[aaaaaaaaaz]

I have been driving with recent iterations of BMW assisted driving technology for quite a bit and I must say current iteration, LCI with Highway assistance with ID8.5 update is far exceed expectation.

After I picked up my car from service and after 8.5 upgrade, it drove it self along Highway 101 (for Bay Area folks should know it) at 80mph on the HOV/left lane all the way from city to South Bay. This is quit a challenging road - narrow lane, adjacent to concrete highway divider, lane wide and narrows frequently with lots of curves, and bad drivers cutting u off.

The car handles everything with ease. One significant update is after engaging assisted driving, it automatically display “assist plus ready” and once you remove your hand from the wheel, it takes over show as “assist plus”. The familiar legal notice still appears on the infortainment screen but no action is required. No more manual confirmation or pressing any button needed.

[gadgetfreak2024]

Originally Posted by alanzyy

One significant update is after engaging assisted driving, it automatically put itself into “assisted driving plus ready” and once you remove your hand from the wheel, it takes over show as “assisted driving plus”. No more manual confirmation or pressing any button needed.

That's a nice tweak for sure. I loved taking advantage of Plus mode on a recent interstate heavy road trip. Smart for the car to know that if I want to automate my drive, I probably want to be as automated as possible! Logical update.

[aaaaaaaaaz]

Adding a bit color of my experience of previous generations:

1) SP15 hardware (e.g. G01 pre LCI)

In this iteration, the feature is barely useable.

It does great at "following cars" especially when there is traffic, although you still need to lightly press the gas pedal or touch the button to resume driving if car stops for more than 3 second.

At higher speed, it works at very ideal situation - a straight highway with minimal curve, a car running in front of you, not much curve or significant bump - it keeps you in the lane at a reasonable speed.

However it does not really adapt to traffic well. When there is a curve, it does not slow down and fails to keep the car in the lane. When cars are cutting you, it does not respond until the car is almost in your lane. When approaching slow traffic, it only start to reduce speed when it is very near the car in the front.

Lane detection is honestly pretty horrible in my area. it fails to detect lane marking quite often, whenever it is not freshly painted.

This version does not allow hand free driving at all

2) SP18 (G05 pre LCI; G01 LCI) with hand-free (ACC stop-and-go / extended traffic jam assist) under 40mph

This is a much usable system but still need constant driver attention. It improve lane detection by quite a bit, and handles curve better - but still rough when curve is tight and speed is high (e.g. I-80/US 50 into Sierra Nevada region, or certain section of I-280). When there is traffic, it follows traffic very well - however switching between assisted driving and plus (handfree) is still not great experience.

On highway cruising you still need to have hands on wheel all the time - otherwise the system will beep at you; realistically this is a good idea as it does require you to interfere in a few situations.

3) SP21 hardware with ID8/8.5 (G05 LCI) - hand-free under 85

This system is much much better - you start to feel it is a Smart AI driving for you instead of a state-machine following a set of instructions. For ID8 you still need to switch between regular and plus manually; for 8.5 it is automatic.

At this iteration you can be much more confident delegating the simple "highway cruising" task to the car. Within a single lane, the system handles most condition beautifully. A tight curve - no problem. A car cutting you - it slows down. Stop and go traffic - it drives smooth. It is probably the best driving assist system I've experienced so far, for cruising in a single lane.

I am comfortable taking hands off the wheel (but still keep close in case) as I did not find myself needing to interfere during 200+ miles of driving.

For merging, changing lane, going onto ramp to another highway - I still engage manually. Specifically for changing lane, it is a bit hesitant and still require huge space to perform the action. It still have some way to go for "navigating the highway system with ease".

[gadgetfreak2024]

Originally Posted by alanzyy

For merging, changing lane, going onto ramp to another highway - I still engage manually. Specifically for changing lane, it is a bit hesitant and still require huge space to perform the action. It still have some way to go for "navigating the highway system with ease".

Is there a way to have the car do these things autonomously? Maybe I have missed a setting? I found I always had to initiate any lane changes -- although in Plus mode, I don't have to touch the wheel at all. Is there a way to tell the car it can choose on its own to change a lane if the speed I want cannot be attained in the current lane?

Thanks again for the impressions. Very helpful!

[aaaaaaaaaz]

Originally Posted by gadgetfreak2024

Is there a way to have the car do these things autonomously? Maybe I have missed a setting? I found I always had to initiate any lane changes -- although in Plus mode, I don't have to touch the wheel at all. Is there a way to tell the car it can choose on its own to change a lane if the speed I want cannot be attained in the current lane?

Thanks again for the impressions. Very helpful!

With car native BMW navigation set (not work for apple map nav):
For mandatory lane change (e.g. exit the highway on the ramp to the another, or highway split and you need to get to left/right lanes) it will attempt to do it.

I do not think the car will do lane change based on traffic though (as tesla may do if another lane has freeflow traffic)

[MarcosLepre]

Originally Posted by alanzyy

I have been driving with recent iterations of BMW assisted driving technology for quite a bit and I must say current iteration, LCI with Highway assistance with ID8.5 update is far exceed expectation.

After I picked up my car from service and after 8.5 upgrade, it drove it self along Highway 101 (for Bay Area folks should know it) at 80mph on the HOV/left lane all the way from city to South Bay. This is quit a challenging road - narrow lane, adjacent to concrete highway divider, lane wide and narrows frequently with lots of curves, and bad drivers cutting u off.

The car handles everything with ease. One significant update is after engaging assisted driving, it automatically display “assist plus ready” and once you remove your hand from the wheel, it takes over show as “assist plus”. The familiar legal notice still appears on the infortainment screen but no action is required. No more manual confirmation or pressing any button needed.

