Benz shows off Brake Assist on TV...and new S CRASHES!!
11-17-2005, 11:26 PM
#27
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Well, if they were so knowledgable about radar frequencies, anyway, why would the test have been performed inside a metallic tunnel?
It's apparently obvious what would've happened. They damned themselves by not speaking up and performing the test regardless of environment.
It's apparently obvious what would've happened. They damned themselves by not speaking up and performing the test regardless of environment.
11-17-2005, 11:41 PM
#28
So this is just a radar system that sends out waves everywhere?
You'd think that they would focus it to a specifc height or something.
It just all adds up to being really fishy, and just an excuse because Mercedes' suppliers for electronics suck.
You'd think that they would focus it to a specifc height or something.
It just all adds up to being really fishy, and just an excuse because Mercedes' suppliers for electronics suck.
11-18-2005, 01:01 AM
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4 wheels
Originally Posted by ricky.agrawal
The radar for distronic is on the W-Band @ 77ghz.
I'm trying to find what kind of things can interfere with it at that frequency or whatever.
I'm trying to find what kind of things can interfere with it at that frequency or whatever.
11-18-2005, 01:06 AM
#32
So the distronic isn't used alongside with brake assist?
http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG19981020S0007
http://www.germancarfans.com/news.cf...ercedes/1.html
I'm just trying to find some solid evidence that says, yeah the metallic tunnel is as fault, not the suppliers or anything. I'm sure you understand why I'd look for something like that 
http://www.eetimes.com/story/OEG19981020S0007
By coincidence, the European Microwave Week conference was being held in Amsterdam earlier this month at the same time as the Paris Automobile Show was held in the French capital, where Mercedes-Benz showed off its remodeled 1999-model S-class luxury cars. The Mercedes-Benz system uses a 77-GHz Doppler radar linked into the electronic control and braking systems to maintain a safe distance between a car with the system and the vehicle in front of it. Most of the new S-class vehicles are expected to ship with the radar, which carries a premium of about $1,500.
The anticipatory Brake Assist PLUS (BAS PLUS) uses two radar systems to scan the traffic in front of the vehicle: The DISTRONIC radar (77 GHz) is supplemented by a newly developed short-range radar (24 GHz), which monitors the immediate area in front of the vehicle at an angle of 80 degrees.
11-18-2005, 06:19 PM
#34
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W140;R107
S Class crashes
This test was covered by Stern TV an adjunct of the German magazine Stern.
Stern reported that the test was carried out in an MB building. A crash test hall! It will be interesting to see how Mercedes deal with the fall-out over this which from a public relations point of view is of a similar magnitude to the fiasco with the A-Class.
Personally I am with Jason Plato. When he test drove the new S Class for Fifth Gear some weeks ago he was extremely nervous in relying on the Brake Assist Plus and re-took manual braking control when carrying out a manouevre to test the system.
I do not like sytems such as these. I remember when DB first fitted rain-sensors to windscreens. You would have not a cloud in the sky nor a drop of rain in sight and yet inexplicably the wipers would trigger. Conversely it could be chucking it down and nothing until finally with the screen awash the wipers would go.
Computer systems like humans can get confused. Unlike humans who can re-boot their actions based on ever changing data I do not think these systems can. Furthermore , they are designed by humans and humans are fallible as an inert metal structure has just demonstated to the combined might of Mercedes Benz.
Stern reported that the test was carried out in an MB building. A crash test hall! It will be interesting to see how Mercedes deal with the fall-out over this which from a public relations point of view is of a similar magnitude to the fiasco with the A-Class.
Personally I am with Jason Plato. When he test drove the new S Class for Fifth Gear some weeks ago he was extremely nervous in relying on the Brake Assist Plus and re-took manual braking control when carrying out a manouevre to test the system.
I do not like sytems such as these. I remember when DB first fitted rain-sensors to windscreens. You would have not a cloud in the sky nor a drop of rain in sight and yet inexplicably the wipers would trigger. Conversely it could be chucking it down and nothing until finally with the screen awash the wipers would go.
