BMW X3 Owners Manual: System limits

Limits of ultrasonic measurement Ultrasonic measuring might not function under the following circumstances:

• For small children and animals.
• For persons with certain clothing, e.g. coats.
• With external interference of the ultrasound, e.g. from passing vehicles or loud machines.
• When sensors are dirty, iced over, damaged or out of position.
• Under certain weather conditions such as high relative humidity, rain, snowfall, extreme heat or strong wind.
• With tow bars and trailer couplings of other vehicles.
• With thin or wedge-shaped objects.
• With moving objects.
• With elevated, protruding objects such as ledges or cargo.
• With objects with corners and sharp edges.
• With objects with a fine surface structure such as fences.
• For objects with porous surfaces.

Low objects already displayed, e.g., curbs, can move into the blind area of the sensors before or after a continuous tone sounds.

False warnings PDC may issue a warning under the following conditions even though there is no obstacle within the detection range:

• In heavy rain.
• When sensors are very dirty or covered with ice.
• When sensors are covered in snow.
• On rough road surfaces.
• On uneven surfaces, such as speed bumps.
• In large buildings with right angles and smooth walls, e.g., in underground garages.
• In automatic car washes.
• Through heavy pollution.
• Due to other ultrasound sources, e.g., sweeping machines, high pressure steam cleaners or neon lights.

Malfunction

A Check Control message is displayed.

The range of the sensors is shown as a shaded area on the Control Display.

PDC has failed. Have the system checked.

To ensure full functionality:

• Keep the sensors clean and free of ice.
• dimmed Do not put any stickers on sensors.
• When using high-pressure washers, do not spray the sensors for long periods and maintain a distance of at least 12 in/30 cm.