Mercedes: Worst back up camera out there?

[hx_guy]

Is there is one thing that irks me about the E350, it's the backup camera. Don't get me wrong, it's better than no camera for sure, but why did they go with a fisheye lens and why aren't there any guide lines like other cars have? I find it very hard to judge both the distance behind the car and the width of the car itself. I don't think it would have been terribly difficult to have some guide lines on the screen, even if they don't move with the steering wheel like they do in an Audi.

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[Tjdehya]

Real drivers take an initial glance at the backup camera then turn their heads.

[xolinlevh]

Mercedes is WAY behind the times in the practical tech department, worst GPS ive ever used, worst interface, backup camera, all that....

[listerone]

MY BT is the first car I've owned with a backup camera.The camera,combined with the tilting passenger side mirror,does nicely for me.If others are even better that's great.Perhaps I haven't been "spoiled" by having owned any such vehicle.

[_brent]

I bought an Infiniti in 2005 (seven years ago!) that had a backup camera with guidelines that followed the steering and colour-coded distance markers. I was disappointed that my 2009 Jag didn't have them (although they've added them for 2012), and almost shocked to find that a 2012 MB didn't. BMW even has the 360-degree view on the 5-series now (which i first saw in an Infiniti three years ago).

-brent

[BenzV12]

Honestly, when I first saw the guidelines I found them very confusing then practical
However, I have learnt how these lines work and help drivers park easily

I find my back up camera very useful , no guide lines but I can park my car between two cars easily w/o any problem and thanks to rear view , I can go as far back as I can find it proper . Normally, sensors only beep and you may wonder what's behind you but rear view assist can really show what's behind you and you can set your mind at ease when the sensors beep more than usual

I know MB may not have the best tech gadgets but overall very satisfying

[hyperion667]

Originally Posted by Tjdehya

Real drivers take an initial glance at the backup camera then turn their heads.

thanx Dr Duh

[BudC]

Originally Posted by Tjdehya

Real drivers take an initial glance at the backup camera then turn their heads.

I asked my wife about backing up our E550 and she said she just turns her head like she has always done. She doesn't use the camera (or the tilt-down mirror).

I drove a GLK for a week and liked the guidelines that it provided for the rear view camera. The E550 should have had them.

[xolinlevh]

Originally Posted by BudC

I asked my wife about backing up our E550 and she said she just turns her head like she has always done. She doesn't use the camera (or the tilt-down mirror).

I drove a GLK for a week and liked the guidelines that it provided for the rear view camera. The E550 should have had them.

Im surprised its not something that they can easily add via a software update to the car.

[mnje350]

Originally Posted by hx_guy

Is there is one thing that irks me about the E350, it's the backup camera.

Don't get me wrong, it's better than no camera for sure, but why did they go with a fisheye lens and why aren't there any guide lines like other cars have? I find it very hard to judge both the distance behind the car and the width of the car itself.

I don't think it would have been terribly difficult to have some guide lines on the screen, even if they don't move with the steering wheel like they do in an Audi.

Hmmm, yes there should probably be a full blown ranting, er i mean rating system on all of the camera offerings that are used on all the makes and models. Probably should do that on the position of the cruise control levers too.

Or.

You could test drive one and decide if it is something that bothers you so much you can't live with then you can decide not to buy one.

[jvc300]

Originally Posted by BudC

I asked my wife about backing up our E550 and she said she just turns her head like she has always done. She doesn't use the camera (or the tilt-down mirror).

I drove a GLK for a week and liked the guidelines that it provided for the rear view camera. The E550 should have had them.

I've seen and tried the guidelines and they don't help much anyways. I'm just happy to know that the area is clear.
What's the big deal around guidelines? Bragging rights?

[Decboy]

My wife has the X5 with all the cool gadgets and the camera even has a top view. However, I get distracted with all the parking lines and top view that I actually park faster and more efficiently in my E350 using the standard camera.

But the top view is cool from the passenger point of view.

[BenzV12]

Originally Posted by Decboy

But the top view is cool from the passenger point of view.

It should be when you are parking right over the edge and bikini girls sunbathing down at the beach lol

RR also ( I mean Range Rover lol ) has a bunch of camera once Jeremy Clarkson run over his crew to show they were no longer necessity to the BBC

[WEBSRFR]

Originally Posted by Tjdehya

Real drivers take an initial glance at the backup camera then turn their heads.

Based on the other Mercedes drivers I know, Mercedes would go bankrupt if they built their cars for those you consider "real drivers."

Seriously though I agree with the OP. The Mercedes backup camera is a joke. It's something you expected to be installed by a bunch of kids at the local Best Buy back in 2002.