Computer systems like humans can get confused. Unlike humans who can re-boot their actions based on ever changing data I do not think these systems can. Furthermore , they are designed by humans and humans are fallible as an inert metal structure has just demonstated to the combined might of Mercedes Benz.
11-18-2005, 07:38 PM
#35
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MBs
Autobild has the story now
Was taugen die Radaraugen der neuen S-Klasse???
http://www.autobild.de/test/neuwagen...tikel_id=10202
http://www.autobild.de/test/neuwagen...tikel_id=10202
11-18-2005, 08:51 PM
#36
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Mercedes all the way!
Hi thanks for posting the original article. well, it seems like article quoted by the thread starter has got a few things wrong. unless, of course, i'm reading the german wrongly (which is very possible )
this test WAS NOT the failure of the BA+ system at all. the engineers KNEW before the test that the radar would not work given those metal girders. the test was not about the radar, but about how well the brakes would stop the car.
the engineers placed a wooden block on the ground, where the driver was supposed to brake. however, for some reason the driver did not start braking in time, and hence he collided resulting in minor damage (colliding at around 10km/h i.e. 6 miles/hr).
in fact he specifically mentioned that doing the same tests worked perfectly outdoors.
so unfortunately, those of you laughing at Merc's electronics will have to seriously reconsider your comments :p (again, unless i'm wrong in translating)
)this test WAS NOT the failure of the BA+ system at all. the engineers KNEW before the test that the radar would not work given those metal girders. the test was not about the radar, but about how well the brakes would stop the car.
the engineers placed a wooden block on the ground, where the driver was supposed to brake. however, for some reason the driver did not start braking in time, and hence he collided resulting in minor damage (colliding at around 10km/h i.e. 6 miles/hr).
in fact he specifically mentioned that doing the same tests worked perfectly outdoors.
so unfortunately, those of you laughing at Merc's electronics will have to seriously reconsider your comments :p (again, unless i'm wrong in translating)
11-18-2005, 11:50 PM
#37
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2006 SL600, 2001 S500, 1996 SL320
With their Track Record
With their track record lately, I highly doubt it will work propertly. Maybe eventually, but I feel sorry for the first people that get it and have to deal with it.
11-19-2005, 12:09 PM
#38
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'05 A4 1.8TQM6
Embarrassment for Mercedes? Safety demonstration gone bad...
While demonstrating the new w221 radar braking system, it caused a 3 car pile-up on TV because the systems had failed, d'oh! 
http://www.askaprice.com/torque-arti...ation&item=669
http://www.askaprice.com/torque-arti...ation&item=669
11-19-2005, 01:15 PM
#41
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So I guess the moral of the story is don't drive this car under bridges with metal girders, or through tunnels, or on highways with high retaining walls, or across suspension bridges with metal rails and decking, or in traffic surrounded by lots of other metal objects moving at different speeds... ?
11-19-2005, 02:12 PM
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Whatever keys I grab first...
Originally Posted by midget fidger
rofl...good one...they should leave electronic goodies to the japanese. germans need to stick to engineering.
11-19-2005, 03:31 PM
#44
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Originally Posted by Lexani
The Japs? Yeah, right. Maybe if you read the article, you'd know that the test was done in a "hall which was made of steel." Which in turn: "confuses the radar, and the system doesn't work properly..."
11-19-2005, 03:52 PM
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Whatever keys I grab first...
Originally Posted by session
You mean like a tunnel?
11-19-2005, 07:21 PM
#48
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2007 E63
Originally Posted by naadp
So I guess the moral of the story is don't drive this car under bridges with metal girders, or through tunnels, or on highways with high retaining walls, or across suspension bridges with metal rails and decking, or in traffic surrounded by lots of other metal objects moving at different speeds... ?
11-19-2005, 07:38 PM
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2007 E63
I'm glad at least you guys get what the real problem is. I'm sick and tired of explaining the real reason as to why it failed. I have explained it at least over a dozen times on several forums and sites. It's not just the memebers that read these posts, potential W221 buyers also read these. With all these posts, we are discouraging them.
