[sor]

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I made a quick video showing the results of what you get when you click that drive recorder on the center console.

You get four simultaneous streams of video recorded, I edited them together to flip between them in this video.

The streams are MPEG2, which is not super easy to work with these days but also was probably chosen because it requires very little in the way of processing and power. I wouldn't be surprised if the cameras themselves stream this directly.

You also get an XML file describing the VIN, coordinates, time of day, and vehicle speed. Looks like there is an entry for every 500ms or so in my sample.

[Pictor]

This is similar to other BMWs too. I use one of the memory buttons (on G30, G16, and G05) to give me quick access to Drive Recorder. I wish the iX had similar quick access buttons to use in this way.

[ggalanis]

Originally Posted by Pictor

This is similar to other BMWs too. I use one of the memory buttons (on G30, G16, and G05) to give me quick access to Drive Recorder. I wish the iX had similar quick access buttons to use in this way.

the most important feature of the drive recorder to access quickly without fiddling with the touch screen is for it to start recording. You can do this with a long press of the camera button on your console. Not as good as say pressing number 1 on your 1-8 shortcuts but better than fiddling with the screen.

[Horton]

Thank you for your effort. Very cool. The landscape - beautiful- the music perfect. I will be taking delivery of my IX within a week or so. I have no idea how one downloads the video files generated by the cars cameras onto an external device. If you get the chance can you direct me to the instructions for that? Perhaps it is well documented in the owners manual. The same goes for how to play high quality music files through the B&W sound system. Is that done through one of the USB ports?

[sor]

Originally Posted by Horton

Thank you for your effort. Very cool. The landscape - beautiful- the music perfect. I will be taking delivery of my IX within a week or so. I have no idea how one downloads the video files generated by the cars cameras onto an external device. If you get the chance can you direct me to the instructions for that? Perhaps it is well documented in the owners manual. The same goes for how to play high quality music files through the B&W sound system. Is that done through one of the USB ports?

It's pretty straightforward in the drive recorder app. You can browse the recordings and copy to a USB stick.

[Horton]

Straightforward is what I was hoping for. Thanks!

[IB M]

Great for proof in an accident as long as your not at fault.

Will this work when parked for theft or vandalism prevention?

[sor]

Originally Posted by IB M

Great for proof in an accident as long as your not at fault.

Will this work when parked for theft or vandalism prevention?

Yes, if the car is disturbed and alarm goes off it will capture that window of time for you to review.

[mikekay]

Originally Posted by Pictor

This is similar to other BMWs too. I use one of the memory buttons (on G30, G16, and G05) to give me quick access to Drive Recorder. I wish the iX had similar quick access buttons to use in this way.

Are you able to tell me how to directly record using one of the memory buttons the long press wastes 3 secs or so...

[themnmd]

Will it respond to verbal commands?

[sor]

Originally Posted by mikekay

Are you able to tell me how to directly record using one of the memory buttons the long press wastes 3 secs or so...

It will retroactively record, though. I think it takes at least as long to do it via favorites because your favorite just opens the recorder app, then you have to select record.

[sor]

Originally Posted by themnmd

Will it respond to verbal commands?

That's a good question, not sure. Will check it out.

[Nahlem]

Looks wonderful especially when road has dried up a bit and the sun is out, this November here in Sweden has been nothing but dreadful, sens 5th of November still going strong we have had nothing but grey sluggish weather with constant rain and the de-icing trucks driving like shuttle buses spraying salt everywhere. And a grey cloud coverage thats been lasting sens start of November.

I will try to use this to on my i4 see if i can get it to work still getting weird error messages when trying to record.

[Olivenoire]

Originally Posted by ggalanis

the most important feature of the drive recorder to access quickly without fiddling with the touch screen is for it to start recording. You can do this with a long press of the camera button on your console. Not as good as say pressing number 1 on your 1-8 shortcuts but better than fiddling with the screen.

The more time pass, the more I do not want to delete my buttons on dashboard.
I will never be able to understand how it was possible to delete those 8 simple button.
Damned teenagers designers

[Crazy One]

Is it the orginal quality or is it degraded by YouTube?
Would it be possible to get the licence plate of the car going from the opposite direction?

[2kaccordocoupe]

Won't help when those cams are covered in salt and road grime from a typical winter.

You still need an interior front facing dash cam to CYA

[Pictor]

Originally Posted by Crazy One

Is it the orginal quality or is it degraded by YouTube?
Would it be possible to get the licence plate of the car going from the opposite direction?

It's difficult to read plates with such a wide angle camera.

[guarnibl]

Originally Posted by sor

I made a quick video showing the results of what you get when you click that drive recorder on the center console.

You get four simultaneous streams of video recorded, I edited them together to flip between them in this video.

The streams are MPEG2, which is not super easy to work with these days but also was probably chosen because it requires very little in the way of processing and power. I wouldn't be surprised if the cameras themselves stream this directly.

You also get an XML file describing the VIN, coordinates, time of day, and vehicle speed. Looks like there is an entry for every 500ms or so in my sample.

Mpeg2 and XML…. Is this early 2000's? Lol

[sahajesh]

Originally Posted by guarnibl

Mpeg2 and XML…. Is this early 2000's? Lol

Does it need to be anything else though?

[guarnibl]

Originally Posted by sahajesh

Does it need to be anything else though?

Not at all. Just found it funny.

[sourphish]

Originally Posted by Pictor

It's difficult to read plates with such a wide angle camera.

I put a front and rear dashcam in my i4 to supplement the drive recorder. Gives me 2 chances to potentially read a plate or catch something in case one of the devices fail. I just need to stop being lazy and actually hardwire and hide the wires!

[sor]

Originally Posted by guarnibl

Mpeg2 and XML…. Is this early 2000's? Lol

I suspect the MPEG2 is because it requires no active processing - the camera SoCs probably stream this natively. To store it as mp4 or something they'd probably need to full time occupy four threads on an infotainment CPU. It's clearly capturing full time even if it doesn't save it all since you can retroactively capture.

It would be nicer to work with though if it transcoded what you did save though automatically.