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M2 Technical Topics > Navigation, iDrive, Audio, Video, Bluetooth, Phone, Cameras, Electronics > Why.... WHY doesn't the M2/M2C come with a front view camera?

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      06-06-2020, 04:32 PM   #1
flybigjet
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Why.... WHY doesn't the M2/M2C come with a front view camera?

Ok-- I love my M2C.

BUT (and it's a *HUGE* "but")-- with so low of a front clip (ESPECIALLY if you have a cf lip and/or a lowered suspension), why, why, WHY didn't BMW come up with a small front view camera that could be tied into the PDC?

Or, at least support an aftermarket camera?

Hell- you can buy one for an Audi that integrates into the front logo and even Camaro's can have them wired in. How hard could it be?

Sigh. I live in fear of parking curbs-- NOT something I really enjoy.

R.
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      06-07-2020, 12:16 AM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybigjet View Post
Ok-- I love my M2C.

BUT (and it's a *HUGE* "but")-- with so low of a front clip (ESPECIALLY if you have a cf lip and/or a lowered suspension), why, why, WHY didn't BMW come up with a small front view camera that could be tied into the PDC?

Or, at least support an aftermarket camera?

Hell- you can buy one for an Audi that integrates into the front logo and even Camaro's can have them wired in. How hard could it be?

Sigh. I live in fear of parking curbs-- NOT something I really enjoy.

R.
I agree! I should have this installed soon ...

Bimmertech front camera
https://www.bimmer-tech.net/products...ra-bm16-id6-mt
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      06-07-2020, 12:36 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by redgs4 View Post
I agree! I should have this installed soon ...

Bimmertech front camera
https://www.bimmer-tech.net/products...ra-bm16-id6-mt
Yikes! $900? Not including installation?

Please do post up how it goes, and where you mount the camera!

Last edited by flybigjet; 06-07-2020 at 12:44 AM..
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      06-07-2020, 02:24 AM   #4
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Again, why doesn't my entry level "affordable" car have more features than would drive up the price?
As you now have found, just install it after market.
I wish I didn't have front or rear PDC sensors since they just look awful on any car.
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      06-07-2020, 08:50 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MrOhnoez View Post
Again, why doesn't my entry level "affordable" car have more features than would drive up the price?
As you now have found, just install it after market.
I wish I didn't have front or rear PDC sensors since they just look awful on any car.
$60,000 is "entry level affordable"?

You and I have very, VERY different definitions of "affordable".

If it was a stripped 2-Series or a Kia, I'd concede the point.

At this price point, when it would only add a few dollars during construction due to economies of scale? On a car with a much lower than normal front lip?

At least, it should have come in the Executive Package. It would integrate nicely with the PDC sensors, just like the rear camera. So all you're really talking about is another small camera, some additional wiring and coding into the iDrive/PDC system (if installed during production).

Aftermarket install being $900 (assuming you do the work yourself)?. That's just too rich for my blood-- my wife would *kill* me-- she's already getting testy about the various parts that keep showing up in the mail.
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      06-07-2020, 10:20 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybigjet View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by MrOhnoez View Post
Again, why doesn't my entry level "affordable" car have more features than would drive up the price?
As you now have found, just install it after market.
I wish I didn't have front or rear PDC sensors since they just look awful on any car.
$60,000 is "entry level affordable"?
...
He didn't say "affordable" he said "entry" level.

If BMW added every feature forum users considered essential no one could afford the cars.

If BMW offered the option to dealer install options people would complain about the price, that they cannot get it factory installed, that they cannot do it themselves b/c dealers charge too much for installation.

That's why.
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      06-07-2020, 12:37 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybigjet View Post
Yikes! $900? Not including installation?

Please do post up how it goes, and where you mount the camera!
I'm getting some other work done and so the cost is hidden by all the other money being spent. After 30 years of marriage my wife understands this is part of the package.
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      06-07-2020, 01:21 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybigjet View Post
I live in fear of parking curbs-- NOT something I really enjoy.
Thankfully our cars are relatively short. I never pull all the way into the spot to guard against this.
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      06-07-2020, 01:45 PM   #9
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Why doesn't the M2 have HUD? Why doesn't it have a 360 top down camera? Why doesn't it have cooled seats? Why doesn't it have a better sound system?

The list can go in and on but if you have wants and needs you bought the wrong car.
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      06-07-2020, 02:54 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nioh_lbbm2 View Post
Why doesn't the M2 have HUD? Why doesn't it have a 360 top down camera? Why doesn't it have cooled seats? Why doesn't it have a better sound system?

