What does the BMW button with 'P' and three horizontal lines mean?
2 Answers
This button indicates the parking sensor. Introduction to parking sensors: A parking sensor is a safety driving assistance device designed to help drivers understand the surrounding obstacles during parking, reversing, or starting. During use, it alerts the driver through sound or other means. Therefore, during parking or reversing, you may hear warning sounds, which indicate that the parking sensor has detected an obstacle. However, some vehicles may have a 'P' with two lines instead of three, which is also the button for the parking sensor. Precautions for parking sensors: Due to the installation position of the radar probe, the parking sensor may fail when obstacles behind the vehicle are too low, too high, or at an angle beyond the detection range of the probe. For example, low obstacles like sidewalk steps or large rocks, or high obstacles like tall box trucks, may fall outside the detection range of the parking sensor.
Friend, as an experienced BMW driver, let me explain this button in detail. The 'P' button on the BMW center console stands for Park, which is one of the main transmission control points. The 'three horizontal lines' you mentioned usually refer to three adjacent gear icons or positions, typically R (Reverse), N (Neutral), and D (Drive), arranged in sequence after P. In practical use, after parking in P, you toggle the gear lever or button to switch between R for reversing, N for temporary stops like at traffic lights, and D for forward driving - each gear serves different scenarios. For example, R requires checking the camera, N is for temporary stops, and D is for normal driving. BMW's design is quite user-friendly, with electronic gear shifting that's fast and precise. From my daily driving experience, the gear changes are smooth, especially in urban traffic with minimal jerking. I recommend beginners read the manual thoroughly and develop good habits: always confirm the correct gear before starting or reversing to improve driving efficiency and safety, avoiding mechanical wear from incorrect operations.
