Thank you Mercedes for implementing smart cruise control
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Joined: Apr 2006
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Tesla Model S P100D
Thank you Mercedes for implementing smart cruise control
So I wanted to take a break from my occasional complaining to actually commend Mercedes on something I noticed with how the cruise control in our cars work. I've always been amazed at how accurate the cruise control was specifically when you use the lever to reduce the speed. It is only today I noticed that when you reduce the set cruise control speed if idle throttle and downshifting does not slow the car enough quickly to reach the lower speed, the car actually applies brakes to slow down to the speed that I have set. Very cool to look at the rear view mirror at night and see the break lights lighting up... In fact on a secluded street, I was able to get the car to slow from 45 to 20 in a few seconds just by using the cruise control lever. Very nice how they somehow got the car's breaking system wired to the logic controls of the cruise control. 
I guess it is a bit of a precursor of things to come with distronic...
I guess it is a bit of a precursor of things to come with distronic...
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From: Southwest USA
Another round of ICE
The new developments in cruise control technology are very cool, but there is one aspect to consider of the automated systems which maintain a safe distance. I had a chance to drive early development prototypes of this system when suppliers were shopping it around for interest in the 1990s. Yes, that long ago...that's how long the development cycles have been between engineers and lawyers figuring it all out. Several of us drove it on a local highway and noticed that when the system tried to maintain a safe following distance, another car would pull into that space, causing us to fall further behind, and then another car would also pull ahead of us, and we would drop back again to maintain the safe distance. The further we went, the further behind we were! For some, the frustration was too much to bear, and we turned the system off. None of the supplier engineers were prepared to diminish the following distance to what would be needed to fend off US drivers, and then we got into the whole discussion of what is a good distance for day vs night, wet vs dry vs snow, etc. It will be interesting to see how all of these systems mature over time.
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Joined: Nov 2005
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From: San Carlos (SF Peninsula) CA
'03 ML500, '07 E350 Sport (wife's)
We use the cruise to maintain 30 going down our very steep hill. Works great. Unfortunately my ML doesn't work that way and it eats brakes. With only a 5 speed it can't hold it w/o brakes, too.
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From: NS
2017 GLC43 'AMG'
Hello World.
Just the other day, I tried using the CC to decelerate down a highway off-ramp (from 110 down to about 30 kmh). It was impressive how aggressively it slowed the car down. I wasn't sure about the braking until I read this thread - that explains it! I'll be watching for my brake lights next time.
I'm also impressed with how rock steady the CC is compared to other cars I've had where it would vary up and down by at least 5 kmh (making it almost useless for some purposes).
Just the other day, I tried using the CC to decelerate down a highway off-ramp (from 110 down to about 30 kmh). It was impressive how aggressively it slowed the car down. I wasn't sure about the braking until I read this thread - that explains it! I'll be watching for my brake lights next time.
I'm also impressed with how rock steady the CC is compared to other cars I've had where it would vary up and down by at least 5 kmh (making it almost useless for some purposes).
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,139
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Tesla Model S P100D
Hello World.
Just the other day, I tried using the CC to decelerate down a highway off-ramp (from 110 down to about 30 kmh). It was impressive how aggressively it slowed the car down. I wasn't sure about the braking until I read this thread - that explains it! I'll be watching for my brake lights next time.
I'm also impressed with how rock steady the CC is compared to other cars I've had where it would vary up and down by at least 5 kmh (making it almost useless for some purposes).
Just the other day, I tried using the CC to decelerate down a highway off-ramp (from 110 down to about 30 kmh). It was impressive how aggressively it slowed the car down. I wasn't sure about the braking until I read this thread - that explains it! I'll be watching for my brake lights next time.
I'm also impressed with how rock steady the CC is compared to other cars I've had where it would vary up and down by at least 5 kmh (making it almost useless for some purposes).
The fact that the cruise control is so accurate helps me drive past areas I know where they have speed light cameras. With other cars I could be 5 mph off but knowing how good the W211 is I just set the speed to 3 mph over the limit and just cruise by. Most people around me overreact big time by slowing down 5-10 mph because they can't accurate calibrate their speed.
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Joined: Mar 2010
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2007 E350; 2018 GLE350
About the brake lights: There is a stretch of road my wife and I frequently drive in our community. The speed limit is 40. A fairly steep hill is at one end of the road. With cruise control set at 40, the MB holds a steady 40, even going down hill. You can sense the braking action occurring all the way down the hill. I wondered whether CC braking activates the brake lights. Just one person's experience here: the brake lights do not come on. I've followed behind my wife as she descends the grade with CC set at 40 ... the car maintains a steady 40 all the way, but the brake lights never come on.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
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Tesla Model S P100D
About the brake lights: There is a stretch of road my wife and I frequently drive in our community. The speed limit is 40. A fairly steep hill is at one end of the road. With cruise control set at 40, the MB holds a steady 40, even going down hill. You can sense the braking action occurring all the way down the hill. I wondered whether CC braking activates the brake lights. Just one person's experience here: the brake lights do not come on. I've followed behind my wife as she descends the grade with CC set at 40 ... the car maintains a steady 40 all the way, but the brake lights never come on.
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Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: Michigan
W203-4M W163
Definitely a great feature, especially when there are police waiting at the bottom of a steep hill with a radar gun. The only thing I don't like (nothing to do with the CC system) is that the other cars always accelerate and suddenly, I'm the one going "too slow" and everyone is passing me. That's fine though--let them pay the speeding tix.
Speaking of these kinds of features...I love the "soft tap" feature on the turn signal which makes it blink 3 times for lane changes. Awesome.
Speaking of these kinds of features...I love the "soft tap" feature on the turn signal which makes it blink 3 times for lane changes. Awesome.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,139
Likes: 41
Tesla Model S P100D
Definitely a great feature, especially when there are police waiting at the bottom of a steep hill with a radar gun. The only thing I don't like (nothing to do with the CC system) is that the other cars always accelerate and suddenly, I'm the one going "too slow" and everyone is passing me. That's fine though--let them pay the speeding tix.
Speaking of these kinds of features...I love the "soft tap" feature on the turn signal which makes it blink 3 times for lane changes. Awesome.
Speaking of these kinds of features...I love the "soft tap" feature on the turn signal which makes it blink 3 times for lane changes. Awesome.
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Joined: Jan 2011
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2005 E320 CDI, 2007 GL 450
I love the CC in my E for all the reasons you mention but I have one complaint. I wish it would work at lower speeds. In my 2002 VW I can set it at 20 which works great in school zones so I can focus on kids that might be in my way instead of watching my speed so I don't get a ticket.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
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Tesla Model S P100D
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From: NS
2017 GLC43 'AMG'
The other day I noticed something a bit "funny" with the CC and (perhaps) the BAS. With the CC set and using the accelerator pedal to increase speed above the CC's set point, then casually move foot from accelerator to brake and the brakes will "grab" in a manner that seems a bit like the BAS being triggered (?).
The normal trigger for BAS is *quickly* applying the brakes (time from accelerator pedal release to touching the brake pedal). I wonder if the BAS gets confused by the conditions I've described above.
It happened twice on a Saturday drive, but I've not yet had the chance to confirm it again. So I might be completely mistaken.
The normal trigger for BAS is *quickly* applying the brakes (time from accelerator pedal release to touching the brake pedal). I wonder if the BAS gets confused by the conditions I've described above.
It happened twice on a Saturday drive, but I've not yet had the chance to confirm it again. So I might be completely mistaken.