With all the tight parking I have to do in the Washington DC area with very congested parking spots and garages I am constantly envious of friends with Audi and BMW parking cameras with integrated proximity warning systems. They are generations ahead of Mercedes.

[K-A]

I don't get the hoopla behind "guidlines". You guys really need lines to tell you where to go? Are we getting that dumbed down as drivers?

Speaking for myself, before I had the backup camera in the W212, I never though I needed one. Now, I feel like I can't live without it. In cars without it, I'm absolutely lost when I'm trying to reverse. What these things do is take away our abilities to use our brains and senses to their highest degrees, therefore they by definition, "dumb us down".

I'll take all the camera's, sure, and it sure has saved me some scuffs and time, but it's made me idiotically bad when it comes to reversing without it now.

On another note, with the super high belt lines of cars today, it's getting to the point where we need them, as rear windows are become non functional practically.

[mnje350]

I would have preferred the system that has the bumper mounted sensors with a graphic display in the car. I don't even know if that system is offered here in the US. I believe the parktronic operates differently. Regardless, in order to get the car with a different system, I would have had to order it rather than take advantage of end of model year discounts that the deler offered. But I knew what I was buying.

Now I leave the distronic turned on so it helps in the front and the camera helps in the back. It's the front and rear corners that I need the help of the sensors on. The camera, lines or no lines does not help much with that.

[steph280]

People complain about the picture quality of Porsche Cayenne/Panamera backup cameras over on the Porsche forums as well. The image quality IS pretty poor compared to the ones in Mercedes. But I mean come on, it's a backup camera! If you can see what's back there then it's doing its job. Can't expect it to park the car for you. For that you can get a Ford Focus which costs a lot less.

Our old 2004 Toyota Sienna came with backup camera back in 2003. Although it doesn't have the turning guide lines like modern ones, it has saved us many, many times. And we are able to parallel pack into a very tight spots where it wouldn't be possible without it. So in my opinion, as long as it shows a good indication of the distance relative to your rear bumper and object, it's worth having.

[dfordham]

Originally Posted by K-A

I don't get the hoopla behind "guidlines". You guys really need lines to tell you where to go? Are we getting that dumbed down as drivers?

I'm old enough to remember when such things as power steering, power brakes, automatic transmissions, etc were being introduced. The luddites of the time argued against those feature, saying: "real drivers didn't need that fluff." Many said you shouldn't even be able to get a driver's license using an automatic transmission.

These are all just features to, potentially, make a driver's life a little easier. You don't have to use them.

Regards,
Don

[jvc300]

Originally Posted by K-A

I don't get the hoopla behind "guidlines". You guys really need lines to tell you where to go? Are we getting that dumbed down as drivers?

Speaking for myself, before I had the backup camera in the W212, I never though I needed one. Now, I feel like I can't live without it. In cars without it, I'm absolutely lost when I'm trying to reverse. What these things do is take away our abilities to use our brains and senses to their highest degrees, therefore they by definition, "dumb us down".

I'll take all the camera's, sure, and it sure has saved me some scuffs and time, but it's made me idiotically bad when it comes to reversing without it now.

On another note, with the super high belt lines of cars today, it's getting to the point where we need them, as rear windows are become non functional practically.

++1....

[YYZ-E55]

Originally Posted by K-A

I don't get the hoopla behind "guidlines". You guys really need lines to tell you where to go? Are we getting that dumbed down as drivers?

Try driving the W166 for a bit (which has active guidelines) or any other rear view camera system with lines and you'll see. The usability is greatly increased.

I would've posted the same comment as you 2 months ago; not now though.

[K-A]

It's one of those things, "if you don't have it, you don't need it.... if you have it, you now need it".

I'm a big believer that all these creature comforts make us dumbed down, but hey, it makes life easier (don't have to apply ourselves so much in so many areas), so sign me up.... but I guess if I don't have it, and don't feel I need it, I don't really care for it.

If my W212 had guidlines, I'd probably be saying how not having them is unacceptable. Not sure which way is better. I love my rearview camera, but it's made me feel less confident without one when driving backwards.

[El Cid]

Test drove a Hyundai Genesis in 2010 and the backup camera with lines was much more functional first time I tried it. Still don't trust the camera in my E350.
Have a Toyota Tacoma that has a backup camera with the screen in rear view mirror. Conveneint for using both mirror and camera simultaneously, but real small screen.
View not really any better than the MB one.
Have learned: 1-absoulutly nothing to sides shows in either one; 2-when you see something in the screen,you're on top of it.