Technical Features For Driving Comfort And Safety - BMW 320i Owner's Handbook Manual

Technical features for driving comfort and
safety
Park Distance Control PDC*
The principle
PDC assists you with manoeuvring into
a parking space. Acoustic signals warn you of
the presence of an object in front of
your car. Four ultrasonic sensors in each
bumper measure the distance to the nearest
object. The sensors at the front
corners have a range of about 60 cm (2 ft), while
the inboard sensors at the rear have a range of
about 1.50 m (5 ft).
PDC is a parking aid which is capable of
registering objects approached at low
speed, as is usually the case when the car is
being parked. Avoid approaching an object rap-
idly, otherwise the system may be unable to
alert you in sufficient time due to the physical
principles involved.<
If the car is towing a trailer, the rear sensors will
be unable to supply meaningful signals. They
therefore do not come on.
Automatic operation
With the engine running or the ignition switched
on, the system is activated automatically after
approx. 1 second when you engage reverse
gear or move the automatic transmission selec-
tor lever to position R. Wait briefly before start-
ing to drive, to allow the system to become
active.
Online Edition for Part-No. 01 41 0 159 204 - © 03/05 BMW AG
Manual operation
*
or behind
*
and at the rear
Press the button; the LED comes on.
Switching off manual operation
Press the button again; the LED will go out.
After a distance of approx. 50 m (164 ft) has
been covered or if a speed of approx. 30 km/h
(20 mph) is exceeded, the system is deacti-
vated and the LED goes out. Switch the system
on again manually as necessary.
Audible warning signals
An intermittent tone indicates the position of an
object as the car approaches it. For example,
the tone sounds at the rear if the system
detects an object behind the car. The closer the
car approaches the object, the more rapid the
sequence of signals. When the distance to a
detected object is less than approx. 30 cm
(12 in), the signal becomes continuous.
The signal is interrupted after approx.
3 seconds if you are driving parallel to a wall.
Malfunction
As a precautionary measure, keep the sensors
clean and free from ice, so that they always
operate reliably.
*
The indicator light in the instrument
cluster comes on. PDC has failed.
Have the system checked.
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