Recent cars all come with an impressive quantity of features, nevertheless, because of your budget or the year of your BMW X1, you may not be lucky enough to have them all. On this page we’re gonna help you solve this situation by explaining how to install parking sensor on my BMW X1? Indeed, this feature is very handy, particularly if you live in the city and have to park regularly in narrow parking spots. To help you out, we’ll first take a look at how parking sensors function, then we’ll look at how to install a parking reverse sensor on a BMW X1, and to conclude, how much does a parking sensor cost?
How does parking sensors function on an BMW X1?
So we begin with the functioning of a parking sensor. As we explained to you in the intro, this particularl interesting feature allows you to know the distance between the back of your BMW X1 and an obstacle when you maneuver. It is as a consequence particularly good for drivers who have to maneuver on a regular basis, whose field of vision is mediocre, or whose car size is big.
Nearly always installed as standard, the reverse sensors of a BMW X1 integrate a set of sensors (minimum 4) that will be turned on with reverse gear and will detect obstacles in the vicinity. The technology used is ultrasounds, which will send a signal that will bounce off the obstacle and be sent back to the sensor. A computer will examine the duration of this journey and calculate the distance between the obstacle and the radar. In general you will have a sound warning in the cabin which will rise in level with the proximity of the obstacle and sometimes a visual marker in complement. The reversing radars of a BMW X1 will help you for parking, but also for security and staying away from pedestrians.
How to install parking sensors on a BMW X1?
We now move on to the step that you are probably most excited about, installing reverse parking sensors on a BMW X1. This section is for you if you don’t have a standard reserve sensor set up and you still wish to benefit of this technology, or if you have to replace a damaged one. You are lucky, it is possible to buy automotive aftermarket parking sensors to install yourself on your BMW X1.
How to change a defective backup sensors on a BMW X1
First we’ll see how to change a defective parking sensor on an BMW X1. In cases where your BMW X1 has suffered a rear collision and one of the sensors of your reversing radar has been destroyed, it will have to be swapped out to let the system to function correctly. Thankfully for you this process is particularly simple, you can even make it out yourself without any specified mechanical skill:
- Get a replacing radar of the manufacturer’s brand name.
- Disconnect the old backup sensor from the back of the bumper.
- Remove the destroyed parking sensor from your BMW X1, this stage is extremely intuitive, it is only clipped on.
- Fit the new sensor and connect it.
- All you’ll have to do is test it to make sure it’s working correctly.
- You will simply need to adhere to the installation instructions, but we summarize here the main simple steps.
- Remove the bumper if you don’t have access to the inside of it.
- Reflect on the best location of the sensors to avoid blind spots, using the supplied drill bell, drill your bumper.
- Place your various sensors.
- Route the cables to the headlamp unit that includes your reverse light.
- Get the current from the wires to connect your parking sensors to this one.
- Test it all out.
- Stick to the installation owners manual which is accessible with some electrical bases.
- Identify the best sensor position, either behind the bumper for the electromagnetic reversing sensor(adhesive tape) and or the different spots of the ultrasonic sensors.
- Glue them together and connect them using the box provided.
- Test it all out.
How to install an aftermarket parking sensor kit on an BMW X1
Now we proceed to the section you’re likely most excited about, how to install a reverse sensor set up on a BMW X1 that doesn’t have one? As we revealed earlier, you’re lucky because a good number of OEMs now sell automotive aftermarket backup radar models. Nevertheless, the best performing and least fragile models will be models that fit into your bumper. We will look at these versions in this section. It is important to have some notions in electricity, and some notions in do-it-yourself to contemplate the installation of the kit. You will definitely have to remove the bumper of your BMW X1 for the installation, do not hesitate to browse our article content on this subject matter to discover the method to follow. If you don’t feel like it, you can call a professional, the procedure should take him between 1 and 2 hours, and for you around 3 hours.
Install a parking sensor without drilling on a BMW X1
And to conclude, we will now present you the installation of a drill-free parking sensors system on a BMW X1. There are two types, the ultrasounds more fragile because subjected to the shocks, and the electromagnetics which stick at the rear of the bumper and which are thus protected, it does not affect your bumper and will thus be easy to take off. This sort of radar sticks on the bumper. The installation of these types of sensors will be similar.
What’s the price of parking sensors for a BMW X1?
Price of replacing a defective reversing parking sensor for an BMW X1
The replacement of a destroyed reversing radar will depend on the model, but the price will fluctuate between 10 and 30 euros per sensor. It is required to count about one hundred euros for the installation of the kit by a professional.
Price of an ultrasonic parking sensors with drilling for BMW X1
For the models with holes there are many kits and different brands but you will have to count about 50 euros for a high quality package.
Price of a parking sensors kit without drilling for a BMW X1
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At last, for the price of a reversing radar without drilling for your BMW X1, what ever type you select, you will have to pay among 30 and 60 euros.
If you have any further questions about the BMW X1, do not hesitate to consult our BMW X1 category.
