioned it before but here it is again; BMW has equipped your new 3 Series with up to five cameras to give you plenty of views around your car. The rear view camera gives you support when parking and letting you know if there is enough room to park your car safely. The option Surround View system adds more cameras including two side view cameras in the front bumper as well as top view cameras mounted in exterior mirrors. Combined these cameras provide you with a 270 degree viewing angle to see everything around you.
BMW Parking Assistant - Let Your BMW do the Parking
It only makes sense that BMW has added Parking Assistance to the list of features on the new 3 Series. The cameras are there already so why not make things a little bit easier for the driver; especially for those of us who may not be so proficient at parallel parking. The one interesting feature here is that under 22mph the car is actively searching (though this can be disabled) for parking spaces that will fit your 3 Series. Once you find a suitable spot, pop the car into reverse and simply tell the iDrive that you would like to use Parking Assistance. You will still need to use the gas and brake pedals (and keep an eye on the camera view too!) but the Parking Assistant will handle the steering to put you in nice and clean.
There is a ton of technology in the new 3 Series and this is just a small sampling. Some of it you are going to love, some of it you will wish never existed and there may be some that you are never even aware of. No one could ever argue that making driving safer is a bad thing...as long as there is still a focus on making it the Ultimate Driving Machine.
What other technology have you seen on the 3 Series that you love or hate? Anything that you are reserving judgement for until you see it in person?
All this new & added electrionic tech=how many more trips to the dealer for repairs, lol , bur yeah?
...making long term ownership of car even less likely than ever before
October 20, 2011, 12:33 am
I find it hard to believe that someone wouldn't both hear and see the trunk lid raising if they're close enough behind the trunk to allow the system to trigger. Our car has Comfort Access and while we have to "squeeze" the rubber switch underneath the trunk lid, there is a noticeable motorized sound and a "pop" when the trunk opens. The trunk will probably also make some kind of mechanical sound when it swings open. I'm not at all concerned.
October 20, 2011, 12:41 am
Why can't they add a lane KEEP assist like the Prius, so I can take a nap.
October 20, 2011, 11:44 am
October 20, 2011, 12:43 pm
October 20, 2011, 3:51 pm
October 20, 2011, 5:18 pm
I, like the original poster, LOVE the HUD being fitted to the new 3 as well as it's enhancements!
October 30, 2011, 1:46 pm
Will I still be able to take my eyes off the road with iDrive? I don't want to miss out on any safety features while yanking my knob.
October 31, 2011, 12:22 pm
Will it have the top down view of the car like the 5er has where it looks like a view from about 50ft above your car?
It would be nice if the nav screen changed from day to night mode when the car turned on the head lights. Especially since the screen is going to be much more exposed now.
October 31, 2011, 4:20 pm
I'm really liking that BMW added HUD to the 3er. It puts the 3 back on my list of cars to look at in 2014. Lets see how the first two years of production shake out.
I'm also digging that cluster.
November 7, 2011, 8:08 pm
I'm just wondering how "visible" the new Nav screen will be? The E90 is nicely hooded and is easy to view under almost all conditions. The F30's looks like it could be washed out in bright sunshine. I have heard that this screen is "high tech" (right), but will be skeptical until proven otherwise.
November 8, 2011, 4:08 am
It would be nice if the nav screen changed from day to night mode when the car turned on the head lights. Especially since the screen is going to be much more exposed now.
November 8, 2011, 7:41 am
Sigh... Still no word on at least the 600watt sound system and Vent seats
November 11, 2011, 10:50 pm
Would love to see leagal speed verses actual speed displayed on heads up display.
November 11, 2011, 10:56 pm
This is a BMW. If you buy it because the trunk opens or the seats are vented you could save your self a lot of money getting a massage.
November 12, 2011, 8:45 am
November 12, 2011, 9:22 am
Its funny that most of the new features have nothing to do with owning a BMW.
It is $50 bucks in computer chips for most of that nonsense.
It all sounds good, but all that junk can be made in taiwan really cheap and then sold as $5-$10k option packages.
For me owning a BMW still comes down to style, performance, comfort, and handling.
November 12, 2011, 9:24 pm
No, it does not open by mistake. I have that feature on my 2012 535 and love it. Sometimes my kids are a couple of steps ahead of me to drop their backpacks in the trunk in the morning and try to open the trunk with the "kick" motion. I does not open until I'm right behind them with the key in my pocket. A couple of steps behind is enough to disable the auto open function.
November 14, 2011, 1:27 pm
November 15, 2011, 12:19 pm
It opens in a controlled slow motion.