F16 front camera on during forward motion (when parking) coding

[Nour.Evo]

Hello everyone,

A colleague drives an X6 (f16) and would like that during parking and when he drives forward that the front camera turns on, can i code something like that?

Can you please describe to me what codes should be changed for this?

The car has front camera (Surround view 360)

And i have E-Sys 3.40.2 & PSdZData

Thanks a lot

[Qsilver7]

Until someone presents some coding parameters...they will just have to press the front camera button.

If they have ACTIVE PDC...make sure that feature is turned on in iDrive...this will automatically activate the surround view cameras if approaching something while moving slowly..and if they want a front view instead...simply press the front cam button. And if they want to switch between the two views...simply press down on the iDrive control knob.

Auto PDC selection in iDrive:

[Nour.Evo]

Thanks @qsilver7 for the replay

He doesn‘t have ACTIVE PDC

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by Nour.Evo

Thanks @qsilver7 for the replay

He doesn‘t have ACTIVE PDC

But does he have AUTO PDC? Auto & Active PDC are different features...the 1st comes on automatically if moving slowly and gives you camera views & audible alerts for objects that are nearby...the 2nd will activate the brakes if you get to close to hitting something when PDC is active.

I have Auto PDC...but I don't have Active PDC on my 2014 X5.

[Nour.Evo]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

But does he have AUTO PDC? Auto & Active PDC are different features...the 1st comes on automatically if moving slowly and gives you camera views & audible alerts for objects that are nearby...the 2nd will activate the brakes if you get to close to hitting something when PDC is active.

I have Auto PDC...but I don't have Active PDC on my 2014 X5.

Thnx again for your replay!

He has following driver assistance


S508 Park Distance Control (PDC)
S5AT Driving Assistant Plus
S5DL Surround View

[Qsilver7]

They may or may not have all of the features in this video...but based on the decoded options list...they should have the front and side cameras...so there are things that they can do in iDrive to have the PDC system turn on automatically when pulling into a parking space or close quarters at a slow speed.

And if they want to see a front view when moving forward...just press the panoramic view button that is below the PDC button on the center console.

[mrfochon]

Can you just activate the front camera ? Trying to retrofit it.

Also can anyone help with the wiring? Can’t find the proper wire anywhere

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by mrfochon

Can you just activate the front camera ? Trying to retrofit it.

Also can anyone help with the wiring? Can’t find the proper wire anywhere

Yes…the front cam button is in-between the PDC button and the HDC (hill descent control) button…see #1 in pic below. If you activate the front camera, then press the iDrive controller (#2)…you will get a wide angle rear view (without guidlines)…and you get warning triangles on either the left or right if you are in reverse and an object is approaching perpendicular to the vehicle (works great when backing out and you’re blinded by vehicles parked on either side of you and can’t see cross traffic):

[mrfochon]

Much appreciated
Would you know the wiring and if I need any module ? Got a camera and would love to make a good use of it.

Also do you have ista ? Trying to figure out how to run it properly

[Qsilver7]

Unfortunately I do not have ISTA nor know the wiring for any module. Hopefully someone that does will chiime in. Good luck.

[LateParty2018X535d]

Similar but different question
Anybody know how to code it so that when you switch from reverse to drive, it goes to the overhead camera??

I have automatic PDC activated, but it doesn’t come on fast enough or all the time when I’m parking say parallel parking and want to watch the curb on the overhead cam as I’m pulling forward.

Basically, when I reverse into a parking space, then go back into Drive to straighten out. I wanted to switch from the reverse camera to the surround camera automatically instead of me I’m gonna press the button buttons.

Any ideas how to code this?

Just After selecting reverse, then going into drive, Surround camera automatically activates?

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by LateParty2018X535d

Similar but different question
Anybody know how to code it so that when you switch from reverse to drive, it goes to the overhead camera??

I have automatic PDC activated, but it doesn’t come on fast enough or all the time when I’m parking say parallel parking and want to watch the curb on the overhead cam as I’m pulling forward.

