Driver Assist Package

[cobalt210]

Still awaiting delivery of my new ML Bluetec I wonder about others impressions of the features in this package. I can certainly see the advantage of Distronic adaptive cruise control and active blind spot assist - and bought the option for those reasons. I'm concerned, however, about driving the curvy streets of this Boston suburb and wearing out the brakes as I cross the white lines. I realize I can toggle the feature, but I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on the package in general - and thanks.

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[shortspark]

I am in the process of purchasing an ML350 (just not sure if I want to wait for the 2013 or order a late year 2012 build). I had a test drive at the dealership yesterday and I was very impressed, not only with the vehicle on the whole but with the blind spot assist. I used it twice during my test drive as I drove slowly waiting for cars to pass me. I liked it a lot because there certainly is a large blind spot with the ML350.

However, although I see the value of the adaptive cruise control and active lane assist in certain urban and highway situations, it is not my cup of tea for my driving conditions. I live in the country and drive back roads 75% of the time. I do not take trips over 100 miles by car so I am rarely on the highway to use cruise control to begin with. If I were in a situation such as yours where I would be crossing lines all the time in the city, I think the constant wheel feedback would drive me nuts and I would end up disabling it. I am also considering the 2013 SRX as my second option and that one I understand will have warning vibrations in the seat! That would really drive me up the wall!!

As I said, blind spot assist is good for me because it is only a warning and does not try to take over or do anything physical. But as far as the other stuff is concerned, I for one would rather have complete control, for better or worse.

[WCH BOS]

I did not intend to get this package but when a ML63 became available because someone backed out of a custom order, I ended up with it. I would not worry about the effects on the brakes or curvy roads (I'm also in Boston). I've found that in situations where you are in city traffic and need to switch lanes often, the system does not engage because it looks ahead to find the lanes for tracking. Also if you use your turn signal, the system does not send you a signal. Finally, the system does a reasonably good job of finding the lane - it projects a symbol that tells you when it is tracking a lane (the symbol is a different color when engaged in the ML63).

The blind spot system also works very well. However, I have found occasions where I need to squeeze into a space that I get an audible warning beep from the blind spot assist.

All in all, the system works much better than I expected. I anticipated that I would turn the system off but have found it to be quite useful without being intrusive or annoying. I am not sure it is worth $2100 but it is nice.

[2012MLBlue]

Love the distronic cruise and can't wait for a long road trip to try it out on some serious stretches of highway. I know it will make a long drive more relaxing especially when you find another vehicle doing a speed you like and you can follow them from a safe distance and not have to adjust your speed manually.

I like the blind spot assist, nice to not have to check blind spots quite as carefully. The lane departure warning is a pain in the *** and I disabled it. I do use my signal 95% of the time but if you don't put your signal on when changing lanes you get the warning.

The brake assist feature got its first test last week when there was a sudden stop on the highway during rush hour and I was slightly slow to respond. Good to have it although I have also gotten the warning tone a few times when about to pass a much slower moving vehicle on 2 lane roads and come up quickly behind them before pulling left to pass.

[katiesdad7]

Both options are worth the money. I recently took a trip from Florida to Pennsylvania and the radar cruise was a pleasure. Just sit back and steer. I have used it a few times in heavy I95 traffic and it works great. As traffic slows so do you. If someone cuts in front of you the system looks to see if they are going faster than you. If they are it gradually opens up the space. Pretty smart system. The blind spot has saved my car twice. Not from me trying to change lanes but by the jack bag next to me texting and coming into my lane in my blind spot. The system saw there was no car on the other side and moved the vehicle out of the way. Scary when it happens because you can't see the car coming at you in the blind spot.

[emesap43]

I have the passive version of the package. It was available on the vehicle off the lot and had not considered it really. I was not interested in the active version. I appreciate that the vehicle can react on your behalf but I prefer to stay in control... specially when they are some false positive like were described. I do find these features very useful. Particularly the blind spot assist.

