BLIS - retro-fit?

[Odysseus]

My 2012 Executive has BLIS. It sounds a more useful feature than it actually is, as (on mine at least) it's often wrong, or flashes up briefly when there's nothing there.

Not something I'd personally try to retrofit anyway.

[Moose Test]

Each to their own. I do understand the compulsion to have all-the-toys, I have traditionally shopped for well specified models myself.

That said, my XC70 had BLIS and I can't recall any time when I was 'saved' from contact with another vehicle by it. Generally it just flashed a lot when I was in slow moving motorway / dual carriageway queues, or worse still, when approaching muli-lane roundabout or traffic light queues. In the latter case I found that it could be really quite distracting in the dark (a sudden bright orange flash right beside you in the case of a driver side detection) and probably therefore less safe for it.

[Moose Test]

Now, if you want a Volvo safety feature which (imho) was just bl**dy outright dangerous, it was the early "Collision Warning with Auto Brake" system.

I test drove an XC70 fitted with it and it was triggered twice inside the space of ~20 minutes, both times as I was taking a sharp bend and the line-of-sight detection system interpreted an oncoming vehicle as being on my side of the road.

[XJSDriver]

Yup - had similar in new VW Passat - how person behind managed to avoid ploughing into the back is a credit to them.

I guess a taste of things to come! Just read this headline today "Much of what's being sold as 'AI' today is snake oil, says Princeton professor"

I too would not bother retrofitting 'BLIS' - I always prefer to move my head and check; all part of being continually aware of what is around you.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by XJSDriver

Yup - had similar in new VW Passat - how person behind managed to avoid ploughing into the back is a credit to them.

I guess a taste of things to come! Just read this headline today "Much of what's being sold as 'AI' today is snake oil, says Princeton professor"

I too would not bother retrofitting 'BLIS' - I always prefer to move my head and check; all part of being continually aware of what is around you.

My wife has a new Golf with this feature and whilst is has once saved me reversing into a black car in a unlit car park, it's caused an accident too.... In summer we went to an event at a stately home, the sort where they mark out temporary carparks in a field. We were in a line of traffic driving accross the grass and came across a large, tall thistle. The car decided that this thistle was a solid object and slammed on bringing us to an immediate stop. The car behind managed to stop just in time but the car behind him did not... what followed wasn't a pleasant conversation.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by Moose Test

That said, my XC70 had BLIS and I can't recall any time when I was 'saved' from contact with another vehicle by it. Generally it just flashed a lot when I was in slow moving motorway / dual carriageway queues, or worse still, when approaching muli-lane roundabout or traffic light queues. In the latter case I found that it could be really quite distracting in the dark (a sudden bright orange flash right beside you in the case of a driver side detection) and probably therefore less safe for it.

The problem also with the earlier implementations of BLIS was that they would throw a message on the dashboard when they switched between daylight mode and night sensing mode which looked like an error but was normal... Quite irritating.

[CrossContinent]

Well thank you far sharing your BLIS experience.

Bingo! All about the maxing the bells and whistles where possible. Now this may be a stretch, but what about a used CEM from a vehicle that had BLIS? Would that be a possible option?

I installled all of the hardware this morning and have not had any success. The indicators do not flash at start and the blis switch does not even light up/flash (LED or backlight) I did check to make sure the switch (confirmed all 7 slots are receiving power).

Any additional thoughts on completing this retrofit? Worth going to the dealer and asking for software upgrade? Many thanks.

[Moose Test]

IF this is viable, you certainly would need the BLIS software application installed. A franchised dealer would be the best, possibly only, option for that.

Exchanging your CEM with one from a donor vehicle fitted with BLIS is a non-starter. It can't be done, it just doesn't work like that.

[CrossContinent]

Originally Posted by Moose Test

IF this is viable, you certainly would need the BLIS software application installed. A franchised dealer would be the best, possibly only, option for that.

Exchanging your CEM with one from a donor vehicle fitted with BLIS is a non-starter. It can't be done, it just doesn't work like that.

Thank you for the detailed response. Also, thank you for leading me away from a non-starter.

Will let y’all know how it works out! Thank you much.

[Moose Test]

No problem. Do let us know how you get on.