But first, for those who are still unfamiliar with head-up displays.
The BMW head-up display is a transparent screen that is mounted on the windshield and projected information directly into the driver’s field of vision. It was designed to help keep drivers’ attention on the road, but it actually cuts the time needed to take in information by more than half when compared to simply scanning the cockpit or the primary BMW iDrive screen. Anyone who pushes their car to the limit appreciates that function in particular when traveling quickly.
The following information may be displayed on your BMW head-up display depending on your vehicle type and the extras you choose:
- RPM
- Automobile Status
- Warning Signals
- Collision Alert
- Turn-by-Turn Navigational Instructions
- Information about calls and phones
- Menu for Entertainment
- Verify Control message
- The Lane Guide
- Road Tempo
- Limits on speed
- Limitations on passing
- Cruise Control Active
You can use your BMW head-up display to warn you about approaching pedestrians if your vehicle also has BMW Night Vision.
In This Article...
What is so unique about the BMW M Head-up Display?
Data on speed, engine speed, shift points, and a gear indicator are all projected via the Head-up Display straight into the range of vision of the BMW M driver. You can also see navigational information if you’re not on a racetrack. Symbols show you how far you are from the next turning, what type it is, and when it should be made. The posted speed limits should not be taken lightly. The Head-up Display can display whatever information that the driver chooses. The BMW M4’s Head-Up Display can be seen on the left.
BMW first introduced the heads-up display when?
In 2004, when it became a feature of BMW ConnectedDrive for the 5-Series, BMW became the first European automaker to provide a head-up display. Originally meant to display a car’s speed, head-up displays are now utilized to give a lot more information, including navigation instructions.
Most BMW models now come with a Head-Up Display, which has evolved significantly over time to display information in full color for drivers’ convenience.
According to research, it takes a typical driver a full second to glance at a navigation display or read the speedometer. When a vehicle is moving at 30 mph through an urban area while the driver is preoccupied and not paying attention to the road, it travels about 14 yards, during which time a lot can happen suddenly.
According to BMW, a head-up display reduces the amount of time a driver has to process information, making for safer driving. Only the driver can see the virtual picture that is projected onto the glass; it appears to be “hovering” at eye level above the hood. Additionally, studies suggest that this type of display is less taxing on the eye because it does not require the eye to switch between near and far vision all the time.
Can the BMW heads-up display be turned off?
You can learn where and how to modify the settings of your Head-Up Display in this video from BMW How-To.
Your BMW’s Head-Up Display may broadcast critical information into the driver’s field of view depending on the model.
It may be located at the top of your dashboard, projecting it into the windshield, depending on the model.
You can turn it on or off in BMWs with Operating System 7 by selecting “CAR,” “Settings,” “Displays,” and “Head-up display,” then checking the appropriate option. Although it can also be manually changed under “Brightness,” the brightness adjusts itself automatically to the surrounding light. Press “Height” and make changes until you reach the correct height. With the memory function, the Head-Up Display’s height will also be saved. To rotate the Head-Up Display, select “Rotation.” In this approach, sunglasses with specific polarization filters can see the Head-Up Display.
Does the heads-up display work with BMW CarPlay?
Recent advertising material has demonstrated that the “i4”, BMW’s next premium electric vehicle, offers one of the most seamless Apple CarPlay interfaces to date.
The i4’s Apple CarPlay experience, according to BMW, is “much more fluid.” Two curved monitors and a heads-up display are included with the i4. Apple CarPlay data can be displayed simultaneously on all three displays.
The BMW i4 has iDrive 8, which supports wireless Apple CarPlay, turn-by-turn Apple Maps instructions in the instrument cluster, and turn-by-turn Apple Maps prompts in the heads-up display.
The increased flexibility of the new-generation BMW iDrive 8 will make using third-party apps in cars increasingly easier and more practical in the future. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are fully integrated into the new BMW iDrive 8. The wide screen of the control display clearly displays every app that is offered in the system’s menu. Either the toolbar or the main menu can be used to swiftly and conveniently launch the user’s preferred applications. Additionally, the expanded app functionality integration into the information display and even the BMW Head-Up Display leads to a fluid transition between each screen grouping. Additionally, BMW iDrive 8 now includes integrated music streaming and communication apps. Customers are able to fully utilize the features of their apps because they are presented in the main menu as authentic sources.
A lot of newer cars with Apple CarPlay already provide limited turn-by-turn directions from Apple Maps on the driver’s display, but BMW is one of the first to fully integrate Apple Maps into the instrument cluster.
The middle of the instrument cluster houses an Apple Maps and navigation display that integrates with the BMW iDrive interface that is placed on top of it.
From 08:40 in the video, you can see an overview of the BMW i4’s CarPlay integration with Apple Maps in the instrument panel.
Since iOS 13, CarPlay has enabled turn-by-turn directions and Apple Maps on the second display, but BMW is one of the first car manufacturers to integrate the full Apple Maps interface into the instrument cluster on the second display. In order to achieve this tight connection, BMW appears to be utilizing a significant amount of Apple developer capabilities, such as the independent night mode per H.246 stream.
