Opinions on Blind Spot Monitoring?

[MN2///M]

Originally Posted by Golfster

I have it on all my cars and wouldn't buy another without it.

Different buyers prioritize features and functions differently, but I can't see buying a modern car and not ticking the boxes for modern safety and/or technology features when they add very little to the total and what they might save could be priceless.

I agree but I totally ignore mine as they leave too large a margin to be effective in my daily drive. On open highway at >70 mph I pay more attention to them.

[GrussGott]

It took me a year before I noticed I had it on this car.

The BMW implementation sucks ass IMO, but I also never use that shit anyway. For my next car I skipped all the safety bullshit (which I turn off now anyway because it's annoying as fuck) because I want the 2nd glove box

[dzvero]

If you learn to relay on tech you never learn how to drive

[///M-er-gized]

I don't have this feature, but I think I'll get it on my next car.

However, I sort of put this in the same category as a safety feature on a gun. Psychologically speaking, if you know all your guns don't have a safety feature, then you're definitely going to be much more careful at a subconscious level by default. There have been thousands of cases of accidental weapon discharges simply because someone thought the safety was on when it really wasn't.

Plus, if you have multiple guns or multiple cars, and some have the safety features and some don't, then that actually makes you less safe. In a split second, when heavily distracted, even the sharpest minds can easily get confused.

[bdoooh]

I've had my mirrors setup like this for years now and I haven't had to physically turn to look in the past 8 years. It makes the mirrors not as useful for parking but hey, free blind spot monitoring.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...id-blind-spots

[Agamemnon]

I have it on the M3 and also on my Forester XT. It's nice to have as an added safety feature. Drove five decades without it without crashing into people so not really a necessity. But I am getting old, traffic is getting insane, and I need all the help I can get.

[MaynardZed]

Weren't we all taught to turn our head for a split second and make a quick glance in our blind spot before making a lane change? I've done it probably 50,000 times, the glance has saved me only a few times but any one of those could have been a serious accident. What's wrong with making a habit out of the glance?

[ArieArie]

Originally Posted by bdoooh

I've had my mirrors setup like this for years now and I haven't had to physically turn to look in the past 8 years. It makes the mirrors not as useful for parking but hey, free blind spot monitoring.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features...id-blind-spots

I heard about this mirror setup about 15 years ago on Car Talk. And I use it ever since. As you said, I didn't have to turn my head to look ever since..

[Seniorleb]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

Worthless IMO. The indicator light is built into the mirror housing instead of the mirror itself like other manufacturers do. This makes it difficult to see on bright days. The wheel will vibrate if you indicate lane change and the blind spot detector senses a car there.

If you are an alert driver there is no need to pay for this feature.

BMW has the worst Blind Spot Assist to be honest as a VW and Merc previous owner those are way better

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by Seniorleb

BMW has the worst Blind Spot Assist to be honest as a VW and Merc previous owner those are way better

So true, I really didn't even know it was there, totally forgot.

It's really bad.

[Spike Spiegel]

I don't loves BMW's implementation (or a decent amount of Auto makers blind spot icon location but where BMW places it,
it's better than most). Lexus is my top dislike (since I like the auto maker. Not that it doesn't work in terms of being able to sense other vehicles).

Acura IMO has the best implementation for the Icon

https://blog.carsforsale.com/wp-cont...blind-spot.jpg

with Audi being the next best because it's on the inside of the mirror


https://i.ytimg.com/vi/WYr3Bzn5k8I/maxresdefault.jpg

Yes, BMW also has theirs on the inside of the mirror but why is it so small in comparison?

Of course you always rely on your eyes before making the choice to make the lane change, but having the icon larger and closer to you line of sight when driving makes a split second difference in how far your eyes have to travel/focus for you to see the icon when taking your eyes off the road to check the blind spot.


I won't solely rely on it to make choices, but I do love the extra safety option in something that cost a pretty penny. Or any money at all in all honesty

[SMGCFP]

Interesting thread. There is something to be said about lights and vibrating steering wheels preventing you from doing dumb stuff out on the roads. Does it make you lazier? I'd say so. The TV remote invented some 35 years ago made us all lazier too. Does this feature make us drive less safe? I don't know about that. Some people are unsafe due to their personality, or life situation, or whatever. I have too much to lose to be unsafe by choice. Have I been distracted while driving? Sure. For this reason, the computer picks us up. The computer never misses someone in the blind spot, whereas I most certainly could. (no one's perfect) I think someone said trust but verify. I think this goes for the backup cameras, the blind spot detectors, and any other camera we use on this car.

As an aside, I like that the car will intervene when getting ready to collide with something as well. Only needed that once, (was staring at something out the side window and someone stopped to turn) but was glad I had it.

I will opt in to technology most of the time, but will always be skeptical of trusting it exclusively. The self-driving cars sound very scary to me right now. Guess we'll see if that really ever happens.

[TonySCV]

Well worth the money. Saved me from clipping a motorcyclist once. It falses from time to time, but again, helpful as a double-check.

[audioMeth]

Originally Posted by MaynardZed

Weren't we all taught to turn our head for a split second and make a quick glance in our blind spot before making a lane change? I've done it probably 50,000 times, the glance has saved me only a few times but any one of those could have been a serious accident. What's wrong with making a habit out of the glance?

i have had various driver trainings and refreshers over the years that were forced on to all of the employees that drive company vehicles. i have never been instructed to turn my head, always lean forward in seat. at 70 mph you are covering 100 feet per second or something close to that, so if you are following too closely you might end up hitting the person in front of you in that 1 or 2 seconds that you are not looking forward. we are also instructed to allow 1 car length per 10 mph for following distance. this length increases depending on if i am in a passenger vehicle or a bucket truck and weather conditions.

[CharlieVictor]

I have my mirrors set using the CarTalk method, and I've added small convex mirrors based on my experiences with trucks and trailers. Despite all of that, I would still rather have the Blind Spot Monitor than not. My current Subaru Outback has it, and my F80 order will too.

[allinon72]

It's nice to have as a supplement and could save you from an accident. I like that it's there, but would be OK if it wasn't. I don't like to over complicate little things.

[VI Rudeboy]

I like it and I think it is worth it. Just wish they had put the indicator in the mirror versus the housing, especially on the drivers side.

[Fake News 2017]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Never needed it in 28 years of driving.

I needed it once when I was 16 and learned my lesson.

[Shoof]

I have it on my '17, because it came with it. I leave it on, but rarely ever use it/pay attention to it. Can live without it, I'm so used to having my mirrors properly positioned so as to prevent that blind spot from happening to begin with!

[Thescout13]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

So true, I really didn't even know it was there, totally forgot.

It's really bad.

I would agree with this. I have it on my Camaro and it is really bright and in your face and has saved me a few times. Test drive the M3 with my wife extensively and we didnt even notice it until we were back in the parking lot. That was enough for my wife to say nope to that option.

[WarrENDeatH]

I've never used the BMW version, it can be helpful but I don't think it should ever be relied on.

[Alvinized52]

I forget its there... until i feel it vibrate. Saved me a couple of times already.