12-23-2008, 11:24 AM | #1 |
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Love my new X6 ... hate the rear-view camera
Turned in my beloved 650i before leaving on a business trip, then returned to take ownership of an option-packed Mineral Silver X6!
It is taking some adjustment coming from a low riding 650i to a high riding X6, but the level of space and comfort in the X6 is unsurpassed! However the X6, with its larger boundaries, requires one to re-learn the corners of the car. The view out the rear is somewhat limited given the slope and height of the window. So I rely on the rear-view camera for this. From the moment I first used the camera at the dealership I noticed how poor the resolution was. This was in the evening, so I figured things would get better during the day. However, even in daylight, the resolution is poor. Not quite out-of-focus, just not sharp. I have been trying to get used to it and have changed the various option settings it has for overlays (obstacles, pathway lines, etc) but nothing seems to help. Then, the other day I drove my wife's ML350 which also has a rear-view camera. I could not believe the difference! On the ML everything is clear and sharp. When you look at the road, you see the texture of the asphalt, not just some blacktop. This makes all the difference when using (depending on) the camera to navigate tricky parking lot situations! I don't know what experience X5 owners or other X6 owners have had, but I hope BMW is listening because the camera simply is NOT to BMW standard. One thought I had--which in no way should justify the condition--is that maybe due to the overlays BMW has for this camera they needed to reduce the resolution so that the computer that creates the image could cope. If that's the case, I say get rid of the overlays and let me have a decent camera. I would appreciate feedback from other X5/X6 owners who have experience with current or past BMW rear-view cameras. v/r, ANDREW |
12-23-2008, 11:27 AM | #2 |
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Congrats! I just sold my 645Ci to my brother. I got my X6 back in May.
Agree the cam needs work. However, the delay at startup is more an issue for me rather than the resolution.
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12-23-2008, 01:44 PM | #4 |
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ya camera sucks compared to the aftermarket one I had in my X5, but like Chuck the delay annoys me more. So did your 2009 come with the new idrive, some folks here put off getting their X6 until they could get the new idrive. rumors are flying as to if it will make it in the 09 model.
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Last edited by dmlgc; 12-23-2008 at 07:06 PM.. |
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12-23-2008, 05:35 PM | #5 |
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Hello people! New to the forum!
I was lurking around anonymously for a while now but i decided to register as i think i cannot find better info/advice than here. Anyway reading the thread topic, i was thinking if there is any way to change the camera with a better aftermarket one? |
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12-23-2008, 08:11 PM | #6 |
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I would agree that the rear camera is one of my only complaints about our X6. Clarity is one issue but delayed start up is a bigger issue. I hope BMW is reading...The really need to improve on this.
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12-23-2008, 09:20 PM | #7 |
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They are probably not going to do anything about it because problem is resolved with the new idrive system that loads much faster and is almost instantly on from when you turn on the car.
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12-23-2008, 09:26 PM | #8 |
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Just talked to my friend at the BMW dealership. The new IDrive will NOT be available for the 2009 X6. But it will be available on many other BMW models. Got to figure out some tuning of some kind.
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12-24-2008, 04:43 PM | #9 |
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Reaerview Cam./ i drive
Did a driver successfully sue a car company for supplying a navigation system, which caused him to have an accident? Is that why we need to have acceptance?
Cars don't have accidents, people have accidents with their cars! I think the legal liability acceptance @ the start is really asinine/redundant, waste of time & battery pwr. If someone starts the engine, they accept responsibility period. Lousy resolution camera supplier must be lowest contract bidder! |
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12-24-2008, 09:14 PM | #10 |
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I dont even use the camera anymore. I turn it off because the lighting and resolution is so bad its embarrasing. People often think something is wrong with my car cause the cam looks so bad espiecally at night. I spent $72,000 and have to look at that pathetic camera. While the camera in my father's Lexus RX 350 is beautiful.
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12-25-2008, 04:34 AM | #11 | |
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Quote:
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12-25-2008, 09:16 AM | #12 |
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Can anybody make some pics from the rearview camera?
I ordered one but i want to see how bad it is. Anyway you can't see anything behind you without it can you? |
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12-25-2008, 10:18 PM | #14 | |
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I highly doubt that the start up delay on the current generation iDrive will get fixed (I should probably say reduced or shortened) as this system has been on the market for quite some time and BMW is aware of this issue. Besides they do have a solution for it... the next generation system which is a heck of a lot faster compared to the current system... I don't like the delay either, however I have come to live with it. I use the key fob to open the car (which starts up the iDrive boot-up process) and by the time I get into the car and start it up, the 'accept' screen shows. At this point I push the controller to the right for 2 seconds and navigation shows up pretty much right away. By the time I'm out of my driveway, the system is all setup...
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01-09-2009, 01:13 PM | #18 |
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Camera is inferior
I agree with all comments in this and other threads on the inferiority of the camera in the X6. I had a backup cameria in my Infiniti M45, and the images on it was like watching a high-def TV compared to a poor rabbit-ear analog reception from the 1960's in the BMW. The camera in my wife's Lexus RX400 is not as good as the Infiniti's, but it's it least twice as good as the BMW's. The camera on the X6 is an almost useful feature as it is. Hopefully BMW will respond and do something about it.
Other than that, no other complaints. Still love the X6. |
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01-10-2009, 12:53 PM | #20 |
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01-12-2009, 09:26 AM | #21 |
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I think the main problem with the rear view camera at night is the lack of light. The apparent increased graininess we see is really noise like you see in a digital photo when the shutter speed is set too high for the ambient light conditions. Does anyone know if brighter backup light bulbs can be substituted?
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01-12-2009, 09:03 PM | #22 |
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Friend from local dealer told me that components, jacks, software are different for the
American market. Turned the engine on first time on my X6 at the showroom, and the IDrive booted in about 2 seconds. Put it in reverse, and camera loaded almost instantly. . true there was a light flicker in the image, but after cleaning up dirt from lens it got better. . not perfect, but close. Of course, brakes squeaked, but car stayed outdoor in the snow for a week. |
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