M340i poor camera resolution

EddieA1 · 12-30-2019, 09:15 PM

Has anyone experienced poor rear camera resolution? I've been a long time BMW owner and my rear camera has never appeared as bad as my m340i. Although I can discern objects, things just generally look less sharp than normal, especially for a 2020 model car (f'ckn Kias and the like are better). I know there's been an unrelated recall on the camera for certain cars, but I'm wondering if the camera just generally sucks. If so, this is a definite step backwards in quality. Please let me know if your experiencing the same. Either way, I'm taking it to service. Btw, I don't have the 3D camera option.

wtwo3 · 12-30-2019, 09:17 PM

Would you be able to post a picture of what it looks like? My camera is crystal clear and a good resolution.

EddieA1 · 12-30-2019, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wtwo3

Would you be able to post a picture of what it looks like? My camera is crystal clear and a good resolution.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wtwo3

Would you be able to post a picture of what it looks like? My camera is crystal clear and a good resolution.

The weather's lousy in Chicago today, but here's a quick pic. I'm not sure if the pic does any justice to my observation, but the resolution looks a lot less sharper than any of my prior new model Bimmers.[IMG][/IMG]

VipinLJ · 12-30-2019, 09:27 PM

Mine is crystal clear too. BMWs have better resolution than Audis and Mercs.

alpinewhite3 · 12-30-2019, 09:39 PM

Possible salt/debris on the lens? Mine is surprisingly crystal clear too. Looks like HD.

wtwo3 · 12-30-2019, 09:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddieA1

The weather's lousy in Chicago today, but here's a quick pic. I'm not sure if the pic does any justice to my observation, but the resolution looks a lot less sharper than any of my prior new model Bimmers.[IMG][/IMG]

Yeah hard to tell... all I can say is mine is quite clear. If even after cleaning it you feel like the resolution is off then I'd say worth taking it into the dealer to see if there's an issue.

EddieA1 · 12-30-2019, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpinewhite3

Possible salt/debris on the lens? Mine is surprisingly crystal clear too. Looks like HD.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wtwo3

Would you be able to post a picture of what it looks like? My camera is crystal clear and a good resolution.

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpinewhite3

Possible salt/debris on the lens? Mine is surprisingly crystal clear too. Looks like HD.

I cleaned the camera real good for the pic. There's just something about my rear camera that just seems murky, less sharper than usual for a BMW. It's as if the focus needs to be adjusted (I wonder if that can be done electronically via software?). I'd expect objects that are far to be less sharp, but my experience has always been that BMW cameras were especially clear when it came to near objects (where it matters), almost as clear as my iPhone. That's not the case with this car.

eluded · 12-31-2019, 01:29 AM

No that looks normal.

DomiGijzen · 12-31-2019, 02:17 AM

How do object closer to the car look? The camera is ultra wide angle which makes objects farther away a bit strange. That may be a difference.
Also, what idrive version? From 19/03 -> 19/07 I noticed a big improvement on the image quality.

Sergeant Skinner · 12-31-2019, 04:36 AM

It looks exactly like the M340i I had on loan for a week. However, I felt that M340i had terrible resolution compared to my F30.

Not sure if normal?

Cranester1983 · 12-31-2019, 04:56 AM

I will miss the retracting rear camera on my merc when it’s gone. One of the only things. Rear view cameras are pretty useless in the winter here without constant cleaning.

Chuckyarla · 12-31-2019, 05:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cranester1983

I will miss the retracting rear camera on my merc when it’s gone. One of the only things. Rear view cameras are pretty useless in the winter here without constant cleaning.

Yes, that was one of the best features on my E-Class. Why can't they all be retracting?

Andy3661 · 12-31-2019, 06:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddieA1

The weather's lousy in Chicago today, but here's a quick pic. I'm not sure if the pic does any justice to my observation, but the resolution looks a lot less sharper than any of my prior new model Bimmers.[IMG][/IMG]

Just checked mine and it does look a far better image.

Have you had a play with the camera settings for contrast and brightness?

If no change I would take it back to the dealer.

Cranester1983 · 12-31-2019, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckyarla

Yes, that was one of the best features on my E-Class. Why can't they all be retracting?

I’m guessing they have it patented or something.

NYC_340i · 12-31-2019, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cranester1983

I’m guessing they have it patented or something.

My 2013 Volkswagen CC did it too and was a great feature especially in the winter since it kept all the salt of the camera. In the 3 years I had it I never once had to clean it.

john!smith · 12-31-2019, 09:25 PM

hmm... that could look a bit sharper for me, too when i look at the picture. how is the quality at daylight?

EddieA1 · 01-06-2020, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keya

hmm... that could look a bit sharper for me, too when i look at the picture. how is the quality at daylight?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Keya

hmm... that could look a bit sharper for me, too when i look at the picture. how is the quality at daylight?

Poor during the day as well. Took it to Service, they benchmarked it's against other m340i on the lot and concluded that it's operating as normal. No further work needed. That doesn't negate the issue, it just proves that the G20 camera is poor by comparison with the F30. Btw, I have a Merc C300 too, and it's day time (not night time) camera resolution is much better than this. That's saying a lot.

Cranester1983 · 01-07-2020, 12:56 AM

Yes - I also agree that the G20 camera isn’t that great. My Mercedes was better, certainly during the daytime.

