PDC (Park Distance Control) Worth it on a Z?

Atebit · 03-17-2012, 10:23 PM

Two things I wish I had held out for and ordered instead of buying off the lot: PDC and Comfort Access. Today, I got the biggest CA feature I was missing (trunk CA) by adding the SmartTop module. But no easy way to add PDC AFAIK, and the after-market systems look even worse than the factory option IMHO.

Camera sounds like an interesting option, though...

tranquility · 03-18-2012, 02:28 AM

Another reason I don't like PDC is because it makes the car sound like a dumptruck lol.

NFexec · 03-18-2012, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

Another reason I don't like PDC is because it makes the car sound like a dumptruck lol.

How does it do that? It just shows both visually and audio on the iDrive screen where the object is - or am I missing something?

tranquility · 03-18-2012, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NFexec

How does it do that? It just shows both visually and audio on the iDrive screen where the object is - or am I missing something?

I just meant that it sounds like a dumptruck backing up, because they have those beeping warning sounds also when reversing.

bjarne · 03-18-2012, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

I just meant that it sounds like a dumptruck backing up, because they have those beeping warning sounds also when reversing.

I guess you don't have PDC on your Z4, since you don't know that it does NOT beep just backing up, it beeps when it gets close to an object, front or back

NFexec · 03-18-2012, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjarne

I guess you don't have PDC on your Z4, since you don't know that it does NOT beep just backing up, it beeps when it gets close to an object, front or back

Thank you, bjarne.... that's exactly what I was thinking.

tranquility · 03-18-2012, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjarne

I guess you don't have PDC on your Z4, since you don't know that it does NOT beep just backing up, it beeps when it gets close to an object, front or back

Maybe I should have been clearer. Anyway, I had a PDC for my old car so I know how it works. It doesn't beep just when backing up, but usually it will when your car is near something, hence that beeping sound. My friends tell me that all the time, it sounds like a dumptruck backing up.

Mayhem · 03-19-2012, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

Maybe I should have been clearer. Anyway, I had a PDC for my old car so I know how it works. It doesn't beep just when backing up, but usually it will when your car is near something, hence that beeping sound. My friends tell me that all the time, it sounds like a dumptruck backing up.

That's not how it works on the Z4. The PDC only engages automatically when you are driving backwards, so unless you and your friends spend a lot of time just driving backwards for the hell of it, it is not going to go off. The forward sensor only works if you have already started backwards or if you manually engage it at slow speed. Just cruising around town is not going to cause your PDC to engage.

Baremeg55 · 03-19-2012, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mayhem

Quote:

Originally Posted by tranquility

Maybe I should have been clearer. Anyway, I had a PDC for my old car so I know how it works. It doesn't beep just when backing up, but usually it will when your car is near something, hence that beeping sound. My friends tell me that all the time, it sounds like a dumptruck backing up.

That's not how it works on the Z4. The PDC only engages automatically when you are driving backwards, so unless you and your friends spend a lot of time just driving backwards for the hell of it, it is not going to go off. The forward sensor only works if you have already started backwards or if you manually engage it at slow speed. Just cruising around town is not going to cause your PDC to engage.

I think that is what he said. Most all parking assists work in that manner, for most brands. As you reverse, the closer you get to an object, it will beat increasingly faster. My wife still offers to step out of the car and beep for me as I get closer to an object. I usually switch her off as I have a great sense of distances.

tranquility · 03-19-2012, 03:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mayhem

That's not how it works on the Z4. The PDC only engages automatically when you are driving backwards, so unless you and your friends spend a lot of time just driving backwards for the hell of it, it is not going to go off. The forward sensor only works if you have already started backwards or if you manually engage it at slow speed. Just cruising around town is not going to cause your PDC to engage.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baremeg55

I think that is what he said. Most all parking assists work in that manner, for most brands. As you reverse, the closer you get to an object, it will beat increasingly faster.

Exactly, that's what I meant all along. Not sure how my last post could've been misconstrued.

NFexec · 03-19-2012, 08:40 PM

OK, ok.... so split decision here. Some feel it's really unnecessary and others are happy they have it. I just wish the front sensors worked the same way the rears do - i.e. better warning of those pesky concrete parking lot barriers.

OK then - personal choice. Thanks everyone!

Doug

stickshifter69 · 03-19-2012, 10:22 PM

I prefer without it. The car is small enough and I prefer the bumper to look clean.

Baremeg55 · 03-19-2012, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stickshifter69

I prefer without it. The car is small enough and I prefer the bumper to look clean.

+1

LOVE330 · 04-11-2012, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mayhem

I have it, but I am a little disappointed that it doesn't seem to work where I really need it which is on the underside and those nasty high parking curb markers. I have to be extra careful not to scrape the bottom of my car when I am parking in a parking spot that has a raised curb marker because the PDC doesn't help. Oh how I wish it did.

I use a little device called Curb Alert. Works great! Alarms when you are 12-20 in. from the curb. I got mine from www.curb-alert.com

Love330

az34 · 04-11-2012, 05:37 PM

i dont have it, but i'll give it a try on my next car.

03-17-2012, 10:23 PM	#23
Atebit Private First Class 4 Rep 107 Posts Drives: Yellow 2011 Z4 sdrive30i Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	Two things I wish I had held out for and ordered instead of buying off the lot: PDC and Comfort Access. Today, I got the biggest CA feature I was missing (trunk CA) by adding the SmartTop module. But no easy way to add PDC AFAIK, and the after-market systems look even worse than the factory option IMHO. Camera sounds like an interesting option, though... __________________
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03-18-2012, 02:28 AM	#24
tranquility sportscars only 3233 Rep 3,193 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montréal iTrader: (0)	Another reason I don't like PDC is because it makes the car sound like a dumptruck lol.
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03-19-2012, 08:40 PM	#33
NFexec Private First Class 14 Rep 131 Posts Drives: '11 E91; '12 Z4 35i Join Date: May 2007 Location: Beachwood, OH iTrader: (0)	OK, ok.... so split decision here. Some feel it's really unnecessary and others are happy they have it. I just wish the front sensors worked the same way the rears do - i.e. better warning of those pesky concrete parking lot barriers. OK then - personal choice. Thanks everyone! Doug
	Appreciate 0 Quote

03-19-2012, 10:22 PM	#34
stickshifter69 Second Lieutenant 4 Rep 220 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (0)	I prefer without it. The car is small enough and I prefer the bumper to look clean.
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04-11-2012, 05:37 PM	#37
az34 Major 54 Rep 1,014 Posts Drives: 2009 z4sdrive35i 2008 x5 3.0i Join Date: May 2011 Location: montréal iTrader: (0)	i dont have it, but i'll give it a try on my next car.
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