Basically, when I reverse into a parking space, then go back into Drive to straighten out. I wanted to switch from the reverse camera to the surround camera automatically instead of me I’m gonna press the button buttons.

Any ideas how to code this?

Just After selecting reverse, then going into drive, Surround camera automatically activates?

I've never seen coding for this...but you can switch from rear view to surround view by simply pressing downward on the iDrive controller knob. If auto PDC doesn't turn the cameras on fast enough when you're trying to park..again, you can simply press down on the PDC button on the center console. And depending on what view you get (usually the last one) press down on the iDrive controller knob to switch from rear view to surround view...or vice versa.

And again, if you have the front camera...when you're in reverse...you can press the front cam button and it will activate the wide angle rear view as seen pictured in my previous post above. I use this feature if I'm pulled with the front end into the parking space...and my side vision is blocked by a larger vehicle...I press the front camera when in reverse...this activates the birds-eye/wide angle rear view...which also puts up alerts at the upper left/upper right if a vehicle or other obstacle is approaching.

If I'm parking next to a concrete island or exiting/entering a drive that has raised curbs...this is also when I manually activate the PDC button and select the surround view (by pressing downard on the iDrive control knob) so that I can avoid hitting the raised concrete curbs. And again, simply pressing down on the iDrive controller will switch the view from surround view to rear view if needed.

[LateParty2018X535d]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

I've never seen coding for this...but you can switch from rear view to surround view by simply pressing downward on the iDrive controller knob. If auto PDC doesn't turn the cameras on fast enough when you're trying to park..again, you can simply press down on the PDC button on the center console. And depending on what view you get (usually the last one) press down on the iDrive controller knob to switch from rear view to surround view...or vice versa.

And again, if you have the front camera...when you're in reverse...you can press the front cam button and it will activate the wide angle rear view as seen pictured in my previous post above.

Thx, I tried toggling with the iDrive controller the other day and actually it did not do anything on 2018 X5. I was surprised. I am able to use the PDC parking button though to switch into surround view so it does toggle if I want to as long as I’m back in drive from reverse, But that’s the manual step I prefer not to do because I very often reverse then pull forward to straighten out and have to press the button twice to deactivate reverse then turn on surround. It’s just a daily thing that it seems should be automated.

I’m still hoping to code in an automatic switch from rearview camera to surround camera After switching from reverse back into drive.

Anyone know how? Thx!!

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by LateParty2018X535d

Thx, I tried toggling with the iDrive controller the other day and actually it did not do anything on 2018 X5. I was surprised. I am able to use the PDC parking button though to switch into surround view so it does toggle if I want to as long as I’m back in drive from reverse, But that’s the manual step I prefer not to do because I very often reverse then pull forward to straighten out and have to press the button twice to deactivate reverse then turn on surround. It’s just a daily thing that it seems should be automated.

I’m still hoping to code in an automatic switch from rearview camera to surround camera After switching from reverse back into drive.

Anyone know how? Thx!!

Make sure the selection along the left of the screen is selected for the camera icon (with the R)...this may be the reason why nothing happened. See the pic a posted in my last reply above of the surround view with the guidelines. You can see that the top icon along the left of the screen is also highlighted to get the surround view while moving forward.

[LateParty2018X535d]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Make sure the selection along the left of the screen is selected for the camera icon (with the R)...this may be the reason why nothing happened. See the pic a posted in my last reply above of the surround view with the guidelines. You can see that the top icon along the left of the screen is also highlighted to get the surround view while moving forward.

Thanks for pointing out your picture. I tested this a couple more times. The iDrive controller does not toggle reverse camera surround camera or front camera ever no matter what whether in reverse park or drive. That’s OK, though pressing the parking camera button does do it so that’s fine.

Actually, in playing with this, I found a new feature: when in reverse if I press the camera button which I thought was only for the front camera previously, it will actually toggle the reverse camera from a dual view into a full screen view in reverse. It just won’t show the radar sensors, which is cool gives a very wide angle when reversing to see traffic left and right.

