BGTHEMOGUL

How come some of the S550's that I see for sale have the little round circles on the front and rear bumpers and some don't have them?

I understand that is for parktronic but if I'm not mistaken I have seen S550's that DO HAVE the parktronic feature but DO NOT have those on the bumpers.

Is this correct? What is the reasoning?

roberte59

Cars with Distronic Plus don't have the bumper inserts in either front or rear bumper covers.

BGTHEMOGUL

Can you please explain what that means?

steveb9771

Cars that have distronic (radar cruise control) use radar for parktronic and don't have the round sensors in the bumper (at least on the front bumper). Distronic cruise control senses the vehicle ahead and adjusts your speed as needed to maintain a set following distance.

Those without distronic use accoustic sensors that are behind the small circles on the bumpers.

Parktronic is an option, and not all vehicles were delivered with it.

BGTHEMOGUL

Ok, understood now. I would prefer without the circles on the bumpers as it is a much cleaner look. Just alot of the vehicles I'm finding with Parktronic have them.

wushik

Actually this was true until MY2010. I have a 2010 model and have Distronic Plus and those round things in the bumpers for the parktronic. When I asked about it they told me that as I also have Park Assist (available from 2010) which measures a potential parking slot for you if you will fit they have added the bumper stuff to Distronic cars as well as they are used for Park Assist. I have also heard they are potentially used for the Blind Spot Assist in rear view mirrors (you get a red triangle lighting up in the mirror if you are attempting to change lanes and there is a car in that lane too close to you).

Diesel Benz

This Park Assist did appear to pre-facelift cars already where it worked with the radar sensors. I assume the facelift W221 approach is the same as for the W212 and the acoustic Parktronic sensors were added because they are more accurate at short distance while the car would still have two radar sensors behind the front bumper plus the main radar. These bumper radars are needed to fill the range gap between Parktronic sensors and the main radar (also the main radar beam-width is too narrow for bringing the car closer to the vehicle in front at traffic lights etc.).

BGTHEMOGUL

Quick question off topic. What is the "facelift W221" you guys refer to? As far as I knew the car was the overall same body and style from 2007 on with minor changes (headlights, tail lights, mirrors) and wasn't due for any MAJOR facelift until 2013 or so.

Diesel Benz

The minor changes you see make it the facelift. It actually has quite significant changes hidden in. And the 2012 (Europe)/2013 would not be a facelift but a new body style, like the W221 was after the W220.

BGTHEMOGUL

So the new body style S-Class will be available in the US at the end of 2012??? We still get 2.5 years left of the current body, right?

Diesel Benz

If you are referring to my post, I meant the V/W222 will be available at the end of 2012 in Europe and pretty likely during 2013 in the US.

BGTHEMOGUL

Cool thats what I wanted to know. Thanks Diesel.

AMG1

MB vehicles with the Distronic system have no need for the senors due to the radar guided cruise control modules.

wushik

I don't understand your statement . After the facelift, cars with Distronic Plus also have the parking sensors in the bumpers... so MB must have a reason to put them on the Distronic cars as well...

irieblue

The mid cycle refresh (i.e 2010 version) of the S class went back to using the bullet hole sensors in the bumpers *even* on cars with Distronic plus. It's a huge step backwards if you ask me.

The non bullet hole parktronic system used Radar and the frequencies are not legal in certain countries or near certain areas like radar installations. Its detailed in the S class Manual the locations where the Radar system disengages. I hope Mercedes figures out a way to bring it back in the future as I would prefer not to have the holes in the bumper.