[300DTurbo]

Originally Posted by katiesdad7

Both options are worth the money. I recently took a trip from Florida to Pennsylvania and the radar cruise was a pleasure. Just sit back and steer. I have used it a few times in heavy I95 traffic and it works great. As traffic slows so do you. If someone cuts in front of you the system looks to see if they are going faster than you. If they are it gradually opens up the space. Pretty smart system. The blind spot has saved my car twice. Not from me trying to change lanes but by the jack bag next to me texting and coming into my lane in my blind spot. The system saw there was no car on the other side and moved the vehicle out of the way. Scary when it happens because you can't see the car coming at you in the blind spot.

THE SYSTEM CHANGED LANES FOR YOU!??!? I don't buy it.

[300DTurbo]

OFF- self explanatory

STANDARD- if you drift out of the lane the opposite side rear brake is applied and it pulls you 3 degrees "gently" back into your lane.

ACTIVE- if you drift out of the lane the opposite side rear brake is applied and it pulls you 3 degrees "aggressively" back into your lane.

The system freaks out at me about 3x/trip because I like to change lanes without signaling when there is no traffic around.

It comes as ACTIVE when you get it from the factory and it freaked me out as I was trying to take and exit and the construction crew didn't have a chance to remove the solid line. The whole vehicle basically lurched left, and I had to "fight" the steering to prevent hitting the guard rail.

Also UBER annoying: on and off ramps when you want to use the shoulder to give a more gentle curve, it YANKS you back into the center.

Let me drive already!

This will remain OFF.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by 300DTurbo

Also UBER annoying: on and off ramps when you want to use the shoulder to give a more gentle curve, it YANKS you back into the center.

Let me drive already!

This will remain OFF.

I wish you could just get the visual alert in the mirror without the active part. I agree with you that too many nannies are obtrusive.

[emesap43]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

I wish you could just get the visual alert in the mirror without the active part. I agree with you that too many nannies are obtrusive.

The passive lane assist gently vibrates the steering wheel when you go over the line. I like that.

[300DTurbo]

PASSIVE is not available if you have the ACTIVE package...

[katiesdad7]

Originally Posted by 300DTurbo

THE SYSTEM CHANGED LANES FOR YOU!??!? I don't buy it.

My guess is the system doesn't look at the road it just looks at your blind spot. If your car is in danger of getting hit in the blind side it does what it is programmed to do.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by 300DTurbo

THE SYSTEM CHANGED LANES FOR YOU!??!? I don't buy it.

Buy it:

"Active Blind Spot Assist

Above approximately 20 mph, Active Blind Spot Assist can alert you to some unseen vehicles in the next lane. If radar sensors in the rear bumper detect a vehicle in the "blind spot" area to either side, an indicator lights up in the appropriate side mirror. If you activate a turn signal while a vehicle is detected, a warning sounds. And if you disregard the alerts and begin changing lanes, advanced active technology can apply the brake to a single rear wheel, to help guide the car back into its lane."

[300DTurbo]

I agree with your post... However, I believe you mis-read the original post.

Katie's dad is suggesting that the benz pulled him out of his lane into the next lane which was clear when someone almost changed lanes into him.

I don't see how benz could allow such a thing. What if there was a median or barrier up ahead? OR gravel? OR Ice? OR snow?

[dougiebear]

Don't you think if can see a car or line it can see a median? Glad earth is flat it might not see the curved line?

[dougiebear]

Don't you think if it can see a car or line it can see a median? Glad earth is flat it might not see the curved line? Lol

[listerone]

It's not perfect but I'm *very* glad I have it.I got it mainly for the automatic braking feature which,under certain circumstances,can literally save lives.Lane assist and blind spot assist are also excellent.About 90% of my driving is Interstate and I never use cruise anywhere else so slowing down isn't a big issue for me.It happens once in a while but is,at worst,a very minor annoyance.

I'll never own another car without features like these...but then I worked for 20 years in a large hospital's ER so I'm kinda attuned to things like car accidents and their consequences.

