Front Parking Assist Cameras

[sabot67]

Hello all. Recently took delivery of my new almost fully loaded X5 3.0 (US Specs). I love the ride and enjoy driving it as much as I can- even with the gas prices here in Spain being about $8.35 per gallon. The one down side of driving such a large vehicle in Spain is the size of the X5- many (if not most) of the roads here in Spain were not built with larger sized vehicles in mind. The size of the roads combined with the size of the X5 combined with the less than stellar visibility to the to front right of the vehicle combined with the Spanish habit of parking where ever and however they like has made for some very close calls while trying to navigate around town (Valencia). Today someone told me that BMW offers the option of a front camera on European models at a cost of about 2000 Euros (more or less $3000) and that it can be added to an American specs vehicle. Does anyone know anything about this? I would certainly spend the money for this feature if the statement is accurate. As it is right now, to get in and out of the my driveway's gate, I must line myself up as best as I can and then get out of the X5 and check each side to make sure that I have clearance as there is only about a 10 inch difference between the width of the vehicle and the width of the gate (which for unknown Spanish engineering marvel reasons was installed at an angle to the road and to the drive). Thanks!

Matt