Tarobap

Question for all those with distronic plus with brake assist--the one with the front k-band radar. My question which I cannot find the answer anywhere (including the dealer!) is CAN YOU TURN THE WHOLE SYSTEM OFF, INCLUDING THE RADAR???

I'm in the market for a new E-Class, and I want to be sure I can turn it off for when I am using my radar detector. I am hoping that if you can turn it off, it turns off the radar signals as well, so as to not falsely trip my radar detector's K-Band bandwidth.

I appreciate any help in this matter. Thanks so much.

WGB

I have distronic and have a radar detector fitted to my E500.

There is some minimal false noise when maneuvering at low speed or parking but nothing to speak of on the open road.

My detector is a Vengeance 2 which is locally produced in Western Australia and provides much better response to the slant beam Ka band photo radar used here than any Bell, escort, Passport etc as the radar is used in a vertical plane whereas most imported detectors use a horizontal array.

It picks up X, K, Ka and laser - usually the X band is turned off and any falsing is heard on the K band and only when a large metal object is a few feet in front.

No real issues in normal day to day driving.

Bill

mg-E550

Disagree with the previous poster. I have distronic, blind spot assist and a V1 on my 2010 E550. When I bought the car the V1 was going off all the time. I have disabled K band detection on my V1 as a consequence. Most cops use Ka or laser these days (at least so I've found in m y driving in the northeast...I am sure someone here will disagree with me)

You can turn the radar system (both distronic and blind spot assist) off in the main settings menu of the car...takes seconds. (there are warnings in the manual about specific places where you may be required to turn them off...like near radio telescopes. I also thought I read that US drivers are required to turn the system off when driving in Canada)

I have heard mid-city engineering (advertiser on this site) has made a special interfact for distronic and V1 that allows them to co-exist better (shows V1 output on the ip screen)

YYZ-E55

Not an issue in Canada - DISTRONIC PLUS is fully compliant here now.

Tarobap

Thanks for the replies...it makes me feel good that I can quickly turn the entire system off and use the radar detector.

Seems like it is hit or miss with the false positives on K-Band. I also remember reading somewhere that the only place MB doesn't have IR block on the windshield is low center--so any detector not placed there will not work at it's best.

WGB

My detector is placed low centre to the right of the sensor and parktronic display ( RHD ) with a cord neatly tucked away and fed by the convenient display in the glove box.

I also have blind spot assist as well as distronic and no problems with it all functioning together - I am thinking that my locally designed detector has a few advantages.

Bill

LaicepsYdobon

Yes you can turn the entire system off. I have an Escort 8500 x2 and the Distronic+ and the radar detector happily co-exist together.

Johnny Mo

It's a bit of an expensive option to get if you are planning on turning it off...I almost always (talkin' 99.9% of the time) drive with my V-1 on and that to me was the show stopper for the distronic/brake assist set up. I special ordered my car with the Sport and Wheel package and WITHOUT the "required" Driver Assistance Package. It can be done - just means you'll wait longer for your car.

mg-E550

Fortunately you can turn off k band detection on a v1. It leaves a hole in your coverage unfortunately and the benefits of the radar systems on the car outweigh the benefits of the radar detector which, with the laser threat is never perfect anyway. I suppose if I get enough points on my license that another ticket would screw me I'll have to plan