Hi guys! New lurker here. Great forum, we've learned a lot as we go about customizing our new glc Right now, we're debating whether we should spring for the driver assist package or not. Anyone here have it or have any experience with it?

We are leaning towards getting it, just because the safety systems appear to be pretty next level and think it'll make a difference with all the "texting first driving second" vehicles out there. Our only concern is that it might be too intrusive during normal rush-hour driving. Anyone have any opinions/experience on this?

 

I don't have my car yet so can't comment directly but you might check out this thread:
https://mbworld.org/forums/glc-class...y-breaked.html

Also, I'm assuming the C class cars have the same system so you might check over on that forum.

 

My take is that these systems are still in their infancy and prone to bugs etc. You may end up turning it off in frustration.
I'd wait for the technology to mature a little.

 

Get It. I just picked up my GLC this week, and got about every option and have to say my favourite are all the assisted driving features. The Distronic Plus with Active Steer Assist is so awesome I feel like I'm deriving a car of the future. It is incredible in stop-and-go traffic where you literally don't have to do anything, not even steer (of course it wants you to keep your hands on the wheel)

It hasn't had to save me from any emergency situations yet, but I love knowing that it is keeping an eye out for cross traffic and pedestrians when I turn a corner.

 

If you switch cars every year or two, then you might be able to rationalize waiting but if you're like most of us and keep a car for 4-7 years, I think the latest safety tech is a no-brainer if you can afford it.

 

You don't say what use you expect to make of the vehicle and who will be driving it and that is, in my opinion, key to the question of whether this package is valuable in your case. In mine, its availability is the reason that I expect to be getting a GLC rather than, say, an Audi or BMW. I keep a car +/- 10 years, drive less than 7,500 miles a year (but including a couple of round trips to MA from DC each year) and having just turned 75 I want all the "driver assistance" I can get in detecting problems on the road, especially in DC traffic. I figure MB is a couple of years ahead of the other makes in putting this technology in the hands of drivers, so their system(s) should be well developed although it is true this is a quickly evolving area. It might make sense to wait until your next MB if that is only 2 or 3 years away for you, but for me...I'm going for it now. Let me/us know what you decide and how you feel about your decision after six months of ownership. Good luck.

 

I would recommend getting it. Haven't taken delivery of my GLC yet but loved the Distronic with steering assist during my test drive - I can see it getting a lot of use.

 

I have the DAP on my 2010 E350 and I though I would share my thoughts. It is probably my favorite feature.

First, the tech isn't that new, as you can see it is at lest 6 years old (not sure if 2010 was the first year but it is close). The version I have does not have the active versions of lane keep and blind spot so it won't nudge you back into your lane at the appropriate time but it works great. Mercedes was one of if not the first to release this technology and now pretty much everyone has the passive versions.

If you use cruise control, distronic is an outstanding feature. Why touching the brake and resuming with minor traffic is such a pain in the a$$ I don't know, but it is. On previous cars I simply wouldn't use cruise control in many situations because of this. Now I use it whenever (even in traffic) and it works great. The updates since 2010 have improved the smoothness (I've tried it on a few newer cars) so it won't accelerate as hard when the lane clears and it senses getting cut off better (not perfect but better) so it won't need to brake as hard if you don't take control yourself as you will see the A-hole about to cut you off before the system will.

For me the lane tracking is more of an annoyance. It will bump the steering wheel whenever you cross a lane line (without a blinker) and this happens too often when you are not on the highway IMO. I have it turned off - very easy to do. However, I don't know how well the active version works in common situations but I suspect it would be worth it to turn it on when you use cruise control if the system doesn't do this for you automatically. BSM is a must have IMO on any new car, period. It saved my a$$ a couple times. Not sure about you, but I am not the only person that drives this car and apart from the safety implications it is too expensive a risk especially considering that now it is a $550 option.

Having said this, whether it is worth the upgrade now that collision prevention assist is standard and the passive BSM is a separate feature priced about $2k less is up to you. IMO it is a bit overpriced but awesome none the less.

 

Actually - driver's Assist 2016 - is a light year beyond 2010 - and most considering it should be let down with the lack of clear presentation of what it does and does not do..

Puting some of the Tesla "fluff" aside for the moment - better to look at Tesla Autopilot - back out the fluff - or alternatively google Driver's Assistance Plus for the S-Class - like those videos - then back that into the GLC by and large.. for perspective..

 

I'm not even sure what this means? I'm guessing in terms of driver assistance Tesla > Google > GLC

Is the GLC DAP equivalent to the C class DAP? If so, maybe the literature for that is better.

 

The biggest let down of distronic plus is that it will NOT stop if you are driving at the set speed (not following a slower vehicle) and come upon a stopped vehicle (at a stoplight). I have let the car get extremely close at 40-50mph and it will not brake 90% of the time. The service manager tells me this was by design!

lane keeping is also a bit flakely. On the interstate, it doesn't work effectively over 70mph (around here 80-85mph is normal outside of rush hour). Even then it won't work on a moderate curve (those without any warning arrow signs or reduced speed limit).

Great if you're stuck in rush hour most of your commute.

 

I have it. It's amazing technology. Under 20mph you can sit it the back seat. Over that you need to keep a hand on the wheel.

 

Love DISTRONIC PLUS! and the STEERING ASSIST. So easy to use and very effective.

 

Yes - get it

 

Definitely get it

 

Thanks for the input guys. We decided to get it on our custom order. Very excited to try it out IRL. I'll update once we get a few months with it

 

distronic plus is definitely worth it. at first, I was a little bit skeptic about it but when our sales guy let me tried it on a freeway, I immediately decided to get it. It'll miss some curves but -- hey this is an assist and not a driver replacement anyway.

 

The distronic plus works very good. I only use steering assist and lane keeping to play around with and show it to people. It definitely makes the car feel special and the camera's on the Window look nice too. Here is a video on YT with all the systems.

 

Nice demo vid!

 

Yeah, it's a C class but it has the same beautiful interior design

 

Very nice video!

 

Thanks DT1.

 

Has anyone yet "had" to utilize the Pre-Safe Plus rear end collision prevention system? How about the BAS Plus pedestrian or cross traffic accident prevention system?

 

I started a thread in the W205 forum as I expect a better response there

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...=618695&page=1

 

Thanks man