Active Cruise Control E60, E61, E63, E64, E65, E66: Introduction

In 04/2000, Active Cruise Control (system supplier: BOSCH) was installed for the first time in a BMW as special equipment for the E38.

Active cruise control is an extension of the conventional cruise-control system (FGR). A comfortable distance and cruise control has been added to this. The distance from the vehicle ahead can be selected from 4 fixed timed separations. (EURO version: 1.0 - 1.5 - 2.0 - 2.5 seconds) Thus the spatial distance from the vehicle in front changes with the speed.

With Active Cruise Control activated, a speed in the range from 30 km/h to 180 km/h can be preselected.

The 2nd generation (ACC 2) Active Cruise Control option 541 will be introduced for the first time in 09/2004 on the E63/E64.

With the model year measures in March 2005, Active Cruise Control (ACC 2) will be introduced in more models: E60, E61, E65, E66.

• E60, E61, E63, E64 before 09/2005, for more information, refer to SYSTEM OVERVIEW FOR ACTIVE CRUISE CONTROL: E60, E61, E63, E64 UP TO 09/2005: .
• E60, E61, E63, E64 from 09/2005, for more information, refer to SYSTEM OVERVIEW FOR ACTIVE CRUISE CONTROL: E60, E61, E63, E64 FROM 09/2005 .
• E65, E66 as from 03/2005, for more information, refer to SYSTEM OVERVIEW FOR ACTIVE CRUISE CONTROL: E65, E66 FROM 03/2005 .

Changes in ACC 2 compared to ACC 1 (in E38, E65 and E66 by 03/2005):

• Radar sensor now has 4 radar antennae instead of just 3

  This means the area covered by the radar sensor is widened from +/-4° to +/-8°.

• The system is approximately 60 % smaller.

With the model year measures, the following changes to the Active Cruise Control option will be introduced in March 2005:

> E60, E61, E63, E64 only

Additional scope of operation in combination of Car Communication Computer (CCC) with Professional navigation system option 609.

The dynamics of the Active Cruise Control change according to the characteristics of the roads. (The roads are split into road categories, e.g. motorways and highways. In addition, the general the number of bends on the route ahead is analyzed, i.e. if there are a lot of bends ahead, or just a few, as well as the radii of the bends.)

The advantages: 

In comparison with the previous ACC, ACC 2 offers the following advantages:

• more dynamic control behavior
• The widened surveillance range of the radar sensor means that Active Cruise Control now works much better when cornering.
  • Vehicles in front are monitored earlier
  • Longer, more stable monitoring when following a vehicle (even in cases of tight bends)