Is Park Distance Control worth it?

Finnegan · 05-01-2009, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xsi123

The added price is not a big deal for a $60K+ car but I was just wondering if maybe the beeping sound becomes annoying some times as well as if it is really of any use.

I guess it also depends if you park on the street or not but I would like to hear your opinion

Like others have said there are some definite positives about this feature. I have a vert, and I don't have it. With the top up rear visibility is a bit hampered. Wish I had it--nothing worse than crunching into another bumper (or worse yet--person--yikes).

Fortunately I don't do much street parking and no crunches at this point--knock on wood.

Thinker23 · 05-01-2009, 09:29 PM

No reason not to get it. It's another tool to keep your M3 in top condition!!

Subw00er · 05-01-2009, 10:32 PM

If you are good at parking, I'd say dont bother. It is a neat gadget though. One complaint I have is that it goes off every time I back out of my garage because it hits the side of the garage door opening. so every morning. beep beep beep..

I guess its a nice safety blanket if there is a bike or toy randomly placed behind you. I wouldnt have ordered it, but since it came on the car, I dont mind it really.

Voltigeur · 05-01-2009, 10:34 PM

-
I have been told by 2 M3 owners that, yes, IF you have a tight garage space ... I have it on my 5er and frankly don't need it.

My advice: practise parking ;-)

Genro757 · 05-02-2009, 01:35 AM

I'm still just for the camera

White Shark · 05-02-2009, 01:57 AM

Must have safety option ...

Cab5er · 05-02-2009, 04:57 AM

Its cheap and it helps when I back into my tiny garage. Its tiny with the X5 and M3 in there anyways.

BimmerRob08 · 05-02-2009, 05:09 AM

I have it, don't mind the little circles and when parking into a tight spot in the city, it's well worth it. And you'll kick yourself in the ass if you ever make the mistake of bumping another car in a parking space and you end up with a scratch. I don't think one needs to be a fanatic about it and sport vehicles. It's technology and it's cool, so what? Get it, but just remember, you still got to be aware of what your backing up to. Don't trust it 100%. Someone a while back posted that they were relying on it and backed up into something and F*&*ed up their bumper. Use it as an aid but nothing can replace commen sense

osteome · 05-02-2009, 05:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quackbury

On the E93 in particular, rear visibility sux due to the rear head restraints, and the PDC is much appreciated.

+1

tjmpb · 05-14-2009, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cab5er

Its cheap and it helps when I back into my tiny garage. Its tiny with the X5 and M3 in there anyways.

You'd have more room if you backed in with your doors closed. :-)

M3 Montreal · 05-16-2009, 10:57 PM

Ive never had PDC before and thought it to be a "gizmo". My car came with PDC and now that Ive become accustomed to it I LOVE it.

I can park my car to within an inch of a wall . I prefer this because I like to park as deep into garage spots as possible. I like to choose spots next to walls so my car is nicely tucked into a corner so even someone who opens their doors wide can have ample space and PDC really helps in this area.

PDC is like a garberator... FOr those that never had it there is nothing to be missing but once you have it and see it's usefulness you can not live without it.

asp17 · 05-24-2009, 04:16 PM

I have it on my 6 but not on my M. Its great I wish the M had it!!

Any way to have these intalled after??????

Nawaaz · 05-25-2009, 08:02 AM

My close cousin thinks it's useful, but I couldn't care less.

Sean18337 · 05-25-2009, 11:46 AM

Can you add the PDC to a car that did not come with this option?

E90M3CDFR · 05-28-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sean18337

Can you add the PDC to a car that did not come with this option?

I've seen an option in the European BMW accessories catalog for a PDC sensor that mounts on the license plate. No idea how well it works since its audio only--I know in the Mini, the audio only PDC isn't too bad...it seems to localize the beep on the side closest to the object you are closest too.

Like most everyone else, I find PDC very helpful esp in tight city parking spots. I would very much have liked the front PDC as well. The 3-series design (front and back) makes it hard (for me at least) to always judge the end points on the car accurately. I tend to err on the side of caution in the front. With PDC I know that once it goes solid in the beep I am 1 foot away from something and on the screen I can tell where that is.

smokinjoe64 · 05-28-2009, 02:24 PM

ABSOLUTELY YES...if you get it OEM from the factory there's no reason not to have it. PDC is one of the few 'options' that is truly functional and can help you prevent an expensive/unsightly ahhh S*@T.

albert1028 · 05-28-2009, 02:44 PM

I feel for this, when i heard someone else on the forum say that i could prevent hitting a child, just seems like it's worth the cost. My opinion, which many might not agree, is that we are already spending $60K-70K on car, what's a few hundren or thousand dollars more for options? (guess i come from the buying the car in cash perspective)

leJUNd · 06-01-2009, 02:46 PM

I didn't want it, my car happened have it... now I love it.

jlaw · 06-01-2009, 04:04 PM

I had it on my E46 M3 and liked it; my E92 does not have it. I thought I'd miss it but I really don't. I find myself actually paying closer attention to my parking jobs now as opposed to relying on the PDC.

TTG · 06-01-2009, 06:03 PM

For $320.00, yes it is worth it!

caveboy · 06-01-2009, 06:46 PM

must have if you have dark tinted window at night

05-01-2009, 09:29 PM	#24
Thinker23 Private First Class 6 Rep 194 Posts Drives: '09 E92 M3 - AW, 6MT Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Bay Area iTrader: (1)	No reason not to get it. It's another tool to keep your M3 in top condition!! Last edited by Thinker23; 05-02-2009 at 09:18 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-01-2009, 10:32 PM	#25
Subw00er Bates '08 Interlagos Launch 126 Rep 1,230 Posts Drives: 440i xGC, ZL1, JCW Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NY iTrader: (2)	If you are good at parking, I'd say dont bother. It is a neat gadget though. One complaint I have is that it goes off every time I back out of my garage because it hits the side of the garage door opening. so every morning. beep beep beep.. I guess its a nice safety blanket if there is a bike or toy randomly placed behind you. I wouldnt have ordered it, but since it came on the car, I dont mind it really.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-01-2009, 10:34 PM	#26
Voltigeur MacroRisk 109 Rep 2,523 Posts Drives: M3 E92 ED'09 / 335d Sport DD Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: TX iTrader: (0)	- I have been told by 2 M3 owners that, yes, IF you have a tight garage space ... I have it on my 5er and frankly don't need it. My advice: practise parking ;-) __________________ Just thinking of something not so witty ///M3 E92 '09 Jerez Black \| 6MT \| Ext Fox Red \| Tech \| Prem \| 19s \|Heated Seats \| iPod \|Smartphone \| Euro Deliv June 09 Sold: 540iT / 530i / 323i
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-02-2009, 01:35 AM	#27
Genro757 ///M-Flight VP 77 Rep 669 Posts Drives: '13 Frozen Red Edition E92 M3 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: NOVA/Virginia Beach, VA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2013 E92 M3 [0.00]	I'm still just for the camera __________________ 2013 "Frozen Red Edition" E92 M3, M-DCT with all the 'fixin's, Akrapovic Evolution w/CF Tips, BPM Stage 2 Tune, BPM DCT Software
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-02-2009, 01:57 AM	#28
White Shark First Lieutenant 33 Rep 307 Posts Drives: M3 Civic (Non-ZCP) Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: East Coast iTrader: (3)	Must have safety option ... __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-02-2009, 04:57 AM	#29
Cab5er Colonel 80 Rep 2,339 Posts Drives: 09 E90 M3 (Sold) 13 A1 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Fremont, Hainan iTrader: (22)	Its cheap and it helps when I back into my tiny garage. Its tiny with the X5 and M3 in there anyways. __________________ E90 ///M3/ AW/ Fox Red
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-02-2009, 05:09 AM	#30
BimmerRob08 Major 110 Rep 1,311 Posts Drives: 2008 M3, Space Gray Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: KIKR (ABQ), NM iTrader: (0)	I have it, don't mind the little circles and when parking into a tight spot in the city, it's well worth it. And you'll kick yourself in the ass if you ever make the mistake of bumping another car in a parking space and you end up with a scratch. I don't think one needs to be a fanatic about it and sport vehicles. It's technology and it's cool, so what? Get it, but just remember, you still got to be aware of what your backing up to. Don't trust it 100%. Someone a while back posted that they were relying on it and backed up into something and F&ed up their bumper. Use it as an aid but nothing can replace commen sense
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-16-2009, 10:57 PM	#33
M3 Montreal Colonel 68 Rep 2,194 Posts Drives: 2012 M3 SG ,DCT & 2011 S4 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Montreal , Canada iTrader: (0)	Ive never had PDC before and thought it to be a "gizmo". My car came with PDC and now that Ive become accustomed to it I LOVE it. I can park my car to within an inch of a wall . I prefer this because I like to park as deep into garage spots as possible. I like to choose spots next to walls so my car is nicely tucked into a corner so even someone who opens their doors wide can have ample space and PDC really helps in this area. PDC is like a garberator... FOr those that never had it there is nothing to be missing but once you have it and see it's usefulness you can not live without it. __________________ 2012 E92-M3 Space Grey on Fox Red, DCT 2011 B8 S4 S-Tronic , Black on magma red
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-24-2009, 04:16 PM	#34
asp17 Lieutenant 79 Rep 408 Posts Drives: F98 X4M Comp Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: 305 iTrader: (1)	I have it on my 6 but not on my M. Its great I wish the M had it!! Any way to have these intalled after?????? __________________ ASP
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-25-2009, 08:02 AM	#35
Nawaaz Brigadier General 221 Rep 4,643 Posts Drives: . Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: . iTrader: (0)	My close cousin thinks it's useful, but I couldn't care less.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-25-2009, 11:46 AM	#36
Sean18337 Enlisted Member 3 Rep 45 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: May 2009 Location: NY NJ PA iTrader: (0)	Can you add the PDC to a car that did not come with this option?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-28-2009, 02:24 PM	#38
smokinjoe64 Naval Aviator 590 Rep 674 Posts Drives: 12 e92 M3 6MT Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: OC CA iTrader: (1)	ABSOLUTELY YES...if you get it OEM from the factory there's no reason not to have it. PDC is one of the few 'options' that is truly functional and can help you prevent an expensive/unsightly ahhh S@T. __________________ e92 M3* - Interlagos Blue \| *Fox Red Extended* \|Carbon Leather Performance Mods: Alpine Stage II E85; SuperSprint F1s; Cat-less Bomiz X-Pipe; aFe CAI; Bilstein B16s w/EDC; Brembo BBK; AutoSolutions SSK
	Appreciate 0 Quote

