Had my 2014 R for about six months now, and I still can't get used to how far away the nose is from things it might hit. I haven't made an impression on anything yet but I'm wondering if anyone has any tips or info on how they cope with it?

The parking sensors on the front are abhorrently slow, like they're updating once every couple of seconds. They normally go from nothing to flatline when I'm pulling up to something (as opposed to those on my 2004 5-series, which is far, far superior despite the decade separating the cars). I presume this is normal but perhaps I have a fault?

Anyway, half question half rant

 

No, I find my parking sensors to be very responsive and I use them all of the time to tell me when to stop at those parking lot concrete curbs. You might need to get them checked; I had one that was giving me false alarms and the dealer replaced it.
Larry

 

Get the Sto-N-Sho mount for the car. It sits low enough and is strong enough, that it has saved me from damaging the car a couple of times against a curb.
Sto N Sho - Quick Release Front License Plate Bracket

 

I also had a bad sensor, thing would randomly go off at a red light. Dealer replaced it. They are not that great but something sounds wrong with yours

 

I live in Luxembourg so that won't work for me, but thanks.

 

Sure it will. Mike has brackets for both US and Euro profile plates.