rayscar

When I am driving at slower speeds 10-30 mph, and I take my foot off the gas, the car seems to slow down much fast than normal coasting. Almost like the transmission or brake is slowing it down. I know that when you take your foot off the gas quickly, the brakes automatically prepare to stop the car. It's no big deal just feels different than other cars I've owned and wondered if anyone else has noticed it.

bmms8

yes our car does that, we thought it was a really good safety precaution

etenn

Ray:
Mine does the same thing and I was also wondering about it. It is as if it downshifts. It is not a bad thing but I was concerned if it was normal.

There was a discussion on this in a BenzWorld forum

http://forums.benzworld.org/forums/m...15&id=3&view=t

Not sure that any explanation was made but it does seem that it is normal. Maybe someone can explain it to us.

Ed

skymast

Its a standard function of the fancy new braking system.

rayscar

Thanks for info everyone. Like I said it's no big deal, just never noticed it on other cars. Glad to see that it seems to be a normal function.

benggolf

Does this "brake assist" function only when travelling at 10-30MPH or everytime you let off the gas even at higher speeds? TIA for clarifying.

etenn

Has anyone actually seen a tech explanation from MB or some other "authority" on this? Are we just guessing or has someone seen a description of the system?

Andrew

I have a 21,000 word explanation about the W211 from DaimlerChrysler lol . There is a 1500 or so word section about SBC in it. I cannot find the link for it on DaimlerChrysler.com, so try http://mbspy.bacosys.be/w211chassis.htm and scroll down about 3/4 of the page. It tells you specifically about Softstop, how it distributes brake-force electronically, blah blah blah...enjoy

I think some people are a little confused here. Brake Assist (BAS) is not the process of the brake discs and pads coming into contact when the driver lifts his/her foot quickly from the accelerator, this is just a process that is part of the Sensotronic system (SBC). BAS was designed by MB engineers when they discovered that only a small percentage of drivers apply maximum brake force in an emergency. BAS is the process of the car applying maximum barking force when it 'thinks' there is an emergency situation present (determined by the speed of which the driver switches from accelerator pedal to brake pedal). I hoped this clarified things a little more

jhb

I think it is a function of the gear ratio of the particular gear you are in when you take your foot off the gas and of the gear it shifts to as you slow down. To see the same effect even more pronounced, try backing up at about 10 to 15MPH and take your foot off the gas. I also think it will be less pronounced after more and more miles. Of course, this is just my opinion.

Barney

My E320 definately exhibits the same thing though I think it is considerably more pronounced when the car is still warming up. It is the transmission, not the brakes as best I can tell.

KShortill

I think it is definitely more pronounced when the car is still warming up. Can't explain that.

rayscar

I think that is because during warm-up the car is programmed to delay shifting to 2nd gear in order to warm the engine faster.