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Distronic on the new 750li is pretty amazing

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Old Jun 26, 2016 | 11:24 PM
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Distronic on the new 750li is pretty amazing

I say this hoping that I'm not disappointed by my s550 when it arrives next month. I was fortunate to have a BMW 750li for the weekend, put about 350km on it running around the city and on a the highways. I was absolutely blown away by how nice the adaptive cruse control was to have. Made me so much more relaxed driving. I really didn't mind being in 30km/h highway start stop traffic (which is everywhere here in Toronto, even on the weekends). It adjusted smoothly when there was a gap or when someone cut in my car. My girlfriend commented on how she could not tell at all weather I was driving or not. In reading varying accounts on the quality of the distronic in the Benz it actually got me worrying that I made the right decision. Having an adaptive cruse that was perfect made my life so much better and I feel it's something I can't live without now. Here's hoping I find the s class as nice.

Last edited by JayinToronto; Jun 27, 2016 at 01:11 AM.
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Old Jun 27, 2016 | 12:18 AM
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Let us know. I like the Distronic + on my S550. How fast it returns to speed is dependent on if the transmission is in sport or Eco. The lane control, not so much. Too often I like a different part of the lane than the computer. The steering assist works better at night- at least on the roads I drive but that coupled with the adaptive lights make night driving way better than any car I've had. Dave
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Old Jun 27, 2016 | 08:50 AM
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Originally Posted by beckerkumm
Let us know. I like the Distronic + on my S550. How fast it returns to speed is dependent on if the transmission is in sport or Eco. Dave
Dave, I'm usually in Eco and I noticed that the cruise is slow to get up to speed. Thanks for mentioning this. I'll use Sport more often now.
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Old Jun 27, 2016 | 10:00 AM
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Personally I think Distronic+ could use better programming for traffic jams. I always feel that it is being wasteful of gas and brakes.

For lane-keeping, it sucks compared to a Tesla.
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Old Jun 27, 2016 | 11:47 AM
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Just read an interesting review of Mercedes Drive Pilot in the upcoming E Class. Unless I am mistaken Drive Pilot is a more advanced version of Distronic + available in the S Class.

Anyone know if Drive Pilot will be offered in the 2017 S Class? It would be a bit odd for Mercedes' flagship to not have the latest technology.

Here's the wired article:

https://www.wired.com/2016/06/merced...nda-confusing/
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Old Jun 27, 2016 | 12:07 PM
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IMO the transmission sport software is a little too adaptive . If I juice the car to pass, it stays too aggressive and won't drop into 7th until about 70. If I want less sport I need to go eco or pull in for gas. Starting over resets the software. My Audi was similar. In my world, if speed remained stable for 3-5 minutes, the transmission would set back to a less dynamic program. Just nit picking as i still like the car. I tend to think every machine could be improved.

I haven't used distronic in slow moving traffic. Giving up control has never been one of my strengths. Dave
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Old Jun 27, 2016 | 12:17 PM
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I was very impressed by G12 BMW 7 Series Adaptive Cruise Control on how it works as well. It was very fun yet very different experience
I must admit though I was kinda nervous when I fist drove the car ,later the the way the system works left me a great appreciation
However, when approaching the roundabout to make a turn the sale guy told me to apply the brakes .Other than that adjust the distance and speed and let the car do the job for you
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Old Jun 28, 2016 | 12:31 AM
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Originally Posted by JayinToronto
I say this hoping that I'm not disappointed by my s550 when it arrives next month. I was fortunate to have a BMW 750li for the weekend, put about 350km on it running around the city and on a the highways. I was absolutely blown away by how nice the adaptive cruse control was to have. Made me so much more relaxed driving. I really didn't mind being in 30km/h highway start stop traffic (which is everywhere here in Toronto, even on the weekends). It adjusted smoothly when there was a gap or when someone cut in my car. My girlfriend commented on how she could not tell at all weather I was driving or not. In reading varying accounts on the quality of the distronic in the Benz it actually got me worrying that I made the right decision. Having an adaptive cruse that was perfect made my life so much better and I feel it's something I can't live without now. Here's hoping I find the s class as nice.
Drive both back to back and you will find a very large difference on how they perform. BMW's car is all new - with all of the latest tech, including their traffic jam assistant etc... I have not driven yet the new e but would expect their distronic to be closer to what the new 7 series has. The 2018 S550 is expected to have all the tech the new e has ... If you are looking for a similar experience I don't think you will get it in your new S550 .. unless you wait another year and a month.
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Old Jul 5, 2016 | 07:25 PM
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I drove the g12 for 2 weeks, and everyday, I tested the adaptive cruise. It does not do well with keeping its lane, and the system is quite passive in notifying that it no longer can keep the lane. As for stop and go, it is a much improvement over the previous generation 7er (F0x). The system on the g12 will recognize a car that "slowly" moves into your lane; not so with the previous generation.

Slight curves on freeway works fine for the most part but still swerves like a newbie driver. Curves like highway change ramps will not work with the lane keep assist feature, so take control of the wheel or risk hitting the side walls.

These systems have a long was to go. At best, you can drive interstate at high speeds without using your foot for the pedal, and if the road is fairly straight, you just have to put a finger on the steering. But as much as I want to let the car take over, I still have to occasionally watch the road ahead.
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