New X1 - front parking sensors question...

[DavidUK]

When we picked it up from BMW last week the salesperson said we had to press the "Park Assist" button to make the sensors work. I thought this was wrong, as I'd read this was only pressed when you wished to have the car parallel park itself in a suitable space.

My wife doesn't think the front sensors work all the time. She drove toward a fence today and they didn't go off.

Trying it today I found that if the gear lever is moved from P to D slowly the Park Assist (PA) switch light comes on automatically, presumably when it senses R has been engaged. If moved from P to D swiftly, the PA light doesn't come on, presumably as it doesn't have time to sense reverse.

With either the PA light on or off the car needs to be closer than 30cm to a forward obstacle to set the sensors off. That seems too close to me?

Can anyone explain if what we've found is usual?

Thanks!

[Horizon]

On all the cars I've had with front and rear sensors, once you select reverse the system becomes active, once drive is selected the sensors will be active for a few more seconds to assist if manoeuvring in tight places.
Once you drive off it is disabled, or everytime you pulled up behind someone it would go off, driving you mad !
If you want to activate the sensors IE pulling into a garage / parking space press the button so the front  sensors will work.
Perfectly logical and normal.

[X5Sport]

It's certainly how they work on all of our BMWs.

[mogsyman]

On my wife's X3 there's a setting in the iDrive to allow the front sensors to start at low speed automatically.

I'm pretty sure new X's have that feature but you have to switch it on.

[mark hamster 28]

Horizon nailed it.! thats our my new X1 and old X5 works

[DavidUK]

Thanks all!

Will do some more fiddling!

[DavidUK]

[quote="Horizon"]
On all the cars I've had with front and rear sensors, once you select reverse the system becomes active, once drive is selected the sensors will be active for a few more seconds to assist if manoeuvring in tight places.
Once you drive off it is disabled, or everytime you pulled up behind someone it would go off, driving you mad !
If you want to activate the sensors IE pulling into a garage / parking space press the button so the front  sensors will work.
Perfectly logical and normal.