I am about to buy a 2nd hand 530XD and it comes with what looks like a camera underneath the rear view mirror.

Any ideas what on earth it is?

 

If I am not mistaken, it is the rain sensor

 

No, this is not the rain sensor. The rain sensor sits above the rear view mirror. This is an camera that sits behind the rear view mirror so you can't see from the driver's seat but you can from outside.

 

Do you mean in the windshield? If so there are 2 sensors there Rain Sensor and Light Sensor - neither of which is a camera.

 

No, it looks like an actual camera and not the rain or light sensors. It is hanging from the rear view mirror. My thoughts were either the Nightvision (which it is not as the camera is in the bumper) or the lane departure warning system.

 

And I have answered my own question:

http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicles/6ser...nomics_ldw.html

"The optional Lane Departure Warning gently vibrates the steering wheel just before you veer away from your lane - and only then. A camera mounted between the rear-view mirror and the windscreen "sees" the markings on the road ahead. Lane Departure Warning is deactivated when the indicator is used, so that you are not distracted by false signals."

 

Can you take a picture of what you are talking about?

 

so does that feature work? is it worth it?

 

The lane departure warning camera is located just next to the rain sensor and is in a triangle-shaped area that is only visible from outside the car. I'm guessing that you are correct that this is the camera you're asking about...

 

Hi

After what you write it sounds like the FLA camera ( Fern Licht Automatic = high beam automatic ) it is mounted in the housing underneath the rearview mirrow , when you turn your lightswitch to either automatic ( one click left ) or position 2 ( two click right ) , you pull your highbeam arm one time forward ( like when you switch on the highbeam ) , now you get a littel symbol in your cluster showing a headlight with a A in it , now the car automaticly switch on/off the highbeam when a another car come on to you , or you get up behind another car at night ( when it is dark ) , it is a very nice "feature"