[mtmaster]

In the press release, BMW mentioned "Driving Assistance Professional Package (start of production TBD)".
The package includes:

• Extended Traffic Jam Assistant for limited access highways
• Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go
• Active Lane Keeping Assistant with side collision avoidance
• Evasion Aid
• Front Cross Traffic Alert

It seems to me that the sensors needed for those features are already there in the Premium Package, and so the Driving Assistance Professional Package may be available in the future via a Software Update for those cars which have the Premium Package. Do you guys think that is a possibility?

[FlashMonkey929]

I'd say it's a good possibility if you got the Premium Package. I know the premium package has additional cameras and sensors for the 360 live view and the augmented reality navigation, and BMW is actively advertising being able to add certain features via their app and online store like heated seats or remote start. I for one wanted the Driving Assistance Pro package because I think it's neat, but couldn't wait any longer to order a car, so I'm crossing my fingers that this will just be a software enabled feature down the line!

[mtmaster]

Originally Posted by FlashMonkey929

I'd say it's a good possibility if you got the Premium Package. I know the premium package has additional cameras and sensors for the 360 live view and the augmented reality navigation, and BMW is actively advertising being able to add certain features via their app and online store like heated seats or remote start. I for one wanted the Driving Assistance Pro package because I think it's neat, but couldn't wait any longer to order a car, so I'm crossing my fingers that this will just be a software enabled feature down the line!

Yeah, same here — I can't wait very long for a new car either.

I would love to have ACC — the thing that my (much cheaper) Honda has.

[FlashMonkey929]

Originally Posted by mtmaster

Yeah, same here — I can't wait very long for a new car either.

I would love to have ACC — the thing that my (much cheaper) Honda has.

ACC would be great, but I'm most excited for the digital key. Going to the beach here and finding somewhere to hide the key fob means it'll likely get stolen, I never liked using the valet key either. At least this way I can just use my watch to unlock the car. Having the Driving Assistant Pro would be a great convenience when sitting in traffic going home though! Let's hope it can be enabled after purchase.

[sandrik93]

Originally Posted by mtmaster

In the press release, BMW mentioned "Driving Assistance Professional Package (start of production TBD)".
The package includes:

• Extended Traffic Jam Assistant for limited access highways
• Active Cruise Control with Stop&Go
• Active Lane Keeping Assistant with side collision avoidance
• Evasion Aid
• Front Cross Traffic Alert

It seems to me that the sensors needed for those features are already there in the Premium Package, and so the Driving Assistance Professional Package may be available in the future via a Software Update for those cars which have the Premium Package. Do you guys think that is a possibility?

Pretty much waiting for this option. I think on of the pricing guides showed the Production Start Date of December but I might be mistaken. My CA should let me know, as well, once it's a choosable option.

[CER]

Check out this video.

Keep an eye on the screen at the 1:50 mark. Looks like it will be available in the EU so hopefully in the US as well.

[Kromans1]

So those of us who went for the premium package should get the spiffy driving assistance activated over the air included with no extra charge, right?

[CER]

Originally Posted by Kromans1

So those of us who went for the premium package should get the spiffy driving assistance activated over the air included with no extra charge, right?

Hopefully it will be available but you still have to pay for it.

[Kromans1]

Originally Posted by CER

Hopefully it will be available but you still have to pay for it.

Well that will just piss me off.

[FlashMonkey929]

Originally Posted by Kromans1

Well that will just piss me off.

I have a feeling even if it was available at launch it would've been a separate option. On the bright side, you could try it out for a month and if it's crap, no need to pay for the feature any longer.

[mtmaster]

The BMW UK website is currently offering the Driving Assistant Pro Package. It’s 1500 whatever currency that is in addition.

But when the Pro package is not selected, the car still has the Driving Assistant Plus Preparation package. “Preparation” means the feature can be purchased later via software update.

I heard that the Plus package is the Pro package without Extended Traffic Jam Assistant.

[mtmaster]

Originally Posted by FlashMonkey929

ACC would be great, but I'm most excited for the digital key. Going to the beach here and finding somewhere to hide the key fob means it'll likely get stolen, I never liked using the valet key either. At least this way I can just use my watch to unlock the car. Having the Driving Assistant Pro would be a great convenience when sitting in traffic going home though! Let's hope it can be enabled after purchase.

The press release seems to state clearly that Apple Car Key is supported. We won’t even need to pull the iPhone out of the pocket to open the door or start the engine.

[FlashMonkey929]

Originally Posted by mtmaster

The press release seems to state clearly that Apple Car Key is supported. We won’t even need to pull the iPhone out of the pocket to open the door or start the engine.

