Page 24 - Australasian Paint & Panel Jan-Feb 2020

Tech Talk • BMW 3 Series
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PAINT&PANEL JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020
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REPAIR CHALLENGES
The BMW 3 Series sedan is a high tech machine offering drivers state of the art safety and driving enjoyment. The tech- nology behind the car means that there are a number of repair challenges which includes some special tooling only avail- able from BMW.
The new 3 Series weighs in a dainty 55 kg less than its predecessor. The weight saving is thanks to BMW EfficientLight- weight measures which is rooted in an in- telligent material mix including increased use of high-strength steels and alumini- um. A weight saving of almost 15 kilo- grams is down to the use of aluminium for the bonnet and front side panels.
Body-related measures which divert wind noise to good effect give a further boost to acoustic comfort, while the struc- tural foam used to fill the A-pillars lessens the amount of airborne sound that reaches the interior. Acoustic glass for the wind- screen is also part of standard specification for the new BMW 3 Series Sedan.
The vehicle has cast aluminium spring strut domes that cannot be repaired if dam- aged. The replacement method includes bonding, riveting and welding. It is crucial that only the adhesives, rivets and equip- ment specified by BMW be used during the replacement process. The attachment pro- cess between the spring strut dome and front engine support incorporates flow drilled screws that need specialist BMW tooling to remove them.
Repairs of parts or panels that contribute to the collision energy management of the vehicle need careful consideration for in- stance, aluminium parts.
DRIVER ASSISTANCE SYSTEMS
The new 3 Series is stacked with driver as- sistance systems. Camera images and the data gathered by radar and ultrasonic sen- sors are used to monitor the vehicle’s sur- rounding area and either alert the driver to hazards or minimise the risk of an accident by means of corrective braking and steer- ing. There’s standard cruise control with braking function. Also standard is collision and pedestrian warning with city braking function, the latest version of which also alerts the driver when a cyclist is detected.
The Driving Assistant comprises of the lane change warning system and rear collision prevention driver assis-
ABOVE: Multi material use, advanced ADAS systems and complex joining methods on new 3 Series.
tance systems. Cross-traffic alert reduc- es the risk of a collision when reversing into roads that are obstructed from the driver’s view.
The optional Driving Assistant Profes- sional offers the full complement of assis- tance systems. Underpinning it all is a tri- focal camera co-developed with Mobileye, working in conjunction with a front range radar. In addition to all the components of the Driving Assistant, it also includes the steering and lane control assistant, which takes its cues from road markings and ve- hicles driving ahead and works together with the driver to help keep the vehicle in the detected lane.
The Driving Assistant Professional also features the lane keeping assistant with ac- tive side collision protection. As well as emitting visual warning signals and caus- ing the steering wheel to vibrate, active side collision protection also uses a steer- ing input to help avoid collisions. There is also evasion aid, which now also reacts to pedestrians, and the cross-traffic alert, which helps to monitor the traffic situation on concealed roads when manoeuvring forwards too
The park distance control with sensors at both the front and rear provides visual and acoustic signals to prevent collisions with obstacles located to the side or rear of the vehicle. The parking assistant automat- ically selects spaces either parallel or per- pendicular to the road, and manoeuvres
into them. The latest version of the system takes care of steering the car, accelerating and braking. This system is the only one of its kind in the new BMW 3 Series Sedan’s segment. It offers the option of automated reversing in confined spaces or situations where the driver does not have a clear view. To do this, it stores the steering movements for any section the car has just driven forward along at no more than 36 km/h). The system is then able to reverse the vehicle for distances of up to 50 metres by steering it along exactly the same line it has just taken when moving forward, while all the driver has to do is operate the accelerator and brake pedals and monitor the area around the car.
The park view, panorama view and 3D top View features are used to create a 360° image of the vehicle and its surroundings in the control display. Meanwhile, the re- mote 3D View function gives drivers the ability to call up a three-dimensional live image of their vehicle and its immediate vicinity on their phone.
Making its debut in the new BMW 3 Se- ries is the BMW Intelligent Personal Assis- tant, a digital character that responds to the prompt “Hey BMW”. Drivers will in- creasingly be able to operate their car and access its functions and information sim- ply by speaking. It learns routines and hab- its – Saying “Hey BMW, I’m cold” will prompt it to adjust the temperature in- side the car accordingly.