Distronic Steering assist.
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Newbie
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 5
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W205 C250 bluetec
Distronic Steering assist.
Not sure if anyone else has found this but it appears that the timer that reminds you to grab the steering wheel after 15 seconds when steering assist is active appears to deactivate at low speeds. I've been in stop start traffic travelling less than 30km/h and have not been required to hold the steering wheel at all.
Very relaxing when in heavy traffic - apart from occasionally having to tap the accelerator when you have stopped for more than 2 seconds, the car literally drives itself!!
Very relaxing when in heavy traffic - apart from occasionally having to tap the accelerator when you have stopped for more than 2 seconds, the car literally drives itself!!
Last edited by Weegs; Mar 2, 2015 at 08:30 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
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From: Los Angeles, CA
2015 C300 4-Matic
Thanks for posting, and I have also noticed this behavior in Distronic with Steering assist at low speeds (below 20MPH). This Driver Assist has been an incredible feature for me, very thankful that I was able to get it. 
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From: Manchester, UK
BMW e89 Z4 sDrive 35i & MB S205 C200 AMG Premium Plus
Brilliant. While I'm sure these things help reduce issues for the most part, its a line like that where I feel glad I didn't get it.
Junior Member
Joined: Mar 2015
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From: Los Angeles, CA
2015 C300 4-Matic
Distronic Plus with Steering Assist, a semi-autonomous assistant in stop-and-go traffic jams that operates at speeds below 37 mph, following the vehicle ahead even where lane markings are indistinct or lacking, providing a safe and easy means of following the flow of heavy traffic.
The BAS (Brake Assist System) Plus detects cross traffic and boosts braking if the driver fails to brake sufficiently. The PRE-SAFE® Brake system detects stationary vehicles as well as pedestrians, braking automatically if the driver fails to react, and prevents accidents up to 31 mph and lessens the severity of collisions up to 45 mph. In moving traffic, it assists according to the same mode of operation throughout the speed range between 4 and 124 mph.
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2017
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w205
Well I guess it's subjective but I'd sure as hell want this:
Distronic Plus with Steering Assist, a semi-autonomous assistant in stop-and-go traffic jams that operates at speeds below 37 mph, following the vehicle ahead even where lane markings are indistinct or lacking, providing a safe and easy means of following the flow of heavy traffic.
The BAS (Brake Assist System) Plus detects cross traffic and boosts braking if the driver fails to brake sufficiently. The PRE-SAFE® Brake system detects stationary vehicles as well as pedestrians, braking automatically if the driver fails to react, and prevents accidents up to 31 mph and lessens the severity of collisions up to 45 mph. In moving traffic, it assists according to the same mode of operation throughout the speed range between 4 and 124 mph.
Distronic Plus with Steering Assist, a semi-autonomous assistant in stop-and-go traffic jams that operates at speeds below 37 mph, following the vehicle ahead even where lane markings are indistinct or lacking, providing a safe and easy means of following the flow of heavy traffic.
The BAS (Brake Assist System) Plus detects cross traffic and boosts braking if the driver fails to brake sufficiently. The PRE-SAFE® Brake system detects stationary vehicles as well as pedestrians, braking automatically if the driver fails to react, and prevents accidents up to 31 mph and lessens the severity of collisions up to 45 mph. In moving traffic, it assists according to the same mode of operation throughout the speed range between 4 and 124 mph.
I can't work out whether that model year has the full distronic plus with steering assist, or just the basic distronic plus? I know this is an old post, but you seem to have tested this feature in a similar aged car. How would I tell? Is there any way you need to activate the steering assist? There is a small button near the lights of a car in a lane, but that's all. For the full steering with distronic plus solution, should the car also have the little button of the steering wheel?
Thanks in advance!
Last edited by w205lover; Jun 9, 2017 at 06:37 PM.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 1,577
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From: Portland, OR
C450, GLC43
I'm about to buy a w205 which has the driver assistance package. I'm in the UK.
I can't work out whether that model year has the full distronic plus with steering assist, or just the basic distronic plus? I know this is an old post, but you seem to have tested this feature in a similar aged car. How would I tell? Is there any way you need to activate the steering assist? There is a small button near the lights of a car in a lane, but that's all. For the full steering with distronic plus solution, should the car also have the little button of the steering wheel?
Thanks in advance!
I can't work out whether that model year has the full distronic plus with steering assist, or just the basic distronic plus? I know this is an old post, but you seem to have tested this feature in a similar aged car. How would I tell? Is there any way you need to activate the steering assist? There is a small button near the lights of a car in a lane, but that's all. For the full steering with distronic plus solution, should the car also have the little button of the steering wheel?
Thanks in advance!
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2016 C300
It's hugely helpful in Traffic Jam Assistant mode, where at low speeds it doesn't require you to ever touch the wheel. It'll just plod along behind the vehicle ahead of it with no intervention from the driver. Drink your coffee, read your emails, whatever. The only downer is that if the car ahead comes to a full stop for more than 1 second, you need to tap the gas to get going again. In most of the jams I've been in the car ahead rarely comes to a full stop. Usually just creeping along.
In normal highway cruise mode, I turn it off. It intervenes sometimes when I don't want it. Also, in heavy rain, don't rely on any of the autonomous aides. If you see a warning in heavy rain or fog that says "Radar Sensors Dirty: See Owner's Manual", the car is temporarily "blind" and you're on your own.
In normal highway cruise mode, I turn it off. It intervenes sometimes when I don't want it. Also, in heavy rain, don't rely on any of the autonomous aides. If you see a warning in heavy rain or fog that says "Radar Sensors Dirty: See Owner's Manual", the car is temporarily "blind" and you're on your own.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 307
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From: USA
2017 C43 sedan
It's hugely helpful in Traffic Jam Assistant mode, where at low speeds it doesn't require you to ever touch the wheel. It'll just plod along behind the vehicle ahead of it with no intervention from the driver. Drink your coffee, read your emails, whatever. The only downer is that if the car ahead comes to a full stop for more than 1 second, you need to tap the gas to get going again. In most of the jams I've been in the car ahead rarely comes to a full stop. Usually just creeping along.
In normal highway cruise mode, I turn it off. It intervenes sometimes when I don't want it. Also, in heavy rain, don't rely on any of the autonomous aides. If you see a warning in heavy rain or fog that says "Radar Sensors Dirty: See Owner's Manual", the car is temporarily "blind" and you're on your own.
In normal highway cruise mode, I turn it off. It intervenes sometimes when I don't want it. Also, in heavy rain, don't rely on any of the autonomous aides. If you see a warning in heavy rain or fog that says "Radar Sensors Dirty: See Owner's Manual", the car is temporarily "blind" and you're on your own.
Last edited by Biggreenogg; Jun 14, 2017 at 06:39 AM.
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2022 E350 Diamond White Metallic, 2016 GLC300 Dakota Brown Metallic
We don't want our cars to become HAL. That movie was out in 1968 and predicted events in 2001. Interesting what really has happened.
Last edited by dieseldoc; Jun 13, 2017 at 10:26 AM.
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C63s
Seems like the whole "following the vehicle in front" might be a bit dangers, especially if it changes lanes, your car tries to follow right into a vehicle next to you....
LOL - maybe that's why they call it "semi-autonomous"....
LOL - maybe that's why they call it "semi-autonomous"....
