groale

I see plenty of posts about the rear backup camera not having the guide lines but I have not seen any discussion on how the camera on my 2013 W212 E350 is mounted to the side and not centered. It is offset to be closer to the passenger side than right in the middle of the trunk. I have only had this car a few months and am still not used to the fact that the rear camera cannot be trusted for backing up in a parking garage which has a tight space between cars as what I think is the middle of the screen is not the middle of the car. Have I not found a thread with a solution, or is it just one more reason that the backup camera on this year model is a POS?

DJ Hellfire

I completely agree. You have to be very careful trying to park with it. It's good for judging how much distance you have to back up, but for trying to aim the car into a spot, it can be difficult.

Knivels

Is that mounted differently compared to the 2011? As an aide, I use side mirrors to confirm I am equidistant from either parking line or vehicle, whichever applies. I try to stay away from tight spots although these cars appear to be magnets for other vehicles. I have gone to far extents to park from other vehicles only to return and find others right next to me...

CarolinaBluetec

How did anyone ever manage to drive before there were backup cameras? There must have been total carnage in parking lots.

hiker64012

If it doesn't line up correctly, why isn't this a warranty issue? If it is a common occurrence then it should be even easier (I would think) to get it fixed. Seems M-B might be opening themselves up to some liability issues if they know about it and don't fix it. You paid for it, it's supposed to work correctly. I believe that is a basic premise of tort law.

I agree that we don't "need" a backup camera but that's not the point. You paid for, it should work. The first toddler that gets hit because the camera isn't correct will start the trend or class action suit to fix the problem.

Live Oak

OH! COME ON!

unr1

this is why the dynamic guidelines on the 14+ models are great.

DJ Hellfire

It's not that it doesn't work correctly. It works fine. It's just they didn't mount the camera in the center of the trunk. It's offset to the passenger side, so it's a bit difficult to judge where the middle of the car actually is when looking at the screen.

DJ Hellfire

Maybe so, but I'm sure a lot more babies got killed before they became common.

CarolinaBluetec

"NHTSA estimates that 58 to 69 lives will be saved each year (not including injuries prevented) once the entire on-road vehicle fleet has rear-view systems, which it believes will be by about 2054"
Let's see, that is about 39 years from now when every car and truck on the road has a camera(s).

DJ Hellfire

The amount of years or lives doesn't matter. What matters is your child or my own could be saved from this technology when some ******* doesn't know how to check his rear view. Even if just 1 saved life is saved, it's better than none.

KEY08

So, how is the camera "useless" then? I have had many cars with camera lens mounted off center. You can't adapt to this?
More useless complaints.

PeterUbers

Birdseye view ftmfw!!!

It's like playing grand theft auto with my 'E every time I park ... Without killing the hookers...

CarolinaBluetec

What makes you think that the ******* is going to look at camera when they have the much more interesting phone to look at? Unfortunately you can't legislate ******* off the planet.

markgm

Too bad the camera takes too long to turn on, and I've already finished reversing when it finally comes on.

KEY08

Bring it into your dealer, because that is not normal.

DJ Hellfire

I don't feel it's useless. That was the op. I'm just saying I understand what he's talking about. I have 3 other cars with center mounted cameras. So this took some getting used to when backing into parking spots.