PDC or Cameras?

[aka_phox]

I checked search bar before asking...
Which is better? Parking Distance Control all around or Cameras all around?

Im debating between the two...my friend and I was discussing this today. He says PDC is better do to you dont have to keep a look out...it beeps for you. And that camera are not good in bad weather...

What are you guys thoughts?

[Vic311]

Lame...

Rear view and side view mirrors

[THE TECH]

Purely subjective. I personally dislike the PDC and will eventually add cameras.

[thegeneral101]

I think cameras are cool for the tech factor...but the fancy ones that show parking lines and top down views etc. I have PDC in mine and only use it when parallel parking to get really close...basically replaces someone waving their hand to help you sight the parking

[gnhm3]

Cameras.

[surlynkid]

i had the backup camera in an acura and did not like it or trust it. i just turned around and looked. i guess it is good to keep from running over the dog or your kid or a bicycle. i am not sure how big an item needs to be to trigger the PDC. i still just turn and look.

[T3X4S]

Cameras FTW

[Superfly_M3]

Camera(s)???
As in more than two (front/rear). Is there an option to put cameras underneath the mirrors to have a bird's eye view like the FX/EX 35?

I have a back up camera from ModMyNav. Best mod on my car. Really easy to line up the lines in the parking lot, and know exactly how far to back up. I also have PDC, it works, but camera is better. When approaching something at anything higher than snail's pace, PDC doesn't react fast enough.
Also, in snow/heavy rain, PDC screws up and you get a solid beep.

[m_335d]

Rear Camera!
I trust to what I see. Sometimes sensors might mislead you.

[radiantm3]

I have both. As others have said, Pdc for parallel parking and cameras are just a good safety net. I don't want to back up into a kid riding down the sidewalk on a tricycle.

[mdosu]

both is the best. But if you're cost conscience, i would just do PDC. It's extremely accurate, and saved my butt a few times when I parallel park.

[Transfer]

I use my eyeballs. When I first got my car I was parallel parking and trusted the rear PDC but I tapped the car behind me. I got out to see WTH happened and it was a car with a low long sloping nose so the PDC was reading like 1/3 of the way up the hood and not the license plate which is what I bumped. I was

I suppose cameras are better but really who needs any of it in an M3. It's not that hard to park.

[sensi09]

Wow some of you guys have cameras and PDC lol

[SBRIAN]

I had both on different cars. For fun and being cool, take the camera. If you want parking accuracy, definitely PDC.

[lux]

Originally Posted by sensi09

Wow some of you guys have cameras and PDC lol

I'm one that has both--great safety feature. I like the camera better but wish there was a US factory option for for a front PDC. I believe the Euro bumper has it and/or you can place a front facing camera (aftermarket). I'm lazy and don't always reverse my car into a space and end up scraping the bottom of my front bumper on a rare occasion. I've gotten better at estimating (usually look at the reflection off of the car on my side) but the practice has taken a toll on my car.

[MKE_M3]

Love the camera in my wife's Odyssey, but don't want either on the M. I've never had trouble with visibility or parking.

[The Automotive Enthusiast]

I'm fine with what comes standard on the car, mirrors. You have 3 of them, use them.

[llis]

I had PDC on my last M3, and I found it to be quite helpful and accurate, especially on how close you are to something. The display tells you where. I found it to be plenty.

I have PDC and a camera on the back of my truck, and I find them to be much less helpful. The PDC beeps like on the M3, but doesn't seem as accurate of an indicator.

The camera itself is next to useless for anything but a general indication of "is something back there behind me?", because it's such a wide angle any sense of distance is lost. The camera helps in aligning for hitching up, but it's still not much help for determining how far I am from being in position. I'm glad I have the camera because the truck is a beast and even a general sense is helpful. But it's nothing like what BMW's PDC offered in terms of accurate help on distance.

[Johndong888]

I prefer to have both
Lol but OP i know that's not your question. I prefer camera but sometimes the camera angle are a bit too wide therefore distorting the view.

[Vic311]

Originally Posted by ShutUpandDrive

I'm fine with what comes standard on the car, mirrors. You have 3 of them, use them.

Originally Posted by radiantm3

I have both. As others have said, Pdc for parallel parking and cameras are just a good safety net. I don't want to back up into a kid riding down the sidewalk on a tricycle.

The member below said it best

I am reminded of Leno.."How lazy are we?"....we can't turn our heads to look anymore

Originally Posted by J08M3

PDC is for people who don't know how to drive... ha in my opinion... I've never had a problem parking my vehicles just using my mirrors. If you don't know how big your car is you probably shouldn't be driving it anyway.

[positiveions]

I'd rather have a rear camera. Son of gun, I'm getting lazy.

[Purple88Gold]

PDC for me