43221B

I have bushes along the side of my driveway. When I back out of my garage, I back straight toward the bushes. I have noticed that my Parktronic sensors detect and indicate via the lights that there is an object behind my GL well in advance of contact but the audible warning (beep) doesn't sound until my bumper is basically touching the leaves. If I am barely moving such as holding the car back with the brake as I am backing up, I have slightly more warning, I'd say about a 1'-1.5'. Really no audible warning before contact if I just let it reverse at idle speed. This causes me a little concern considering I have three little ones.

So, my question would be, is this what everyone else experiences with Parktronic? If so, is there a way to reprogram the audible warning? The camera obviously is a huge help, but I would love to have an audible warning immediately when something comes within detectable range of the sensors. I have a service appt. coming up and I'll ask then but was just wondering if anyone else has had experience reprogramming the audible alert.

StevethePilot

On my aught-7 I get audible warning as soon as the first (outer) lights come on. You also have to be going fairly slowly for the parktronic to come on at all, and it's not very responsive from my experiences. So there ya go.

Stoneseller

I've noticed that of someone walks in front of or behind the vehicle while any gear is engaged, the sensors go ballistic as if to say "STOP RIGHT NOW".

While slowly approaching shrubs, etc, the audible warning seems to kick in before contact is made with the first leaf.

43221B

Thanks for the feedback. On mine, there is no audible response until the second to last light (the first red light) comes on. Stoneseller, is yours the same?

STP, as far as responsiveness goes, unless I am just inching backward, by the time it lights up, the first two or three lights a side come on all at the same time. Is that basically what yours does?

tfinan

I receive audio only on the last bar.

I too wish it provided a progressive feedback (like my audi did). Right now I see it as almost useless in comparison.

43221B

I agree. It seems like it is good if you already know something is back there ie parallel parking or if you are only inching in reverse. I don't have a lot of confidence that I would be able to avoid hitting something I didn't know was there. I guess I'll check with my dealer to see if it is working properly and if so I'll see if I can get them to reprogram the audible alert to go off sooner. I'll report back.

rkao

I have no complaints with the Parktronic system - especially when coupled with the rear view camera. I like the fact that the audible warning is not immediate but only when contact with an object is imminent; I don't even mind that the system is active when stopped since whenever I'm in Manhattan, it warns me of the crazy pedestrians around my vehicle.

I will say, however, that the similar system found on my parents' F01 750Li is an improved implementation given the visual indicators front and back on the center console display.

Since I had the similar Parktronic setup on my '08 W211 E63, I'm going to assume that MB will have an improved/updated system that will match the intelligence of the BMW setup. Someone please chime in: what's the Parktronic like on the W212 E-class or the W221 S-class?

StevethePilot

More or less, yeah. Sonic systems can be slow I guess?

Stoneseller

That's about the same as mine

43221B

STP and Stoneseller, thanks. It sounds like mine is working normally. I'll just see if I can get the audible alert to beep sooner.