Automatic Braking
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,032
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From: Northeast
2012 S350 Bluetec, 2014 GLK250 Bluetec, 2026 E350 4Matic
Automatic Braking
So, Whenever I go into the menu and disable this feature, I expect it to stay turned off, but on the next restart of the car, it defaults back to "on". Is there a trick to getting this to stay turned off?
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Northeast
2012 S350 Bluetec, 2014 GLK250 Bluetec, 2026 E350 4Matic
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,398
Likes: 5,322
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
No, there is no trick. It's a safety system that defaults to on, just like ESP. You can temporarily turn it off for the current drive cycle, but as you observed, it will turn back on the next time the engine is started. The thinking behind it is that the system safes lives if its on, so turning it off must be cumbersome in order to discourage drivers from doing so. Starting September 1, 2029 it's going to be mandatory in the USA, so it must default to on. For now it's done so voluntary.
If it keeps beeping at you, you are following too closely to other cars. There's a setting that lets you control how soon you get the beeping. You can change that to Early, Medium or Late. You can change it to Late, then it doesn't warn as eagerly, but it also doesn't give you a lot of time before it slams on the brakes. The acoustic warning gives you time to take the foot of the throttle for example to signal the system that you are aware before it decides to slam on the brakes.
As much as I like to think I'm infallible, this system has on several occasions reacted much faster than I was able to step on the brakes and probably saved my bacon a couple of times.
If it keeps beeping at you, you are following too closely to other cars. There's a setting that lets you control how soon you get the beeping. You can change that to Early, Medium or Late. You can change it to Late, then it doesn't warn as eagerly, but it also doesn't give you a lot of time before it slams on the brakes. The acoustic warning gives you time to take the foot of the throttle for example to signal the system that you are aware before it decides to slam on the brakes.
As much as I like to think I'm infallible, this system has on several occasions reacted much faster than I was able to step on the brakes and probably saved my bacon a couple of times.
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In 2019 I had a bad experience with automatic braking. I had slight bruises on my chest from the seat belt retraction. Here is an excerpt from my NTHSA report.
Complaint Number: 11192423
Vehicle Identification Number: WDDZF4JB6JA305470
Your Vehicle's Make Model and Model Year: MERCEDES BENZ E300 2018
Note: Your VIN, make, model, and year are all protected under the Privacy Act.
What part of your car was affected? Speed Control
What happened?
The vehicle was in motion traveling at 35 mph and controlled by adaptive cruise control set at 35 mph. The time was 12:40 pm ET on 29 March 2019. Seemingly the car went
into crash prevention mode by tightening the seat belt and executing a maximum force braking stop. The tires squealed. My chest was sore where the seat belt retracted with
force. Approximate Location: Southbound on Landmark Dr. near Ashcroft Ct. Clearwater, FL 33761. Landmark Dr. is a residential two lane road running North-South with dual
yellow painted center marking. Road is straight and flat for approximately .2 mile in each direction. There were no other vehicles, pedestrians or animals within sight in either
direction. Weather was sunny and dry with the temperature near 82°F.
When did this happen? 03/29/2019
How fast were you going? (in mph) 35
About how many miles were on your vehicle at the time of the incident? 7805
Complaint Number: 11192423
Vehicle Identification Number: WDDZF4JB6JA305470
Your Vehicle's Make Model and Model Year: MERCEDES BENZ E300 2018
Note: Your VIN, make, model, and year are all protected under the Privacy Act.
What part of your car was affected? Speed Control
What happened?
The vehicle was in motion traveling at 35 mph and controlled by adaptive cruise control set at 35 mph. The time was 12:40 pm ET on 29 March 2019. Seemingly the car went
into crash prevention mode by tightening the seat belt and executing a maximum force braking stop. The tires squealed. My chest was sore where the seat belt retracted with
force. Approximate Location: Southbound on Landmark Dr. near Ashcroft Ct. Clearwater, FL 33761. Landmark Dr. is a residential two lane road running North-South with dual
yellow painted center marking. Road is straight and flat for approximately .2 mile in each direction. There were no other vehicles, pedestrians or animals within sight in either
direction. Weather was sunny and dry with the temperature near 82°F.
