E85 / E86 Front Parking Sensors

[bluestreak56]

As many of you may have seen, my zed will need a little front end repair. As such I was thinking I may look into turning it into a positive with a few nice little mods:

1) Front parking sensors - I'm pretty sure this has been done one an E85 - Any done for E86? Any pointers?
2) Potentially get some aero skirts (depending on the price)
3) Potentially get an M bonnet (again depending on the price) - Anyone have an approximate cost on this?

My insurance company wanted me to take the car to an "approved" bodyshop which is some small coachworks but I stated I wanted to take it to BMW. Is this the right thing to do?

Appreciate any advice

 

[LukeMace]

I saw someone on here put in the electromagnetic strip on both the front and rear of the car.
The rear was easy to wire into the reversing lamp. Because he didn't want the front parking sensors on the whole time (imagine being in traffic etc) installed a modified OEM button to turn the front on and off... Looked brilliant! Will try and find the thread

 

[LukeMace]

Front-Parking-Sensor--and-AE-with-Custom-Buttons
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=25979

Here it is.. Few posts down... Great ideas!

 

[NeilP]

I'd have thought that some bodyshops would do a job to the quality of a BMW bodyshop (or even better)

There's plenty of excellent body shops in the area I can name who I'd be happy to take my car to (even over BMW)

As for parking sensors...are you looking at an aftermarket kit or an oem one? (does the e85/86 even come with factory fit front pdc?)

Most of the aftermarket kits tap of the reverse light itself so if you went for an aftermarket unit you'd have to flick a switch yourself or find some kind of controller what would turn the kit on below a certain speed.

Can't help with the other bits I"m afraid.

Edit: just went through the links luke posted. Love the oem integration for the kit!

 

[bluestreak56]

Ok BMW wont retrofit front sensors and I dont like the idea of having to turn them on or off. I would prefer if they were like Audi / Merc and came on when moving less than 5-8mph automatically.

Got a quote on the Aero's £426.96 inc VAT for parts. No cost for labour yet so sounds expensive..

M Bonnet was over £1200 so I laughed and walked out for that!

 

[Beetlegav]

ive got front parking sensors on my car... they dont work when parking but have tourettes while on the road sometimes :\

personally i dont think front ones are needed, its parking end on to kerbs which catch my front bumper out and i dont think splitter parking sensors exist

 

[bluestreak56]

Ive found this company in Uxbridge who fit front sensor systems from £170..

 

[RubyBlueZ4MC]

Get that ///M button that has been mentioned in other thread too :lol:

 

[bluestreak56]

Sorry i forgot the link!!

http://www.devalo.co.uk/106-front-parking-sensors

 

[NeilP]

Those sensors will need to be on a switch.

There could be a way for auto turn on based on the speed sensor and some clever programming?

 

[nfarmer]

This http://www.amazon.co.uk/Front-Parki...F8&qid=1370760298&sr=1-5&keywords=Meta+System would do the trick

 

[bluestreak56]

That looks good.. just need someone to fit it!

 

[cj10jeeper]

Just so that you are aware BMW did produce OEM front sensors that worked in conjunction with the PDC controller and did not require any switch.
Trouble is they were built into an enlarged number plate mount and looked frugly with 2 sensors pointing ahead and 2 at 45 degrees towards the corners.

I'd def go later gen aftermarket though.

 

[B2tus]

Try these people.

http://www.parkingsensors.co.uk

Had front and rears fitted last month on my 2006 3.0SE by these people. They arranged for a local approved fitter to come to my house and install them.

The rears sensors worked perfectly but had a problem with the canbus fitted on the front sensors which deactivated the sensors over 6mph. Seemed to pick up interference from the ECU and went off intermittently at 30mph plus! After discussions with the fitter, we decided to save £50 and do away with the canbus and install the supplied small switch to manually turn on the front sensors when parking. Job done and very pleased with the result and can highly recommend them.

Only reason for getting the sensors fitted was to persuade SWMBO to drive the car as she maintained she could not see the front of the car when parking. I was getting fed up with visits to superb pubs with great beer and watching the boss guzzle her wine whilst I abstained.

Problem now resolved!

 

[bluestreak56]

Interesting - thats really helpful, thanks. Any pics at all?

Wondering if I should get this done before I have the front bumper sprayed or afterwards..

 

[B2tus]

Sorry about very delayed reply but have been away travelling with little or no Internet.

Will try to get some pics taken over weekend and will try to post on here. Maybe easier if you pm me with your email address and I can send them directly.

My supplier also sells smaller sensors in black or white that you can get sprayed to your exact car colour. Great if you are having the bumper repainted.

Check their web site for further details. Still very pleased with my sensors and they work just fine. SWMBO is driving the car now and I am enjoying a decent pint. :cheers: