The car needs the latest iDrive 8.5 update to do hands off above 40 MPH. Not many cars have that update yet.

 

Is there a video or write up of anyone testing it out?

 

Yes. There are three cruise control levels. Normally you can only switch between the first two unless you're on a highway, then the third option (Plus) becomes available to switch into.

I've been using it on my IX a lot. Once IX detects that the road has the right conditions for hands-free driving it will say Driving Assitance Plus available on the dash. Then you have to switch into that mode using the steering wheel control you used to enable the initial cruise control mode. The steering wheel has two LEDs on both sides that light up green when hands-free is active, and you can then take your hands off.

It works really well, and I've been using it on drives between DC and NYC with no problems, including night driving. The only time it has issues is during heavy rain when the road lines are washed out. It turns off and downgrades to a level lower or turns off completely if conditions are bad enough. No different from other EVs and probably no one should be auto-piloting in heavy rain anyway.

For lane changing, you have to manually initiate them by using the blinker and then the car will do it for you (if it's safe to do so). SuperCruise has fully automated lane change without a manual trigger so it has that over BMW for now. Outside of that, both are comparable and work really well if you're on a supported road.

 

There is a video on YouTube posted by a sales guy in a dealer from Washington. It does not require 8.5, but it does need to have the option for highway assist. I have the option Plus in the menu iD8.0 but I have yet to be able to use it. Never seen the option given when driving in really good highways and state roads.

 

I have seen the information about the iDrive 8.5 with the new head unit as well as the video you are referring to. I'm going to contact the Genius group to ask them about this. I would be very upset if I cannot utilize new features on my 2023 iX, picked up 4 months before hearing about this Highway Assist option.

 

I was test driving the other day and it would constantly tell me to put my hands on the wheel, even when on well painted freeways.

Is the driver assistance feature ever truly hands free and if so under what conditions?

I'm comparing this to SuperCruise which definitely allows the driver to go hands free on major highways, freeways, and interstates.

If you have the DAPP, press I/O, press mode (twice) until the steering wheel signal turn green. Now auto steering is on.
If car's GPS detects you are on a mapped highway, hands free will be enabled. You will see Drive Assist Plus signal turn green.

 

If car's GPS detects you are on a mapped highway, hands free will be enabled. You will see Drive Assist Plus signal turn green.

@bmwix1, forgive my ignorance here. When you say "mapped highway", what do you mean by that? How do I know if I am on a mapped highway? If I am correct, it would only work when you are using BMW nav in addition to being on a "mapped highway". I do have DAPP. I believe my car was manufactured in 2/23.

 

Yeah to clarify I'm using hands free right now on July delivery 2024 model. Not sure how the feature applies to earlier models.

Apparently, I also read that lane change is automatic when using BMW nav (which kinda sucks...), so I'll try that out next since I've only been using Google Maps for nav with hands free so far.

 

It will give you a message telling you that you can enable plus mode if you’re on a mapped highway. You then press the mode button on the steering wheel and it will switch to the new third option. I don’t believe you need BMW nav in active use for the option to show up.

Not sure if there is a list of mapped highways anywhere, but in my area (DMV) all of the interstates seem to be mapped (95, 495, 695, 66). The big state route “highways” (2-3 lane each direction and divided) are not mapped.

 

Does hands free work below 40mph on non mapped roads?

 

No this requires two very specific conditions: 1) it must be a divided highway and 2) there must be traffic around you going less than 40 mph. As you can imagine this would be extremely dangerous if there was an error and no guard rails existed. I feel extremely comfortable going hands free under 40 mph. Since I live in Los Angeles, it's no exaggeration to say I feel "lucky" that I can go an hour or more without touching the wheel when stuck in freeway traffic!