Why Mercedes Benz don't add Top and Side View cameras ton their vehicles.
Bought a 2011 BMW 550i, come with those options. It's very helpfull.

 

Options like that which have just recently emerged onto the market (with BMW and Land Rover) take a while to trickle down with competitors, but only if those options receive good feedback and are in demand..

Mercedes-Benz made the night vision system (even though Cadillac and I think Lexus unsuccessfully tried before) as well as radar guided cruise control only for competitors to showcase them in their next generation vehicles.

 

and it can be done to any car with a screen in the cockpit. The VIM kits can take 3 cameras (including backup) and display on the car's built in screen.
However, I agree, this should be standard on all cars. It would raise the price some, but great thing to have. The cameras they use (and we source the same ones) are not cheap, but extremely robust. Once you have it, you wonder how you live without it

 

Don't want to hijack your thread, but it does raise a bigger point, and that is why Mercedes doesn't create a wiki site where owners can suggest changes or improvements. I have two that immediately come to mind. (1) Locate the rearview camera either inside the rear window where it won't get dirty or in a location that gets cleaned when the rear window is sprayed. (2) When the vehicle is stationary with its turn signal operating (example waiting at a red light before turning left), switch off the audible clicker and just leave the blinking light on. Damn clicker drives me to distraction!

I'd also like to see head-up display as an option. BMW's latest version is very slick.

And wouldn't you think an expensive vehicle could include a small microfiber cloth for cleaning the nav screen?