CONVENIENCE and comfort features topped a list of the technologies motorists cannot live without in new research by eBay, ahead of the latest Advanced Driver Assistance Systems.

The study by eBay, the UK's online marketplace for vehicle parts and accessories, looked into the attitudes to in-car technologies of 2,000 UK drivers.

Parking sensors (37 per cent) were rated the most essential piece of kit for UK drivers, ahead of USB ports (29 per cent) and Bluetooth connectivity (29 per cent).

As one in three (31.7 per cent) of the 36.1 million cars on the road in the UK are more than 12 years old, as many as 11.4 million drivers could be missing out on modern features - many of which can be easily retrofitted with a simple upgrade.

To showcase the range of tech available to modernise older models, eBay purchased a 2005 BMW 330Ci and fitted several top-rated technologies familiar to newer cars.

Abir Tewari, UK director of commercial operations, parts and accessories at eBay, said:"The UK car parc is getting older and more than half of the motorists in our study expect to keep their current car longer than they've kept previous vehicles. Fortunately, the modern technology features valued most by drivers can be fitted to older models relatively easily, to bring them up to date."

While passive technologies and in-car entertainment scored highly, active safety systems were less popular, with 38 per cent of motorists finding intervention by active avoidance technologies such as autonomous emergency braking, or lane keep assist, disconcerting.

The latest technology features account for a significant proportion of the cost of a new car, but more than half of drivers participating in the eBay study (51 per cent) have never used one or more of their advanced driver assistance or infotainment features; with cruise control, lane keep assistance and lane departure prevention systems topping the list of shunned features.

The BMW 330Ci is a firm favourite among car enthusiasts and BMW was the most searched brand on the eBay UK parts and accessories site during the first two months of the year.

BMW is also one of several car manufacturers to have an official brand store on the site - alongside the likes of Ford, MINI, Toyota and Lexus.

eBay offers millions of vehicle parts and accessories, whilst also providing customers with the opportunity to utilise innovative features such as My Garage. This tool allows users to input their vehicle registration number, ensuring that the parts they purchase are compatible with their specific model.