Upgrade Distronic Plus after purchase for E300 2017?
11-19-2017, 04:36 AM
#1
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MB E300 2017
Upgrade Distronic Plus after purchase for E300 2017?
I puechase a E300 2017 two months ago with premium package 1. I am wondering whether it is possible to upgrade the distronic plus which is ACC, line keeping etc. I believe all the hardware is already in my vehicle right, since it have automatic break, self parking pilot...
Any one who regret to add these feature wondering the same thing?
Just like Tesla can upgrade enhance autopilot after puechase... is it possible?
Any one who regret to add these feature wondering the same thing?
Just like Tesla can upgrade enhance autopilot after puechase... is it possible?
11-20-2017, 06:48 PM
#4
Super Member
With Tesla, they're selling extra software as an upgrade. Tesla DOES NOT offer a hardware upgrade. If you've got AutoPilot 1.x hardware, or Autopilot 2.0, that's all your car will ever get.
With Mercedes, if you buy a car equipped with Distronic, you've got the latest and greatest allowed in your jurisdiction. There are no additional software buy-ups. It's all or nothing.
As far as retrofitting, it's possible, but it'll cost you a fortune to buy the parts needed & labor required to retrofit the car. There was someone on the forum with one of the older Mercedes models who managed to retrofit their car, but it was a much simpler version of Distronic, just a single radar unit for that car.
Compared to a Distronic-equipped car, you're missing quite a few sensors. Tesla's system is quite simplistic compared to Mercedes'. IIRC, most of the Tesla AutoPilot system is inside the windshield-mounted camera unit. Merc's Distronic uses multiple cameras, multiple radars (including multi-band radars), multiple computers. Even if you managed to get all of that installed, you'd need to find someone who can code the car to have all of the modules be recognized and talk with each other. If there's extra software involved, you might not be able to get it. Lastly, you're not going to get software updates for it since the MB dealerships' systems go by VIN#s and OEM equipment lists.
Cost-wise, it's going to be cheaper to trade the car for a Distronic-equipped car. Good luck finding one. Distronic-equipped E-Classes on the used market are extremely rare. I tried for a whole year to get a used W212 with Distronic on it. I only ever found one and it didn't qualify for CPO, so I didn't take the chance on it and ordered a custom W212 w/Distronic. Distronic is somewhat more common on W213s, but still rare considering it alone adds 22% to the price of the car.
You might want to try looking for a used S-Class. A fully-loaded E-Class is well into in used S-Class territory, and Distronic is far more common on the W222. The local dealership's asking $62k for a 2014 S550 w/Surround cameras & Distronic and 22k miles. I'd consider buying it if I could get away with driving an S-Class. With my work, an S-Class would convey a very bad impression, and would be too conspicuous for other aspects of my life. The E-Class is too showy for what I do as it is.
With Mercedes, if you buy a car equipped with Distronic, you've got the latest and greatest allowed in your jurisdiction. There are no additional software buy-ups. It's all or nothing.
As far as retrofitting, it's possible, but it'll cost you a fortune to buy the parts needed & labor required to retrofit the car. There was someone on the forum with one of the older Mercedes models who managed to retrofit their car, but it was a much simpler version of Distronic, just a single radar unit for that car.
Compared to a Distronic-equipped car, you're missing quite a few sensors. Tesla's system is quite simplistic compared to Mercedes'. IIRC, most of the Tesla AutoPilot system is inside the windshield-mounted camera unit. Merc's Distronic uses multiple cameras, multiple radars (including multi-band radars), multiple computers. Even if you managed to get all of that installed, you'd need to find someone who can code the car to have all of the modules be recognized and talk with each other. If there's extra software involved, you might not be able to get it. Lastly, you're not going to get software updates for it since the MB dealerships' systems go by VIN#s and OEM equipment lists.
Cost-wise, it's going to be cheaper to trade the car for a Distronic-equipped car. Good luck finding one. Distronic-equipped E-Classes on the used market are extremely rare. I tried for a whole year to get a used W212 with Distronic on it. I only ever found one and it didn't qualify for CPO, so I didn't take the chance on it and ordered a custom W212 w/Distronic. Distronic is somewhat more common on W213s, but still rare considering it alone adds 22% to the price of the car.
You might want to try looking for a used S-Class. A fully-loaded E-Class is well into in used S-Class territory, and Distronic is far more common on the W222. The local dealership's asking $62k for a 2014 S550 w/Surround cameras & Distronic and 22k miles. I'd consider buying it if I could get away with driving an S-Class. With my work, an S-Class would convey a very bad impression, and would be too conspicuous for other aspects of my life. The E-Class is too showy for what I do as it is.
11-20-2017, 08:26 PM
#5
Senior Member
just a get a brand new Honda accord or Toyota camery, the 2018 models come standard with the same tech as the benz. might not be as good but you get a new car for 20k, twice the price Mercedes charges for the same tech. (10k)
11-20-2017, 11:50 PM
#6
Super Member
Eh... I had a Toyota Avalon with "Dynamic Radar Cruise Control" as a rental this year. Whilst it was a welcome feature, it was by no means Distronic. Definitely NOT the same technology. No steering, and strictly meant for highway use -- don't even try to use it in the city, and especially don't try to use it in stop-and-go traffic. I also wouldn't trust it to react fast enough to someone cutting you off on the highway either. The stop-and-go traffic limitation on the Toyota system was a killer -- that's the #1 reason I bought Distronic.
11-21-2017, 03:41 AM
#7
Senior Member
Eh... I had a Toyota Avalon with "Dynamic Radar Cruise Control" as a rental this year. Whilst it was a welcome feature, it was by no means Distronic. Definitely NOT the same technology. No steering, and strictly meant for highway use -- don't even try to use it in the city, and especially don't try to use it in stop-and-go traffic. I also wouldn't trust it to react fast enough to someone cutting you off on the highway either. The stop-and-go traffic limitation on the Toyota system was a killer -- that's the #1 reason I bought Distronic.
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11-21-2017, 08:35 AM
#8
MBWorld Fanatic!
The 2018 supposedly has a new upgraded system, the fact that it comes standard on the most base model of a Toyota or a Honda accord and our Mercedes doesn't even get it puts its to shame. Mercedes used to be the car with the latest tech, now it has the most outdated tech....
