[scou3821]

What do people think of the parking assistant? Is it any good? Or is it just a gimmick?

[bcl0328]

if you need help parking i suppose it's good.

[nofuture]

I love it, kinda never cared for it.

I do not look at it as help parking but as extra sensory perception.

If nothing else you are pretty much guarantied not to have curb scrapes on your wheels.

[Feanor]

There've been a few threads about it but noone's reported back who's used it in anger.

I've got it specced on my car but only because it's part of the Parking Package in the UK, and I want front and read PDC and the rear camera so it makes sense just to get the entire package.

There's a bit more info about it here: http://www.f30post.com/forums/showth...ht=park+assist

Personally I think it's a bit of a gimmick and I'm not sure how much I'll use it in practice.

[kiforrest]

Had it on the Passat CC I had prior to the F30. Used it twice in 3 years and 97,000 miles. It's a gimmick for me

[tony20009]

Do you know how to parallel park?

Do you ever have to parallel park?

I have to say I cannot imagine actually using a parking assistant feature. Then again, I don't mind tapping a bumper if need be when I am parallel parking in a very tight space. They are called bumpers after all....

I live in DC where if one cannot parallel park like a pro, one won't be parking very often.

[kiforrest]

The Passat feature where it will park the car when no one is in it would be nice, when you have to park in a spot which is so tight that you cannot get out of he car, but that has never made a production model AFAIK....

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5n...st-vision_auto



I was hoping for that when I ordered the CC 3 years ago and got Park Assist which in reality is

[ziggys101]

I'll probably get flamed for this but I think its great I've used it about 8 times but its been perfect every time and no matter how good you think you are at parallel parking I would challenge anyone to do it so precisely every time.

So i'll finish with is it worth the money? probably not but it does work very very well.

Tin hat on

[shoptb]

Originally Posted by ziggys101

I'll probably get flamed for this but I think its great I've used it about 8 times but its been perfect every time and no matter how good you think you are at parallel parking I would challenge anyone to do it so precisely every time.

I like to think I'm a great driver, but I suck at parallel parking. One mistake, and you've curbed your expensive wheels. Avoiding that punch-in-the-gut feeling is worth $500 to me.

[MarkY]

Originally Posted by tony20009

I live in DC where if one cannot parallel park like a pro, one won't be parking very often.

Exactly! However, I'm contemplating it to possibly help prevent curb rash. It only takes one grind to ruin your day (and rim).

[PrinceBarin]

Worth noting that the nearside mirror will automatically tilt downwards when you put the car in reverse so you can see your rear wheel against the curb as you back in. It's a cool little feature and really helps parallel parking.

Provided you are half-decent at parking in the first place you will be fine with this alone I reckon.

[svache]

lol I have it but, yeah, it's nothing but a gimmick, just like so many other things on this car lol

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by PrinceBarin

Worth noting that the nearside mirror will automatically tilt downwards when you put the car in reverse so you can see your rear wheel against the curb as you back in. It's a cool little feature and really helps parallel parking.

Provided you are half-decent at parking in the first place you will be fine with this alone I reckon.

That is not standard in all markets.

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by ziggys101

I'll probably get flamed for this but I think its great I've used it about 8 times but its been perfect every time and no matter how good you think you are at parallel parking I would challenge anyone to do it so precisely every time.

So i'll finish with is it worth the money? probably not but it does work very very well.

Tin hat on

Let's just say that if you have to parallel park a lot it is priceless- if not it is a gimmick. I used it in an F11 countless times in Sevilla Spain- there is no way on earth I would have gotten it as perfect each time as fast.

[Carnook]

I wish there was a way to buy everybody else the park assist feature. I'm never worried about my park job, but I sure do worry about everybody else!

[PrinceBarin]

Originally Posted by mapezzul

That is not standard in all markets.

Wow, really? That sucks, it's a really simple (but effective) feature so I cannot understand why BMW would not include it on all models.

[hollandog]

Originally Posted by mapezzul

Let's just say that if you have to parallel park a lot it is priceless- if not it is a gimmick. I used it in an F11 countless times in Sevilla Spain- there is no way on earth I would have gotten it as perfect each time as fast.

how much space does it need?

does it work with really tight space?

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by hollandog

how much space does it need?

does it work with really tight space?

It depends on the model really- but the car can pick the spot and make its own decision if it will work. I have had it park itself with about 4-5 inches left on either end.

[JoeyO]

I never park my car on the street because of inconsiderate drivers (like Tony2009) who have no qualms tapping my plastic bumper and making it look like the surface of the moon.

If I must park in the city, I'll self-park my car in a parking garage. The reward is having a mint-condition rear bumper that looks no different than the day I bought my car ten years ago and 150k miles ago.