The BMW i3 Parking Assistant was an available feature for the sub-compact car during its years of production, helping drivers conquer the difficult task of

parallel parking

through the use of sensors and braking.

As one of the few brands that does sport just as well as it does elegant, it should come as no surprise that BMWs are filled with the most advanced and helpful tech. Parking Assistant has proven one of the most beneficial for the parallel parking-impaired crowd, essentially taking all the stress out of squeezing into a spot on the street.

Read on to learn all about the BMW i3 Parking Assistant feature, and put all your parking worries behind you.

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How to activate the BMW i3’s Parking Assistant

Depending on the model year of the i3, Parking Assistant was either part of the Parking Package or Technology Package, taking over control of the car, and parking it on its own with the help of sensors. This feature costs about $700, and the peace of mind it provides can definitely be worth the price.

This assistance is activated by pressing the Park Distance Control (PDC) button, and then all you have to do is watch the magic unfold in real-time on your infotainment screen.

If you want to use the Parking Assistant on your BMW i3, follow the steps below:

Make sure your seatbelt is on—the parking system won’t work if you are not clicked in.

Press the PDC button on your center console to instruct your car to begin scanning the area while you are at low speeds.

Once your i3 has found a vacant spot, a message will pop up for you to stop your car and put your turn signal on.

To park, press and hold the PDC button for the entire duration of the parking process.

That’s all there is to it! If you experience any problems with your Parking Assistant system, head to your owner’s manual for more information.

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Do all BMWs have Parking Assistant?

Parking Assistant has been included on BMW models as either a standard or optional feature since it was first rolled out in 2012. This convenient tech has continually evolved and improved throughout its lifespan to better meet the needs of all BMW drivers.

Also available is the enhanced Parking Assistant Plus. It is the same exact parking system, it just includes additional cameras so you can get a 360-degree view of your car as it parks itself—for an additional cost, of course.

Which BMWs have Parking Assistant?

BMW doesn’t show preference when it comes to their parking assistance, making it an available feature on their entire catalog, which includes:

BMW X Models: model year 2012 onwards

BMW 2 Series: model year 2014 onwards

BMW 3 Series: model year 2012 onwards

BMW 4 Series: model year 2014 onwards

BMW 5 Series: model year 2012 onwards

BMW 6 Series: model year 2012 onwards

BMW 7 Series: model year 2012 onwards

To get Parking Assistant Plus, you’ll need to opt for a higher

trim level

by selecting one of the packages that includes the feature. If you’re considering purchasing an i3, you can head to your nearest BMW dealer to see the Parking Assistant for yourself and whether or not it’s worth it to upgrade to the Parking Assistant Plus.

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