When did this happen? 03/29/2019
How fast were you going? (in mph) 35
About how many miles were on your vehicle at the time of the incident? 7805
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,907
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From: Tennessee
W214 E450
What was the outcome of the NTHSA report? Did you ever have it happen again? Do you still own the car?
Regarding the OPs question. There is no trick to disable it permanently that I'm aware of. I doubt shadows are causing it to beep, but that's just based on my own experience. I've never had it beep or engage when I thought it shouldn't. In fact, there have been many situations where I was surprised it didn't react. Not that I thought it should, but where I thought it would be fooled. You also mentioned in another thread that you don't have active lane keep assist so you don't get that "weird steering glitch". Perhaps your driving habits are causing some of your issues. There have been past discussions of people who like to hug the line or like to merge in between cars aggressively that don't like the car beeping or correcting their actions. Maybe it's defective cars or poor system design, but I suspect it's more likely just driving habits that are outside the design parameters of the safety systems. It's not able to read the driver's mind and has only telemetry data to go on to make a decision. It works quite well from my experience, but I'll admit that I sometimes expect it to misread the situation and I get mentally prepared for it to do something that I don't want. So far, it has not, but I still do not trust it 100%.
Regarding the OPs question. There is no trick to disable it permanently that I'm aware of. I doubt shadows are causing it to beep, but that's just based on my own experience. I've never had it beep or engage when I thought it shouldn't. In fact, there have been many situations where I was surprised it didn't react. Not that I thought it should, but where I thought it would be fooled. You also mentioned in another thread that you don't have active lane keep assist so you don't get that "weird steering glitch". Perhaps your driving habits are causing some of your issues. There have been past discussions of people who like to hug the line or like to merge in between cars aggressively that don't like the car beeping or correcting their actions. Maybe it's defective cars or poor system design, but I suspect it's more likely just driving habits that are outside the design parameters of the safety systems. It's not able to read the driver's mind and has only telemetry data to go on to make a decision. It works quite well from my experience, but I'll admit that I sometimes expect it to misread the situation and I get mentally prepared for it to do something that I don't want. So far, it has not, but I still do not trust it 100%.
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Super Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 971
Likes: 182
From: DFW, TX
2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
Looks like the CLA may have this phantom braking issue too.
I have a 2014 W212 with this system that was fairly new tech back then and mine never did this in 250k miles. I also have it in my Audi RS etron GT and my wife's Audi A6 Allroad where I have not experienced this ever.
I have a 2014 W212 with this system that was fairly new tech back then and mine never did this in 250k miles. I also have it in my Audi RS etron GT and my wife's Audi A6 Allroad where I have not experienced this ever.
Member
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 177
Likes: 10
From: Long Island, NY
2024 E450
I experienced unwanted braking a few weeks ago. I was driving around 70mph on the highway passing a truck on the right. The car in front of me was far away, which was definitely beyond safe distance according to my experience in this car. The car just hit the brake heavily, significantly reduced the speed. I was driving east bound so it could be the shadow of the truck that caused the braking. Luckily there weren't cars behind me, otherwise I could have gotten tailgated.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 479
Likes: 151
From: DFW Texas
GL450, E450, Porsche 718 GTS
Mine has beeped at me a few times for no discernible reason. I believe most times it was when taking off from a red light. I suspect that the car behind ran up pretty fast and it was trying to warn me of a possible rear end collision. Never a big deal to me. Just a humph, I wonder what caused that?
Also, once when a car in front of me was turning right onto a side street, I ran up on it pretty fast knowing it would be gone when I got there and the seat belts suddenly ratcheted in tight and the brakes almost locked up. I just felt that was a reassuring sign that the feature is working and could help save me in a real situation.
I’d never turn it off.
