drksuh

When Distronic Plus system brakes your Mercedes, do the brake lights engage warning the other drivers behind you? Just a question that seems to be important driving in traffic. I would venture to guess that it does.

Anyone know for sure?

Diesel Benz

It does. The same if you use brake hold at traffic lights. Note that even the brake pedal moves when the car applies brakes, on the contrary to the SBC system that was first offering these features (although not release to the US market I believe).

drksuh

Thanks Diesel Benz, I knew someone would know. I ventured that it was most likely and, in fact, important that the brake lights would engage to warn the drivers behind your vehicle.

trumpet1

I've been intending to ask this question also. Thanks for bringing this up.

Diesel Benz

Just to add if someone tries to verify this, MBs can do reasonably strong engine braking, at least compared to some older cars with auto tranny. The car would not activate brake lights in this case, like any traditional car would not. Just if the car really applies brakes on its own.

trumpet1

I know what you are saying, the decceleration [(sp?)] as a result of backing off the accelerator without pressing the brake. In other words, the car is doing everything you would normally do and the brake and brake lighting respond the same as well.

cjf_moraga

Partially related question... I think I recall hearing that in my model year (08) MB installed rapidly flashing rear brakes lights on the S600 and S65 when under emergency braking. Has anyone ever seen this? Is it in all S-Class models now?

Unfortunately I do not ride my car from behind the trunk so it is difficult to see...

Chris

Diesel Benz

These flashing brake lights are on all Euro S-class (W221) cars since 9/2005 but I understood that MB could not make them through the US regulations (it did need some changes for the European rules too). But I thought they did come with a late model year or something like that.

I thought these existed on all new models since W221 (like W204) but I should check this to be sure.

marttang

i have a msg show Distronic plus inoperative does any one face this problem before and what cause this and how you solve it in the end ?

silberrosa

flashing brake lamps, code K11, are on V12 models

QuadBenz

Even non-Distronic cruise control activates the brake lights when you use the stalk to go to a much lower speed or when going down a hill and the brakes are activated to keep your selected speed. The brake pedal also goes down in this case as well.

QuadBenz

Is your Distronic plastic cover on the grill dirty? That could cause the message you're receiving to appear.

marttang

have clean up and still same

LETO

Is your parking & blindspot assist inactive as well?

If so, it is a sensor that needs to be replaced