Passenger side Blind spot detection very inconsistent (above 30mph)

[wolfnards]

Just picked up a new '17 F15 50i fully loaded and have noticed that the PS blind spot detection does not light up all the time. I know it triggers >30mph so I'm talking about highway speeds and other roads >30mph. Day or night, it works about 50% of the time. The lanes are relatively close to each other so the cars are not that far away. The DS lights up about 75% of the time.

I traded in an '14 MDX for this and the MDX was about 95% accurate. That's the only thing I miss about the MDX.

I've read threads where you can code Blind Spot Detection at >20mph but perhaps there can be a way to adjust sensitivity? Or perhaps the sensors are bad? Where would I check?

Anyone else have a similar experience?


Thanks in advance.

[turboawd]

i've noticed my bmw only lights up if a car is coming up from behind on the side, and not after i pass a car. is this intentional, so as to not light up unnecessarily?

[r33_RGSport]

@wolfnards , you can code it to lower the speed when it start.
I believe it was 15mph.

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by turboawd

i've noticed my bmw only lights up if a car is coming up from behind on the side, and not after i pass a car. is this intentional, so as to not light up unnecessarily?

I think so, most manufacturers have the light come on all the time whether the car is behind, in front and it appears to be very sensitive. I think BMW made is more intuitive and "smarter". At least that's what I feel.

[stickersteve]

I think the blind spot on this car is pretty much useless. Unless you have spectacular peripheral vision they are almost impossible to see, especially in the day when its sunny out. Most other cars have them in the mirror itself which would help, but I would love to see it show up in the heads up display.

[wolfnards]

Originally Posted by stickersteve

I think the blind spot on this car is pretty much useless. Unless you have spectacular peripheral vision they are almost impossible to see, especially in the day when its sunny out. Most other cars have them in the mirror itself which would help, but I would love to see it show up in the heads up display.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Even if the mirror light is not very visible during the day, if a car is detected in the blind spot, when you signal to change lanes and start to veer over, there is haptic feedback vibration in the steering wheel.

If it doesn't detect a car due to poor design then the haptic feedback won't happen and the really good idea you had of having the detection show up on the HUD wouldn't even occur... And it's an option that was paid for so I'd expect it to work properly.

[double_j]

Mine is pretty accurate when cars are approaching from behind or to the side but like others here, I wish it would illuminate even when I am passing somebody.

And yes, the placement of the light is horrible. Really hard to see.

[alphaod]

Originally Posted by stickersteve

Most other cars have them in the mirror itself which would help, but I would love to see it show up in the heads up display.

I don't see how having it in the HUD is safe at all. Because if you're going to change lanes, you want to be looking at your mirrors, not in front of you. And even with the blind spot assist, you need to be checking your mirrors.

[superdog]

Mine seems perfect.

[IndyJer]

Originally Posted by Kzang

I think so, most manufacturers have the light come on all the time whether the car is behind, in front and it appears to be very sensitive. I think BMW made is more intuitive and "smarter". At least that's what I feel.

My experience is the exact opposite. Blind spot detection in My wife's Chevy Tahoe is flawless. If there is an obstacle in the blind spot, at ANY speed, the indicator illuminates. Nice and bright on the mirror, easy to see under any conditions.

BMW is the exact opposite. Why not illuminate at any speed? Light is too dim, hard to see during the day. Doesn't illuminate when a vehicle is passed. It shouldn't matter how the obstacle gets in your blind spot, the warning should illuminate and be bright / obvious to see in all conditions. Really frustrated I spent extra on options specifically to have this feature that doesn't work well. I would say it's dumber, not smarter.

Shows how everyone has their own perspective I suppose...

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by alphaod

I don't see how having it in the HUD is safe at all. Because if you're going to change lanes, you want to be looking at your mirrors, not in front of you. And even with the blind spot assist, you need to be checking your mirrors.

It should be both. Even if you aren't planning on changing lanes, it would be good for overall awareness for it to be in the HUD. And it definitely is too dim on the sides. I don't care if it's actually on the mirror, in the mirror housing or mirror mount, to me that's not the issue... it's just way too dim. BMW really dropped the ball on this design element.

[mnx5er]

Loved blind spot in the older MDX with the indicator inside the car. Even my wife's CX-5 has a bright light and instant beep. I haven't like it on the X5 since it is hard to see. I get the haptic feedback confused with lane departure. Would prefer a beep.