05-28-2009, 02:44 PM	#39
albert1028 First Lieutenant 20 Rep 390 Posts Drives: 2009 E90 Space Gray M3 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	I feel for this, when i heard someone else on the forum say that i could prevent hitting a child, just seems like it's worth the cost. My opinion, which many might not agree, is that we are already spending $60K-70K on car, what's a few hundren or thousand dollars more for options? (guess i come from the buying the car in cash perspective)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-01-2009, 02:46 PM	#40
leJUNd First Lieutenant 89 Rep 322 Posts Drives: e90 M3 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (1)	I didn't want it, my car happened have it... now I love it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-01-2009, 04:04 PM	#41
jlaw First Lieutenant 29 Rep 351 Posts Drives: F80 M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (0)	I had it on my E46 M3 and liked it; my E92 does not have it. I thought I'd miss it but I really don't. I find myself actually paying closer attention to my parking jobs now as opposed to relying on the PDC.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-01-2009, 06:03 PM	#42
TTG ... 935 Rep 4,326 Posts Drives: M340 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (3) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [7.84] 2007 335 Coupe (ret ... [9.00]	For $320.00, yes it is worth it! __________________ 2020 G20 M340 xDrive - Portimao Blue - ZDA\|ZPP\|ZPX\|1CR\|1PE\|6NW\|6WD 2016 F10 535i xDrive - AW - Retired 2011 E92 M3 - AW……………....ED April 29th, 2010 - Retired 2007 E92 335i -Space Gray.....ED Oct 19th, 2006 - Retired
	Appreciate 0 Quote

06-01-2009, 06:46 PM	#43
caveboy Private 0 Rep 55 Posts Drives: 6MT Jerez Black M3 E90 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Brisbane, CA iTrader: (0)	must have if you have dark tinted window at night __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote