S-Class (W221/C216) S-class-Crash: Wrong conditions

[Zafiro]

Translated with babelfish

With a show-crashtest with the new Mercedes s-class for "star TV" the safety systems could not prevent an impact on a simulated back-up. Responsible for it however the special conditions were in the Crash plant, while "star TV" speaks A-class-Elchtest in a press statement of a safety problem à la.

The background: New S class has two safety systems, which are to prevent rear end collisions or reduce their consequences. These systems, Tempomat with brake interference and brake assistant plus, recognize the distance to the preceding endorser with radar jets and brake the car in the case of driving bumper to bumper either automatically or support the driver with brakings.

In order to prove the effectiveness, Mercedes placed a nebula accident behind in the own Crash plant for "star TV". In almost completely Crash resounding made of steel do not function these systems however perfectly, since the radar jets are much more strongly strewn by the cover, the soil and further metal surfaces, than this happens under material conditions. With the show-crash it therefore came to a collision although the systems during test travels outside of test-resounded before perfectly functioned. Mercedes speaker Johannes Reifenrath insures that the radar systems are fully effective not only in the city, on highways and motorways, but also in tunnel and on steel bridges and proved their Sicherheits Potenzial on many thousand test kilometers.



Photos

 

[Alx]

i guess they are showing what it looks like when an accident occurs?

 

[Zafiro]

i guess they are showing what it looks like when an accident occurs?

Something went wrong during a crash test on a german TV-channel.
Brake interference and brake assistant plus and the radar didnt work as MB wanted it to do when simulating a crashtest.

so what do we learn about this? Never trust electronic assistent 100%. Dont forget the driver is still important.

 

[Alx]

Never trust electronic assistent 100%. Dont forget the driver.

Exactly, very key, its not all about the technology, its about the driver and experience.

 

[Yaz]

Looks like it was foggy in there or there was a lot of smoke, so that might be the reason the radar didn't work?

 

[yomomwhat]

WOW......dumb test........that site missed out the facts lol....look on any good car site about it! the test was carried out in a METAL BUILDING LMAO omg.....no wonder it didnt work....metal reflects radio waves.....dunno if any of you knew that? but look on any other site and it says that it was due to the walls reflecting the radar.....and thats also what the mercedes spokesman says to was the reason......thats a really fair test lol....when you are on the motorway you are surrounded by metal walls? nope lol and before anyone says tunnels, no, concrete absorbs rays, and bridges...er...they are not solid haaaaaaa

 

[gustavo]

Something went wrong during a crash test on a german TV-channel.
Brake interference and brake assistant plus and the radar didnt work as MB wanted it to do when simulating a crashtest.

so what do we learn about this? Never trust electronic assistent 100%. Dont forget the driver is still important.

Agree, but to be honest, there is no 100% working garantie, even in the S-class. You won't never get 100% error free conditions - neither in a 747 Jumbo , nor in a 1 million times tested satellite system.

Regarding the S-class safety system: It's verly likely that you win the lottery jack pot, than to be better than the radar/brake assist system.

On the other hand: Only a moron would drive a S-Class at full speed in foggy situations.

Ok, the reason why it wasn't working was, that the car was testet in a room, with narrow gaps between floor, side walls with reflecting surfaces. No one would in reality drive a S-class in a metall cage. OK, I forgot, maybe in the States j/k

I still don't understand why the Stern-TV Magazine is speaking of an 'Elch-Test' Situation. DC should take a court action against them.

 

[wltsm]

This shows if you are in a multy story car park, don't think your as safe as you though in your S class!

 

[yomomwhat]

This shows if you are in a multy story car park, don't think your as safe as you though in your S class!

well appart from most multi storeys being concrete......and also even if you find a metal one, i dont think distronic was made to help you maintain a contant speed in a car park.......

 

[gustavo]

This shows if you are in a multy story car park, don't think your as safe as you though in your S class!

PreSave / Distronic was never advertised for that

 

[Alx]

I hosted a glossary of technical MB terms...

http://www.germancarforum.com/threads/1038

Anyways, what Distronic is exactly is:

The DISTRONIC intelligent cruise control system maintains the desired distance to the vehicle ahead. If the gap begins to close, it intervenes, using the brakes if necessary. With no vehicle in front, DISTRONIC maintains the speed set by the driver.DISTRONIC offers additional comfort and convenience, especially on motorways and similar roads. At speeds between about 30 and 180 km/h, a microcomputer processes the signals from a radar sensor in the radiator grille. The radar signals reflected from the vehicle in front are used to calculate the distance to it and to monitor its speed.