[alphaod]

@OP, take the car to the dealer see if the sensor is aligned properly. Had another car kept shutting off the sensor because it was askew a couple degrees.

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

It should be both. Even if you aren't planning on changing lanes, it would be good for overall awareness for it to be in the HUD. And it definitely is too dim on the sides. I don't care if it's actually on the mirror, in the mirror housing or mirror mount, to me that's not the issue... it's just way too dim. BMW really dropped the ball on this design element.

When I drive I always check my mirrors when driving forward even if I were just to yield because someone is driving a lot faster than me. Blind spot monitor doesn't tell you anything in those situations. In fact I'd say that and lane departure makes people lazy.

Anyways I can always see the LED and I've got not the best eyesight.

[Gilly1964]

It does make me wonder if the people saying "it's not bright enough" are the same people on other threads bragging about their new front window tints.

If you drive 'properly' it works with you - if you are not using the indicators you will get the 'mild' lane departure warning steering wheel shaker - which you can't mistake for the more aggressive blind spot warning shaker, especially as you will have just put the indicator on in order for that to be active.

I wouldn't want the BS warning to be active all the time I was passing a row of parked cars by the side of the road but that may be a UK-specific gripe.

[eggyacid]

Same problem here, very inconsistent or doesn't work at all.

Picked up my 2014 X5 with active blind spot.
90% of the time no matter what speed, the passenger side doesn't flash at all. 50% of the time driver side will blind if the car is coming from behind, If I pass a car or a car merged into the lane next to me it would not flash.

i'm going to have the dealership look at it, coming from Mercedes and Toyota, they work 99% of the time and this just isn't right.

one more question... does the blind spot warning just flashing? does it suppose to have audible tone? beep? vibration? anything else beside the flashing light?

Thanks still trying to learn everything about this car

[mnx5er]

It does not do anything other than light up for normal situations. If the car on your side is very close, the steering wheel will vibrate if you try to move in front of the other car. At least that's what I remember. My current X5 doesn't have blind spot, I passed on it for my current build. My Audi A5 does a better job with blind spot.

[Gilly1964]

It is an intelligent system - so it will only show the warning light if it 'thinks' the vehicle in your blind-spot represents a threat. Hence, if you have just passed something (usually your passenger side) and your speed is greater than his there is no threat and no warning.

The steering wheel vibration kicks in if you drive 'properly'. If the warning light is on and you activate the turn signal towards that vehicle the steering wheel vibrates, noticeably more than for the lane departure warning, and the warning light flashes. But no turn signal = no vibration - so drive 'properly'!

[BMWNAWATCHDOG]

Originally Posted by Gilly1964

It is an intelligent system - so it will only show the warning light if it 'thinks' the vehicle in your blind-spot represents a threat. Hence, if you have just passed something (usually your passenger side) and your speed is greater than his there is no threat and no warning.

The steering wheel vibration kicks in if you drive 'properly'. If the warning light is on and you activate the turn signal towards that vehicle the steering wheel vibrates, noticeably more than for the lane departure warning, and the warning light flashes. But no turn signal = no vibration - so drive 'properly'!

perfect no issues with the way its set up to operate

[wankelman24]

Originally Posted by Kzang

I think so, most manufacturers have the light come on all the time whether the car is behind, in front and it appears to be very sensitive. I think BMW made is more intuitive and "smarter". At least that's what I feel.

I agree with KZANG. It was explained to me as an intellegent system where the car calculates the speed of the other vehicle in the blind spot. If you are passing and pulling away it can detect that and won't light up becuase it knows you'll be past the car before you move back over. I do agree the light is in a terrible spot on the mirror cover. I can't see mine very well. It needs to be on the mirror itself. I had a Denali and it worked perfectly on the mirror.

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by Kzang

I think so, most manufacturers have the light come on all the time whether the car is behind, in front and it appears to be very sensitive. I think BMW made is more intuitive and "smarter". At least that's what I feel.

So I'm going to quote myself and also provide a photo of what I mean.

[turboawd]

thats a great example. no car beside and the light is on.

[Almaretto]

I find the system very accurate. It not only lights up when vehicle is present but also takes into account own & others speed for potential.