[zltm089]

I though that Cruise Control was standard on the 335i Coupe?

Is there a difference with Active Cruise Control? It appears as an option in the price list catalogue?

[jpsum]

I think the active one actually slows down the car if you become too close to the car in front of you.

[ed335d]

Yup, cruise control is standard.

ACC is an option lets you set the speed and distance to the car in front (three set distance options). You can then take your feet off the pedals and the car accelerates and brakes for you (turns itself off at around 20mph).

Don't try this is you don't have ACC!

[SoYank]

Dynamic Cruise and Active Cruise are two completely different options that do the same thing. Dynamic Cruise is probably standard and is the one where you set the speed and the car maintains it regardless of what pops up in front of you. With the Active Cruise you set the speed and a front distance (three choices). If a car pulls in front of you the car will slow to the other car's speed and maintains the distance you've set. If the numbskull that pulls in front of you moves out of the way, the car will return to its previous settings of speed and distance.

The presence of Active Cruise Control can be determined by the lens bubble on the lower front grill.

[RagingKileak]

Sounds awesome - bet it cant be retrofit?

Matt

[zltm089]

Thanks guys!!!... I'm clear now...I don't have ACC....I never knew!!!...I spent 15mins today looking for that Radar lense!!!!

Thanks for your PM Ed...the guy at the Dealership said it would be cheaper...anyways, think I'm gona get it from C3 BMW....

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by RagingKileak

Sounds awesome - bet it cant be retrofit?

Matt

Bet it can but it would be mighty expensive. About the only thing that wouldn't need to be changed would be the instrument cluster. You'd need, obviously, the radar unit on the bumper and the cabling but you might get extremely lucky that it's already built into the wiring loom. You'd also need at least one box like the footwell module either exchanged or upgraded. Then there's the infamous coding required by the dealership at £100+ an hour whether the new functionality really needs it or not.

The final question, though, after all the hassle of doing the mod, is it worth it? I opted not to get it on my 330i (and on the 335i) for three reasons: one, it was expensive to buy; two, it would be expensive to repair if damaged either in a collision or some yob kicking it; and three, do I really want to trust or need a machine to drive the car for me? What if the lens got dirty from road-spray and a car whipped into the field of view?

Now, off-topic, if the lens were a separate piece from the radar unit it might make a good weatherproof location for a dogcam.

[NFS]

There are actually three options.

Cruise control - computer used throttle input to maintain selected speed.

Dynamic cruise control - standard on all 6 cylinder cars (at least it used to be) - which also uses the brake to maintain the selected speed (e.g. on a long hill)

Active cruise control - optional on all cars - which adds rader to control distance from the car in front.

[mrpickle]

why is the BMW radar cruise so darn ugly

mercs have them integrated almost invisibly in their grilles

[fastloop]

yeah, I could't believe it when I saw it the first time.

Looks like someone went to Maplins and bought a cheapo surveillance camera and bolted it to the lower grille. No symmetry and ugly!

[Dr Dave]

Anyone got a pic of the radar sensor location and it's general uglyness?

[SoCalTech]

[mrpickle]

[SoYank]

Originally Posted by 335rocks

yeah, I could't believe it when I saw it the first time.

Looks like someone went to Maplins and bought a cheapo surveillance camera and bolted it to the lower grille. No symmetry and ugly!

Would you want it centered with a red "eye" passing back and forth? That's been done.

[MEGA]

Originally Posted by SoYank

Would you want it centered with a red "eye" passing back and forth? That's been done.

hahaha

[RagingKileak]

Originally Posted by SoYank

Bet it can but it would be mighty expensive. About the only thing that wouldn't need to be changed would be the instrument cluster. You'd need, obviously, the radar unit on the bumper and the cabling but you might get extremely lucky that it's already built into the wiring loom. You'd also need at least one box like the footwell module either exchanged or upgraded. Then there's the infamous coding required by the dealership at £100+ an hour whether the new functionality really needs it or not.

The final question, though, after all the hassle of doing the mod, is it worth it? I opted not to get it on my 330i (and on the 335i) for three reasons: one, it was expensive to buy; two, it would be expensive to repair if damaged either in a collision or some yob kicking it; and three, do I really want to trust or need a machine to drive the car for me? What if the lens got dirty from road-spray and a car whipped into the field of view?

Now, off-topic, if the lens were a separate piece from the radar unit it might make a good weatherproof location for a dogcam.

I suppose I should have said 'I bet its not cost effective to retrofit' because I guess everything CAN be done as we have seen on this forum.

From the sounds of things, I'll not bother.

Matt

[doughboy]

Originally Posted by 335rocks

yeah, I could't believe it when I saw it the first time.

Looks like someone went to Maplins and bought a cheapo surveillance camera and bolted it to the lower grille. No symmetry and ugly!

I think it looks wicked off centre - a bit like the E46 M3 CSL air intake.

[RagingKileak]

Originally Posted by doughboy

I think it looks wicked off centre - a bit like the E46 M3 CSL air intake.

Yeah I dont mind the looks of it...

Matt

[zltm089]

Originally Posted by SoYank

Would you want it centered with a red "eye" passing back and forth? That's been done.

[E92Fan]

Originally Posted by RagingKileak

I suppose I should have said 'I bet its not cost effective to retrofit' because I guess everything CAN be done as we have seen on this forum.

From the sounds of things, I'll not bother.

Matt

Yes, it can be done No, I'm not going to bother
The only place I'd really use it is on the autobahn in Germany, but I'm a bit scared that I'll be going a little too quickly for the system to react...!

[mistry]

I have it, and it works great on uk motorways. it's no real subsitute for eyes i.e. if you see cars in the distance going a lot slower you would naturally start to slow down or cancel your cruise. This will wait until your delay period then slow you down. Or when a car starts moving out your way, you'd normally start accelerating once you know it's moving, where this ACC will wait until the car is completely out of your lane before pressing on.

That said on the whole, it's great and even works well on country lanes following traffic, and I've never had a problem with it getting to dirty. Oh and it has 4 settings not 3.

[Dr Dave]

Ah, fellow south-west dweller! ^ I'm just outside of Taunton - you?

I'm not overly struck with the radar thingy; but I can see the benefits of the system.