After market parking sensors

[Jonnymaz]

Just wondered whether anyone would care to give their opinion - are they to be avoided?

A couple of the CSLs I'm looking at buying don't have parking sensors fitted as original options, and I have kind of grown accustomed to electronic aids in keeping my paint nice!

My local indie has quoted over £1k to retro fit the official BMW unit, but an after market model would be £200-£300. Would anyone notice? Would this affect value? Personally I wouldn't have an issue provided it worked (after all you get small round sensors on the bumper either way), but I thought I should ask those with more experience before I potentially ruined a perfectly good CSL!

Also, if after market rear sensors are ok, would this apply to front ones, or should they definitely be avoided as it would be obvious that they are not OEM?

Any thoughts welcome.

Thanks

[Bounce]

Just wondered whether anyone would care to give their opinion - are they to be avoided?

A couple of the CSLs I'm looking at buying don't have parking sensors fitted as original options, and I have kind of grown accustomed to electronic aids in keeping my paint nice!

My local indie has quoted over £1k to retro fit the official BMW unit, but an after market model would be £200-£300. Would anyone notice? Would this affect value? Personally I wouldn't have an issue provided it worked (after all you get small round sensors on the bumper either way), but I thought I should ask those with more experience before I potentially ruined a perfectly good CSL!

Also, if after market rear sensors are ok, would this apply to front ones, or should they definitely be avoided as it would be obvious that they are not OEM?

Any thoughts welcome.

ThanksDon't bother with them mate,car looks better without them:whistle:

[shimmy]

I don't miss mine at all, and they look pants.


Funny enough the place you need them is at the front to stop the front bumper and splitters getting whacked.....but:mad:

[Yanto]

Seriously don't bother mate...

1. They look gash (pimply ass)
2. Whatever did we do before parking sensors ? Learned to park properly.
3. They're for homos.....esp on SB cars
4. The £1k can be spent on a Supersprint or contribute to AP's

HTH :thumbs:

[3wheels3]

Th'ass looks pony & trap with the blobs on it.

[shane@mbtech]

To answer your question.

We charge around £200 to fit good parking sensors.





To answer your cry for help.

NNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO, dont do it. :119:

[chicken]

steer clear in my opinion and if you really want then then wait and find one that has it from factory, but i'd not buy a CSL thats had it spec'd.

[shimmy]

Th'ass looks pony & trap with the blobs on it.

PONY......PONY.......you don't listen :-D

[Jonnymaz]

Cheers guys, seems to be pretty unanimous!

Yes, I did have the splitters in mind, but I guess sensors on the front would be a whole lot worse.

I get the impression that after market sensors are a bad addition, and you generally prefer CSLs that didn't have them fitted in the first place.

Is that right, or would anyone actually recommend them (either fitted in the first place or added later)?

[azrael]

i prefer them with

go oem if youre gonna do it. get a second bumper with them in, pref same colour. can always be put back then

[sailorbaz]

Have to agree with Azrael, I don't mind them. Can't say I point at CSL's (When I do see them which is never) and say, 'What a poof, look he's got parking sensors'

Admittedly, it wouldn't be a deal breaker but if I was really wanting them I'd get an original bumper with them fitted out of the breakers or similar. The differences between the rear bumpers on M3's and CSL's is only the material iirc so keep the original for resale and stick an M3 bumper on it, change the diffuser obviously, these bumpers should be had for not a lot of dough!

[Bealo]

I really wanted them on my csl but the one i bought didn't have them and i survived without them for nearly 5 years.

I'm getting a rear view camera in the Pork to play through the double din Kenwood as rear view is a bit more limited than the CSL.

[shane@mbtech]

I have a rear bumper here with parking sensor holes, I also have the parking sensor unit here.

[CraigMillwardCroft]

I really wanted them on my csl but the one i bought didn't have them and i survived without them for nearly 5 years.

I'm getting a rear view camera in the Pork to play through the double din Kenwood as rear view is a bit more limited than the CSL.
I got rear view camera on my truck came as standard :blalalala:

[phoenixcsl]

I'm getting a rear view camera in the Pork to play through the double din Kenwood as rear view is a bit more limited than the CSL.

Show off :birdman:

Tho thats one thing I miss about my Focus RS, the reversing camera was awesome, shame the rest of the car was cack!

[Graham]

You can get invisible ones mate which is basically a strip stuck onto the back of the bumper. I bought some for my Dad's van 2 years ago and they're still going strong. Only £100 too

[Barry C]

I never had them on any other car but I do have them on the CSL and i really think they are great. I struggle when driving cars without them now because I just reverse without looking:-D

[NZ_M3]

You could always buy this from BMW - retrofit licence plate parking sensor:

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E46/Coupe/Europe/M3_CSL-S54/browse/distance_systems_cruise_control/retrofit_kit_pdc_ii/

Otherwise the standard PDC can be retrofitted.

[Mark CSL]

You could always buy this from BMW - retrofit licence plate parking sensor:

http://bmwfans.info/parts/catalog/E46/Coupe/Europe/M3_CSL-S54/browse/distance_systems_cruise_control/retrofit_kit_pdc_ii/

Otherwise the standard PDC can be retrofitted.


That looks Crap :-D

[NZ_M3]

That looks Crap :-D

haha I agree and given the price BMW would charge for something like that probably not worth it :gayfight:

[Bounce]

That looks Crap :-D:hahaha::hahaha:

[Pip1968]

i prefer them with

go oem if youre gonna do it. get a second bumper with them in, pref same colour. can always be put back then

I love this reply from Azrael. The OP is talking about going aftermarket to save 6-700 pounds and Azrael suggests buying another rear bumper for ..... ooooh 2-3000 pounds and then doing an aftermarket fit on the original :thumbs:.....:hahaha:.

That aside I would not fit them at all. I have them but I am not a 'spaz' and can work without them as I do on my Porsche and M5. They are for women and 'techies'.

Do not do it.

Pip

[_Nathan_]

You can get an original rear bumper for far less than that, they aren't CSL specific or expensive, think I paid about £100 for my last one.

[shane@mbtech]

Our black bumper is for sale for £100:supz:

[Pip1968]

You can get an original rear bumper for far less than that, they aren't CSL specific or expensive, think I paid about £100 for my last one.

I thought the CSL ones were made from CFRP and assumed the standard M3 ones were made of something less expensive and heavier.

Pip

[_Nathan_]

Only the front is special, rear is the same as normal M3

[mattCSLnut]

Don't bother with them mate,car looks better without them:whistle:

What he said :thumbs: but necessary option if you're a bit of a shirt lifter ;) :gayfight: