Parktronic ... do you like?
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 576
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From: Earth (Mostly)
2023 XC60 PHEV, 2023 XC40 BEV
only used it once, I bought it because I travel to SF and you have to park QUICKLY there or get surrounded so that you can't park ... I hope this will help me to park that much faster.
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From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
Quite recently a very experienced driver got a scratch to the rear bumper strip, from a hidden metal can. One may claim that the rear camera would have shown the object but if the driver keeps watching the rear view camera, then a metal can would scratch the front when you turn. The most experienced driver faces a bad day and at that single moment Parktronic has saved it's cost. The other days it gives more relaxed driving (not only parking) as a bonus.
I have both in my 221 and 95% of time trust on Parktronic only, sometimes have a look at the camera to for confirmation. We do park on tight places although nothing like old city centres of Central European towns.
Parktronic would be far further top on my preference list than the rear view camera. Actually Parktronic is pretty much at the top of my options list (except that on many models it is standard, even on our 204 it was standard).
Samkimg, how do you know that you've only used parktronic once? After all it activates every time you drive the car slowly, front always, rear when reversing. I would claim you have used it a lot but always detected "there are no objects to worry about".
I have both in my 221 and 95% of time trust on Parktronic only, sometimes have a look at the camera to for confirmation. We do park on tight places although nothing like old city centres of Central European towns.
Parktronic would be far further top on my preference list than the rear view camera. Actually Parktronic is pretty much at the top of my options list (except that on many models it is standard, even on our 204 it was standard).
Samkimg, how do you know that you've only used parktronic once? After all it activates every time you drive the car slowly, front always, rear when reversing. I would claim you have used it a lot but always detected "there are no objects to worry about".
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,557
Likes: 24
From: Earth
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
Quite recently a very experienced driver got a scratch to the rear bumper strip, from a hidden metal can. One may claim that the rear camera would have shown the object but if the driver keeps watching the rear view camera, then a metal can would scratch the front when you turn. The most experienced driver faces a bad day and at that single moment Parktronic has saved it's cost. The other days it gives more relaxed driving (not only parking) as a bonus.
I have both in my 221 and 95% of time trust on Parktronic only, sometimes have a look at the camera to for confirmation. We do park on tight places although nothing like old city centres of Central European towns.
Parktronic would be far further top on my preference list than the rear view camera. Actually Parktronic is pretty much at the top of my options list (except that on many models it is standard, even on our 204 it was standard).
Samkimg, how do you know that you've only used parktronic once? After all it activates every time you drive the car slowly, front always, rear when reversing. I would claim you have used it a lot but always detected "there are no objects to worry about".
I have both in my 221 and 95% of time trust on Parktronic only, sometimes have a look at the camera to for confirmation. We do park on tight places although nothing like old city centres of Central European towns.
Parktronic would be far further top on my preference list than the rear view camera. Actually Parktronic is pretty much at the top of my options list (except that on many models it is standard, even on our 204 it was standard).
Samkimg, how do you know that you've only used parktronic once? After all it activates every time you drive the car slowly, front always, rear when reversing. I would claim you have used it a lot but always detected "there are no objects to worry about".
If I bought my car New, no doubt, 100%, Parktronic would be at the top of my Options List.
My S500, even with its hefty size, was a BREEZE to park, my E, not so much. I'm one of those guys who tries to park "perfectly", i.e far away from the other car/s, pushed in enough to not have my rear sticking out, and it's a hassle, and I've banged up my rear a couple times now.
Especially with a new M-B, where they did away with the impact strips, I wouldn't hesitate. If I got that little scratch on a 212, I'd have to send my car to a Body Shop, and have the whole bumper repainted. Not to mention, the front end is also sans impact strips, and the grille sits low and flat, so if you hit something, the grille might go first.
I had to buy a new impact strip, which cost a couple hundred bucks basically, very happy considering what would have been had I not had the strips, however still, Parktronic would have saved from the problem altogether.
I've never used a rear view Camera yet personally, but I'd take Parktronic over it anyday (if they don't come together), the Camera would just be a bonus for me.
Last edited by K-A; Jan 23, 2010 at 07:52 AM.
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Joined: Dec 2003
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COMAND and the 7" screen is thankfully standard on the US models. Navigation is an option. On ECE models, the COMAND screen is a very expensive upgrade but required if you want the rear view camera. Parktronic is nice in combination with the camera and well worth the money.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 345
Likes: 0
From: NY
2010 E550 4matic, 2008 MDX, 2011 335i Vert
Quite recently a very experienced driver got a scratch to the rear bumper strip, from a hidden metal can. One may claim that the rear camera would have shown the object but if the driver keeps watching the rear view camera, then a metal can would scratch the front when you turn. The most experienced driver faces a bad day and at that single moment Parktronic has saved it's cost. The other days it gives more relaxed driving (not only parking) as a bonus.
I have both in my 221 and 95% of time trust on Parktronic only, sometimes have a look at the camera to for confirmation. We do park on tight places although nothing like old city centres of Central European towns.
Parktronic would be far further top on my preference list than the rear view camera. Actually Parktronic is pretty much at the top of my options list (except that on many models it is standard, even on our 204 it was standard).
Samkimg, how do you know that you've only used parktronic once? After all it activates every time you drive the car slowly, front always, rear when reversing. I would claim you have used it a lot but always detected "there are no objects to worry about".
I have both in my 221 and 95% of time trust on Parktronic only, sometimes have a look at the camera to for confirmation. We do park on tight places although nothing like old city centres of Central European towns.
Parktronic would be far further top on my preference list than the rear view camera. Actually Parktronic is pretty much at the top of my options list (except that on many models it is standard, even on our 204 it was standard).
Samkimg, how do you know that you've only used parktronic once? After all it activates every time you drive the car slowly, front always, rear when reversing. I would claim you have used it a lot but always detected "there are no objects to worry about".
Are you referring to the electronic warnings you get - or the actual parking guidance given on how to turn the wheel. I use parktronic all the time when parking but haven't had a chance to use the parallel parking guidance system yet.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
COMAND and the 7" screen is thankfully standard on the US models. Navigation is an option. On ECE models, the COMAND screen is a very expensive upgrade but required if you want the rear view camera. Parktronic is nice in combination with the camera and well worth the money.
But how is it with the rear view camera, it could then be standard but the presence of Comand does not automatically mean it would, unless MBUSA decided so.
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
Yes, I did mean Parktronic only for the warning system, not the actual parking guidance. Even if I do a lot parallel parking and reverse parking, I hardly use any other assistance except the Parktronic proximity warning feature. The Parking Assist feature has not been useful for myself but it could just be because I've been too lazy to learn how to use it properly.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2009
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From: Sweden
W166 ML350 BT
Yes, I did mean Parktronic only for the warning system, not the actual parking guidance. Even if I do a lot parallel parking and reverse parking, I hardly use any other assistance except the Parktronic proximity warning feature. The Parking Assist feature has not been useful for myself but it could just be because I've been too lazy to learn how to use it properly.
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Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Europe
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I had a look at the functional description and it does not explain this explicitly but there is a figure illustrating Parking Assist measurements through out the 15 metre measurement memory range and the figure shows the sensor (front side-most sensor) detecting the car behind and the car in front of the parking slot but also a line of measurements from the curb. I conclude that the system actually detects the curb.
Since you are an expert user, perhaps you might test it at a big parking lot where you can simulate reverse parking in a case where no curb exists. Perhaps the system isn't even built for such a scenario, would there be a realistic case where no curb exists (just trying to figure out if the interpretation from the functional description could be correct, I'm sure MB has considered all practical use cases as far as possible)?
