[rjabend]

The subject added with iDrive 8.5 is truly impressive! I tried it for the 1st time on I95 in Florida today. Having it engage automatically when you take your hands off the steering wheel on appropriate highways is a clever feature and saves having to take your eyes even slightly off the road to engage Highway Assist. VERY NICE!

I am not sure, but I don't think any other cars have that. Please correct me if I am wrong.

[Steve737]

Originally Posted by rjabend

The subject added with iDrive 8.5 is truly impressive! I tried it for the 1st time on I95 in Florida today. Having it engage automatically when you take your hands off the steering wheel on appropriate highways is a clever feature and saves having to take your eyes even slightly off the road to engage Highway Assist. VERY NICE!

I am not sure, but I don't think any other cars have that. Please correct me if I am wrong.

I agree it’s really nice. Our navigator has it but it’s a bit more jittery.

[BMW5and7]

The system developed by Ford (Ford and Lincoln) vehicles claim to also do the same, but it's not even close to what X7 with ID8.5 does. Truly impressive.

[XB7]

My wife was shocked when we were driving and I changed lanes without my hands on the wheel just by activating the turn signal LOL

[77SU]

I know, before anyone says anything, it's because I live in Alabama.

I had been accustomed to pressing the MODE button to select the Driver Assist Plus when on the interstate. Then back last November when the message came up and I pressed the MODE button there was no third logo to choose DAP. So when it was in the shop the first week of December for a recall, I asked about it and was told by the SA the DAP logo didn't show up anymore but was still available. He had no clue how to engage and said I would need to check with a genius. So when I picked up the car a couple of days later, I asked a genius or two about how to engage the DAP and their only guess was to use the SET button. It just so happened on a trip last Saturday as I was driving over a bridge the DAP ready message appeared and after trying different buttons yet again, in frustration, I let go of the wheel. Eureka!

However, my wife quickly dashed all joy by saying "Not while I'm in the car!"

Then on Sunday, I did about a 250 mile trip and drove hands free for probably 90% of the trip. The only times I needed to take the wheel were on the exit and entrance ramps when the solid white line changed to short-dashed white lines. There was no trouble with long-dashed white lines on each side, but the short ones were cause for a blinking yellow-wheel on the HUD. One other "take the wheel" moment was during a short construction zone and the orange barrels were the edge of the road markers.

TL;DR - I'm just amazed there was no communication from BMW to advise of the new procedure to use the DAP. I had searched the forum but didn't find the new guidance.

[Paultattoo]

I found it on YouTube. I still think that it's dumb that I need to 'turn on' the cruise control EVERY TIME I start the car but...

Once the cruise is on all you need to do it use it by setting a speed. IF you are on a road that will allow hands free, then under the two cruise symbols and up in the heads up display the word HWY ASSIST READY will appear. At this point you just let go of the wheel and Calgon take me away

You get used to it.

[rjabend]

Originally Posted by Paultattoo

I found it on YouTube. I still think that it's dumb that I need to 'turn on' the cruise control EVERY TIME I start the car but...

Once the cruise is on all you need to do it use it by setting a speed. IF you are on a road that will allow hands free, then under the two cruise symbols and up in the heads up display the word HWY ASSIST READY will appear. At this point you just let go of the wheel and Calgon take me away

You get used to it.

Please be more clear. I had to look up "Calgon Take Me Away" .

[FloridaM5]

Agreed. Pretty awesome.

[vpatel867]

I have the display set to video AR mode. I just look straight. Maybe look around for a few seconds. The car keeps up and works well. The nonhighway roads where you have to put your hands on the wheel to make sure you are paying attention is annoying. Highway up to 85 is good to go.

[BMWMN1971]

Tried to use it today for the first time. For some reason it asked me to hold the steering wheel and the symbol was blinking yellow. Not sure what I did wrong but need to learn how to use it.

[rjabend]

Originally Posted by BMWMN1971

Tried to use it today for the first time. For some reason it asked me to hold the steering wheel and the symbol was blinking yellow. Not sure what I did wrong but need to learn how to use it.

Were you on an Interstate Highway?

[BMWMN1971]

Originally Posted by rjabend

Were you on an Interstate Highway?

Yes. I read that your eyes need to be at a certain place so maybe that was not the case. Will have to try again.

[rjabend]

Originally Posted by BMWMN1971

Yes. I read that your eyes need to be at a certain place so maybe that was not the case. Will have to try again.

A frequent problem is the steering wheel blocking your eyes.

[javacodeguy]

Yeah it's amazing. It's one of the top reasons I bought the X7 over others. It's so good it's hard to imagine why people wouldn't add it as an option. Maybe they just haven't experienced it yet.

[turnem05]

Totally agree. It's easily one of the best driver-assists cars on the road currently.

I drove my son back to his base after the holidays and it was roughly 330 miles each way (Charlotte, NC area to Fort Eustis near Newport News, VA) and I think Driver Assist Plus handled roughly 95%+ of the driving.

[rjabend]

Originally Posted by turnem05

Totally agree. It's easily one of the best driver-assists cars on the road currently.

I drove my son back to his base after the holidays and it was roughly 330 miles each way (Charlotte, NC area to Fort Eustis near Newport News, VA) and I think Driver Assist Plus handled roughly 95%+ of the driving.

I was wondering if there were speed limit changes and if it adjusted to new speed limits automatically. It doesn't adopt new speed limits in normal driver assistance where you have to hit the "SET" button. Thanks for any input on that.

[turnem05]

Originally Posted by rjabend

I was wondering if there were speed limit changes and if it adjusted to new speed limits automatically. It doesn't adopt new speed limits in normal driver assistance where you have to hit the "SET" button. Thanks for any input on that.

It's the same - you still have to hit the "set" button to adopt the new speed limit.

I believe this is regional though. I think in certain countries, it will adopt it automatically.

[rjabend]

Originally Posted by turnem05

It's the same - you still have to hit the "set" button to adopt the new speed limit.

I believe this is regional though. I think in certain countries, it will adopt it automatically.

You are correct and auto speed limit adoption used to be in place in the US. I haven't been able to figure out why they dropped it since many other vehicles in the US use Auto Speed Limit Adoption.

[rjabend]

I should have asked: Other than BMW, does anyone know why auto-speed-limit adoption is removed in the USA?

On 2nd thought, they may not know either.