Also, once when a car in front of me was turning right onto a side street, I ran up on it pretty fast knowing it would be gone when I got there and the seat belts suddenly ratcheted in tight and the brakes almost locked up. I just felt that was a reassuring sign that the feature is working and could help save me in a real situation.
I’d never turn it off.
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 5,357
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,032
Likes: 277
From: Northeast
2012 S350 Bluetec, 2014 GLK250 Bluetec, 2026 E350 4Matic
No, there is no trick. It's a safety system that defaults to on, just like ESP. You can temporarily turn it off for the current drive cycle, but as you observed, it will turn back on the next time the engine is started. The thinking behind it is that the system safes lives if its on, so turning it off must be cumbersome in order to discourage drivers from doing so. Starting September 1, 2029 it's going to be mandatory in the USA, so it must default to on. For now it's done so voluntary.
If it keeps beeping at you, you are following too closely to other cars. There's a setting that lets you control how soon you get the beeping. You can change that to Early, Medium or Late. You can change it to Late, then it doesn't warn as eagerly, but it also doesn't give you a lot of time before it slams on the brakes. The acoustic warning gives you time to take the foot of the throttle for example to signal the system that you are aware before it decides to slam on the brakes.
As much as I like to think I'm infallible, this system has on several occasions reacted much faster than I was able to step on the brakes and probably saved my bacon a couple of times.
If it keeps beeping at you, you are following too closely to other cars. There's a setting that lets you control how soon you get the beeping. You can change that to Early, Medium or Late. You can change it to Late, then it doesn't warn as eagerly, but it also doesn't give you a lot of time before it slams on the brakes. The acoustic warning gives you time to take the foot of the throttle for example to signal the system that you are aware before it decides to slam on the brakes.
As much as I like to think I'm infallible, this system has on several occasions reacted much faster than I was able to step on the brakes and probably saved my bacon a couple of times.
Last edited by 300SE1993; Dec 22, 2025 at 05:56 PM.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,398
Likes: 5,322
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
All safety systems can have an occasional false positive. It's more likely to prevent an accident than to cause one. There are examples of people having gotten trapped in their cars unable to release themselves form their seatbelts after an accident. Is that reason to not wear a seatbelt at all? Both are fallacies.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,032
Likes: 277
From: Northeast
2012 S350 Bluetec, 2014 GLK250 Bluetec, 2026 E350 4Matic
All safety systems can have an occasional false positive. It's more likely to prevent an accident than to cause one. There are examples of people having gotten trapped in their cars unable to release themselves form their seatbelts after an accident. Is that reason to not wear a seatbelt at all? Both are fallacies.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 479
Likes: 151
From: DFW Texas
GL450, E450, Porsche 718 GTS
Maybe if you’re so incensed by other people’s opinions, you should go away. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and/or input. This is a discussion forum..
Member
Joined: Oct 2025
Posts: 232
Likes: 122
From: NH
26 E53 Wagon
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,398
Likes: 5,322
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,032
Likes: 277
From: Northeast
2012 S350 Bluetec, 2014 GLK250 Bluetec, 2026 E350 4Matic
I've been a member here for well over 20 years and have had positive experiences here for the most part, but for some reason there are just a larger portion of rude W214 owners than in the other sections. Duly noted. I did appreciate those who came here to help and share though. People who feel the need to belittle others in a forum baffle me. I hope you feel better about yourselves for putting me down.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,398
Likes: 5,322
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
I've been a member here for well over 20 years and have had positive experiences here for the most part, but for some reason there are just a larger portion of rude W214 owners than in the other sections. Duly noted. I did appreciate those who came here to help and share though. People who feel the need to belittle others in a forum baffle me. I hope you feel better about yourselves for putting me down.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,907
Likes: 665
From: Tennessee
W214 E450
I've been a member here for well over 20 years and have had positive experiences here for the most part, but for some reason there are just a larger portion of rude W214 owners than in the other sections. Duly noted. I did appreciate those who came here to help and share though. People who feel the need to belittle others in a forum baffle me. I hope you feel better about yourselves for putting me down.
