Distronic steering assist
12-13-2018, 05:18 AM
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
use it in my e class as once you turn on cruise control it is on.
helps steer on the curves.... not super accurate but maybe later years it gets better but helpful when you have long drive or need to remove both hands from wheel for second or two if needed.
I have learned to enjoy and truefully after 2 years do not notice it anymore as it is just a part of driving...
Now when I go to my old truck to haul something I notice right away all those cool features like distronic are not there.
helps steer on the curves.... not super accurate but maybe later years it gets better but helpful when you have long drive or need to remove both hands from wheel for second or two if needed.
I have learned to enjoy and truefully after 2 years do not notice it anymore as it is just a part of driving...
Now when I go to my old truck to haul something I notice right away all those cool features like distronic are not there.
12-13-2018, 08:06 AM
#3
MBWorld Fanatic!
I have it on my 2019 CAB and absolutely love it! It works extremely well, and I've been told that it is so much better than some earlier models. When not in cruise, it keeps you from lane drifting by steering wheel vibration and then use of braking to nudge you back into the lane. When in cruise, it keeps the car solidly in the lane and even follows curves....a remarkable system; well worth getting.
12-13-2018, 08:50 AM
#5
Senior Member
I like half of it in a way. The cruise control part is amazing, but when it comes to Steering it goes left to right to much that it looks like I’m driving drunk. A lot of times, I shut that part off. I do keep it in for a very straight highway. It’s really meant to be used as an assistance program. The next generation will probably be great.
12-13-2018, 11:49 AM
#6
Member
It works quite well on my 2018 S450. On road trips and stop and go freeway traffic it's a great help. It takes a while to build some trust in the system. My only complaint is that I wish braking would start a little earlier when traffic slows or stops ahead.
12-13-2018, 01:37 PM
#7
MBWorld Fanatic!
I would NEVER buy another car without it. I love it. Also, the system is greatly improved on the 2018/19 S Class from the one that was introduced on the 2014-2017 model years. I ALWAYS use it. I previously owned a 2014 S550 so I speak from experience.
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12-13-2018, 01:42 PM
#8
MBWorld Fanatic!
I like half of it in a way. The cruise control part is amazing, but when it comes to Steering it goes left to right to much that it looks like I’m driving drunk. A lot of times, I shut that part off. I do keep it in for a very straight highway. It’s really meant to be used as an assistance program. The next generation will probably be great.
12-13-2018, 01:58 PM
#9
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12-13-2018, 02:38 PM
#10
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2018 S450, 2019 Range Rover LWB, 2015 Range Rover, 2019 S560 Cabriolet (awaiting delivery)
I have it on my ‘18 S450. I find it drifts back and forth across the lane a lot more than it should. It has also pulled me out of lane and into the shoulder a few times to the point I had to use a fair amount of pressure to get back into the lane. Also, one time it pulled me hard to the right as I was passing a semi truck. I use it every time I drive, but I don’t trust it all that much.
12-13-2018, 03:35 PM
#11
Member
I have it on my ‘18 S450. I find it drifts back and forth across the lane a lot more than it should. It has also pulled me out of lane and into the shoulder a few times to the point I had to use a fair amount of pressure to get back into the lane. Also, one time it pulled me hard to the right as I was passing a semi truck. I use it every time I drive, but I don’t trust it all that much.
12-13-2018, 05:39 PM
#12
MBWorld Fanatic!
I have found that keeping the cameras clean (windshield) makes a difference. Also the quality of the lane markers can cause a problem. I have been on the interstate and noticed the green steering wheel symbol goes grey when the lane markers are faded to the point that they are hard to see. Not a perfect system so I have to take care and monitor the conditions.
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aypues (12-21-2018)
12-13-2018, 11:57 PM
#14
Senior Member
Looking at pictures of most W222, I think you'd be hard pressed to find one built without it. I did see an S450 at a dealership in Chandler without it, but then again that particular car only had the Premium 1 package as an option.
12-14-2018, 10:01 AM
#15
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2018 S450, 2019 Range Rover LWB, 2015 Range Rover, 2019 S560 Cabriolet (awaiting delivery)
I’d like to know the same. I would think if so, it would be a software improvement and could be updated by dealer. I just had mine in for annual service and they didn’t reference any specific bulletin on this but I’ll ask next time I talk to my service department.
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aypues (12-21-2018)
12-16-2018, 11:02 AM
#16
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2019 S560, 2022 Audi S8
I might possibly trade my 2017 in for a 2019 S560 this week. Upon test driving it, I found the system works really well, much better than my 2017. I think I went as long as 30 seconds and the steering wheel never prompted me to grab the wheel. It also stayed centered within the lane, much better than my 2017. I was impressed with the 2019. Also, when stopped behind a car, the car resumes after something like 20 or 30 seconds, unlike the 5 seconds on earlier models.
