EmDee

Its time for us to get rid of our old w140 93 500SEL and we are looking at 2004-2006 S500's and trying to come up to speed with the various options on them. I've seen a couple of dash indicators on some of them, but I don't know what they are for. I'm guessing its for the parktronic or distronic cruise control features, but I would really appreciate it if someone could confirm that or educate me on what they are actually for. See below picture:



Secondly, I see some kind of sensor on some of the trunks. My only guess is that this is for the parktronic feature, but some cars I've looked at that claim to have parktronic, don't have it on the trunk, so I'm a bit confused. Here's a pic of one:



I'd sure appreciate it if someone can let me know what they are for. Thanks!

Jayhawk

Not sure about the top two, but they look like vents of some sort...

The bump on the trunk covers the Sirius satellite radio antenna.

Oxygen

The little indicators on the top of the dashboard are the Parktronic Distance indicators.

The look something like this when they are lit up, and make beeping sounds when you reach the RED zone...

benz_addict

Oxygen is correct. It's the parktronic display. The one in the center is for the right side of the car, and one of the left is for the left side. The rear display is located on the ceiling above the rear middle passenger seat. You can see it through your rear view mirror. Very convenient.

kenstudios

I've been thinking there were the early versions of blind sport sensors for a long time. Guess I was wrong.

Trey

The bump on the trunk is satellite radio antenna. Not attractive if you ask me.

trey

Jayhawk

Is there an echo in here?

Trey

I thought I had read all the posts - maybe I picked it up subconsciously...

oops

trey

Jayhawk

No prob... Just kidding!

EmDee

Thanks for the replies everyone!

benz_addict

LOL

ataie

question on parktronic. the button for it on the center dash is lit up (which means off). when I press it, light goes off, the sensors turn on, but then go off after a few seconds, and the button light comes on. I've also noticed that when I back up, etc. the sensors are not beeping like my BMW 745. is the system even activated or should it be activated by itself when I put the car in reverse?? any clarification would be appreciated, as I narrow if my car has a problem or the system is just different than other cars.

02 s500

Arnee

It automatically activates when you put it in reverse.

Also, at 10mph or below, the front ones automatically turn on even if you're not in reverse.

It should default to on. If it turns off by itself (light is on on the switch), then at least one sensor is malfunctioning.

ataie

mine doesn't come on when I go in reverse. the light on the switch is on all the time. I can press the switch and the sensors momenteriy come on with a beep then all go off after about 15 sec.

any idea as how do you locate the bad sensor?

Arnee

I had the same problem. You have a bad sensor. The light is NOT supposed to be on. If the light is ON, it means the sensors are OFF.

Mine was diagnosed by the dealer. They pointed out which sensor was bad. I just bought the sensor off ebay and replaced it myself.

The old style sensors are harder to find than the 03+ sensors.

ataie

nice. so I guess I buy one sensor and start switching til I find the bad one, instead of freakin stealer to do that for me

Arnee

Assuming that only one sensor is bad, that would work.
Also assuming that nothing more major is bad, like the parktronic module itself.