Anyway, what I’m looking for is after I go into reverse then switch back into drive to straighten out I would like the reverse camera to disappear and instead have the surround view camera. Instead of having to press the button twice to switch back into surround view, I’ll start driving forward and the reverse camera stays on at low speed. It doesn’t make sense. I have to manually do it each time. The PDC will activate, but there needs to be an obstacle, and the curb will not activate the PDC. If I can turn up the sensitivity of the PDC that might be another option. But I’m very careful, especially when parallel parking next to curb to have the surround view on so that I can see that my tires do not get too close to the curb in order to do this. I have to toggle the surround you press, pressing the button two times.

Interesting thing about front camera and also full screen rear camera is it does detect obstacles oncoming traffic from the left and right and makes a yellow marking on the left side or right side of the screen however it is not an audible indication so it’s not very helpful. It would be nice to know. Traffic is coming from the left or the right with some audible indication. Is this how yours works? Any idea how to make this more useful than having to look at it such as having it make a noise?

Sidenote: In general passengers often wonder what the heck I am doing in the car with all of its system, starting it up and pressing buttons for like five minutes before I do any driving/anything. Hahaha. The thing is like a spaceship, preparing for lift off with everything going on. If they don’t like it, they can get in a dirty Uber lol.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by LateParty2018X535d

Interesting thing about front camera and also full screen rear camera is it does detect obstacles oncoming traffic from the left and right and makes a yellow marking on the left side or right side of the screen however it is not an audible indication so it’s not very helpful. It would be nice to know. Traffic is coming from the left or the right with some audible indication. Is this how yours works? Any idea how to make this more useful than having to look at it such as having it make a noise?

In post #8 above I did mention the wide angle rear view and the warning triangles. Unfortunately they are only visible and have no audible warning…but if a vehicle or other obstacle is moving from the left or right toward the vehicle…the warning triangle will flash (on the side where the obstacle is coming from).

I would just say to pay attention to the warning triangles when you activate the wide angle rear view feature. There are no triangle if nothing is there…if something is there, then the triangles appear, and if the object is moving…then the triangle flash. The ony warning you get while backing out with this feature activated is visual…but again,m the triangles flash. If there’s no triangles then nothing is approaching.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by LateParty2018X535d

Thanks for pointing out your picture. I tested this a couple more times. The iDrive controller does not toggle reverse camera surround camera or front camera ever no matter what whether in reverse park or drive. That’s OK, though pressing the parking camera button does do it so that’s fine.

Question…the pic of your iDrive screen shows the red arrow pointing at contrast/brightness. If you turn the iDrive controller…can it move up to the icon on the left of the camera with an R on it?

I ask because with my older version of iDrive, in order to switch back and forth between rear camera view and surround view when pressing down on the iDrive controller…the camera icon with the R on it needs to be highlighted.

(My setting which allows one press of iDrive controller to switch between rear view & surround view when PDC has been automatically or manually activated )


Can you move the red arrow circled below in yellow up to the camera icon highlighted with a green arrow?

[LateParty2018X535d]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Question…the pic of your iDrive screen shows the red arrow pointing at contrast/brightness. If you turn the iDrive controller…can it move up to the icon on the left of the camera with an R on it?

I ask because with my older version of iDrive, in order to switch back and forth between rear camera view and surround view when pressing down on the iDrive controller…the camera icon with the R on it needs to be highlighted.

(My setting which allows one press of iDrive controller to switch between rear view & surround view)

The red arrow is not indicating any selection. It indicates that if you maneuver left that there is a menu to then select from.

Though I did just realize something interesting went in reverse if I deselect the rearview camera option with a little R, then I can turn off the rear view camera entirely and when in reverse You will see the surround camera instead. Interesting option not really what I’m going for but May try it out I prefer to have the actual backup camera in reverse.

[Qsilver7]