Yeah, I know the press release says it'll have it, along with Drive Recorder, but the BMW website makes no mention of either. I'm just trying not to get my hopes up in case a feature gets deleted due to chip shortages or whatever. The past year at the dealership I've seen so many options get omitted or delayed due to shortages that I'm kind of just expecting something to happen.

[mtmaster]

Originally Posted by FlashMonkey929

Yeah, I know the press release says it'll have it, along with Drive Recorder, but the BMW website makes no mention of either. I'm just trying not to get my hopes up in case a feature gets deleted due to chip shortages or whatever. The past year at the dealership I've seen so many options get omitted or delayed due to shortages that I'm kind of just expecting something to happen.

Ah, that makes sense!

[kavatski]

Driving Assistant Professional (5AU) is now in the latest (November) order guide for the Canadian market — it wasn’t there until now. Cost is C$2000 and it requires ordering the Premium Enhanced package.

Another interesting new addition is 455 - Active Seat, Driver and Front Passenger. For $500, it includes ZLN - Lumbar Support, Front and ZR8 - Massage Function for Driver and Front Passenger.

[Kromans1]

Originally Posted by kavatski

Driving Assistant Professional (5AU) is now in the latest (November) order guide for the Canadian market — it wasn’t there until now. Cost is C$2000 and it requires ordering the Premium Enhanced package.

Another interesting new addition is 455 - Active Seat, Driver and Front Passenger. For $500, it includes ZLN - Lumbar Support, Front and ZR8 - Massage Function for Driver and Front Passenger.

Oh dang, does that mean cars built before these new specs were available to order definitely will not have them available to retro-activate?

[FlashMonkey929]

Originally Posted by Kromans1

Oh dang, does that mean cars built before these new specs were available to order definitely will not have them available to retro-activate?

This active seat function should be interesting to see if it is available after purchase from the Connected Drive store. I'd assume you'd have to at least have the lumbar support option from the start, the switches on the seats are different from the standard ones (I think). I wouldn't be surprised if this is more of a hardware upgrade and we're unable to do it without some retrofitting and recoding though.

[Kromans1]

Originally Posted by FlashMonkey929

This active seat function should be interesting to see if it is available after purchase from the Connected Drive store. I'd assume you'd have to at least have the lumbar support option from the start, the switches on the seats are different from the standard ones (I think). I wouldn't be surprised if this is more of a hardware upgrade and we're unable to do it without some retrofitting and recoding though.

That was one thing nobody could tell me: if the sports seats actually have lumbar support. They're supposed to be 10-way power function seats, so you'd assume one of those "ways" would include lumbar, but I can't get a definite answer on that. We'd love to have a massage function of course, but unless they built the seats with that to begin with, I doubt we'd be able to enable it.

[kavatski]

Originally Posted by Kromans1

Oh dang, does that mean cars built before these new specs were available to order definitely will not have them available to retro-activate?

I’m skeptical that anyone who didn’t order it on their build will be able to add it later, but either way, I think it showing up in the order guide now just means they’re finally ready to take orders for it. Earlier on it was just mentioned as a feature that was coming… eventually.

[kavatski]

Originally Posted by Kromans1

That was one thing nobody could tell me: if the sports seats actually have lumbar support. They're supposed to be 10-way power function seats, so you'd assume one of those "ways" would include lumbar, but I can't get a definite answer on that. We'd love to have a massage function of course, but unless they built the seats with that to begin with, I doubt we'd be able to enable it.

Agreed; I think the seat hardware has to be different. Our F48 X1 has the sport seats and they have the adjustable power lumbar function, so I’d like to think it’ll be the same on the sport seats in the U11!

[Kromans1]

Originally Posted by kavatski

Agreed; I think the seat hardware has to be different. Our F48 X1 has the sport seats and they have the adjustable power lumbar function, so I’d like to think it’ll be the same on the sport seats in the U11!

Fingers crossed! Our X1 just landed at the port in New Jersey. I reckon we'll find out in a couple weeks!

[FlashMonkey929]

Originally Posted by Kromans1

That was one thing nobody could tell me: if the sports seats actually have lumbar support. They're supposed to be 10-way power function seats, so you'd assume one of those "ways" would include lumbar, but I can't get a definite answer on that. We'd love to have a massage function of course, but unless they built the seats with that to begin with, I doubt we'd be able to enable it.

Going by what I've been able to see from YouTube videos and on the BMW Canada website, it doesn't look like it has adjustable lumbar or side bolsters. I really hope it's wrong though, I love adjusting my bolster to support my back and move it occasionally depending on how my back feels that day.