Sergeant Skinner · 01-07-2020, 01:59 AM

Call me crazy but I feel like my f30 surround view does a better job than the G20... i also thought the loaner M340i had a dodgy setup. I can read small spray painted letters on the road as I try to park in the F30 but not in the G20

For all we know, could be a software bug with the way the images are transformed and stitched are slightly off because they calibrated it to a G20 model with a higher ride height (like a non M sport model)

john!smith · 01-07-2020, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EddieA1

Poor during the day as well. Took it to Service, they benchmarked it's against other m340i on the lot and concluded that it's operating as normal. No further work needed. That doesn't negate the issue, it just proves that the G20 camera is poor by comparison with the F30. Btw, I have a Merc C300 too, and it's day time (not night time) camera resolution is much better than this. That's saying a lot.

that sounds bad. i am still waiting for delivery... i choosed also the 360 cam. hopefully they can fix issues like that by softwareupdate.
when i did a testdrive i didnt notice that the cam was bad. maybe i was distracted by the impressions

will check that after picking up the new car

12-30-2019, 09:15 PM	#1
EddieA1 Private 48 Rep 67 Posts Drives: 335i, 340i, m240i, M2C, m340i Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	M340i poor camera resolution Has anyone experienced poor rear camera resolution? I've been a long time BMW owner and my rear camera has never appeared as bad as my m340i. Although I can discern objects, things just generally look less sharp than normal, especially for a 2020 model car (f'ckn Kias and the like are better). I know there's been an unrelated recall on the camera for certain cars, but I'm wondering if the camera just generally sucks. If so, this is a definite step backwards in quality. Please let me know if your experiencing the same. Either way, I'm taking it to service. Btw, I don't have the 3D camera option.
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12-30-2019, 09:17 PM	#2
wtwo3 Major General 17969 Rep 5,484 Posts Drives: 23 X7 40i; 23 M3; 24 cooper s Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: IL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 Mini Cooper S ... [10.00] 2023 BMW M3 [9.40] 2023 BMW X7 40i [9.75]	Would you be able to post a picture of what it looks like? My camera is crystal clear and a good resolution. __________________ 2023 BMW X7 xDrive40i 2023 BMW M3 6MT 2024 Mini Cooper S Convertible '20 BMW m340i... '20 BMW X5 40i... '16 Infiniti Q50 RS 400... '10 Lexus RX 350... '08 Lexus IS 350... '00 Nissan Maxima... '93 Nissan Maxima
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12-30-2019, 09:27 PM	#4
VipinLJ Petrolhead 1942 Rep 3,521 Posts Drives: ‘20 330i,‘16 X3,‘18 SQ5,‘17 A7 Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Illinois iTrader: (2)	Mine is crystal clear too. BMWs have better resolution than Audis and Mercs.
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12-30-2019, 09:39 PM	#5
alpinewhite3 Major 556 Rep 1,067 Posts Drives: Currently searching Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: North Carolina iTrader: (0)	Possible salt/debris on the lens? Mine is surprisingly crystal clear too. Looks like HD.
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12-31-2019, 01:29 AM	#8
eluded 2JZ-GTE 3031 Rep 3,992 Posts Drives: 340 6MT, 50e, others Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Sofia iTrader: (0)	No that looks normal. __________________ A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.
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12-31-2019, 02:17 AM	#9
DomiGijzen Second Lieutenant 70 Rep 223 Posts Drives: BMW iX3 MSport High Exec (G08) Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	How do object closer to the car look? The camera is ultra wide angle which makes objects farther away a bit strange. That may be a difference. Also, what idrive version? From 19/03 -> 19/07 I noticed a big improvement on the image quality. __________________ Grz D.!
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12-31-2019, 04:36 AM	#10
Sergeant Skinner Second Lieutenant 166 Rep 272 Posts Drives: 2020 BMW M340i XDrive Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia iTrader: (0)	It looks exactly like the M340i I had on loan for a week. However, I felt that M340i had terrible resolution compared to my F30. Not sure if normal?
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12-31-2019, 04:56 AM	#11
Cranester1983 Second Lieutenant 77 Rep 283 Posts Drives: BMW 330e M Sport Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Stirling, UK iTrader: (0)	I will miss the retracting rear camera on my merc when it’s gone. One of the only things. Rear view cameras are pretty useless in the winter here without constant cleaning.
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12-31-2019, 09:25 PM	#16
john!smith Private First Class 230 Rep 171 Posts Drives: M340i XDrive Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	hmm... that could look a bit sharper for me, too when i look at the picture. how is the quality at daylight?
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01-07-2020, 12:56 AM	#18
Cranester1983 Second Lieutenant 77 Rep 283 Posts Drives: BMW 330e M Sport Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Stirling, UK iTrader: (0)	Yes - I also agree that the G20 camera isn’t that great. My Mercedes was better, certainly during the daytime.
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01-07-2020, 01:59 AM	#19
Sergeant Skinner Second Lieutenant 166 Rep 272 Posts Drives: 2020 BMW M340i XDrive Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Melbourne, VIC, Australia iTrader: (0)	Call me crazy but I feel like my f30 surround view does a better job than the G20... i also thought the loaner M340i had a dodgy setup. I can read small spray painted letters on the road as I try to park in the F30 but not in the G20 For all we know, could be a software bug with the way the images are transformed and stitched are slightly off because they calibrated it to a G20 model with a higher ride height (like a non M sport model)
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