I just picked up our new X5 and drove 400 miles from Virginia to Tennessee and could not make the assist plus to work. I did everything but it still required me to keep my hands on the steering wheel. I could only take them off for 6 seconds and then it would ask for me to put my hands on the steering wheel. Unfortunately it was delivered with only the 8.0 but I don’t think that’s the issue. I called genios and they told me to reset the system and nothing, my only thought is that the highway 🛣️ was not registered.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by alanzyy

2) SP18 (G05 pre LCI) with hand-free under 45mph

This is a much usable system but still need driver attention. It improve lane detection by quite a bit, and handles curve better - but still rough when curve is tight and speed is high (e.g. I-80/US 50 into Sierra Nevada region, or certain section of I-280). When there is traffic, it follows traffic very well - however switching between assisted driving and plus (handfree) is still not great experience.

.

Less than 40mph is the max for Cruise mode 3/Assisted Driving Plus/Extended Traffic Jam Assist on iD7.

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by MarcosLepre

I just picked up our new X5 and drove 400 miles from Virginia to Tennessee and could not make the assist plus to work. I did everything but it still required me to keep my hands on the steering wheel. I could only take them off for 6 seconds and then it would ask for me to put my hands on the steering wheel. Unfortunately it was delivered with only the 8.0 but I don’t think that’s the issue. I called genios and they told me to reset the system and nothing, my only thought is that the highway 🛣️ was not registered.

Did you enable it? If so, there is a list of requirements in the manual, make sure you have all of those taken care of.

[MarcosLepre]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

Did you enable it? If so, there is a list of requirements in the manual, make sure you have all of those taken care of.

I didn’t, I went to the I drive and selected all the opotions. What needs to be enabled?

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by MarcosLepre

I didn’t, I went to the I drive and selected all the opotions. What needs to be enabled?

This should allow it to become active when the requirements are met.

[aaaaaaaaaz]

Originally Posted by MarcosLepre

I called genios and they told me to reset the system and nothing, my only thought is that the highway 🛣️ was not registered.

Idk but this assumption sounds logical. I think there is another thread someone discussing this?

For ID8 - when you are on divided highway, there should be a small notice saying assist plus is available and you can switch into. You switch into it, green lights on wheel lights up, and you can take your hand off.

For ID8.5 it says "assist plus ready"; green light WILL NOT light up until you take hands off the wheel - and the car automatically shifts into assist plus mode, with "assist plus ready" becomes "assist plus"

For me this single update justify goes to the dealer and ask them to upgrade the system.

[ey2001]

How do you know if you have the assistant driving plus?

[goofytek]

Originally Posted by MarcosLepre

I didn’t, I went to the I drive and selected all the opotions. What needs to be enabled?

I have to ask, did you get the Driving Assistance Professional Package?

[TurtleBoy]

Originally Posted by ey2001

How do you know if you have the assistant driving plus?

It is part of the Driving Assistance Professional (DAP) package.

[ey2001]

I do have it but when I click on the button on steering wheel I never so the plus

[ey2001]

I never saw the 3rd icon

[TurtleBoy]

Do you have a pre or LCI? If a pre, then you have to be a on qualifying highway going less than 40mph. If an LCI then make sure it is enabled and that you are meeting all of the requirements. You can check in Maps to see what highways in your area qualify.

[aaaaaaaaaz]

Originally Posted by TurtleBoy

Do you have a pre or LCI? If a pre, then you have to be a on qualifying highway going less than 40mph. If an LCI then make sure it is enabled and that you are meeting all of the requirements. You can check in Maps to see what highways in your area qualify.

For LCI:
- On ID8 you will still see 3 icons like ID7.
- On ID8.5 you will only see 2 icons. The assist plus will be folded into assist.

[dieter09]

I also don't see the plus?
Is it country related?

I am from Belgium, maybe it is not allowed here?

What is plus exactly? i have to keep my hands on the steering wheel at all times.
The car accelerates and brakes automaticly, and follows the road...

[Heavyd]

Not legal in Europe 😡
But maybe for the best with those shitty roads in Belgium.

We can only drive handsfree in a traffic jam when the speed is 5 km/h or so.
At higer speeds the car gives a signal and stops.

[Scientifix]

Originally Posted by alanzyy

Adding a bit color of my experience of previous generations:

1) SP15 hardware (e.g. G01 pre LCI)


In this iteration, the feature is barely useable.

It does great at "following cars" especially when there is traffic, although you still need to lightly press the gas pedal or touch the button to resume driving if car stops for more than 3 second.

At higher speed, it works at very ideal situation - a straight highway with minimal curve, a car running in front of you, not much curve or significant bump - it keeps you in the lane at a reasonable speed.

However it does not really adapt to traffic well. When there is a curve, it does not slow down and fails to keep the car in the lane. When cars are cutting you, it does not respond until the car is almost in your lane. When approaching slow traffic, it only start to reduce speed when it is very near the car in the front.

Lane detection is honestly pretty horrible in my area. it fails to detect lane marking quite often, whenever it is not freshly painted.

We have a 2018 X3 with the driver assistance and your experience exactly matches our experience. Always wondered how this feature can be so bad for a car that came in 2018. I used to have a 2015 Tesla which was far superior compared to the 2018 X3. But of course the biggest difference is regular software updates in the Tesla improved it over the years even in the old 2015 car which (software update concept) is non existent in the 2018 X3
Given your detailed comparative write up now I can imagine how much significantly better the LCI with the latest hardware and software must be. A must have item and we will definitely get it when we upgrade.

[MarcosLepre]

Originally Posted by goofytek

I have to ask, did you get the Driving Assistance Professional Package?

I did