Dalema

Was wondering if anyone else had experienced this, but we've been getting quite a few false distance warning lamp indications.

What I mean by that is the red lamp that lights in the instrument display and warning sound seems to go off for no apparent reason.

We noticed it more when driving up somewhat curved road - but also just on flat straight roads - with absolutely nothing in front of us or even any vehicles on the road.

Anyway - annoying enough on a recent long trip to turn the function off - particularly when it wakes up sleeping passengers (kids)!

We took it in to get looked at by the service center and they could find nothing wrong with the sensors or the systems. They actually asked if we had been turning it off and on - to which I replied yes as it was happening so frequently that I hit off in the middle of a false alert to prove to myself it was that system causing the alarm.

I'd say it has only gone off one or two times appropriately - when I have been accelerating and then overtaking it has picked up the car in front of me.

Anyway - has anyone else experienced this? Somewhat annoying and makes the feature useless - particularly when I have to turn it off

teeth

There's one spot in town that it goes off every time. On a gentle left curve. Maybe a ghost lives there.

Steve Maislin

Yes, seems to happen if a car in front brakes when moving into a left hand turn and I am closing in on them. It is a bit sensitive from that perspective. I have had the occasional ghost warning, maybe it's a low flying bird??? All in all, the false alarms for me have been rare, so I an not bothered. Let's say, I am not contemplating turning it off at this point.

Dalema

Yes - I've only turned it off once - it was alerting every 5 minutes or so.

The service team said it could be triggered by outside sources - but couldn't see any issues with the system.

Just yesterday I was driving down a straight highway in the middle lane and it went off for a few seconds - weird.

I will be interested as more GLs get on the road if others experience this.

vertrkr

I wonder if the radar unit can become misaligned and cause more false reading than usual or maybe you're being painted by some police radar on the same frequency/band, never heard of that but the thought occurred to me.

Dalema

Yes - that's what I asked about the alignment eg was it picking up a post on the side of the road and they said it was fine.

On the radar - I actually have a detector (V1) inside the vehicle - so that was my first thought as to what may be causing it. It still occurred when I turned it off. While it was on I could tell it wasn't a police radar causing it.

The service folk were quite clear that it would have to be something external to the car and not inside the cabin causing it.

derek

Yes! That has been happening to me too. I don't know why, it does it totally at random and it's quite annoying and a distraction.

I wonder what the issue may be.

sraza

does it snow or rain where you'r located? i know my brother had similar issues with his x5m package parking sensors- he said the beep would go off all the tim when it snowed-
just a thought- though i dont think that could be the cause of the alarm in your case.

Dalema

It was clear when the alarms were going off.

On a side note - when in the snow - at certain times I get a message that says the distance control has been turned off due to the conditions. Not all the time but sometimes in the snow. I'm guessing that is based on the traction it is sensing at the time.

derek

Clear in sunny s. cal. Does it randomly.

DBV

Same problem with ours and dealer can not locate the problem. I ended up just disabling it, since it became so annoying.

derek

I would, but we paid for the option and it should work, no?

blittle

......and that is a normal process for the system. At least that's what the manual says.

blittle

Please correct me if I'm wrong on this...... Isn't Distronic simply an "intelligent" cruise control? I only turn on my current cruise system when I am on the interstates or expressways doing 65 or better and will not likely change that behavior with my new GL which will be equipped with the Distronic Plus.......that being the case.... What are my chances of experiencing the "ghost signals?"

derek

i don't have distronic nor park distance, just the crash avoidance thing.

DBV

Yes, definitely agree. Need to take it back to the dealer again and my wife was getting annoyed with it. .

blittle

Ahhh... Ok, yes, I see the difference.....I won't know till mine arrives! Is the "collision warning" thing new for 2013 or was it available before now?

derek

We had a 2012 gl350 and it didn't have it and i'm not sure if it was an option, though my 2010 e63 does. My e63 has done the warning a couple times, but they kind of made sense, though no impact was really possible unless there were no brakes and an extremely inebriated driver.

xxGenericSNxx

Collision Prevention Assist is a standard feature on all 2013 GLs and have been added for the 2013 MLs. 2012 MLs did not have it (unless ordered with Distronic.)

Only way your 2012 would've had it is if it has Distronic- a very rare option on X164 cars.

DBV

Has anyone figured out fix for this? Thanks!

Aquaboy

Yes, have same issues with false warnings. Happens on back roads, highways, etc. Its random, some days on same road have nothing, other days it may go off 10 times in a matter of a few minutes. Is there a way to turn off the sound? The warning lamp doesnt bother me, but the sound is annoying beyond belief.

DBV

Just checking to see if anyone received a fix on this issue? Taking my car in for its 10,000 miles service next Monday and going to have Mercedes look at this again. We have turned it off since experiencing the issues with no fix and would like to be able to use this safety feature. Thanks!

blittle

I have put over 5K on mine and have not had even one instance of this.....

JimBarnhart

I had it activate today, but it was my deal.. A car in front of me was making a left turn and was taking his time compared to my acceleration, the GL triggered that I might hit it and beeped.

I had a couple of beeps that were false triggers, but not enough to turn it off.

blittle, you are catching up to me nicely. I have 8500 miles on mine now.

Steve Maislin

It goes off, generally as Jim says. Car ahead brakes and starts making a turn. You don't slow down like you should, so you close the gap quickly. It beeps. Thanks Mr. GL for telling me that I drive too aggressively. :-)

All in all, these little things tend to make me a better driver by applying a subtle behavioral modification techniques. It is all quite interesting. Kind of like having a right (back) seat driver all of the time!