If your BMW vehicle is equipped with a collision warning system, it will give you a visual pre-warning when an object is in your path of travel, or a visual and audible acute warning if a collision is imminent.
The pre warning looks like a red car symbol and will appear in the instrument cluster and the head-up display if so equipped. The acute warning is accompanied by an audio alert.
You can customize this system by changing the distance at which it is activated. This method is for BMW 7-Series, but it is similar with other models.
There are two ways to change the distance for the collision warning.
Via Button
First when the collision warning system is turned on via its button located on the left of the steering wheel.
When you press the button, intelligent safety menu will be displayed on the infotainment system. Choose Configure from the menu. You can then select from three different settings for the system: Early, Medium or Late – each with a visual representation of that choice. Use the iDrive controller on the center console to highlight your selection and press down to confirm it.
Via Settings Menu
The other way to change this setting is to use iDrive to navigate to the Settings menu. Scroll down and select Frontal Collision Warning. You will then be given the same choices (Warning time: Early, Medium or Late) to change the collision pre-warning distance.
Please note that these settings only apply to the visual pre-warning, the distance at which the acute warning is activated cannot be changed.