Hello Everyone. I am new here as a Mercedes owner and as a contributor to this forum. I have a question, but first let me say "I LOVE MY C250 Sport Sedan!" It is so much better than any car I have ever owned. I have one concern, however.

By design, Im sure, the backup camera does not focus straight behind the centerline of the vehicle. It is off center and pointed inward toward the middle of the vehicle. The result is a sort of a skewed image that does not allow me to reference the center while backing into a spot. It also gives the impression the vehicle is moving along a diagonal path when actually it is reversing in a straight path.


My other vehicle's camera is focused directly backward and has graduated lines to judge bearing and distance from objects. My Mercedes has only a video image, but is not useful other than revealing otherwise unseen objects.

I noticed the camera is mounted about 6 inches of center to the passenger side. It would be so much more useful if it were center mounted so while backing up, the image matched what I see in my rearview mirror. Also, some guide marks would be great.

Any threads on this situation? Any suggestions?

 

My US build C300's rear camera is centered and has a grid to show when you're getting close, or too close, to what's behind you. The lines are yellow, and the last segment is red.

 

Thanks Stan. Yeah, I cant understand it. In lots of regards, the C250 and C300 are not cosmetically different in 2014, the year of my vehicle. I wonder if the 2015 C250 has the same camera...

 

In the UK spec C220 I had out as a tester, the Reversing Camera definitely showed the reversing grid that Stan refers to.

TBH, I didn't examine the mounting location.

I had the tester in Oct 2014, and it was brand new (delivery mileage) so I would suggest an Aug/Sept build.

 

I think you are referring to the differences between a w204 and w205.

My c204 had an askew camera. The new w205 I'm getting doesn't.

 

I've found that when reversing my W205, the camera isn't entirely accurate. I just use it as a guideline but the angle is definitely off.

 

Huh? Definite "isn't entirely accurate"... Do you mean the grid lines are in the wrong place, the visualisation is wrong/delayed, the perspective is out, or what?

I agree the rear cameras need to be interpreted - as the grid lines move in cohort with your steering movements, so they do require an element of driver input (as it is the driver that knows what they intend to do next, ie straighten up, or turn more sharply). But I've not found one that is inaccurate, so far.