Auto Park has ruined my wheels :-(
#1
Auto Park has ruined my wheels :-(
I've tried the auto park now about 6 times, four of which worked perfectly. The last two however parked too close to the gutter and ground in
heavily and have now ruined my wheels. :-(
I did also notice that the last few auto parks reversed in quicker than normal and was quite scary to sit in the drivers seat and let it do its thing. Scared to use it again now. Pity because it worked amazingly the first few times....
Anyone else having similar issues with auto Park? Do you think it's a car malfunction and mercedes should provide new wheels?
heavily and have now ruined my wheels. :-(
I did also notice that the last few auto parks reversed in quicker than normal and was quite scary to sit in the drivers seat and let it do its thing. Scared to use it again now. Pity because it worked amazingly the first few times....
Anyone else having similar issues with auto Park? Do you think it's a car malfunction and mercedes should provide new wheels?
#2
Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 105
Likes: 0
From: British Columbia
2002 F-350, 1999 E55 AMG, AMG Orphans Club International Member #118
I doubt if MB will go good for your tires. Not meaning any disrespect, but of all the ads I've seen, they all have pretty well the same disclaimer: operator must ensure proper clearances before using this system. I hope it is a fault for your sake, then you can get new tires.
#4
Go to a professional wheel place and get an opinion about touchup. Curb rash does not equal ruined wheels. Yes it is annoying but fixable. Just drop the car with the wheel place for a couple days when you go travel or something.
#6
I've found that Active Park Assist does a good job of finding places and parking, both parallel and backing into a perpendicular spot. It will move and brake all by itself, but I find it sometimes moves too fast. You can slow things down by a light application of the brakes while it maneuvers, without disengaging the system. If it looks like you're going to hit a curb, stop, and continue manually. It doesn't detect or stop for curbs or any low objects.
It's important to start the process in the proper position so the system doesn't try to maneuver from a difficult position or angle. With a little practice, the Active Park Assist is convenient and very cool.
It's important to start the process in the proper position so the system doesn't try to maneuver from a difficult position or angle. With a little practice, the Active Park Assist is convenient and very cool.
#7
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#9
Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 200
Likes: 8
2020 GLS450, Previously 2017 GLS450, 2014 GL450, 2012 GL450
Uhh.. I'm not sure if the the pkg you have is different, but it doesn't brake by itself? And it also doesn't go into a perpendicular spot by itself either....
#10
I had some minor road/curb rash fixed on my 19 inch black with polished surface wheels. It looks very good, but not perfect. If you look closely, you can see the repair. It cost $150 for the repair, which my tire and wheel policy covered.
Last edited by BenzC400; 03-15-2015 at 06:25 PM.
#11
Early versions of Park Assist only gave guidance. The driver had to steer and brake. Steering was then added. The most recent version (in the W205) controls brake and steering. Sometimes the driver has to touch the gas to get it started. The driver only has to manually change from reverse or drive when prompted. It will back into both parallel and perpendicular spots.
#12
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 789
Likes: 47
From: Eastern Massachusetts
2021 E450, 2020 C43, 2015 C300, 2007 C280
Set up passenger side mirror to watch right rear wheel
If you have a family situation such that you need all three memory positions for separate driving positions, you can't do this. But I think that few of us share our MBs with two other people. The only problem is to remember to activate position #2 as you approach your parking space (because the adjustment is rather slow). Then, you have remember to go back to position #1. It's best to get in the habit of doing this after you have parked, instead of trying to remember to do it after you have returned to your car.
Last edited by gfmohn; 03-16-2015 at 09:34 PM.
#14
If you adjust your nearside mirror position whilst in reverse gear, it will remember that and go to that position when next in R. When driving off it will return to the previous position.
No need to mess about with memory buttons.
No need to mess about with memory buttons.
#15
#16
The problem I have with the auto park feature is like everything else with the new C Class that it's all a matter of "Trust" If you can't trust the feature to be 100% reliable, then you DON'T trust it. That is where I am at the moment. The feature worked great for the majority, but it only takes one or two incidents like that for you to lose trust in the feature.
Best advice given was to "brake" as the car is reversing in, which at least controls the speed it enters and lets you monitor incidents that might occur, but when you get to that moment when the rear wheel is in you then need to select "D" for it to go forward and straighten up. That's the point it ground into the gutter damaging front AND rear wheel....
Pics of the damaged wheels.
This is probably the worst as it shows how deep the gouges are
Best advice given was to "brake" as the car is reversing in, which at least controls the speed it enters and lets you monitor incidents that might occur, but when you get to that moment when the rear wheel is in you then need to select "D" for it to go forward and straighten up. That's the point it ground into the gutter damaging front AND rear wheel....
Pics of the damaged wheels.
This is probably the worst as it shows how deep the gouges are
#17
The problem I have with the auto park feature is like everything else with the new C Class that it's all a matter of "Trust" If you can't trust the feature to be 100% reliable, then you DON'T trust it. That is where I am at the moment. The feature worked great for the majority, but it only takes one or two incidents like that for you to lose trust in the feature.
Best advice given was to "brake" as the car is reversing in, which at least controls the speed it enters and lets you monitor incidents that might occur, but when you get to that moment when the rear wheel is in you then need to select "D" for it to go forward and straighten up. That's the point it ground into the gutter damaging front AND rear wheel....
Best advice given was to "brake" as the car is reversing in, which at least controls the speed it enters and lets you monitor incidents that might occur, but when you get to that moment when the rear wheel is in you then need to select "D" for it to go forward and straighten up. That's the point it ground into the gutter damaging front AND rear wheel....
