Assisted driving notes

BMW fits its Driving Assistant pack to the 7 Series and i7 as standard, including an AEB crash mitigation system with both pedestrian and cyclist detection, which also monitors traffic at a junction. A manual speed limit detection and assist system also come as part of the car’s standard cruise control offering, and likewise a lane departure warning system. Our car had the Driving Assistant Professional option (£1500), bringing BMW’S full suite of driver assistance systems (also including active lane keeping and auto speed limit assist).

The level-two assisted driving features work well on the motorway, helping you stay in the centre of the lane but not fighting for control. The AEB system avoided unnecessary activations during our testing, and the speed limit assist system recognised most posted limits, getting caught out only once or twice by speed limit indication signs on nearby lorries.

AUTONOMOUS EMERGENCY BRAKING

 Does it avoid false activation well? ✓  Can it be deactivated? ✓

 Does it have pedestrian/cyclist detection? ✓

LANE KEEPING ASSISTANCE

 Is the system tuned to keep the driver engaged at all times? ✓

 Is it adjustable for sensitivity? ✓

 Does it allow you to drive around a pothole/obstacle within your lane easily and without deactivation? ✓

INTELLIGENT CRUISE CONTROL

 Can the system consistently recognise and automatically adopt motorway gantry-signed variable speed limits? ✓

 Does it prevent undertaking? ✓

 Does it have effective audible or visual alerts, or steering intervention, to prevent changing lanes into the path of an overtaking car? ✓