Limitations Of Park Distance Control: False Activation Due To Environmental Conditions (TRI 66 11 18)

Publication date: 2021-10-26
Reference number: TRI 66 11 18
Supersedes refnos: SI B66 11 18

LIMITATIONS OF PARK DISTANCE CONTROL: FALSE ACTIVATION DUE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

SERVICE CAMPAIGN BULLETIN

Reference Number(s): SI B66 11 18, Date of Issue: October 26, 2021

BMW:	F90 (M5 Sedan); G01 (X3 Sports Activity Vehicle); G12 (7 Series Sedan); G30 (5 Series Sedan); G32 (6 Series Gran Turismo)

SERVICE INFORMATION

This Service Information Bulletin (Revision 01) replaces TRI B66 11 18 dated May 2018.

This bulletin is information only, no claim information intended.

What's New (Specific text highlighted):

This Service Bulletin B66 11 18 replaces TRI B66 11 18. There is no content change.

SITUATION

With Active Park Distance Control (PDC) system activated, the following may arise-

Optical and acoustic warnings of non-existent obstacles from on-board computer
Acoustic warnings with braking interventions for non-existent obstacles while moving in Reverse

INFORMATION

The purpose of the Active PDC system is to prevent damage in collisions between the vehicle and obstacles in its path.

Due to the response characteristics of the sensors employed, and the desire to eliminate non activation failures, ambient conditions may occasionally cause the behaviors specified above. In most cases these behaviors are considered normal and do not require repair.

It is always a good idea before looking at environmental conditions as the root cause, to check and eliminate any faults in the system with ISTA diagnosis first.

False activation of the Active PDC system can occur for a variety of different reasons that fall into four major categories as detailed in the following table. Awareness of these categories may assist you in identifying the source of seemingly objectionable system behavior.

CAUSES OF FALSE PDC ACTIVATION

Categories	Examples/Sources
Ground Conditions	Cobblestones Gravel Porous surfaces Increase in grade of the pavement Drainage channels
Vehicle Configuration	Aftermarket modifications (e.g. changing ground clearance, retrofitting rims, exhaust system, applying paintwork/foil over the sensors, other bumpers and mounted parts like diffusers) Installed trailer tow hitch without encoding Body damage has changed position of sensors Sensor damage (e.g. stone chip) Faulty sensor repair (poor plug connection, positioning) Repaired accident damage
Environmental Influences	General contamination of sensors Contamination of sensors with mud/ice/snow/Dirt Temperature (extreme cold or extreme heat)
Acoustic Interference (ultrasonic)	Other vehicles with ultrasound system Cleaning machines Trucks, buses (air brakes) Tire noise when roadway is wet Motorcycles Cleaning devices (e.g. high pressure cleaner, car wash) Building sites (e.g. building site machines and tools)

If the owner desires that the Active PDC system be disabled, this can be accomplished via the controller through the following selections:

"My vehicle"
"Vehicle settings"
"Park"
"Emergency braking function Active PDC"
"Emergency braking function Active PDC"

The setting is saved to the driver profile that is currently active.

Information concerning the normal operating behavior of the Active PDC system can be found in the vehicle Owner's Manual under Park Distance Control PDC.