BMW Australia launches downloadable dashcam, auto high-beam

These upgrades can be downloaded onto cars fitted with the latest BMW network capable iDrive 7.0 media system.

It's one of the earlier examples of a new paradigm, replacing the ticking of options boxes at purchase.

The headlight update activates a camera near the interior mirror that's designed to detect oncoming vehicles up to 700m away, and using this information then dips the auto-deploying high beams automatically.

It can also identify vehicles up to 400m ahead of you, going in the same direction, and help you avoid dazzling their occupants.

The High Beam Assistant upgrade is available for both the new 1 Series and the imminent 2 Series Gran Coupe, with more models to follow suit. It's already standard on many pricier BMWs.

Once downloaded, the system takes around five minutes to activate. It costs $259, and you can find out whether your car is eligible by entering your VIN into the ConnectedDrive store compatibility checker.

The downloadable dashcam (BMW Drive Recorder in company vernacular) uses the car's onboard surround-view cameras, which record everything going on around the vehicle on 40-second loops.

You can tell the system to save a 40-second period (and select which cameras to use), but in the event of an accident, the car automatically saves the 20 seconds preceding and following.

All recorded videos can be exported onto a USB drive and include the following data parameters: date, time, speed and GPS coordinates.

Tesla is another brand that offers a factory dashcam, which in that case records up to 10 minutes, and which also records the car when static using Sentry Mode software.

Eligible products include any 3 Series, 7 Series, or 8 Series made after July 2019, and any X5, X6 and X7 made from August 2019. Other models will follow, plus a Remote Software Upgrade will be available this year for listed vehicles built before July.

Vehicles must also have Parking Assistant Plus, which is standard on all the above model variants except 320i anyway.

You can purchase a monthly subscription for $19, 12 months for $79, 36 months for $189, or purchase it permanently for $429.

While BMW hasn't divulged specifics, it promises many more downloadable options to come. Go have a better look at the store here.