Blind spot indication not bright enough

[patrikr]

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Does anyone else feel that the blind spot indicator in the mirror isn't bright enough? In my wife's 335 the triangle lights up with a bright yellow light that, even through 35% tints, I notice in my peripheral vision. On the X5 with 50% tint I can barely tell that it's on. I was looking at the code cheat sheet to see if there was a way to get an indicator in the HUD but doesn't seem to be?

[MattBianco]

Agreed on all accounts and hope for a HUD solution. I tried transparent red tape to see if it improves contrast when driving with the sun in the rear; my experiment was a fail.

EDIT: Meanwhile, I can see the bright red triangle on the outside mirrors of MBs I pass, and I am 20-50 feet away.

[kskpsu]

Agree as well. On my now departed 2014 Audi S6, I had the option to adjust the brightness through the MMI...that capability is needed here.

[hyde]

It's not only too dim, it's also late or unreliable in certain situations, but too sensitive in others like when there is a car directly behind you or tailgating you, it is vibrating and blinking, I always panic thinking there was someone on my blind spot.
I wish Blind Spot monitoring was an additional option and not a part of a package.

HUD solution is not really effective, in my opinion you should be looking at the mirror, so the only solution would be much brighter blind spot indicators. My other theory about why they are dim (but bright enough when flashing) is because it is coupled with steering wheel vibration. I didn't test drive recent MB's but do they also vibrate with blind spot?

I was imagining the other day that vibrations were originating from left or right side depending on which side you were steering (off lane or blind spot warning) but if course that's not true.

[Chem14]

Much like when I had to adjust voltage/resistance sensitivity (through coding) for the LED turn signal bulbs to keep them from constantly blinking, why cant we do the same here? If we could we could replace the bulb with something brighter correct?

[Kzang]

The blind spot warning vibrates? I thought that was only for lane change warning which can be turned off. I only turn that feature on during night time driving when I may doze off or something.

To me the blind spot indicator is not as bright as it should be, but I can see it fine. Other Mfg. do seem to have a brighter LED light which is usually on the side mirrors instead of mounted on the stalk such as ours.

[MattBianco]

Originally Posted by Kzang

The blind spot warning vibrates? I thought that was only for lane change warning which can be turned off. I only turn that feature on during night time driving when I may doze off or something.

To me the blind spot indicator is not as bright as it should be, but I can see it fine. Other Mfg. do seem to have a brighter LED light which is usually on the side mirrors instead of mounted on the stalk such as ours.

I know it does if you turn on your turn signal and there is a car in your blindspot.

BTW, new Cadillacs have a blindspot-free rear view mirror.

[Xeno]

If we cannot get a warning in HUD, then I wish for a brightness solution. It does me no good to know the steering wheel will only vibrate too late as I change lanes at the wrong time.

I mentioned this issue to the sales' person as it bothered me on day one.

[patrikr]

Good to see I'm not the only one. I even asked my service advisor today and he said there was nothing that could be done in terms of brightness. He also acknowledged that the 3 series blind spot indicator is much brighter but had no insight into why the F15's is much weaker.

[M3 Chris]

I've been saying this for a while. The indicator is not bright enough and is also located in a poor spot. MB and some Japanese automakers have it right.

[MysticBlue]

Originally Posted by Kzang

The blind spot warning vibrates? I thought that was only for lane change warning which can be turned off. I only turn that feature on during night time driving when I may doze off or something.

To me the blind spot indicator is not as bright as it should be, but I can see it fine. Other Mfg. do seem to have a brighter LED light which is usually on the side mirrors instead of mounted on the stalk such as ours.

I guess we know who doesn't use their turn signals.

[Kzang]

Originally Posted by MysticBlue

I guess we know who doesn't use their turn signals.

Actually I do! I just feel that the lane change vibrates very aggressively and annoys me

[Gilly1964]

But it only vibrates (gently) if you change lanes without signalling or more violently if you signal and there is a car in your blind-spot. If you always signal before changing lanes it will only vibrate if there is a potential collision - isn't that what you want?

[kanvas]

Agreed. I don't even rely on it that much anymore

[MattBianco]

I used the contact form and sent a polite note complaining about he inadequacy of the light. Others feeling the blindspot warning light is not adequate, should do the same.

https://www.bmwusa.com/Secured/Conte...ctaBMWRep.aspx


The warning light is even worse than I recall it, having driven the wife's car yesterday. It gradually dims up and dims down, as if a courtesy light, or an old incandescent bulb. With the sun behind you, it is completely pointless. The warning should additionally be appear in HUD if they cannot fix it.

Meanwhile, I can see the red triangle in MB mirrors from several car lengths back.