If a Mercedes-Benz with DISTRONIC approaches another vehicle too closely, DISTRONIC automatically eases back on the throttle or applies the brakes moderately to maintain the set distance. If greater deceleration is required, audible and visible signals alert the driver to the need to apply the brakes. Once the distance from the vehicle in front has increased again or if the road ahead become clear, DISTRONIC accelerates the car to the previously set speed.

DISTRONIC is a development of the standard cruise control with SPEEDTRONIC variable speed limiter.

------------------As for PRE-SAFE-----------


The PRE-SAFE® sensor systems give the vehicle an "instinct" for danger. In critical situations, such as emergency braking or skidding, precautionary measures can be activated to protect the occupants, then reversed if and when the danger is past.The findings of the Mercedes-Benz accident researchers show that in two thirds of all accidents, there is sufficient time between the critical situation developing and the accident itself to allow advance occupant protection measures to be deployed. If the accident does occur, then the vehicle and occupants will be well prepared. If no accident occurs, the activated systems can be restored to their original status, since they are fully reversible. A system which works on exactly the same principle - the automatic, sensor-controlled roll-over bar - has been fitted to the SL-Class Roadster for many years.

Some of the information used for triggering PRE-SAFE® advance protection measures is supplied by the sensors of established and familiar systems like Brake Assist or ESP®, which detect critical situations such as skidding or emergency braking at an early stage. PRE-SAFE® then triggers the reversible belt tensioners on the front seats, while the front passenger seat and the individual seats in the rear are adjusted to a position which will be more favourable should a crash occur. And if the sensors detect severe oversteer or understeer which could potentially be followed by a roll-over, the sunroof is automatically closed too.

 

[yomomwhat]

you need the definition of distronic plus! lol......it works to 0kmh! and up to 200kmh...and presafe II also hehe
if i was MB i would sue their asses off......or make them re-write it saying ite their fault it screwed up....then again...it looks like its only auto and motorsport that missed out the facts....

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

What a lame ass test. Obviously if the building is going to interfere with the system, theres going to be problems. What exactly were they trying to prove? That if the highway happens to be surrounded by a huge metal tunnel it may not work? Tunnels are mostly concrete as well.

Also, multi story car parks are mostly concrete and the system shouldnt be used in such a situation anyway. You'd have to brake constantly to turn corners, so what would the value of distronic or presafe actually be in these situations. Not to mention the fact you'd be travelling extremely slowly anyway.

 

[yomomwhat]

haa, pre safe would be used if someone runs out to get to their car lol......as for the test i don't think they learnt physics at school lol

 

[Alx]

It just seems alot was overlooked in this test. Too bad, MB should have something to say in response.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

I think car companies need to get more agressive with tests like this. It can be a major source of completely bogus negative press. First BMW with the 5-series, now MB with the S-class. These journalists should be held responsible for what they write. It could cost companies millions.

 

[RikfromBelgium]

This system has to work in every situation. Like was said, what in a carpark. Or what when roadworks are going one and they put you on narrow lanes with metal rails next to the roads ( something that occurs a lot on Belgian roads for ex ) What about tunnels, there is a lot of metal there, or bridges ( moslty metal nowaydays )

It may seem like a stupid test, but I find it shows a fundamental flaw of the new system.

 

[Merc1]

This system has to work in every situation. Like was said, what in a carpark. Or what when roadworks are going one and they put you on narrow lanes with metal rails next to the roads ( something that occurs a lot on Belgian roads for ex ) What about tunnels, there is a lot of metal there, or bridges ( moslty metal nowaydays )

It may seem like a stupid test, but I find it shows a fundamental flaw of the new system.

There is no substitue for common sense. Why would anyone want to use cruise control of any kind in situations as these is beyond me. This system is for use in the right conditions like any other system of its type.

M

 

[yomomwhat]

This system has to work in every situation. Like was said, what in a carpark. Or what when roadworks are going one and they put you on narrow lanes with metal rails next to the roads ( something that occurs a lot on Belgian roads for ex ) What about tunnels, there is a lot of metal there, or bridges ( moslty metal nowaydays )

It may seem like a stupid test, but I find it shows a fundamental flaw of the new system.

yea....you would...
when have you been through a metal tunnel? when do you need to maintain a constant speed in a multistorey car park? when have you been across a bridge with sheet metal sides? never......and you never will...even through a narrow lane with metal rails....stil they have massive gaps in.......this building was metal everywhere......walls and ceiling

you l0sE!

 

[RikfromBelgium]

I'm sorry, maybe not where you live but here a lot of bridges are metal, totally, except the roadsurface itself. Gaps between the rails? Why don't you take a turn on the Ring arround Antwerp before you make such a statement.