The list can go in and on but if you have wants and needs you bought the wrong car.
Pick your starting point and modify from there. The M2C is a great place to start and I can never leave stuff alone.
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      06-07-2020, 07:29 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nioh_lbbm2 View Post
\
The list can go in and on but if you have wants and needs you bought the wrong car.
I'm pretty much a purist vehicle-wise (min options, I can easily do without the "magic"), but with the super-low front clip on this toy, I'd call a front-view camera a NEED.
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      06-08-2020, 08:24 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybigjet View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by nioh_lbbm2 View Post
\
The list can go in and on but if you have wants and needs you bought the wrong car.
I'm pretty much a purist vehicle-wise (min options, I can easily do without the "magic"), but with the super-low front clip on this toy, I'd call a front-view camera a NEED.
Nah. Just back into a space if you really need to
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      06-08-2020, 08:32 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nioh_lbbm2 View Post
Nah. Just back into a space if you really need to
100% this. It has a backup cam and sensors, you cant mess up this way.

Also 100 times easier to exit the spot and much safer as you get a good view of traffic as you exit.
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      06-08-2020, 08:36 AM   #14
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If you have to pull in forward, turn on the parking sensors. On the front, once they turn "off" and stop detecting the curb, you have a couple inches left until you scrape the nose. I advise just backing in, but using the sensors works decently well. Worst case, pull up to a curb with them on, and inch forward, then get out and check distance, until you find a point you like, and then just always get to that point.
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      06-08-2020, 01:31 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Conissah View Post
If you have to pull in forward, turn on the parking sensors.
That's what I've been doing-- but they've missed a curb once (and my pff got a workout).
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      06-08-2020, 02:07 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Conissah View Post
If you have to pull in forward, turn on the parking sensors. On the front, once they turn "off" and stop detecting the curb, you have a couple inches left until you scrape the nose. I advise just backing in, but using the sensors works decently well. Worst case, pull up to a curb with them on, and inch forward, then get out and check distance, until you find a point you like, and then just always get to that point.
The parking sensors only work for the taller obstructions. When you are lowered and / or have a low front lip the parking sensors don't help. Ask me how I know ... And they are very inconsistent at detecting things like bikes, tools and other less solid stuff that one might find in my garage.

Last edited by redgs4; 06-08-2020 at 02:09 PM.. Reason: More
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      06-08-2020, 03:59 PM   #17
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I also wish there was a front camera. The 5 has one and it's a bumper saver. I haven't damaged the front of the M2C but it's just because I learned to park very far away from any parking blocks. If this one was a factory option, I would have checked the box. It's actually the reason why I haven't put on a front splitter yet. Feel like it's just going to get sacrificed to the curb. Additionally, parking lot entrances/exits to the streets around here are so aggressively graded. My previous M235i had a few scrapes underneath at stock ride height. I've just learned to basically go at an angle for any entrance/exit and so far managed to keep the M2C clean for the last 1.5 years.
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      06-08-2020, 05:51 PM   #18
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I ended up buying a used front splitter for CHEAP that already came all scratched up. At the current ride height which is not even that low I often scrape leaving my driveway.
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      06-09-2020, 05:08 AM   #19
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You could also complain that it doesn't blind spot monitoring but hey, it is what it is.
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      06-09-2020, 05:22 AM   #20
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Maybe it needs a front lift with the camera and memory.
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      06-11-2020, 08:56 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by redgs4 View Post
I agree! I should have this installed soon ...

Bimmertech front camera
https://www.bimmer-tech.net/products...ra-bm16-id6-mt
Please post up how well this works with iDrive, install, where you put the camera, etc.

I was talking to the Minister of War and Finance today about this and she thought it was a good idea. She said "Maybe for Christmas....."

That? Surprised me.

R.
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      06-12-2020, 12:23 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybigjet View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by redgs4 View Post
I agree! I should have this installed soon ...

Bimmertech front camera
https://www.bimmer-tech.net/products...ra-bm16-id6-mt
Please post up how well this works with iDrive, install, where you put the camera, etc.

I was talking to the Minister of War and Finance today about this and she thought it was a good idea. She said "Maybe for Christmas....."
Yea and today the Queen Of England was just smitten by my hardwired radar detector

Seriously, nowadays there are so many aftermarket options for a front-facing cameras and since it's up front, you can easily use a fuse tap, as a constant power source, without splicing the original wires.

The new G-Series M340i did even better used the all-around camera, to record, in real time, something I would gladly paid up to $3,000 for to eliminate a 2-Channel dash cam but I've accepted that the M2 is a lower-tier vehicle, so it's allotted such amenities.

I guarantee as the cost of this technology, subsidize, over many current models, it will be included standard in G-Series M2. This is just how technology trickle-down, from different model tiers.

It's really just business, nothing personal..






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