Front Camera Purpose

[MattBianco]

I have yet to use this feature. Does anyone have a valid, utilitarian use for this feature or is it merely a gimmick?

Paired with the on board 20GB memory it could have been an optional dash-cam ($300 seems fair) or security camera.

If you have a regular use for it please share.

[hyde]

Originally Posted by MattBianco

I have yet to use this feature. Does anyone have a valid, utilitarian use for this feature or is it merely a gimmick?

Paired with the on board 20GB memory it could have been an optional dash-cam ($300 seems fair) or security camera.

If you have a regular use for it please share.

I tried to use it to see the corner of the wall that I drive up to before taking a turn, but sadly you can't see far edges of the front end due to position of the front camera, the sides are obstructed. Now the rear camera has amazing viewing angle, near 180. If it was the case with front camera, it would be totally worth it, but it's not. You can't see sides, you can't see lower front end, so I think the only way to use it would be to make it a dashcam and record to external storage (not internal storage, which might get damaged easily with all that read/write)

I never tested it, but you can use it to stick your front end out of a narrow driveway with both sides obstructed and see if anyone is coming? I think that might be one thing, when I drive out of my driveway there are cars parked on both sides as well as across, so my turn is very narrow and I have to check if there is a vehicle is coming and I always use the reflection on the cars parked far up the street. I'll see if front camera will give me a better visibility and report back. Maybe we'll be able to convince you with a satisfactory use for the front camera.

[wdimagineer]

I use it frequently when pulling out of the garage at my office building. Helps to see if there are any pedestrians walking and the alert that flashes is also helpful.

Outside of that, it's very narrow. The previous version I had on my F10's put two cameras on the sides and provided a much better view. It also had on-screen markings to help protect the front end.

[Wobbles]

It's useful to complete the 360° view - otherwise, it'll be like the 270° view found in older models like my 2012 F13. On its own, the front camera's pretty much good only for sneaking a peek at sexy babes as they cross the street at the traffic lights and that's about it

[Bimar]

Originally Posted by Wobbles

It's useful to complete the 360° view - otherwise, it'll be like the 270° view found in older models like my 2012 F13. On its own, the front camera's pretty much good only for sneaking a peek at sexy babes as they cross the street at the traffic lights and that's about it

on a serious note i use it to also impress on top of surround view, don't know to many cars with a front camera.

[MysticBlue]

Anytime I show people the surround view, I tell them a little periscope rises up from the roof. You would be surprised at how many people believe me.

[Bimar]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

Anytime I show people the surround view, I tell them a little periscope rises up from the roof. You would be surprised at how many people believe me.

i tell them its google satellite and they believe , it really does stump people

[MattBianco]

I have a hunch there is a code that can make the front camera (not when it is interpolating for surround view, but when it is used on a standalone) more functional, just like the rear camera can be coded when a tow hitch is attached.

It is obviously able to see straight down when it is doing surround view duty. Perhaps what we see now by pressing the button is not the full wide angle it is able to capture. It could be cropped. Likely?

[Bimar]

would like to code that cameras can be available at any speed.

[Armen383]

I tell you, the first car manufacturer that fits an extra power-source, does some minor programming in the head-unit and uses all on-board car cameras as a 360 security-recording thing will hit jack-pot.

[Haris]

Can't hear audio at work.. but this video looks interesting.

[jlstyle]

Thought it was useful while test driving but didn't have a need for it in real life. And I get dizzy when I look into these fish eye videos.

[hyde]

Originally Posted by wdimagineer

I use it frequently when pulling out of the garage at my office building. Helps to see if there are any pedestrians walking and the alert that flashes is also helpful.

Outside of that, it's very narrow. The previous version I had on my F10's put two cameras on the sides and provided a much better view. It also had on-screen markings to help protect the front end.

Ever since this thread, I started using this. Like I mentioned in my earlier post, I started sticking the nose out on a straight direction before turning the wheel to the street, this way I can see both sides, even though it's a one way street (we get a lot of crazy delivery bikes & messengers on street going wrong way) I can see both sides very clearly, all the way down the block. This has been a life saver for me because I don't have to stick my head out and keep creeping forward. Just like the video Haris posted, except instead of sidewalk (where you can still see everything) I have SUV's parked on both sides most of the time, totally blocking my view.

So, MattBianco , there you go, I am one person who makes use of this every single day driving out of my super narrow driveway with vehicles parked on both side with a very narrow turn angle.

[Xeno]

I use the front camera every day, primarily for parking or trying to get more info on my situation.

[F15GorDe]

Originally Posted by Wobbles

It's useful to complete the 360° view - otherwise, it'll be like the 270° view found in older models like my 2012 F13. On its own, the front camera's pretty much good only for sneaking a peek at sexy babes as they cross the street at the traffic lights and that's about it

+1

[retx]

Originally Posted by Haris

Can't hear audio at work.. but this video looks interesting...

The video looks good and explains well what it can do for me. My colleague does use it often, too. I guess this feature is helpful in the city.

However, if someone can convert it to dash security cam, it will be even better. I don't have to find the way to mount it anymore.

[Haris]

Originally Posted by retx

The video looks good and explains well what it can do for me. My colleague does use it often, too. I guess this feature is helpful in the city.

However, if someone can convert it to dash security cam, it will be even better. I don't have to find the way to mount it anymore.

Surround view would make an awesome dash cam type setup. You have front back and side cameras and hard drive already present. Just need a record button. Makes sense why BMW doesn't want to make it an official option but I wish it was something we can enable by coding.

[FastMarkA]

The concept of surround view sounds great on paper, but I found the side view cameras mounted just forward of the front wheels on my F10s to be much more useful.

My garage is on an alley. I back in, so I used them every time I'd creep out of the garage, and it came in very handy.

With the front camera on the F15, I don't get the true side view like I had with the F10s.

[BXdriver]

Using the surround function all the time when parking in our tiny garage space.
First, the front sensors (+ partly "on the feeling") for entering our parking lot, then the surround view to align the car to the white lines.

For the front camera - I use it when I will exit from our narrow garage door or similar.
Typically about 70% of the times i exit our garage. (It got a pedestrian walkway right outside...)

Bent

[retx]

Originally Posted by Haris

Surround view would make an awesome dash cam type setup. You have front back and side cameras and hard drive already present. Just need a record button. Makes sense why BMW doesn't want to make it an official option but I wish it was something we can enable by coding.

I posted this in another thread, but thought it's useful to post it here, too. Here is how the front cam can do.

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/12/18/v...-red-corvette/

[hyde]

Originally Posted by retx

I posted this in another thread, but thought it's useful to post it here, too. Here is how the front cam can do.

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/12/18/v...-red-corvette/

That's really nice, but there wasn't any damage to his car, and it wasn't really a joyride. It is the company's responsibility to monitor their garages for that kind of activity. The only situation that this would be useful is if they really hit something or damage the vehicle and you spot it later. Things are really in the gray with this type of system.

Camera or not, I hate leaving my vehicles with valet or any parking that's not a self park (except in Vegas, I rent there anyway).

[retx]

Originally Posted by hyde

That's really nice, but there wasn't any damage to his car, and it wasn't really a joyride. It is the company's responsibility to monitor their garages for that kind of activity. The only situation that this would be useful is if they really hit something or damage the vehicle and you spot it later. Things are really in the gray with this type of system.

Camera or not, I hate leaving my vehicles with valet or any parking that's not a self park (except in Vegas, I rent there anyway).

It's hard to find the self-park garage in the city, especially in Manhattan... You can only do the street parking at night or on the weekend.