DriveAMG

Hi All.

Just a quick update. My ML 350 BT is now 3 weeks old. On the 2nd day, I used the auto park feature, and it put the passenger wheel into the curb trashing it bad.

Service said it wasn't a warranty issue, and I can't argue with that. They pawned it off to the sales dept. Anyways I dropped it off yesterday for the cold start flash and took the my salesman out to try the Parktronic system to see if it was working ok, and it was.

However, when I chatted with the service advisor later, he informed me of something very interesting. The system uses the cars position in front and behind you to judge its own position when parking. So if the parked cars are close to or against the curb, the Parktronic system will put your Benz in the same place.

My Salesman is awesome, and has decades of experience. However during our delivery, he did not go over the Parktronic feature, and when the advisor told him how it works, he was not aware that it uses the cars proximity in front and behind to help park.

The wheel is being refinished as we speak, and I have been assured it will look as good as new. If not I will push for a replacement.

Cheers!

Oren

dgiturbo

I would have never thought of this. Good post.
Wonder if the width of the vehicles fore and aft makes a difference? Say you park between a Kia Rio and a Dodge Ram 3500? Where would it put the ML?

DriveAMG

But with all the sensors and cameras, I can park it just fine myself. That way I know exactly where it's going.

I don't know how it would do it with different width vehicles front to rear. And I suspect I won't ever find out.

Love driving forwards though...

300DTurbo

there is another member who had the same issue, good to know.

mcube3

Thanks for the info.....I wonder if I'll ever trust those electronics.

listerone

Unlike some here I have no use for Parktronic.Refusal to fully trust the system is my main reason.I *do*,however,like the backup camera a lot...very handy for folks with a bad back (like me).

Choy

The sensor is fine with me but with the additional camera, it is even better.

DriveAMG

The dealer is paying for the wheel repair as a goodwill gesture.

DriveAMG

The dealer is paying for the wheel repair as a goodwill gesture.

lboudreau

Just a quick comment on this. I have had the parking assist park the car without any cars around at all. It has always judged the distance from the curb accurately. I had tried this because I was curious if it was still able to park itself without cars present, and it is able to do it.

300DTurbo

does curb height matter?

lboudreau

I don't think so... however it does use the curb as reference when moving itself into a spot. If you look carefully at the rear camera while it is backing up, you'll notice that it tries to line up the red dots on the parking guidance with the edge of the curb.

To prevent it from slamming my rims into the curb I always make sure I pay close attention to the passenger side mirror, as I can see the rear right wheel and how close it is to the curb. If it is too close I just take over and park it manually.

iankayem

We took a B-Class for a test some time ago. The salesman demoed the auto park between a Viano and an ML. Result - the B was two feet from the kerb.

So we could wonder what would happen if you autopark an ML between two very neatly parked Smarts?

EVOII_Racer

not cool but good to know! Thanks for the info

27T

Parktronic demo went array...

I asked the SA to demo the Parktronic on the test drive so we pulled up to an open spot about two car lengths long and hit ok on the steering wheel to start the active assist. The wheel turns by itself as the car begins to back up. We pick up speed going in reverse and we slam into and almost jump the curb with the rear right tire-- jarring everyone in the car.

The wheel did not sustain any damage because only the tire made contact with the curb.

Though dissapointed with the demo, I will still order Parktronic but it was a good lesson to monitor its actions closely with your foot on the brake.

katiesdad7

Why order it of it doesn't work?

frtdog

How did you get going so fast, I thought you control the speed. All the park assist does is steer.

27T

If you keep a close eye on it is fine. It seems that it works for most people and most of the time without course correction. Plus, you get the sensors so even if you only steer on your own and never use the active assist it could save scratching your bumpers while parking or making tight maneuvers in lots.

27T

SA said to take foot off brake. I think he was confused because he just demo'd the distronic that worked flawlessly.

Bodpa

I had the same issue when I tried it too... did not think of taking it back to the dealer to fix it. I will have to check with them next. My sales guy did not know how to use it so never demonstrated even when I asked for a demonstration of it.