ghstudio

I've had my car about five months and always wondered if the coffee cup on the dash display was decorative or actually did something. Yesterday I was returning home on an interstate and suddenly some beeping and a message popped up that "drowsiness was detected". Indeed, I was drifting a bit to the right and did a correction to get back to the center lane (and started to pay attention to my driving). So I thought I'd report that the feature actually works!!!!

listerone

In the 11K miles I've done so far I've gotten about 20 alerts...many of them on the long road trip I just completed.Three or four of these alerts were at least somewhat legit but the rest weren't.In fact,there have been several occasions where I *should* have gotten an alert but didn't.So the fearture is noticably imperfect (given *my* driving style,at least) but I'll keep it engaged despite finding the false alarms slightly annoying.

It's good to hear that you got a useful alert.Sounds like you might owe it a hearty "thank you".

Raymond Lee

listerone
How do you compare your MBZ BlueTec to BMW 535 turbo diesel?

ImInPA

I do not think we get the BMW 5 series diesels in the US.

Raymond Lee

ImInPA
Thank you very much. So far, I'm glad I picked 2012 BlueTec.

Mr Snappy

I also received a few of these alerts on a trip about 2 hours from my house. It was late at night and I was a little tired, but not what I would call "drowsy".

I wondered what exactly this feature was measuring...I though maybe there was some hidden device that was monitoring my eyelids!

Turns out, the MB folks have figured out what steering patterns look like for people that are starting to nod off. MB have installed ultra-sensitive sensors in the steering to measure sublte changes (or lack of changes) in your steering assembly.

Since I live in Kansas...and we are known for our long, straight, boring roads, it is not suprising that I might get a few triggers on my drives.

hyperion667

yah! LOL, got my first one just a couple of weekends ago.....
I was on a short road trip, and was maintaining a high speed,
dash went red and the music dipped down......

do you recall if your CC was engaged?

CEB

Oh yeah. I drove the I-70 corridor from Colorado to DC and the 20 thousand miles through Kansas were the longest in my life.

listerone

I'll assume you meant the 335...as noted,the 5er isn't available here.If I'm wrong read no further because I'll wager that the 3er and the 5er are very different.

In short,they're entirely different animals that both do what they're designed to do very well.The Bimmer is somewhat "sportier" with noticeably better road feel and a livelier "go" pedal.The electronics are a bit better (at least I was better able to figure them out) and the highway mileage was a bit better (understandably,smaller vehicle).

The MB is more "luxurious",more comfortable (particularly the back seat).The Benz is a slightly better "road cruiser" which is mainly what I do...90+ percent of my miles are Interstate miles.

I traded because the rear seat of the 3er isn't fit for anyone over the age of 12.If a 5 series diesel *had* been available I'd very probably be in *it* right now but I'm still very pleased with my Bluetec.

I was in Detroit last week and saw the new E Class diesel hybrid on display at the auto show.If it ever reaches here featuring the 550 ft lbs of torque and 50mpg listed on the info plaque I'll be there in a heartbeat...unless the rumored 5 Series beast featuring the same torque arrives here first!

listerone

I've never done anything like that but I *have* done I-29 from Kansas City to the Canadian border.You wanna talk "middle of nowhere"? Try the Dakotas!

Live Oak

Are you sure "Stinky AC" didn't get you?

Raymond Lee

listerone
Sorry, I meant to say BMW335. Anyway, thank you for your comment. I was looking at 2012 528i but I went for BlueTec and I am glad I did that. I'd like to believe MBZ makes best diesel engine you can find.

LaicepsYdobon

I'm not sure if they make the best but they have been making diesels for the longest time among all manufacturers. The first ever diesel passenger car was the Mercedes-Benz 260 D (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_260_D) in 1936. They have a few years on the competition

hyperion667

WAKE YOU *** UP, LOL!

listerone

I've only been exposed to two diesels in my life so I might not have enough experience to make definitive statements but I'd have to say that the engine in my "d" was slightly superior,overall,to my Bluetec's engine (excellent though it is).

ImInPA

The straight 6 engine is legendary for its smoothness. The V6's all require balance shafts to smooth them out. It is not surprising that you perceive the BMW diesel as "slightly" better, as it still uses an inline design. There are advantages to the V6 design too, but, a n inline 6 will almost always be smoother.

El Cid

May be in the manual or I read it somewhere. Apparently, the Attention Assist (coffee cup) measures your driving for first 20 minutes or so of a trip. If you begin to significantly deviate from that, it will come on.
Mine came on once when I was about 30 minutes into a trip and came up on a long stretch of road where barriers had been placed on both sides of a single lane. Tended to weave a little bit to make sure I had plenty of clearance and also speed went up and down as cars ahead of me speeded up or slowed down.

Mr Snappy

Not sure where you got the "20 minutes" thing, but that is absolutely false. I got my warning about 2 HOURS into my trip. If you think about, only monitoring your input for the first 20 minutes would be useless, that is when you would be MOST alert. Maybe what you read was that it did not START to monitor your driving until you were at least 20 minutes into your journey?

El Cid

Could be wrong about the time frame, but I am sure it is pretty early after you start. As in when you are fresh, paying attention, driving normally, etc. Maybe it is after 20 minutes, it starts to analyze? Of course, it probably adjusts as you drive for speed and so forth.
One or two hours after you start would be too late.
Mine alerted me about 45 minutes into the trip.
Regardless, it works and its nice to have.

Raymond Lee

Thanks guys. Something new to learn just about everyday.

LaicepsYdobon

The first 20 minutes it builds a profile of you driving during which you will not be alerted. After 20 minutes, when it has enough to establish a base line, it will start monitoring your actions and if it deviates enough from the established profile (your first 20 minutes of driving) it will alert you.

Mr Snappy

That makes sense.

El Cid

Looked it up in the Manual under Attention Assist. It is active between 50 and 112 MPH. "Will warn you after 20 minutes of driving at the earliest." Takes driving style, time of day, duration of ride, etc. into consideration. Also, lists some factors that will cause it not to be active.