[katiesdad7]

Originally Posted by 300DTurbo

I agree with your post... However, I believe you mis-read the original post.

Katie's dad is suggesting that the benz pulled him out of his lane into the next lane which was clear when someone almost changed lanes into him.

I don't see how benz could allow such a thing. What if there was a median or barrier up ahead? OR gravel? OR Ice? OR snow?

What happened is I was making a left turn from a 4 lane road (2 in each direction) to a 6 lane road. I was turning into the middle lane and the car on my left, which I didn't see because it was in my blind spot drifted over his line into my lane while making the turn. The system saw his vehicle and gave me the audible warning and then, within a fraction of a second, intervened and applied the brakes and moved the vehicle.

There were no lane marking for the system to see plus I was not going over 40 MPH to activate the lane tracking system. You can call BS but it happened. My only point is that I think the system is worth the money.

[300DTurbo]

Originally Posted by katiesdad7

What happened is I was making a left turn from a 4 lane road (2 in each direction) to a 6 lane road. I was turning into the middle lane and the car on my left, which I didn't see because it was in my blind spot drifted over his line into my lane while making the turn. The system saw his vehicle and gave me the audible warning and then, within a fraction of a second, intervened and applied the brakes and moved the vehicle.

There were no lane marking for the system to see plus I was not going over 40 MPH to activate the lane tracking system. You can call BS but it happened. My only point is that I think the system is worth the money.

Ok! Got it. Totally DIFFERENT scenario from what OP reads.

Makes sense. It see what happened. B/C your steering was not at 0degrees it thought "you were turning into someone else." I see the algorithm they are using now.

[mainly]

does the active braking only work when youre in cruise control? not in normal city traffic?

[300DTurbo]

If you are about to crash it ALWAYS works after flashing a RED triangle it will slam on the brakes.

If you are on cruise, its an AMAZING system that will stop the vehicle if traffic stops and once it starts rolling again it will get you going with no GAS/BRAKE input from the user.

If you are stopped for > Xseconds it will "hold" the vehicle and you have to start it rolling again then it will take over.

[mainly]

Originally Posted by 300DTurbo

If you are about to crash it ALWAYS works after flashing a RED triangle it will slam on the brakes.

If you are on cruise, its an AMAZING system that will stop the vehicle if traffic stops and once it starts rolling again it will get you going with no GAS/BRAKE input from the user.

If you are stopped for > Xseconds it will "hold" the vehicle and you have to start it rolling again then it will take over.

wow really,?
all ive been hearing up till now is that it works while in cruise.
and not otherwise.
but that would seem the most useful to me, since in heavy traffic you are starting and stopping many many times, as is the vehicle in front of you.

oh well, doesnt really matter since i didnt get it..

the only option i didnt tick.

[dougiebear]

Originally Posted by 300DTurbo

I agree with your post... However, I believe you mis-read the original post.

Katie's dad is suggesting that the benz pulled him out of his lane into the next lane which was clear when someone almost changed lanes into him.

I don't see how benz could allow such a thing. What if there was a median or barrier up ahead? OR gravel? OR Ice? OR snow?

Sorry 300D but this assumes YOU see the snow gravel or median
nothing is perfect but get used to it it coming soon as LAW in Can/USA

[katiesdad7]

Originally Posted by 300DTurbo

If you are about to crash it ALWAYS works after flashing a RED triangle it will slam on the brakes.

If you are on cruise, its an AMAZING system that will stop the vehicle if traffic stops and once it starts rolling again it will get you going with no GAS/BRAKE input from the user.

If you are stopped for > Xseconds it will "hold" the vehicle and you have to start it rolling again then it will take over.

All you need to do after the vehicle is stopped is pull the cruise lever and it will take off by itself. No need to give it gas. Real nice feature.

[300DTurbo]

Originally Posted by katiesdad7

All you need to do after the vehicle is stopped is pull the cruise lever and it will take off by itself. No need to give it gas. Real nice feature.

thnx just tried it out.