Technology for driving comfort and safety, Vehicle equipment, Park distance control pdc – Mini 2012 Coupe Roadster Convertible User Manual

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CONTROLS

Technology for driving comfort and safety

Technology for driving comfort

and safety

Vehicle equipment

In this chapter, all production, country, and
optional equipment that is offered in the model
range is described. Equipment is also described
that is not available because of, for example,
selected options or country version. This also
applies to safety related functions and systems.

Park Distance Control
PDC

The concept

PDC assists you with parking in reverse. Acoustic
signals and a visual indicator warn you of the
presence of an object behind the vehicle. To
measure the distance, there are four ultrasonic
sensors in either bumper.
These sensors have a range of approx. 6.5 ft/
2 m. However, an acoustic warning does not
sound until an object is approx. 24 in/60 cm
from the rear corner sensors, or approx. 5 ft/
1.50 m from the rear center sensors.

PDC is a parking aid that can indicate
objects when they are approached slowly,

as is usually the case when parking. Avoid
approaching an object at high speed; otherwise,
physical circumstances may lead to the system
warning being issued too late.

Automatic mode

With the engine running or the ignition switched
on, the system is activated automatically after
approx. 1 second when you engage reverse
gear or move the automatic transmission selec-
tor lever to position R. Wait this short period
before driving.

Acoustic signals

As the distance between vehicle and object
decreases, the intervals between the tones
become shorter. If the distance to the nearest
object falls to below roughly 1 ft/30 cm, then a
continuous tone sounds.
If the distance remains constant, e.g. when driv-
ing parallel to a wall, the acoustic signal stops
after approx. 3 seconds.

Malfunction

Indicator lamp lights up. PDC has failed.
A message appears on the Control
Display. Have the system checked.

To avoid this problem, keep the sensors clean
and free of ice or snow in order to ensure that
they will continue to operate effectively. When
using a high-pressure cleaner, do not direct the
jet toward the sensors for lengthy periods and
only spray from a distance of at least 4 in/10 cm.

PDC with visual warning

To have the system show distances to objects on
the Control Display. The contours of distant
objects are shown on the Control Display even
before the acoustic signal sounds. The display
appears on the Control Display as soon as the
transmission is shifted into reverse or the
selector lever is moved into the R position.

System limitations

Even with PDC, final responsibility for esti-
mating the distance between the vehicle

and any obstructions always remains with the
driver. Sensors, too, have blind spots in which
objects cannot be detected. Moreover, ultra-
sonic detection can reach its physical limits with
objects such as trailer tow bars and couplings,
thin and wedge-shaped objects, etc. Low
objects already indicated, such as curbs, may