About these nannies. They are currently just a hit and miss tech. Even when they work 100% of the time, we don't utilize them but in rare occasions. I, for one, can't wait for Level 5 autonomy when it will simply change the labor component of transportation. For example, Lane Keep Assist only helps people in certain occasion and condition. I've been driving for decades, and not once have a veered into another lane. Now for people who sleep at the wheel, this tech might have saved lives. But for the most part, LKA wears your brakes down prematurely and unevenly; I wonder why MB has not improved on this flawed design.

I've got a lot to talk about the distronic and steering assist too but maybe in another thread. In my book, it's flawed and has ways to go before we can get to level 3 where you can confidently take your hands off the wheel.

 

I only keep lane keep assist turned on because there are so many distractions in this fantastic car. Occasionally, when I'm adjusting the stereo or etc, it will swerve me back into the center to remind me. Otherwise, many of the nannies are turned off on my car.

 

Completely agree. It is a safety feature, and additional brake wear is a small price to pay for the added protection. All the nanny features are turned on for me except for the auto lane change which I may turn on depending on my mood.

 

I like the German attitude to not staying in the passing lane unless actually passing with the Auto feature. That's how I found out about the feature in the loaner EQE when I moved me over once I'd cleared the car in the slow lane.

 

What exactly are you talking about? Your post would have been accurate if you posted it 10yrs ago so I am confused.
Lane Change assist will help anyone driving on the highway when they approach a slower moving car. An EQS with LCA will change lanes to go around the car without the driver having to do anything but keep a hand on the wheel. This has Nothing to do with veering into another lane.
LKA does NOT use your brakes... 10yrs ago it did but it does not in the EQS. The old "flawed design" is not present in the EQS
Has a ways to go? Huh? What? Level 3 is literally being sold by Mercedes today! It needs improvements, but it does NOT have "a ways to go" lol

 

Sorry, Tjdehya. I think your information is inaccurate. Check the link out for the 2022 EQS Lane Keep Assist: https://media.mbusa.com/releases/rel...eference-guide
Per the literature, the EQS continues the tradition of applying the brakes to keep the car within the lanes. I tried to verify this with real world experiment. And while it was not very scientific, I did noticed more brake dust with my AMG when LKA was on versus when I turned it off completely. It is a nanny that I have not used even 10 years ago on my BMW.

However on Distronic activation, the steering wheel is actually used by the system. It's easy to turn it on and it last about a minute 2 minutes at the end. I turn it on when I need to tie my shoes and when I need to fiddle with some controls while the car is in motion.

 

Same here. 2022 SL 63.

 

Lane keep assist and steering assist are two different systems. Lane keep assist doesn't try to keep the car centered, it only triggers when car is leaving the lane. That's when you see the red line in the HUD etc. It is really a last resort system.

Active steering is the one that keeps the car centered and will use steering not brakes. When it is on the steering wheel icon will turn green on the dash.

I rarely see lane keep assist activated with active steering on since steering kicks in before lane keep assist.

 

I suggest activating the Distronic system. It will do the e-braking and actual steering instead of using the brakes to nudge you into the lane. It's easy to activate in our cars. Press the distronic button on the steering wheel, Press the Set current speed button also on the steering wheel and you could even take both hands off the steering wheel for about 45 seconds before the warning comes on. To disengage, press the Distronic button again. I have found that it last up to 2 minutes before the bells and whistles come on. The distronic system is clear far superior than the LKA (land keep assist).

@Tjdehya. However, here is my beef with the Distronic System semi Level 2 or whatever you want to categorize it. Picture this scenario which is my daily route: I am driving 65-75 mph in an HOV lane. There are parts when another lane merges and another part where the single lane splits up into two. At the merge or split, there are no immediate solid or dash lines and only a 6 inch curbed median down the stretch.

