Tragic road accidents occur every second. Even the best drivers with the sharpest eye aren’t able to prevent everything happening on the road.
For BMW owners, the built-in camera system known as “Drive Recorder”, attempts to offer an integrated solution to dash cams. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process of activating and using the BMW Drive Recorder, as well as managing and saving your recordings.
What is the BMW Drive Recorder?
The BMW Drive Recorder is a pre-installed app in newer BMW models that utilizes the vehicle’s “Surround View Cameras” and G-Sensor to record footage automatically when the operating system detects a crash or other sudden movements. This feature provides both an added layer of protection, as well as evidence for the BMW owner.
The Drive Recorder is part of the BMW operating system and offers advanced functionality compared to previous versions, making it a valuable tool for safety-conscious drivers. But first you need to go through the activation process before you can start using it in your own BMW.
How to start using BMW Drive Recorder
In order to activate the Drive Recorder function in your BMW, follow these steps:
- First, enable the drive recorder function in your vehicle located in the ‘iDrive’ menu.
- Click ‘Drive Recorder’. Depending on your BMW model, you may find the option located in the iDrive settings.
- If this is your first time using the feature, you will be prompted with a “Legal Info” pop-up. Read and accept the legal disclaimer to proceed.
- Switch the “Recording Allowed” setting to the “On” position.
- Choose your preferred recording type: “Automatic Activation” or “Manual Recording” (more on these options later).
Your BMW Drive Recorder is now activated and ready to use. If you’re not sure whether you want automatic activation or manual recording, we’ll briefly review what each option does.
Drive Recorder Activation Options
Manual Recording
Manual recording is primarily intended for capturing scenic drives or memorable road trips. Due to the limited pre-installed memory, you will need to either: add your own micro SD card or purchase cloud storage through the Drive Recorder app to store longer recordings. Your memory card needs to be formatted before you can use it in your BMW.
To start manual recording, choose one of the following options:
Option 1 – Click “Panorama View” on the main menu & press ‘Start Recording’, located left of the selector section.
Option 2 – From the iDrive menu, proceed back into the ‘Drive Recorder’ and click ‘Start Recording’. Pause recording by clicking the ‘Stop’ button.
Automatic Recording
Simply put, the Automatic Recording feature uses the BMWs G-Sensor to detect unusual driving circumstances. When triggered, the Drive Recorder will automatically store a video clip that cannot be deleted, even if the camera was previously switched off.
The G-Sensor sends a signal to the drive recorder to create an automatic recording file which can’t be deleted, even if the camera was previously switched off. It helps capture valuable footage when the vehicle sensors detect a possible collision.
To make sure the Drive Recorder captures events leading up to an accident, follow these steps to adjust the recording time settings:
- Tap the “Drive Recorder” app from the iDrive home screen.
- Click “Settings.”
- Choose “Before Trigger” to record events that may lead to an accident. This is what we recommend to get the complete picture of what happened before any incident. Other options include “During Trigger” and “After Trigger” but we don’t recommend these options for safety purposes.
Why don’t we recommend those options? The only downside to picking the ‘Before Trigger’ option is that it’ll activate the driver recorder more frequently, ie from sudden driving movements.
Meaning you’ll probably end up with saved recordings that didn’t result in a car crash that you have to delete later. Better safe then sorry – it’s always better to have more footage than not enough.
Saving and Managing Recordings
Videos are processed on the TRSV control module & iDrive has the possibility to store a total of 10 recordings. Once recorded, it is saved with all necessary information like speed and GPS position.
Video recorded in storage is playable and exportable. The recorder will display the recording on the monitor when the vehicle is not moving. You can download recordings and share them via email or social networks.
This is how you can view your recordings from the iDrive screen:
- Select the “Drive Recorder” app from the iDrive menu.
- Click the “Save Recording” option.
- Select the recording you want to watch.
Here’s how you can export a recording:
- Connect a USB stick to your BMW.
- Go to your “Drive Recorder” app, then select the recording you wish to export.
- Follow the instructions on the screen to save the recording to your USB stick.
Once exported, you can share your recordings via email or social media platforms.
Downsides of Drive Recorder
At this time, the BMW Drive Recorder doesn’t record when the vehicle is off unlike most modern dash cams. It records data only during use, not when the engine stops. This means that if your parked car is hit or vandalized, it won’t capture any footage.
While the Drive Recorder is super useful – you shouldn’t rely on it it as the ONLY means of accident evidence. Familiarize yourself with the Drive Recorder’s settings to make the most of this integrated recording solution. And remember, while the Drive Recorder is a helpful tool, it’s not a substitute for safe driving.
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