Cool/Useful features that I didn't know about
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 1,293
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
I don't exactly know how and what the Attention Assist measures but it works. Yesterday late night I had a 4 1/2 hour drive to make and in dark it can make you feel tired/sleepy especially if you had a very long work day on the previous day and rather long yesterday also with limited sleeping time between.
I was driving and was kind of feeling a little tired and was thinking maby stopping at the gas station about 15 miles ahead to fill my Mercedes Benz coffee mug (very nice cup). Just a couple of minutes later the Attention Assist warning came ON!
I was very surprised about this, almost makes me think it reads my mind but I know it doesn't. Somehow it knew I need that coffee to keep going.
I will keep it on because it can really save you if it knew I need my coffeine before I felt really tired. I could have driven by the gas station without stopping but after this warning came ON I did not second guess the need for a stop.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 1,293
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
Lane change blinker (the three blinks) have been in some foreighn cars for almost 10 years now. I just wish it would blink 4 times instead of 3. I find 4 blinks would serve lane change better than 3 as practically nobody does lane change in such short time, 4 blink would cover it better.
Now, of course, other drivers see your intentions from just 3 blinks but by the law, as long as the car is moving sideways the blinker must be ON, he, he...
I found out that doing the blinker arm flip twice it gives you 4 blinks, probably 5 if you hit it 3 times. Interestingly my rental S350 gave me 5 blinks when I double fliped it.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Albany, NY
2008 C300 W4
I don't exactly know how and what the Attention Assist measures but it works. Yesterday late night I had a 4 1/2 hour drive to make and in dark it can make you feel tired/sleepy especially if you had a very long work day on the previous day and rather long yesterday also with limited sleeping time between.
I was driving and was kind of feeling a little tired and was thinking maby stopping at the gas station about 15 miles ahead to fill my Mercedes Benz coffee mug (very nice cup). Just a couple of minutes later the Attention Assist warning came ON!
I was very surprised about this, almost makes me think it reads my mind but I know it doesn't. Somehow it knew I need that coffee to keep going.
I will keep it on because it can really save you if it knew I need my coffeine before I felt really tired. I could have driven by the gas station without stopping but after this warning came ON I did not second guess the need for a stop.
I was driving and was kind of feeling a little tired and was thinking maby stopping at the gas station about 15 miles ahead to fill my Mercedes Benz coffee mug (very nice cup). Just a couple of minutes later the Attention Assist warning came ON!
I was very surprised about this, almost makes me think it reads my mind but I know it doesn't. Somehow it knew I need that coffee to keep going.
I will keep it on because it can really save you if it knew I need my coffeine before I felt really tired. I could have driven by the gas station without stopping but after this warning came ON I did not second guess the need for a stop.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 1,293
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
I don't know how it knows but I think it measures steering wheel input very closely. When you are tired your car can start drifting on the lane and you do corrective steering movements. I guess it can calculate from steering wheel position sensor if you are actually traveling on a straight road but need more than normal steering input to keep it going straight?
Perhaps it also uses Navigation map where the road is programmed and it knows what steering input you should be giving and if you deviate from this too much it knows you are drowsy even on winding roads. The road I was on is full of turns and hills with only few straights.
Don't know what other factors it could measure as all my driving was on 4-lane highway with little traffic and cruise ON at all the time. This road is a about 30 miles long in the middle of nowhere. Did not even need to hit brake pedal once before getting to that gas station for my stop.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, California
2013 Q7 S-Line, 2010 E350 Sport Sedan P1, 2005 Camry, 2008 Piaggio MP3 250, Sold: 02 C230, 90 Miata
Plus it reads our minds 
... Its a beautiful feature, it alerted me quite a few times promptly during my long drives.
... Its a beautiful feature, it alerted me quite a few times promptly during my long drives.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 761
Likes: 23
From: Oklahoma
W211 E320 & W212 E550
Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 119
Likes: 2
From: Perth, Western Australia
W212 E500, W164 320CDI, W116 450SEL 6.9, W116 450 SEL.
According to the manual it records the steering inputs in the first few minutes of a drive and after 45 minutes or so if they change it starts with wheel vibration then the coffee cup fills the speedo.
In our land of long drives it might be a life saver.
Bill
In our land of long drives it might be a life saver.
Bill
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
Out Of Control!!
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
I've driven this car on many long distance trips, and maybe it's because I'm so "used" to driving while tired, but the Attention Assist never came on for me, when I actually felt tired (I have yet to let myself actually start swerving while tired).
However, it's gone off a ton of times when I was wide awake, but futzing around with something in the car, forcing me to swerve around.
However, it's gone off a ton of times when I was wide awake, but futzing around with something in the car, forcing me to swerve around.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 466
Likes: 1
E350
It my experience it doesn't work and shouldn't be relied on. Worthless feature.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
W163 ML430, W212 E550, R129 SL320
Is it just mine, or does the rear cabin for your W212's also only have 1 climate control zone. I could have sworn the generation before had 2 rear climate zones.
ALSO, did USA get the option for the dynamic contour/massage seat for the passenger side? Because in Canada you can only get it for the driver seat.
ALSO, did USA get the option for the dynamic contour/massage seat for the passenger side? Because in Canada you can only get it for the driver seat.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: Albany, NY
2008 C300 W4
Is it just mine, or does the rear cabin for your W212's also only have 1 climate control zone. I could have sworn the generation before had 2 rear climate zones.
