SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Distronic Aming DYI ?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 281
Likes: 23
From: Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Just sold my '11 Porsche TurboS cab for an '03 SL55!
Distronic Aming DYI ?
I love my Distronic and use it extensively, but it seems ultra-sensitive to other cars and static roadside objects and that triggers it to disengage, a real PIA.
I believe the dealers used special MB tools to target the sensor behind the grill, but I'm many hours from a dealer. I do have STAR.
Anybody addressed this problem?
Thanks. MK19
I believe the dealers used special MB tools to target the sensor behind the grill, but I'm many hours from a dealer. I do have STAR.
Anybody addressed this problem?
Thanks. MK19
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 612
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From: Santa Clarita, CA
one of seven
I don't have the Distronic cruise on my '04 SL55, but I do have it on my '04 E55. It seems to be ultra sensitive compared to 5 to 10 years ago. I bought it new and have done a little reading on this phenomenon, and it seems that some brands of newer cars (not MB) have their radar or lidar on 24/7 (probably from the parking sensors). So, like you, on many roads, it turns off almost right away and I just give up trying to use it. My MB tech said they know of no attenuator for the level of digital noise the system is picking up. I do know how to and have aligned the radar dome in front of the radiator - it has 3 adjustment screws much like a headlight. I noticed 20 years ago that cars and trucks it the lane to my right were causing the Distronic to slow down the car. I asked the dealership if this was adjustable and was told "no" !! They were either too dumb or lazy to check it out. I opened the hood and saw the 3 screws and bingo, fixed it in under a minute. So, I'm going to try to aim it down more in hopes to cut down on the false interruptions I've been getting. Worth a try at least.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 281
Likes: 23
From: Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Just sold my '11 Porsche TurboS cab for an '03 SL55!
Thats great info mbprince.......helps a lot and I will be interested in your results. I've attached the MB instruction sheet for aiming the system, but as you'd expect it takes a lot of special equipment. Yes, three screws like a headlight. What I'm really curious about it which direction you move it towards and how much of screw turn is involved.
Worst case, I'll mark the screw positions and play with it. Mine tends to pick up things on the driver's side more, but also t can be near straight ahead, so pointing it down a bit may help.
FYI, I think a lot of later cars keep the lidar n because it's used by the automatic braking system.......I have that in my '19 Volvo. Works great. Passive safety, not something I relay on for sure.
Worst case, I'll mark the screw positions and play with it. Mine tends to pick up things on the driver's side more, but also t can be near straight ahead, so pointing it down a bit may help.
FYI, I think a lot of later cars keep the lidar n because it's used by the automatic braking system.......I have that in my '19 Volvo. Works great. Passive safety, not something I relay on for sure.
Super Member
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 612
Likes: 0
From: Santa Clarita, CA
one of seven
Thats great info mbprince.......helps a lot and I will be interested in your results. I've attached the MB instruction sheet for aiming the system, but as you'd expect it takes a lot of special equipment. Yes, three screws like a headlight. What I'm really curious about it which direction you move it towards and how much of screw turn is involved.
Worst case, I'll mark the screw positions and play with it. Mine tends to pick up things on the driver's side more, but also t can be near straight ahead, so pointing it down a bit may help.
FYI, I think a lot of later cars keep the lidar n because it's used by the automatic braking system.......I have that in my '19 Volvo. Works great. Passive safety, not something I relay on for sure.
Worst case, I'll mark the screw positions and play with it. Mine tends to pick up things on the driver's side more, but also t can be near straight ahead, so pointing it down a bit may help.
FYI, I think a lot of later cars keep the lidar n because it's used by the automatic braking system.......I have that in my '19 Volvo. Works great. Passive safety, not something I relay on for sure.
But, what has always turned off the Distronic are those speed monitors on wheels that they put up around construction zones, because they too use radar to post our speed. There is also a Highway Patrol office right off the freeway a few miles from my house and that has always turned my Distronic off going back to when it was new. We took the long way home a few weeks ago at night and the Distronic stayed on for an hour !!
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 281
Likes: 23
From: Rocky Mountains, Colorado
Just sold my '11 Porsche TurboS cab for an '03 SL55!
UPDATE: I pulled the grill to access the sensor (Big round and black). It's mounted with 3 adjusting screws, 2 on top, 1 in the lower driver's side. I unscrewed the top two 1.5 turns to point the sensor more downward and unscrewed the lower screw 1/2 turn out to point it more toward the passenger/curb side. So, I am adjusting it away from oncoming traffic in an attempt to minimize the inadvertent automatic shutdowns in normal driving. It may have helped a bit, but no miracles. On the other hand, it doesn't seem to affect the system performance at all. So, I believe there's room for more of the same and next I'll make another 1-1/2 on top and maybe another full turn out on the bottom. We'll see. Still a PIA in practical use.
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Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Spain UTC/GMT +2 hours
W213 All-terrain
There is no room for anything...as you could imagine the radar works under a very complex algorithm and under very strict monitoring. If there are no errors on dash or on Xentry, it means that the calibration is complete.
Calibration is not about a few degrees left or up or anywhere, as the calibration is dynamic and the radar ( depending of the model) may have moving parts for directing the wave length where the real traffic occurs.
So, if the radar is almost on its tolerance, the rest is real math with complex Algo and, of course, all that can be improved mainly with a Software update and with a new calibration.
Calibration is not about a few degrees left or up or anywhere, as the calibration is dynamic and the radar ( depending of the model) may have moving parts for directing the wave length where the real traffic occurs.
So, if the radar is almost on its tolerance, the rest is real math with complex Algo and, of course, all that can be improved mainly with a Software update and with a new calibration.
