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Should I have specified surround view?

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 6:37 am
by wildwhiffy1
Hi folks,

I'm wondering if I should have ordered surround view for my new x5 due in the summer. Trawling the net, I have read conflicting opinions as to its usefulness. Some people say it's brilliant, whilst others say they hardly use it.

My main reason for getting it would be to avoid hitting the curb whilst parallel parking. Can anyone on here advise if it really is useful, or for instance, does it sometimes not 'see' the curb.

Connected with this, I have ordered the folding/auto-dimming side mirrors. I am wondering whether these also swivel downwards upon reversing in order to show the curb; I know that this is the case with some other car makes.

I do have the rear view camera specified, but I'm not sure how much this will help me not to hit the kerb.

Any thoughts appreciated as I may still be able to add the surround view option if the order has not already been locked down.

Cheers...

Re: Should I have specified surround view?

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 10:00 am
by worsy
Have the top view on my E70 but I never use it so have not bothered for my F15. Reverse camera is great though.

Re: Should I have specified surround view?

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 11:04 am
by X5Sport
I use top down on my X6 quite a lot, as I do the front wing cameras.  Some of the places around my P.I.L. in Wales need all the visual help I can get... :o

Richard

Re: Should I have specified surround view?

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 11:19 am
by kjb1
where are you in Wales Richard?

Re: Should I have specified surround view?

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 11:52 am
by X5Sport
Not me, my parents in law.  They are just outside Cardigan.  We go down there every so often and I think would move there if we could and I could find the right type of work.  It's a much less stressed way of life.

Richard

Re: Should I have specified surround view?

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 2:47 pm
by shadrack
[quote="X5Sport"]
Not me, my parents in law.  They are just outside Cardigan.  We go down there every so often and I think would move there if we could and I could find the right type of work.  It's a much less stressed way of life.

Richard
[/quote]

many easy sheep there too

Re: Should I have specified surround view?

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 2:48 pm
by shadrack
[quote="wildwhiffy1"]
Hi folks,

I'm wondering if I should have ordered surround view for my new x5 due in the summer. Trawling the net, I have read conflicting opinions as to its usefulness. Some people say it's brilliant, whilst others say they hardly use it.

My main reason for getting it would be to avoid hitting the curb whilst parallel parking. Can anyone on here advise if it really is useful, or for instance, does it sometimes not 'see' the curb.

Connected with this, I have ordered the folding/auto-dimming side mirrors. I am wondering whether these also swivel downwards upon reversing in order to show the curb; I know that this is the case with some other car makes.

I do have the rear view camera specified, but I'm not sure how much this will help me not to hit the kerb.

Any thoughts appreciated as I may still be able to add the surround view option if the order has not already been locked down.

Cheers...
[/quote]

you already have surround view unless you specified one without windows and mirrors

Re: Should I have specified surround view?

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 4:51 pm
by X5Sport
[quote="shadrack"]

many easy sheep there too[/quote]


According to some, it's where men are men and sheep are scared.... :spiteful:

Re: Should I have specified surround view?

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 7:12 pm
by shadrack
[quote="X5Sport"]
[quote="shadrack"]

many easy sheep there too[/quote]


According to some, it's where men are men and sheep are scared.... :spiteful:
[/quote]

so your the sex pest not 535d

Re: Should I have specified surround view?

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 7:24 pm
by m13lky
I would say you will be fine with the electric mirrors & camera as the mirror on the pass side does dip down to view the kerb & the camera guides you with green & red lines & shows you when you are going to hit something, this is what we have on ours & it works well.

Re: Should I have specified surround view?

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 9:31 pm
by kjb1
[quote="X5Sport"]
Not me, my parents in law.  They are just outside Cardigan.  We go down there every so often and I think would move there if we could and I could find the right type of work.  It's a much less stressed way of life.

Richard
[/quote]

I live about 25 mins from Cardigan in Pembs.  It is a nice part of the Country to be fair.  What line of work are you in out of interest?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Re: Should I have specified surround view?

Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2014 10:32 pm
by X5Sport
I was a Manager for a team of 34 IT Project Managers for a well known global computer company but they made me redundant.  Not much where I am in East Anglia and I know tother half would be happy to move to the area around Cilgerran.  Much better place to bring up a little one than where we are.

Not much call for PMs there so maybe I'll do summat completely different..... :)

Richard

Re: Should I have specified surround view?

Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 9:46 am
by wildwhiffy1
Thanks m13lky... that's certainly helpful. Seems like I may not have needed to worry about hitting the kerb if those mirrors tilt down.

Surprisingly, after more than two weeks, my build has still not gone into lockdown mode and so I've decided to order the surround view anyway, as I'll never get the chance again. Whether I'll be happy with it or not remains to be seen...

Up to now, from the replies on here, there's been one person who thinks surround view is good, and a few others who seem sceptical. I'm still curious to hear if there are other people with opinions on the usefulness or otherwise of surround view.

Thanks for the replies so far...

Re: Should I have specified surround view?

Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 3:50 pm
by pvr
I like it, partly for the toy value but also when parking in the garage as I want to be on the black squares for the tyres :)

Re: Should I have specified surround view?

Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 10:07 pm
by stevee
I have it in the E70 and find it makes parking (especially between white lines) much easier. Would definitely spec it again.