Park-tronic

[rshahz]

hey...i have a s550 i bought in fall 2006 should i get it installed or should i just leave it alone and wait for my next lease?

[minimaybach]

Wait for your next lease. Parktronic is the only disappointing feature on my car. It doesn't seem sensitive enough. Before the first beep occurs I'm already only a foot away from an object. I wish it would begin beeping at about 3 feet away.

[Diesel Benz]

Originally Posted by minimaybach

Wait for your next lease. Parktronic is the only disappointing feature on my car. It doesn't seem sensitive enough. Before the first beep occurs I'm already only a foot away from an object. I wish it would begin beeping at about 3 feet away.

I wouldn't call that sensitivity, it comes on a lot earlier but you only get the visual indication. Some cars have this audio indication alone, drivers used to those often don't even realise the led display and may prefer the audio indication in any case. A matter of opinion.

Talking about sensitivity, tick the Distronic+ and the Parktronic also comes with significantly extended range. Gives an audible warning from a distance of several metres, but only if approaching the object at too high speed. At close distance though I feel the acoustic parktronic being more consistent and predictable. The radar system then again is significantly less sensitive to snow on bumpers.

Our parking lots in Europe are generally for a lot smaller cars than yours in the US, parktronic is then a must in my opinion. I can understand if some feel it being useless at different driving conditions and with different personal preferences.

[Diesel Benz]

Forgot to say that there is a lot of work to retrofit the parktronic but several forum members have had that done. I would expect minimaybach's conclusion often agreed.

[minimaybach]

Originally Posted by Diesel Benz

I wouldn't call that sensitivity, it comes on a lot earlier but you only get the visual indication. Some cars have this audio indication alone, drivers used to those often don't even realise the led display and may prefer the audio indication in any case. A matter of opinion.

Talking about sensitivity, tick the Distronic+ and the Parktronic also comes with significantly extended range. Gives an audible warning from a distance of several metres, but only if approaching the object at too high speed. At close distance though I feel the acoustic parktronic being more consistent and predictable. The radar system then again is significantly less sensitive to snow on bumpers.

Our parking lots in Europe are generally for a lot smaller cars than yours in the US, parktronic is then a must in my opinion. I can understand if some feel it being useless at different driving conditions and with different personal preferences.

I do realize the led display is there but maybe you're right. I may be relying too much on the audible and not enough on the visual ( kinda backwards for a man, isn't it???)
When you say, "tick the Distronic+ and the Parktronic also comes with extended range", are you referring to the audible warning signal during parking? or the audible sound you hear when you are approaching a vehicle too quickly with the radar sensors??
What I want is an earlier warning that I'm approaching my garage wall or some similar situation.

[rshahz]

thanks guys...

[Diesel Benz]

Originally Posted by minimaybach

are you referring to the audible warning signal during parking? or the audible sound you hear when you are approaching a vehicle too quickly with the radar sensors??
What I want is an earlier warning that I'm approaching my garage wall or some similar situation.

This is from the car manual:

Collision warning
Park Assist can detect obstacles from a
considerable distance. If you drive in reverse
towards an obstacle, you will hear a
warning tone. You must then brake in order
to avoid a collision. The warning tone
for a collision will not sound when the vehicle
is at a standstill very close to the obstacle.
In this case, you will hear a
corresponding tone for the warning indicator
in the rear area.

The normal operation is not different on Park Assist from that of Parktronic. The early warning sound works from a distance of 11 metres. I don't think it helps in your case though, you probably are approaching the garage wall at a speed where the early warning does not come on and once you are at a distance where the led indicators turn on, the operation of both systems is very similar.

It might be better if you were able to choose if the audible indication came on already "from the first led" or only from the first red led as now. I guess there are (at least) two reasons why MB is generally not supporting options like this: so many drivers get confused with the settings, adjust them wrong to their preferences and then the drivers are not happy, neither dealers from all those complaints. The other one obviously is IPR.

[minimaybach]

I have confirmed that I am happy with my parktronic sensors based on watching the LEDs. The tone only comes on once I've gotten into the red LED lights. So, my point is, I am going to have to rely on the LEDs more. Thanks for your help in this.

[matrik72]

Originally Posted by rshahz

hey...i have a s550 i bought in fall 2006 should i get it installed or should i just leave it alone and wait for my next lease?

Get the one with the rear view monitor. It helps whole a lot. With the parktronic and rear view monitor, every parking makes much much easier. If you are leasing, i would wait for the next lease.

[rshahz]

but does the rear monitor really help...i mean does it but everything into perspective...do objects appear farther away then they really are?