Pointless feature (in car or elsewhere)

[Mudball]

Been driving a new Beamer. It comes with Lane Departure Warning. I can understand the logic, but I dont think it works very well. I have deliberately changed lanes and it will light up. I have changed without indicating (or standard BMW driving mode), it lights up. Sometimes on country roads, it will still light up even when I am in the lane. I am not sure how it works. Also nervous about giving it control to move steering away automatically. Finally turned it off today..

Anyone got any pointless features in car or otherwiese

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I know some people will like them but I have auto wipers and I think they are a bit pointless. One swish, intermittent, full or fast is plenty and pretty simple to operate. The auto wipers when I tried them don't really work very well, not as well as the standard settings so why bother?

 

[Mudball]

I know some people will like them but I have auto wipers and I think they are a bit pointless. One swish, intermittent, full or fast is plenty and pretty simple to operate. The auto wipers when I tried them don't really work very well, not as well as the standard settings so why bother?

I find the auto wipers useful. But i found a new one in the beemer... A auto-handbrake.
!) It applies the handbrake automatically when you park. That is great.
2) It releases the handbrake automatically when you want to drive off!!!! I thought the idea was to not move off automatically..

 

[Imurg]

Here's a slightly controversial one..
Fog Lights
My view is that if, in fog, you can't see the ordinary rear lights of the car in front then you shouldn't be on the road.
Just my opinion...

 

[Jamesbrown]

Speed limiters.

 

[richart]

Hill start assist.

 

[GG26]

Been driving a new Beamer. It comes with Lane Departure Warning. I can understand the logic, but I dont think it works very well. I have deliberately changed lanes and it will light up. I have changed without indicating (or standard BMW driving mode), it lights up. Sometimes on country roads, it will still light up even when I am in the lane. I am not sure how it works. Also nervous about giving it control to move steering away automatically. Finally turned it off today..

Anyone got any pointless features in car or otherwiese

I’ve got a Mazda and it actually “tugs” the steering wheel if you leave a lane without indicating. Got used to it now, but was strange to start with - kept thinking a tyre was starting to go.

 

[Fade and Die]

I’ve got a Mazda and it actually “tugs” the steering wheel if you leave a lane without indicating. Got used to it now, but was strange to start with - kept thinking a tyre was starting to go.

My xc40 is like that, it took some getting used to!

I don’t like the big touchscreen in the middle which controls almost every “secondary” function...Want to turn the heat up? Touch the temperature readout, a full “ladder” opens up. Slide the setting to what you want, push close! All at arms length, at speed whilst trying to keep your eye on the road! Trying to turn the fan up as well at the same time is highly risky!?

 

[SocketRocket]

Speed limiters.

They're brilliant. Set it to the speed limit and forget about speed cameras, I can easily adjust the speed maximum with a thumb control. Better than speeding fines. My car also has a built in camera that reads speed signs and displays the sign on the dash screen, only thing missing is being able to sync the speed sign to the limeter automatically.

 

[SocketRocket]

I find automatic window winders a wast of time. What's the problem with winding a little arm, i could do with the exercise anyway. I guess the only advantage used to be winding down the passenger window when asking someone directions but Satnavs have done away with that.

 

[AmandaJR]

I hate auto wipers and auto lights. Nothing worse than a wiper scraping across an icy or almost dry windscreen. Even worse the auto lights that don't come on in mist or dull conditions.

I have the lane departure system and don't mind it but then I always indicate so don't see it often (HID turned his off - enough said)! Although the new stretch of A14 here hasn't had the original lines blacked out too well in places so I get told off unfairly by my car!

 

[Mudball]

I’ve got a Mazda and it actually “tugs” the steering wheel if you leave a lane without indicating. Got used to it now, but was strange to start with - kept thinking a tyre was starting to go.

My xc40 is like that, it took some getting used to!
I don’t like the big touchscreen in the middle which controls almost every “secondary” function...Want to turn the heat up? Touch the temperature readout, a full “ladder” opens up. Slide the setting to what you want, push close! All at arms length, at speed whilst trying to keep your eye on the road! Trying to turn the fan up as well at the same time is highly risky!?

1) The steering wheel of the beemer, but i dont know if that is because Surrey roads are full of potholes or because of the steering
2) Too much touch screen these days. I saw a BMW video that shows gesture control. I think this is too dangerous as I wont be able to guesture and drive at the same time.

 

[Imurg]

The only reason like auto wipers is so the kids dont have to think about putting them on and turning them off!
Same with auto lights, although they do stop you driving off without putting them on - something I see on a regular basis.

 

[SocketRocket]

1) The steering wheel of the beemer, but i dont know if that is because Surrey roads are full of potholes or because of the steering
2) Too much touch screen these days. I saw a BMW video that shows gesture control. I think this is too dangerous as I wont be able to guesture and drive at the same time.

Does it recognise your hand gestures and then keep putting the brakes on and off when someones driving too close behind.?

 

[Hacker Khan]

I know some people will like them but I have auto wipers and I think they are a bit pointless. One swish, intermittent, full or fast is plenty and pretty simple to operate. The auto wipers when I tried them don't really work very well, not as well as the standard settings so why bother?

Tell you what, if you struggle with automatic wipers when autonomous cars are standard you will lose your .....

 

[USER1999]

Keyless entry, and push button start. What's wrong with using a key? At least the key made it harder to steal.
I could remove the push button start, but a new one is £12 on ebay. Fits any Merc.

Oh, andcrain sensing wipers are useless on a 14 year old car when they no longer work, and yhe cost to fix would write the car off.

 

[Fade and Die]

1) The steering wheel of the beemer, but i dont know if that is because Surrey roads are full of potholes or because of the steering
2) Too much touch screen these days. I saw a BMW video that shows gesture control. I think this is too dangerous as I wont be able to guesture and drive at the same time.

It’s just unnecessary. Just turning the radio over to search for another station takes far to much of your attention off the road... btw what sort of “gestures” do you need to do???

 

[Hacker Khan]

Keyless entry, and push button start. What's wrong with using a key? At least the key made it harder to steal.
I could remove the push button start, but a new one is £12 on ebay. Fits any Merc.

Oh, andcrain sensing wipers are useless on a 14 year old car when they no longer work, and yhe cost to fix would write the car off.

Nothing but with push button start you just get in, press the start button and off you go. East peasy and the key ring is not banging on your knee as you drive.

 

[richart]

Keyless entry, and push button start. What's wrong with using a key? At least the key made it harder to steal.
I could remove the push button start, but a new one is £12 on ebay. Fits any Merc.

Oh, andcrain sensing wipers are useless on a 14 year old car when they no longer work, and yhe cost to fix would write the car off.

I love the start button. Also saves my wrist for more important matters.

 

[Hacker Khan]

1) The steering wheel of the beemer, but i dont know if that is because Surrey roads are full of potholes or because of the steering
2) Too much touch screen these days. I saw a BMW video that shows gesture control. I think this is too dangerous as I wont be able to guesture and drive at the same time.

My car is not a BMW but it does have gesture control for the in car entertainment. And once you get used to it is fine and does reduce the amount of time you have to stare at the screen. But if you don't like it you can still use the traditional way.