+2 with the topview. I did not know what I was missing. I use it to line up between parking lines and avoid curbs or poles.

"first timers" on my car is amazed by it...

thought it was cool.... but I like the rear view better now.

Thanks for the photo!

Can you explain what we are seeing? In the top-view, on the bottom screen (on the right) and the right screen (on the bottom). It looks like the car has run into (over something.. planter? curb?).

In the PDC on the right, it only shows that you are near something in the rear-right of the car.

I absoutely love rear view cameras and PDC. I can totally get in and out of places that I'd never do (without hitting something or making numerous back and forth manuevers).

There's a little planter with curbs around. Very low, rear of the car run over it. The PDC-sensors only recognized the plants, not the curbs.

Gotcha! Thanks.

I was like thinking that in the photo it looks like the car's over it (hit it). But on it totally makes sense. Completely understand about PDC. Very, very cool.

2010 x5 3.0 Top/Rear view
 

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/IMG_1597.jpg
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/IMG_1598.jpg

Yep. It's been available for the E53 X5 and the X3 for years now.

Def. worth the money. I park in the most ridiculously tight space to avoid the meter maid (San Francisco-$500 in parking tickets last month alone, it comes with the territory). I couldn't even park my small civic in the spot I now do. With the cameras, it's still tricky, but I get it done. I had cameras on an SUV I owned a few cars ago: a Nissan Armada. That car was made in 2005. I'm shocked at the advancement in technology since then. The camera is the coolest, and the 2010 iDrive is the best interface I've ever used. I've used Nissan, Infinity, Mercedes, Honda, Toyota, and many other GPS/Tech interfaces and this beats them all.

I can see where the 2009 iDrive, quite frankly, sucked, but the 2010 coupled with the top view camera is AWESOME!

I'd like to know if the camera itself is different than the one used for those of us with the old idrive... if not, seems like a software upgrade should help the old resolution... wishful thinking.

More wishful thinking... a paid upgrade to the new idrive.