Lens heating
WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2013 BMW X5, 2012 BMW X5, and 2011 BMW X5. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.
The lens of the back-up camera is heated. The heating element is actuated with a pulse-modulated signal (PWM signal) by the control module of the rear view camera. A defective heating element causes a fault memory entry.