#18
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 789
Likes: 47
From: Eastern Massachusetts
2021 E450, 2020 C43, 2015 C300, 2007 C280
Thanks for the tip
There's an old joke that says that if you want to hide something from an American car owner, hide it in his owners manual. Well, I have always read my owners manuals, but I didn't read them cover to cover. Nowadays, no one sits in their car and tries to find all the nested pages of the on-board digital COMAND manual. Nor is this tip in the version of the COMAND manual that I downloaded from the Internet. I looked there and did a digital search. The tip is in the on-board digital COMAND manual only.
#19
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 789
Likes: 47
From: Eastern Massachusetts
2021 E450, 2020 C43, 2015 C300, 2007 C280
Mobile reconditioning
"Alloy Wheel Repair Specialists [http://awrswheelrepair.com/index.html] provides a professional alloy wheel refinishing service right at the customer's location. One of our 350+ professionally trained technicians will visit your location and restore the wheels to like-new condition.
Wheels are placed inside our patent pending Mobile Reconditioning Facility where they are repaired, primed, painted and clear-coated ...." There are probably others. I haven't used this service; I only filed away a favorite for them, in case I ever needed their service. Perhaps others can comment on their service or on the service of competitors.
#20
That said I have used it maybe 6 times, and the last time the tire hit the curb. Fortunately the tire took the hit and not my 19" wheels. Just like Driver Assist, I'm still learning the limitations but wouldn't even think of not getting either functionality again. Driver Assist was one of the best choices I made.
#21
I think with systems like this it helps to have an appreciation of how they work and their limitations in order to know what you need to watch out for.
I guess the system relies mainly on the adjacent cars for manoeuvring into parking spaces. Therefore, in a parallel parking situation if the car behind or in front is parked on the kerb the system wouldn't allow enough clearance to avoid damaging the wheels. Also the manual warns that the system doesn't detect low objects such as plant pots or high objects such as overhanging trees.
My W205 isn't due for delivery until the end of May so I wonder if anyone can confirm whether my guess is correct?
I guess the system relies mainly on the adjacent cars for manoeuvring into parking spaces. Therefore, in a parallel parking situation if the car behind or in front is parked on the kerb the system wouldn't allow enough clearance to avoid damaging the wheels. Also the manual warns that the system doesn't detect low objects such as plant pots or high objects such as overhanging trees.
My W205 isn't due for delivery until the end of May so I wonder if anyone can confirm whether my guess is correct?
#22
I was warned by the dealer that the park assist aligns with the car in front and behind, so if they are against or over the curb, you will be too. Also the wheels pictured (AMG line) are aluminium and - as the dealer warned - difficult to repair.
#23
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,075
Likes: 57
From: Manchester, UK
BMW e89 Z4 sDrive 35i & MB S205 C200 AMG Premium Plus
I must admit, I don't like self-doing-anything tech, as many on here will have read, I've not optioned anything in this regard simply because I don't trust it enough. If I ever use this feature, I'll be certain to have learned from the OPs post.
Last edited by ManiacGT; 03-17-2015 at 05:45 AM.
#24
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 651
Likes: 2
From: London, UK
MB W204, VW Polo, Audi R8 V10 - SOLD.
At least one wheel refinisher advertises that they will come to your location and do it there in an hour (just like mobile glass repairmen).
"Alloy Wheel Repair Specialists [http://awrswheelrepair.com/index.html] provides a professional alloy wheel refinishing service right at the customer's location. One of our 350+ professionally trained technicians will visit your location and restore the wheels to like-new condition.
Wheels are placed inside our patent pending Mobile Reconditioning Facility where they are repaired, primed, painted and clear-coated ...." There are probably others. I haven't used this service; I only filed away a favorite for them, in case I ever needed their service. Perhaps others can comment on their service or on the service of competitors.
"Alloy Wheel Repair Specialists [http://awrswheelrepair.com/index.html] provides a professional alloy wheel refinishing service right at the customer's location. One of our 350+ professionally trained technicians will visit your location and restore the wheels to like-new condition.
Wheels are placed inside our patent pending Mobile Reconditioning Facility where they are repaired, primed, painted and clear-coated ...." There are probably others. I haven't used this service; I only filed away a favorite for them, in case I ever needed their service. Perhaps others can comment on their service or on the service of competitors.
I've had a few alloys refurbished to this level and you cannot tell they have had any damage previously. In the UK it's actually not very expensive, circa £80-100 per wheel depending on the size and finish of the alloy. If anyone is in the London/Essex area and wants details on where I got mine done then please ask.
#25
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,075
Likes: 57
From: Manchester, UK
BMW e89 Z4 sDrive 35i & MB S205 C200 AMG Premium Plus
Mobile refinishers will not be able to produce a diamond cut finish as far as I know. The wheel needs to be stripped from its laquer and rebuilt up using solder where it is rashed. Then the alloy is repainted to match the original colour and then a thin layer is lathed off the front for the diamond cut finish. This won't be done road-side.
I've had a few alloys refurbished to this level and you cannot tell they have had any damage previously. In the UK it's actually not very expensive, circa £80-100 per wheel depending on the size and finish of the alloy. If anyone is in the London/Essex area and wants details on where I got mine done then please ask.
I've had a few alloys refurbished to this level and you cannot tell they have had any damage previously. In the UK it's actually not very expensive, circa £80-100 per wheel depending on the size and finish of the alloy. If anyone is in the London/Essex area and wants details on where I got mine done then please ask.