At the merge, I am driving on the right merging with a left lane with the left to yield because the left is actually entering HOV lane on the right. Additionally both lanes will merge into another left lane separated by plastic stick barriers further down. While there's no car on the left lane merging, the EQS steers to the left in search of a "guiding" line despite the AR HUD showing a tracker spot for the car in the front. It would appear that the system is smart and tries to follow (into line) with the car in the front (3-5 car lengths). So instead of following the car in the front from it's current path of travel on this long staggered merge scenario, it steers left bias as if it was seeking out a line on the left side to the point that I have to intercede so the EQS would not hit the plastic barrier sticks. This is the behavior of the EQS on every occasion that I have tested it

In a lane split scenario, my HOV lane widens to split to the right and left with no solid to dash lines for the split Left split would eventually ascend to an exit ramp while keeping right continues the HOV lane. As the single lane widens with Distronic tracker on the car in front (3-5 cars), the EQS starts to steer to the left bias just like the scenario above. I can see on the AR HUD that the green tracker marker is still on the car in front continuing on the right for HOV, but the EQS is actually going to the left split. I quickly intervene, and the EQS continues to follow the car in the front. This incident also occurs on every occasion.

Leve 2 and Level 3 requires driver intervention as needed. Level 4 is when the "vehicle is responsible for all driving and navigational task." (SAE rambus.com). So even at the current level 3 sold by Mercedes, it has a LOOONG way to go before we see Level 4 or Level 5 capabilities . . . unless you are driving in a closed circuit. Companies and fans like to hype up bias. I just shot from the hip and tell you like it is.

 

I understand that they are both different systems. With Distronic activated, the active steering is used. It can operate with LKA off as well. With LKA on and Active Steering On, my car will not steer. I just get the vibration and then the nudge, and per MB, it's the brake nudge. As a driver who doesn't always signal on a lane change, the vibration and nudging attempts by LKA is quite annoying. With LKA OFF and Active Steer ON, I can switch lanes uninterrupted without signaling. Go ahead with the BMW jokes (long time BMW driver, I am). I'm guilty sometimes . . . most of the time. My defense is that I done cut people off except for a_holes and I do signal on turns.

 

A feature of lane keeping assist, is that, at least on my 2022 SL63, a green icon appears on the dash, consisting of a steering wheel flanked by 2 hands.
In a few seconds, you get a visual warning by the icon turning red, then audio, if the steering wheel doesn’t sense an input.
I don’t like that. It’s like you are almost fighting the steering wheel.

 

MB2timer, unless you have historical tendencies to not keep your lane unintentionally, I highly suggest you turn off LKA to enjoy more of that SL63. LKA just takes the fun out of spirited driving when you have to babysit the LKA.
But back to the topic of auto lane change slow vehicle ahead. I think this nanny is dangerous because in a scenario where two lanes merge ahead, and the driver in front slows down, your MB will change lane only to find out that the lanes are merging. I think that Distronic lane change assist where you initiate the lane change is good enough . . . for me at least.

 

Actually MBUSA is not accurate here. Better to refer for Mercedes engineers instead of (MBUSA) marketing, WIS GF54.71-P-9900a for Active Lane Keeping Assist function description: "As of market launch of model 223 (FAP Gen. 5), course-correcting steering intervention takes place instead of targeted brake applications".

 

It does look like the horse is speaking from the front and back ends. In either case, brake and/or steering intervention in LKA techs can be very jarring and outright dangerous in some scenarios. I'm happy with the beeping warning or passive flashing lights. Just don't touch my steering wheel while I have my hands on it. Disclaimer: If you tend to fall asleep while driving, or have issues with keeping your lane, please always turn on LKA.

 

I have included a screenshot of the auto and manual lane change assist screen, as well as two videos I took of the Headlight Projections. One of the videos intentionally has no audio.

 

This is the message that pops up periodically. My 450 has the downloaded update, but I am holding off on the installation pending what the service advisor and foreman say about my inquiries.

 

My 2024 EQE has the feature. You can turn on automatic lane changes or set it to manually initiated only. I have been toggling between the two settings as I cannot decide how I like it.

The main issue I have is that when using Navigation, automatic lane change tends to move me over to the left to use the fee express lanes. Since they can be quite expensive, I generally do not want to use them. Unfortunately, it does not seem to be possible to turn off the toll lane usage without also disabling toll bridges, which is a serious problem where I live. Further, it will try to use the express lanes for very short distances on my usual route, meaning it tries to move me three lanes left for a mile, then I have to go three lanes right in heavy traffic to make my exit. It is much better and safer to stay to the right on that stretch of highway.