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Nice Ride (12-18-2018)
12-17-2018, 05:37 PM
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2019 C300W
Distronic steering warnings
I have a new 2019 C300W. The automatic lane-keeping (with the green steering icon) works great for me...but, even with my hands on the wheel, I periodically get the flashing red reminder to put my hands on the wheel. I called customer support, and after asking someone, the woman told me I have to actually move the steering wheel for it to know I'm holding it. To me, that makes no sense--that would defeat the purpose of the feature. I am holding the wheel with mild-to-moderate pressure. Any ideas, anyone?
12-17-2018, 06:49 PM
#19
Member
I have a new 2019 C300W. The automatic lane-keeping (with the green steering icon) works great for me...but, even with my hands on the wheel, I periodically get the flashing red reminder to put my hands on the wheel. I called customer support, and after asking someone, the woman told me I have to actually move the steering wheel for it to know I'm holding it. To me, that makes no sense--that would defeat the purpose of the feature. I am holding the wheel with mild-to-moderate pressure. Any ideas, anyone?
Someone actually sells a custom weight for that purpose.
Yes aggravating. Hopefully newer systems will be better.
12-17-2018, 07:56 PM
#20
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2019 C300W
Distronic steering warnings
Wilfie, thanks. If I understand you correctly, the system wants to feel some resistance to its automatic steering efforts in order to sense that someone is holding the wheel. Do I have it right? If so, then the labor-saving device really doesn't save much labor. Do I read you correctly?
12-17-2018, 08:56 PM
#21
It just needs to know you are there.. actually steering. This isn't an autonomous driving system like so many want it to be.. It's just an aid to help steer you so it takes less effort to keep pressure on the wheel.
That being said there are times it does a fine job of keeping the car centered while I take my hands off the wheel for a moment and there are times on straight roads where it prompts me to put my hands back on the wheel even though they were there. A slight wiggle fixes that. This is actually where the 30 second thing comes from. There is a timer that is looking for steering input. The length of the timer depends on the year. The timer isn't for "how long it can drive itself". It was there because on a straight road there might be long gaps where the car doesn't sense any steering input.
I think a lot of people are disappointed in this system because it's not what they thought it would be, or maybe even told it would be.
That being said there are times it does a fine job of keeping the car centered while I take my hands off the wheel for a moment and there are times on straight roads where it prompts me to put my hands back on the wheel even though they were there. A slight wiggle fixes that. This is actually where the 30 second thing comes from. There is a timer that is looking for steering input. The length of the timer depends on the year. The timer isn't for "how long it can drive itself". It was there because on a straight road there might be long gaps where the car doesn't sense any steering input.
I think a lot of people are disappointed in this system because it's not what they thought it would be, or maybe even told it would be.
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jkoplen (12-17-2018)
12-17-2018, 09:39 PM
#22
Member
Wilfie, thanks. If I understand you correctly, the system wants to feel some resistance to its automatic steering efforts in order to sense that someone is holding the wheel. Do I have it right? If so, then the labor-saving device really doesn't save much labor. Do I read you correctly?
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jkoplen (12-17-2018)
12-18-2018, 02:18 PM
#23
MBWorld Fanatic!
That's not the way mine works. It will stay in the lane for at least 60 seconds without my hands on the wheel. It then flashes for a while. Finally, it will flash quickly and if you don't touch the wheel with a very slight pressure, it will come to a complete stop by itself within the lane. The key here is that at least for the 2019 S Class and likely for the 2018 as well, all one needs to do is touch the wheel with the slightest pressure and it will drive itself for at least another 60 seconds or so.
12-18-2018, 07:20 PM
#24
Member
I have it on my S63 (2014 Distronic Plus) - any system that is reliable 98% of the time (being generous here) means 1 in 50 drives it will drive me off in to the ditch if I'm not watching it. And the icon for "I got this" versus "I don't got this" is a tiny green (or grey) steering wheel the size of a nickel on my dashboard display.
I 100% trust the cruise functions for automatic distance keeping but I 100% don't trust the automatic steering since I have to watch it 100% of the time.
I 100% trust the cruise functions for automatic distance keeping but I 100% don't trust the automatic steering since I have to watch it 100% of the time.
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Nice Ride (12-19-2018)
12-18-2018, 10:52 PM
#25
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2018 S450, 2019 Range Rover LWB, 2015 Range Rover, 2019 S560 Cabriolet (awaiting delivery)
That's not the way mine works. It will stay in the lane for at least 60 seconds without my hands on the wheel. It then flashes for a while. Finally, it will flash quickly and if you don't touch the wheel with a very slight pressure, it will come to a complete stop by itself within the lane. The key here is that at least for the 2019 S Class and likely for the 2018 as well, all one needs to do is touch the wheel with the slightest pressure and it will drive itself for at least another 60 seconds or so.
Yes, I agree, my 2018 goes 60 seconds +/-.
