Sensor on left side of iDrive Head Unit Screen?

chris0247 · 07-08-2020, 05:07 PM

Hello, I have a 2019 330i xD. I recently installed (via Mirrotap) a Valentine One (Gen 2) radar detector which is mounted high directly to the left of the rear-view mirror.

Starting around 6:30pm each night, the detector constantly falses to a front laser alert over & over again. At first I thought it was a faulty unit, but trying it in my wife's Honda and relocating it elsewhere on my window got rid of the problem.

Through trial & error, I found that if I put my hand (or a piece of tape) on the left side of the iDrive screen, it stops, in the area of the attached picture with the white dot.

I don't have gesture control installed (and I think that sensor is elsewhere anyway).

Does anyone know what could be causing this and why it only happens in the late afternoon and evening? It has to be something where that white dot is in the picture that only "comes on" after a certain time?

Thanks!

NYC_340i · 07-09-2020, 01:10 PM

Could it be some sort of proximity sensor? I noticed that the top bar thing on the screen will come up if I move my hand closer to the screen. Also when entering info in the rotary wheel will change to a keyboard if I bring my hand close to the screen. I am not sure if that is part of the gesture control or if there is a seperate sensor near the screen for that.

I have gesture control on my car so I had to disable the laser detection on my Escort 9500ix since it kept going off. The sensor for gesture controls from what I heard is in the overhead panel near the dome lights.

imported_nick · 07-14-2020, 12:36 AM

It certainly could be some kind of stray light from some IR blaster inside the car, but how sure are you that it goes away if you cover that area marked with the white dot?

I'm asking because I've had false alarms during sunset hours as a result of the sunlight interfering with the laser detector.

If it doesn't happen when it's very dark (10pm) and when you're not covering the IR blaster inside, then I'd guess it was the twilight of the sun. On the other hand, if it doesn't happen during the day, it's because the sunlight is drowning out the weaker IR blaster from inside the car and that's probably the source of the false alarm. You should get a laser detector with the sensor outside of the cabin.

07-08-2020, 05:07 PM	#1
chris0247 Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2019 330i Join Date: Jul 2020 Location: Albany NY iTrader: (0)	Sensor on left side of iDrive Head Unit Screen? Hello, I have a 2019 330i xD. I recently installed (via Mirrotap) a Valentine One (Gen 2) radar detector which is mounted high directly to the left of the rear-view mirror. Starting around 6:30pm each night, the detector constantly falses to a front laser alert over & over again. At first I thought it was a faulty unit, but trying it in my wife's Honda and relocating it elsewhere on my window got rid of the problem. Through trial & error, I found that if I put my hand (or a piece of tape) on the left side of the iDrive screen, it stops, in the area of the attached picture with the white dot. I don't have gesture control installed (and I think that sensor is elsewhere anyway). Does anyone know what could be causing this and why it only happens in the late afternoon and evening? It has to be something where that white dot is in the picture that only "comes on" after a certain time? Thanks! Attached Images
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07-09-2020, 01:10 PM	#2
NYC_340i Lieutenant 208 Rep 547 Posts Drives: '20 M340i xDrive, '11 X3 28i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Could it be some sort of proximity sensor? I noticed that the top bar thing on the screen will come up if I move my hand closer to the screen. Also when entering info in the rotary wheel will change to a keyboard if I bring my hand close to the screen. I am not sure if that is part of the gesture control or if there is a seperate sensor near the screen for that. I have gesture control on my car so I had to disable the laser detection on my Escort 9500ix since it kept going off. The sensor for gesture controls from what I heard is in the overhead panel near the dome lights. __________________ Current: 2020 M340xi Previous: 2016 340xi
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07-14-2020, 12:36 AM	#3
imported_nick Private First Class 81 Rep 160 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jul 2007 iTrader: (0)	It certainly could be some kind of stray light from some IR blaster inside the car, but how sure are you that it goes away if you cover that area marked with the white dot? I'm asking because I've had false alarms during sunset hours as a result of the sunlight interfering with the laser detector. If it doesn't happen when it's very dark (10pm) and when you're not covering the IR blaster inside, then I'd guess it was the twilight of the sun. On the other hand, if it doesn't happen during the day, it's because the sunlight is drowning out the weaker IR blaster from inside the car and that's probably the source of the false alarm. You should get a laser detector with the sensor outside of the cabin.
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