In recent years, BMW has been an early adopter of Apple vehicle-related software features, such as Digital Key and Ultra Wideband Digital Key Plus. However, it only began to offer CarPlay in 2016 and faced criticism for charging a $80 yearly subscription fee before canceling the subscription in response to the criticism.
The BMW i4 debuts this year in Europe and in the summer of 2022 in the US.
What is the purpose of a head-up display?
A gadget known as the head-up display shows an image onto the panel or windshield of the car directly below the driver’s line of sight. Although it is a tool for information, it also has a safety feature. Although it displays a variety of information, the driver doesn’t have to take their eyes off the road.
Can I upgrade my automobile with a heads-up display?
You can have a piece of fighter jet technology or Star-Trek in your car if you’ve always thought those things were cool. To minimize distractions and keep the pilot’s eyes forward, head-up displays (also known as HUDs) were originally implemented in fighter jets. The same technology is now being used in vehicles to make cars and trucks safer. Some high-end vehicles come with head-up displays as standard equipment, although most do so as an add-on. You can install your own aftermarket head-up display if your car doesn’t already have one or if you don’t want to upgrade to that higher trim level.
A heads-up display can project vehicle data onto a film on the windshield, a portable shield, or the windshield directly. This includes GPS maps, speed, temperature, and other information. While examining the status of your vehicle’s engine fluids or directions, it keeps your focus on the road. Some HUDs have distinct display kinds, more or less customizability, and the capacity to display more information than others. In order to discover the features you want at a price you can afford, it’s critical to evaluate some of the top HUDs now available on the market.
A head-up display often connects to the OBD connector on your car and projects real-time data onto the windshield. The most effective displays have a greater screen area, but not one that is too huge to impair vision. They use several colors and a variety of symbols to convey data so you can quickly see what you need. The majority of HUDs are simple to install and “plug and play.”
It’s crucial to keep in mind that electricity, data connections, the information shown, and screen format might all differ significantly. Make sure a heads-up display is compatible with your car as well. Additionally, certain HUDs won’t work if you don’t have an OBDII connector. Verify that the dash dimensions you choose will fit the product and are within the distances from power and the OBDII port that are necessary.
What vehicle has the first heads-up display?
The head-up display (HUD) was initially used in commercial aviation in the 1970s, and the Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme was the first manufacturing vehicle to have one in 1988.
Does a head-up display make sense?
“Head-up displays keep you updated while maintaining your attention on the road in front of you. What information is shown on the windshield can be customized. Because you can quickly monitor speed and direction, it is practical for multitasking.”
When the system is running, you can choose the information you want to display on your HUD. When you have all the information you require in your line of sight, you won’t need to take your eyes off the road.
Here, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of employing a HUD. This should ease the pressure of feeling as though you must make a choice regarding HUD.
* It can warn you and avert a potential collision. The HUD will help maintain you in your lane and prevent you from crossing from one side onto the next, for example, if you activate the Lane Departure Warning feature.
* It’s easier to naturally follow navigational instructions. It is significantly simpler for a motorist to follow the instructions because HUD paints and emphasizes virtual routes onto the road. Additionally, it can add markings and clear indicators to the road, enhancing the safety, excitement, and dynamism of your driving.
* It might cause the motorist to become distracted once more. Your eyes may stray as you try to take it all in when your windshield is covered in a lot of information. Since all the information on the windshield can impair your vision, you might prefer one without any clutter.
Does a specific windshield need to be used with a heads-up display?
Even if your car’s HUD offers a number of advantages, you can still need to repair a windshield if it is chipped or cracked. You must let whoever is repairing your windshield know if you previously had a heads-up display so that it may be properly reinstalled because it is normally projected into the windshield.
When using a heads-up display, your windshield is completely polarized. A normal replacement project is more expensive than replacing a HUD windshield. To guarantee the lowest price for your replacement, our technicians collaborate with a number of large insurance providers. Make a Safelite appointment today to get back on the road.
BMW Night Vision: What is it?
With the use of a thermal imaging camera, the BMW Night Vision technology allows drivers to see things that would normally be invisible to them at night, even with the headlights on. Numerous BMW models, including the 5-Series, 6-Series, 7-Series, and X5, are equipped with the technology. The image is shown on the Control Display by the Night Vision system, which can see up to 984 feet ahead of the car in the dark.
People will be automatically detected and highlighted on the screen if the car has Night Vision with Pedestrian Detection. If the vehicle additionally has a head-up display, a warning will also be seen in the driver’s peripheral vision. The region will be highlighted by a powerful spotlight on vehicles with Night Vision with Dynamic Light Spot, increasing the driver’s likelihood of avoiding a collision and acting as a warning for the animal or pedestrian. The Dynamic light spot will flash at the animal and a warning will appear on the instrument display if the system determines that there is a chance of colliding with an animal. An audio warning will sound as soon as the likelihood of a collision rises even higher.