i3's automatic parking function efficiency

[LuckyEV2023]

Hi, guys!

How efficient is i3's automatic parking function? I have been owning the car for a while now, but I am still afraid of using it. Do you have any experiences with it, good or bad?

 

[JohnnyCakes]

I once posted about this and got a bunch of replies that I'm an idiot for not being able to park a car this small by myself. SMH. I love the "gee whiz" George Jetson aspect of it. Same reason I got the TJA (auto steer) module from PremiumRetrofit to unlock that feature in my US model (where it is blocked).

In answer to your question, it takes a little bit of practice to figure out the exact dance it wants in order: button, turn signal, brake, hold button, release break. That said, it has easily parked in spots that I'd normally avoid because they were too small. I live in a large city with extremely limited parking availability, so that has been nice.

Once last week, it got halfway through a parking operation in a very tight spot and decided that it didn't like the spot after all. It indicated that it was aborting and to find another spot.

Bottom line: I think its great -- no issues.

 

[alohart]

How efficient is i3's automatic parking function? I have been owning the car for a while now, but I am still afraid of using it. Do you have any experiences with it, good or bad?

It's very slow. If there's traffic behind waiting for you to park, they would have to be very patient.

If you insist on using it, find a good local alloy wheel repair shop because you would almost certainly need to repair wheels that are dragged along a curb while parking.

 

[LuckyEV2023]

I once posted about this and got a bunch of replies that I'm an idiot for not being able to park a car this small by myself. SMH. I love the "gee whiz" George Jetson aspect of it. Same reason I got the TJA (auto steer) module from PremiumRetrofit to unlock that feature in my US model (where it is blocked).

In answer to your question, it takes a little bit of practice to figure out the exact dance it wants in order: button, turn signal, brake, hold button, release break. That said, it has easily parked in spots that I'd normally avoid because they were too small. I live in a large city with extremely limited parking availability, so that has been nice.

Once last week, it got halfway through a parking operation in a very tight spot and decided that it didn't like the spot after all. It indicated that it was aborting and to find another spot.

Bottom line: I think its great -- no issues.

Ok, the "gee whiz" made me chuckle! I got it. Thanks for sharing! I guess I will take it slowly.

 

[LuckyEV2023]

It's very slow. If there's traffic behind waiting for you to park, they would have to be very patient.

If you insist on using it, find a good local alloy wheel repair shop because you would almost certainly need to repair wheels that are dragged along a curb while parking.

Ok. This is solid, too. I will have it in mind. I appreciate it.

 

[Mustrum Ridcully]

I once posted about this and got a bunch of replies that I'm an idiot for not being able to park a car this small by myself. SMH. I love the "gee whiz" George Jetson aspect of it. Same reason I got the TJA (auto steer) module from PremiumRetrofit to unlock that feature in my US model (where it is blocked).

That kind of unfriendly posting has been quite rare since I have been on this forum, but it seems to be more prevalent on Facebook and Reddit.

How tough was it to retrofit the auto steer? How expen$ive?

I also love "gee-whiz" tech, and I think the lane-keeping of TJA with the ACC could be fun to play with in the right conditions. The need for "right conditions" is the only gremlin I wonder about. I note that bright sunlight through trees and low sun angles in the early morning and late afternoon can cause the ACC to trip off. On an overcast day, it did not seem to miss a beat

 

[alohart]

I also love "gee-whiz" tech, and I think the lane-keeping of TJA with the ACC could be fun to play with in the right conditions. The need for "right conditions" is the only gremlin I wonder about. I note that bright sunlight through trees and low sun angles in the early morning and late afternoon can cause the ACC to trip off. On an overcast day, it did not seem to miss a beat

If you haven't read much about Traffic Jam Assist, this article describes its limitations, the installation process, etc. By default, the right conditions are very visible lane markers and speeds less than 60 km/h/35 mph unless a higher maximum speed has been configured via coding. Those who have increased the maximum speed have reported jerkiness, wandering to the right and left, etc., resulting in less than ideal lane keeping. The i3's single low-resolution ADAS camera is probably the limiting factor.

 

[chaseadam]

I can report wheel rim damage from the assistive park as well. I still use it, but it is far from perfect.

 

[Mustrum Ridcully]

I can report wheel rim damage from the assistive park as well. I still use it, but it is far from perfect.

https://alloygator.com/us/product/set-of-4-alloygators/
might a set of these help?

 

[Mustrum Ridcully]

If you haven't read much about Traffic Jam Assist, this article describes its limitations, the installation process, etc. By default, the right conditions are very visible lane markers and speeds less than 60 km/h/35 mph unless a higher maximum speed has been configured via coding. Those who have increased the maximum speed have reported jerkiness, wandering to the right and left, etc., resulting in less than ideal lane keeping. The i3's single low-resolution ADAS camera is probably the limiting factor.

Thanks. Art seems simple and within its limits, fun to play with, but the fellow with the gadget to enable it has taken down his page over possible exposure to a lawsuit, I expect.

 

[JohnnyCakes]

How tough was it to retrofit the auto steer? How expen$ive?

I also love "gee-whiz" tech, and I think the lane-keeping of TJA with the ACC could be fun to play with in the right conditions. The need for "right conditions" is the only gremlin I wonder about. I note that bright sunlight through trees and low sun angles in the early morning and late afternoon can cause the ACC to trip off. On an overcast day, it did not seem to miss a beat

I consider myself a moron and I had no difficulty installing.
PremiumRetrofit handles all the programming remotely.
The physical install was simple plug/play.

The "right conditions" are stop/go or slow traffic. In that condition, it is like magic.

You can use it at higher speeds, but it becomes more of a novelty since it will disengage with some frequency and wander a bit. Still works, though.

 

[Paul Keser]

Ok. This is solid, too. I will have it in mind. I appreciate it.

At least then I could blame the car ;-)

 

[Gonville]

I just remember that the version has updated quite a bit since the 2014. So it has improved a lot. Latest 120Ah it controls throttle and steering so it’s a hands and feet off. Takes practice. Press button to activate and keep it pressed following screen instructions. Very very different to the first. Early version was a bit slow. All the best.

 

[JamesInLondon]

I just remember that the version has updated quite a bit since the 2014. So it has improved a lot. Latest 120Ah it controls throttle and steering so it’s a hands and feet off. Takes practice. Press button to activate and keep it pressed following screen instructions. Very very different to the first. Early version was a bit slow. All the best.

 

[alohart]

I just remember that the version has updated quite a bit since the 2014. So it has improved a lot. Latest 120Ah it controls throttle and steering so it’s a hands and feet off. Takes practice. Press button to activate and keep it pressed following screen instructions. Very very different to the first. Early version was a bit slow. All the best.

Parking assist on our 2014 i3 also controlled propulsive power, steering, and braking so that parking was completely hands- and feet-free. That doesn't seem any different than current i3's. Our 2019 and 2021 i3's didn't have the Parking Assist option, so I've never experienced it on later models. I hope that you're correct that parking assist speed has increased because on a 2014 i3, it was too slow to use on a road with traffic if one cares about delaying following vehicles.