New car...a couple of questions about PDC

M

MarkW

Member
 Solihull, UK
After having the car for just over a week, we've noticed a couple of things and not sure whether they are normal or not.

1. The rear speakers are really quiet, even if you adjust the fader more to the rear. This seems to make the rear parking sensor 'beep' quiet too. In fact is is much quieter than in my 1 series. We have adjusted the PDC setting to +5 which is it's loudest setting. We only have the standard audio.

2. With the rear parking sensors, as well as being quiet, they do not turn off when moving out of reverse into neutral. You have to press the button to turn them off. In my 1 series, the parking sensors stop beeping when you go into neutral so was expecting it to be the same. The manual says they go off with the gearbox in position P, but this is only referring to automatics.

Are these both normal features, or should we be going back to the dealer?
 
1 - don't know. Mine are loud enough, I have turned the PDC vol (on Idrive) to lowest setting) - Business speakers)
2 - not sure as i have full pdc (f&r) with display on idrive - with this it activates on reverse selection (or button press) and stays active until it cancels on button press or you turn ignition off (it stays active in Gear, reverse & neutral), or when you move away from the object. The PDC stays active until above 10mph or so.

G
 
I have full PDC on mine, and once you come out of reverse, you should see them turn off after a few seconds after driving off.....are you saying they don't turn off at all once you start driving in a forward direction?
 
Nickm said:
I have full PDC on mine, and once you come out of reverse, you should see them turn off after a few seconds after driving off.....are you saying they don't turn off at all once you start driving in a forward direction?
Click to expand...

who? Me or the OP?
I park in a lane and my idrive PDC stays active when driving down the lane before eventually automatically turning off - i don't know if it is speed or time related tho. - i'm driving maybe 20 sec plus in the lane, but it is cobbled, so i'm driving at walking pace.
 
Nickm said:
I have full PDC on mine, and once you come out of reverse, you should see them turn off after a few seconds after driving off.....are you saying they don't turn off at all once you start driving in a forward direction?
Click to expand...

I think they turn off fine if you drive off. What I am saying is say you reverse up to a object which activate's the parking sensors, then if you put it into neutral they continue to bleep. On my 1 series (with drive) if you put it into neutral the sensors stop bleeping. Maybe they go off if you put the EPB on, will have to check.

It's not really a big issue, just was expecting functionality to be the same across the BMW range.

The rear speakers being quiet is more of an issue with the parking sensors.
 
On the standard stereo the power output is poor 4 x 25 Watts, the output to the rear speakers has been tweaked by BMW so that you get a reduced sound, probably something about using the lower frquencies, but don't ask me why?

I presume the PDC will use the stereo to amplify the sound through the speakers, by adjusting the fader to the rear you are not actually increasing the power to rear speakers, just reducing the fronts and thus the sound gets quieter
 
MarkW said:
Nickm said:
I have full PDC on mine, and once you come out of reverse, you should see them turn off after a few seconds after driving off.....are you saying they don't turn off at all once you start driving in a forward direction?
Click to expand...

I think they turn off fine if you drive off. What I am saying is say you reverse up to a object which activate's the parking sensors, then if you put it into neutral they continue to bleep. On my 1 series (with drive) if you put it into neutral the sensors stop bleeping. Maybe they go off if you put the EPB on, will have to check.

It's not really a big issue, just was expecting functionality to be the same across the BMW range.

The rear speakers being quiet is more of an issue with the parking sensors.
Click to expand...

What age is your 1 series? We have a 2011 116d with iDrive and also a 2012 Z4 with iDrive (and huge debts to support my live-beyond-my-means lifestyle :? ). Both of ours work the same - PDC activated when putting into reverse and staying active until you drive off (as before, not sure if speed or time dependant) or press the button, or turn ignition off.

I reverse onto my driveway up to the garage door, so the pdc bongs away. I put the hand-brake on and put the car in neutral and I'm quite sure the PDC keeps bonging. I used to do this with the 1'er also, and that is the same. I will double check, but I don't think putting it into neutral makes any difference...although both cars have front sensors also, so this could alter things. Will need to double check, cos I'm doubting myself now!
 
Mine work like your and yes the rear speakers are naff. Anyone got ideas how to make them as loud as the fronts? :fuelfire:
 
kevinmarkwhite said:
MarkW said:
Nickm said:
I have full PDC on mine, and once you come out of reverse, you should see them turn off after a few seconds after driving off.....are you saying they don't turn off at all once you start driving in a forward direction?
Click to expand...

I think they turn off fine if you drive off. What I am saying is say you reverse up to a object which activate's the parking sensors, then if you put it into neutral they continue to bleep. On my 1 series (with drive) if you put it into neutral the sensors stop bleeping. Maybe they go off if you put the EPB on, will have to check.

It's not really a big issue, just was expecting functionality to be the same across the BMW range.

The rear speakers being quiet is more of an issue with the parking sensors.
Click to expand...

What age is your 1 series? We have a 2011 116d with iDrive and also a 2012 Z4 with iDrive (and huge debts to support my live-beyond-my-means lifestyle :? ). Both of ours work the same - PDC activated when putting into reverse and staying active until you drive off (as before, not sure if speed or time dependant) or press the button, or turn ignition off.

I reverse onto my driveway up to the garage door, so the pdc bongs away. I put the hand-brake on and put the car in neutral and I'm quite sure the PDC keeps bonging. I used to do this with the 1'er also, and that is the same. I will double check, but I don't think putting it into neutral makes any difference...although both cars have front sensors also, so this could alter things. Will need to double check, cos I'm doubting myself now!
Click to expand...

My 1 series is a 2008 123d coupe with the latest idrive. I've just been out to double check it as I'm doubting myself now too!, but I'm right - if I put it in reverse it bleeps but as soon as I put it back into neutral it stops automatically. The only difference is that I only have rear parking sensors so maybe that is why it is different. The handbrake makes no difference.

The 2012 Z4 has front and rear sensors, so I'm guessing once you have 'activated' the PDC by reversing, it stays on for the front and rear until you drive off or stop the engine. I suppose that makes sense, and probably answers my question.

Rear speakers are still cr4p though compared to the front ones :thumbsdown:
 
Even with the business speaker package the rear speakers are not great. Don't get me wrong, they are loud enough, and clear enough, but i have the fader set 40/60 front to rear to balance out the more powerful fronts to get a more balanced sound in the cabin.
 
bluespit said:
Mine work like your and yes the rear speakers are naff. Anyone got ideas how to make them as loud as the fronts? :fuelfire:
Click to expand...

Fit the car with an amp or replace the head unit
 
OP your 1 Series must have had only rear PDC which would turn the sensors off when you take it out of reverse, if you had front ones like my 1 Series then it leaves them on so that if your trying to parallel park you don't need to keep switching the front ones one as you move forwards.
 
Yeah, it is the rear only sensors that cause the difference. Tested mine last night, reversed up to my garage, beeps started, put in neutral and handbrake on and beeps stayed and car image stayed on idrive...I have front sensors as well.

Stayed like it for a minute but then I gave up - I dont know what criteria it uses to turn off, perhaps its certain amount of time with no detections, or at a certain speed?

But the rear sensor only option seems to definately only be active when in reverse.
 
sars said:
bluespit said:
Mine work like your and yes the rear speakers are naff. Anyone got ideas how to make them as loud as the fronts? :fuelfire:
Click to expand...

Fit the car with an amp or replace the head unit
Click to expand...

May do in a couple of years but the cars only 4 months old so don't want to rip it apart just yet. Don't mind different speakers in same holes but nothing permanent or that will leave traces if returned to standard
 
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