ALSO, did USA get the option for the dynamic contour/massage seat for the passenger side? Because in Canada you can only get it for the driver seat.
ALSO, did USA get the option for the dynamic contour/massage seat for the passenger side? Because in Canada you can only get it for the driver seat.
Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 99
Likes: 22
From: New York
2020 GLE450 polar white AMG pkg.
adaptive headlamp system
here's a new one I just discovered yesterday...
If you have the adaptive headlight system, standard with P2 (e.g. hi beams auto dim if the camera senses oncoming traffic) ... the system only works if you have the main lighting selector set to A (auto). The system is engaged only if you see the "<<< A" symbol in the center cluster.
I just had my car serviced and apparently my dealer reset the system to "O" --- rendering the adaptive feature totally disabled, even though the cluster menu was confirmed that it was engaged.
Of course this only effects E Class with the older style lighting controls, with both an A and O setting.
If you have the adaptive headlight system, standard with P2 (e.g. hi beams auto dim if the camera senses oncoming traffic) ... the system only works if you have the main lighting selector set to A (auto). The system is engaged only if you see the "<<< A" symbol in the center cluster.
I just had my car serviced and apparently my dealer reset the system to "O" --- rendering the adaptive feature totally disabled, even though the cluster menu was confirmed that it was engaged.
Of course this only effects E Class with the older style lighting controls, with both an A and O setting.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 1,293
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
I have keyless go. If I try to lock the car from the door with the fob in the car, it won't lock, as suspected. However, if I leave the fob in the car and lock the car from the trunk, all the doors and trunk lock, with the fob locked inside. Trying to open the door as if my key is in the pocket after locking the car from the trunk, it doesn't open either. This only occurs if locking the car from the trunk button with the fob inside...never in the same situation when locking the car from the door.
Well, you might have a bug in your car's system because my 2011 W212 will not lock from door handle or from trunk button if my key fob in either in the car or in the trunk, Just tried it out and it just says "Key detected in car" when I try to lock it either from trunk button or the door handle.
Is it possible that your key fob battery is weak when it allows locking from trunk button and simply does not detect the key as it should?
Last edited by Arrie; Jan 8, 2011 at 04:58 PM.
Super Member
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 519
Likes: 2
From: Chicago and NorCal
Titleist
Hi Arrie,
Mine is an "11 as well, with about 500 miles on the clock thus far. I took delivery almost two months ago, and it has been garaged much of the time as I have been at my other home, so doubtful (I hope) the fob battery is low so soon.
With fob in car:
Mine is an "11 as well, with about 500 miles on the clock thus far. I took delivery almost two months ago, and it has been garaged much of the time as I have been at my other home, so doubtful (I hope) the fob battery is low so soon.
With fob in car:
- I can't lock the car from the door as you've indicated.
- From the trunk, only when pressing the right button (with lock icon) will it allow the car to lock.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 5,141
Likes: 1,293
From: Southern US
2010 E550, 273 Engine: 2012 S550, 278 Engine
As I mentioned I cannot lock the car from door handle or trunk button when key is in car or in trunk. Trunk closing button closes the trunk but lock button is dead. It does not do anything.
As you say you cannot lock from door handle while key is in the car it means car is recognizing the key so it should not lock from trunk button either. Really looks like a bug.
As you say you cannot lock from door handle while key is in the car it means car is recognizing the key so it should not lock from trunk button either. Really looks like a bug.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 160
From: Southeastern USA
2010 E350 Luxury Sedan, Engine 272 (V6)
Mine works
BTW, safety features are considered when your insurance company determines your policy price, so it helps there also.
As for signal blinking 3 times for lane changes. I tried it, but 3 times is not enough. Need at least 5-7 times considering all the inattentive drivers out there. Also, I like to give others plenty of notice that I am about to change lanes.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 70
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, California
2013 Q7 S-Line, 2010 E350 Sport Sedan P1, 2005 Camry, 2008 Piaggio MP3 250, Sold: 02 C230, 90 Miata
Don't say no to a Good Samaritan who may save your life someday
. Attention Assist has around 70 parameters to sense drowsiness without annoying unnecessarily. I hope people wake up immediately when it alerts (rather than waking up somewhere else later). In my opinion, Attention Assist by MB may be one the ingenious safety features that others yet to adopt.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 466
Likes: 1
E350
Don't say no to a Good Samaritan who may save your life someday . Attention Assist has around 70 parameters to sense drowsiness without annoying unnecessarily. I hope people wake up immediately when it alerts (rather than waking up somewhere else later). In my opinion, Attention Assist by MB may be one the ingenious safety features that others yet to adopt.
. Attention Assist has around 70 parameters to sense drowsiness without annoying unnecessarily. I hope people wake up immediately when it alerts (rather than waking up somewhere else later). In my opinion, Attention Assist by MB may be one the ingenious safety features that others yet to adopt.Another time coming home from Albany late at night with hardly any traffic, I intentionally drifted from lane to lane trying to similate dozing off. No warning from AA.
YMMV.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,914
Likes: 261
From: Ontario,Canada
...24 GLE53
Maybe the system knows you were trying to trick it.
In my case it came on once near the end of a full day of travel. I have no idea what triggered the system since I didn't notice any difference in my driving. In any event it may not be perfect but it's free and better than nothing.
In my case it came on once near the end of a full day of travel. I have no idea what triggered the system since I didn't notice any difference in my driving. In any event it may not be perfect but it's free and better than nothing.
Last edited by petee1997; Jan 11, 2011 at 05:07 PM.
