[RNemesisN63]

Hey All,

I have the opportunity to let go of my current '22 M850 lease and jump into a '23 M850. Different in payments is negligible but has the B&W I couldn't get the first time. Downside doesn't have surround view. Boggles the mind why someone built this w/o this cheap options.

So curious those that have it, could you live without it? I know only my opinion matters on this since I'm the one driving it but just curious what others think. Pretty much I use it to park only at my job since parking garage sucks other than that I try to park far away for other cars.

[ksa]

Surround view is cool to have but is it a must? IMO no.

If I had to pick between the B&W and Surround view, it would be the superior quality audio system that I would prefer.

[claykin]

No surround view would be a show stopper for me. But that's my nuttiness because I often struggle to see the corners of the GC.

[RNemesisN63]

Originally Posted by claykin

No surround view would be a show stopper for me. But that's my nuttiness because I often struggle to see the corners of the GC.

Yeah, I try to think just how much I use it, mainly on those occasions when I can't back in. Feel like w/o surround view would just have to back in more often. Not worried about curbing wheels since have the tilt mirrors.

[Vic55]

Its nothing for me, the optics, clarity, and overall functional use dont mean much.

I will never use to it to judge walls or curbs. Ive just never felt confident in it.

[hinckley]

I love it. I have full confidence in it. I'd hate to not have it. But it wouldn't be a show stopper for me.

The only thing that I wonder about is whether surround view was a stand-alone option or was it part of a package? If the latter, what else was in that package?

[ksa]

A bit off topic but I find the use of the phrase 'show stopper' interesting to explain what I am essentially understanding to be 'deal breaker'. Haha.

[RNemesisN63]

Originally Posted by hinckley

I love it. I have full confidence in it. I'd hate to not have it. But it wouldn't be a show stopper for me.

The only thing that I wonder about is whether surround view was a stand-alone option or was it part of a package? If the latter, what else was in that package?

Not sure why the dealership built it like this but the passed on the $100 Driver Assistance Pkg with surround view, park distance control, and blind spot detection.

For the $1700 Driver's Assistance Professional Pkg option which is basically lane keep assist and traffic jam assist. You get more for $ with the Driver Assistance Pkg.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by RNemesisN63

Not sure why the dealership built it like this but the passed on the $100 Driver Assistance Pkg with surround view, park distance control, and blind spot detection.

Then I change my answer!

No PDC. No blind spot detection. No deal for me.

And of course it's ridiculous to leave all those basics off the car for $100. I think it's ridiculous for BMW to even have a $100 option on a car like this!

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by ksa

A bit off topic but I find the use of the phrase 'show stopper' interesting to explain what I am essentially understanding to be 'deal breaker'. Haha.

I agree.

It is a bit off topic.

[RNemesisN63]

Originally Posted by hinckley

Then I change my answer!

No PDC. No blind spot detection. No deal for me.

And of course it's ridiculous to leave all those basics off the car for $100. I think it's ridiculous for BMW to even have a $100 option on a car like this!

Agree! This should have been standard especially for any car at this price point. Heck you can get a Hyundai with surround view standard

[snareman]

I 'need' the cameras and it would likely be a deal breaker for me. I'd love to have the B&W as I wasn't allowed to get it either. You can upgrade the speakers with Bavsound or similar, but you can't add the cameras.

[Opie55]

It is the only option where I swear I'll never buy another car without it. I park at curbs often enough, and wheel repairs cost enough, that I could not live without it.

[RNemesisN63]

Originally Posted by Opie55

It is the only option where I swear I'll never buy another car without it. I park at curbs often enough, and wheel repairs cost enough, that I could not live without it.

Had til tomorrow to make a choice but ultimately I just couldn't do it so passed. Sucks because it was a good build too and not that many '23s on the ground with B&W.

[maechthildt]

For everyday use I am a little disappointed in the usability. Imo the screen is too small and the resolution of the image is not very fine, also you can not zoom in. I have a column in my parking garage and the surround view is not helping to see where it really is. But still I would not want a car without it.

@BMW: please make it zoomable!

[snareman]

I feel like I used to trust it more on previous cars. For some reason when I'm backing up even though I know that I am in the middle of a space and not going to hit something I don't know what it is but the way the image is always makes me nervous I'm going to run into one of the cars next to me

[RNemesisN63]

Originally Posted by snareman

I feel like I used to trust it more on previous cars. For some reason when I'm backing up even though I know that I am in the middle of a space and not going to hit something I don't know what it is but the way the image is always makes me nervous I'm going to run into one of the cars next to me

Agreed. I can clearly see I'm in a space but get super paranoid I'm going to hit something even when I'm clearly not. That, and since getting it wrapped I swear the distance is off by an inch or two.

Woke up still glad I passed on it. I think I would have regretted not having it in the long run.

[snareman]

Originally Posted by RNemesisN63

Agreed. I can clearly see I'm in a space but get super paranoid I'm going to hit something even when I'm clearly not. That, and since getting it wrapped I swear the distance is off by an inch or two.

Woke up still glad I passed on it. I think I would have regretted not having it in the long run.

Yea, Even though I only 75% trust it I still wouldn't get the car without it. I'm pretty anal about parking directly in the middle of the space and when I had only the backup camera on the Jeep I sold I definitely missed the top down view I was used to on my BMWs.

[Vic55]

I think Benz did a better job with the front camera too... my lord ours are all shaded out with shit resolution while this crappy screen shot of benz is so much better to see where the bumper is vs front obstacles:

[RNemesisN63]

Originally Posted by Vic55

I think Benz did a better job with the front camera too... my lord ours are all shaded out with shit resolution while this crappy screen shot of benz is so much better to see where the bumper is vs front obstacles:

I know this is just a pic of the camera but damn if that isn't sharper than ours!

[Vic55]

Originally Posted by RNemesisN63

I know this is just a pic of the camera but damn if that isn't sharper than ours!

it was a pic of a vid LOL--- I took a screen shot of it from a youtube vid

Its much better and my last Benz (2018 E63s) had that clarity over 5 years ago.

[jargon]

Originally Posted by claykin

No surround view would be a show stopper for me. But that's my nuttiness because I often struggle to see the corners of the GC.

100% agreed.