[Stunnaz]

On my F16 the light seems pretty bright to me. Anybody know if there's a difference between the F15 and F16's blind spot indication lights?

[D808]

On my f16 it's ok. I wouldn't say it's bright, but it is noticeable when looking in the mirror.

I don't really trust it anymore, as others have mentioned its not a very good system. light comes on slow... goes off slow, and does not recognize stationary objects when making turns with your blinker on and vibrates my steering wheel. Sometimes it reports that there's a car in my blind spot and there's nothing there, but I think it's catching the car one lane over.

The system needs much improvement before i trust it. My former 12' acura mdx bsd was much much better.

oh and i had to code my car so the bsd works at lower speeds.

[X5FX]

My light is perfectly visible on an F15...its not overly bright, but bright enough in daylight to see without issues. My works well, I generally look at the light before looking in the mirror and every time the light is on, a car is in the lane next to me. I haven't yet experienced the opposite.

[hyde]

Originally Posted by MattBianco

I used the contact form and sent a polite note complaining about he inadequacy of the light. Others feeling the blindspot warning light is not adequate, should do the same.

https://www.bmwusa.com/Secured/Conte...ctaBMWRep.aspx


The warning light is even worse than I recall it, having driven the wife's car yesterday. It gradually dims up and dims down, as if a courtesy light, or an old incandescent bulb. With the sun behind you, it is completely pointless. The warning should additionally be appear in HUD if they cannot fix it.

Meanwhile, I can see the red triangle in MB mirrors from several car lengths back.

I agree, mirror lights (we look at the mirror, anyway, not the triangle) and warning to be on at ALL speeds, not just over 20 or 30mph (or whatever they designated as the speed that you begin needing the blindspot monitoring). Blind spot is not very accurate either, I would rather have a super sensitive detector than a laid back detector. I think they should also have a small indicator on HUD. Not for lane changes, but for you to see it even before you think about a lane change. If blind spot is clear, then you know you can change the lane, but I bet they are afraid people will stop using their mirrors. I wish it could be coded at least (at first I didn't think this could be useful, but over time I realized it could actually help).

Another alternative would be to have a camera view with distance markers on HUD or dash display when the signal is turned on.

[UKMS]

Originally Posted by hyde

I agree, mirror lights (we look at the mirror, anyway, not the triangle) and warning to be on at ALL speeds, not just over 20 or 30mph (or whatever they designated as the speed that you begin needing the blindspot monitoring). Blind spot is not very accurate either, I would rather have a super sensitive detector than a laid back detector. I think they should also have a small indicator on HUD. Not for lane changes, but for you to see it even before you think about a lane change. If blind spot is clear, then you know you can change the lane, but I bet they are afraid people will stop using their mirrors. I wish it could be coded at least (at first I didn't think this could be useful, but over time I realized it could actually help).

Another alternative would be to have a camera view with distance markers on HUD or dash display when the signal is turned on.

Personally ...l wouldn't want a blind spot indicator flashing at me all the time in HUD when I'm driving along at speed with no intention of changing lane it could become an unnecessary distraction .... Likewise I wouldn't want it at low speed in situations where nothing is going to pass me .... Otherwise it will be picking up traffic moving in queue or parked etc. I don't have my X5 yet but have used it on a previous Volvo XC60 and for me seeing it close to the mirror when I looked to change lane was perfect.

[hyde]

Originally Posted by UKMS

Personally ...l wouldn't want a blind spot indicator flashing at me all the time in HUD when I'm driving along at speed with no intention of changing lane it could become an unnecessary distraction .... Likewise I wouldn't want it at low speed in situations where nothing is going to pass me .... Otherwise it will be picking up traffic moving in queue or parked etc. I don't have my X5 yet but have used it on a previous Volvo XC60 and for me seeing it close to the mirror when I looked to change lane was perfect.

It wouldn't be flashing, it would be just a tiny indicator like a dot on each corner of HUD indicating there is a vehicle on your blind spot. It wouldn't flash (like currently, it never flashes unless you turn on your signal with a vehicle on your blind spot)

I also initially thought HUD indicator is not necessary, but over time I realize it could be useful.

You will see when you get your X5, I am not sure if you were referring to blind spot monitoring on mirrors for the slow speeds or not, but the minimum speed for blind spot to be active is way too fast, believe or not, 30mph is actually pretty fast and serious accident can occur at those speeds and the blind spot monitoring is not active unless you go faster. (I forgot the exact speed) I was able to code it to turn it on at lower speeds. It's on always, regardless of speed in all other vehicles. (as far as I know)

[D808]

I just noticed this last night while driving. The light actually gets brighter when it's alerting you (flashing).