Is anyone using a radar detector with the new Distronics Plus?
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1953 Fiat Topolino
Is anyone using a radar detector with the new Distronics Plus?
I would like to update our discussion of using a normal radar detector with the new Distronics Plus systems optional or standard in MY07 and MY08 S and CL cars. Apparently, the detectors are set off by the Distronics Plus system that helps that technology do its job on the new Mercedes cars, beyond the radar cruise control work. Thus, we were told that normal radar detectors (Escort, Valentine, K40) do not work correctly on these Distronic Plus equipped cars, even when Distronic Plus in not actively engaged. The Plus system is always emitting radar signals for its other functions. There are companies that have come up with solutions. Here is one such company: (http://www.midcityengineering.com/InterfaceDevices.htm). But the total cost of doing this is expensive. The interface is approx. $500+, a waterproof box to install the radar detector up front, the wires to & from, a dedicated radar detector that you can't move from car to car, skilled labor to do the install,etc. You are easily at $1000 and above. What are those of you NOT investing in this interface doing for speed traps protection? Are you using regular detectors (e.g. Valentine One) and filtering out the Distronics Plus bands false alarm? How are you doing this? Please share with us what you are doing to protect yourself. Thanks in advance for your responses. Z356
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From: Florida, Tampa
1993 190E 2.6
Wow thats crazy. I hadent heard of that yet. I dont think there is much you can do. I know on my radar detector if I drive by a Your Speed sign, it beeps the first time I drive by it but then never again. Like it knows its not a cop so It shuts up once it recives that particular signal. Maybe it will do the same for the signal coming from the car.
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From: Scottsdale, AZ
2017 Audi RS7 ,2015 Lamborghini Huracan, 2015 Bentley GTC Speed, 2017 GLS63, 2018 Porsche Targa 4 GT
My dealer told me not to order the car with distronic as it would interfere with a radar detector. So, he knew about it back in August.
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From: Cleveland Ohio
beater with a heater
What can you do? filter it out, order a K40 with no K band? that is like almost all of the radar detectors out there. you want to interface a radar detector then don't order the vehicle with D+ or buy the mid city interface. I came up with a solution a while ago and the local shop up here uses it al the time, pretty bullet proof interface and if anything goes wrong, the system resorts back to normal and go see the person that did the install, there is no stored faults either when the SDS plugs up to it
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1953 Fiat Topolino
jbondox - no choice but to experiment...
Those of us that have a '07/'08 CL600, S600 or the new '08 S/CL65 have a vehicle that comes standard with Distronics Plus, so the choice is made for us. Having said that, I experimented with my 3 year old Valentine One on my '07 CL600 on Thursday/Friday on a trip to Cambria from Carmel & back. I had the Valentine on the setting L (Logic Cap) and it worked like it does on any of my other non-Distronic Plus cars. I don't know if the range was reduced or what, if any, ill effects it suffered from being exposed to the Distronics Plus on my vehicle. All I know is that the Valentine detector was not giving me any 'false' signals due to the presence of the Distronics Plus radar 'waves', either when the latter was actively engaged or when it was turned 'off'. Even when 'off', the Distronics is emitting radar signals that alert you to an approaching object & possible collision. My understanding was that the Valentine would be going off all the time and would not work correctly. Yet, that was NOT the case. It seemed to work as 'normal'. And the Valentine spotted the usual CHP vehicles using their 'permanent' radar guns cruising on Hway 101. I would like to know if others with Distronics Plus are continuing to use a radar detector like the Valentine with no adverse results. Z356
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C350
Those of us that have a '07/'08 CL600, S600 or the new '08 S/CL65 have a vehicle that comes standard with Distronics Plus, so the choice is made for us. Having said that, I experimented with my 3 year old Valentine One on my '07 CL600 on Thursday/Friday on a trip to Cambria from Carmel & back. I had the Valentine on the setting L (Logic Cap) and it worked like it does on any of my other non-Distronic Plus cars. I don't know if the range was reduced or what, if any, ill effects it suffered from being exposed to the Distronics Plus on my vehicle. All I know is that the Valentine detector was not giving me any 'false' signals due to the presence of the Distronics Plus radar 'waves', either when the latter was actively engaged or when it was turned 'off'. Even when 'off', the Distronics is emitting radar signals that alert you to an approaching object & possible collision. My understanding was that the Valentine would be going off all the time and would not work correctly. Yet, that was NOT the case. It seemed to work as 'normal'. And the Valentine spotted the usual CHP vehicles using their 'permanent' radar guns cruising on Hway 101. I would like to know if others with Distronics Plus are continuing to use a radar detector like the Valentine with no adverse results. Z356
Things will get really interesting as mercedes starts to put D+ on more models like the E anc C class.. Most S class owners dont have a problem spending a couple thousand dollars on an intergated radar system but I cant see E or C class owners having the financial ability to do the same.
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1953 Fiat Topolino
You are right on the RF coating...
I tried to position the radar detector in that small portion of the windshield glass that I thought was left 'uncoated' by the factory on purpose for things such as pre-paid toll 'passes'...or radar detectors. In my '07 CL, I thought the 'hole' was located in a position similar to that found on my RF coated 2004 BMW 745 (which I sold two years ago). After reading XJ9's post, I checked more closely. Mercedes has placed its 'hole' on a different area of the front windshield in this new Mercedes CL. And it is not where I had positioned my Valentine. So my experiment a few days ago was pretty much worthless. The small area not coated in the MB windshield is just under the Night Vision camera, at the very center & top of the windshield. That is the only place I have seen (so far) on the windshield not coated. And it is an extremely small 'hole' or uncoated portion of the glass to 'play' with. The clear suckers provided on the portable Valentine unit do not attach to plastic (back of Night Vision camera unit is plastic material with breathing holes), which is the only logical place to attach a radar detector and have the unit 'see' through that small hole in the RF coating. Perhaps some velcro in this area might hold the Valentine detector in place. Has anyone in this Forum had some success using this 'uncoated' area or 'hole' on the CL or S windshield to make a radar detector work better with Distronics Plus??? Or just work, period? Z356
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From: Cleveland Ohio
beater with a heater
I was going to laugh and say hang it out the window... that thing will glow. But in all seriousness it really isn't a laughing matter. it is very expensive to add a radar unit to your vehicle, and that isn't a laughing matter. regardless if one can afford it or not.
I do like the idea of the RF glass though, but here is the million dollar question... remember the cops that all got nut cancer from their radar guns in the lap... you have 4 k band emmiters and a w band... how much radiation are you being exposed to?
I do like the idea of the RF glass though, but here is the million dollar question... remember the cops that all got nut cancer from their radar guns in the lap... you have 4 k band emmiters and a w band... how much radiation are you being exposed to?
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