S350, 730i, A8 3.2 FSI

[Merc1]

So the Distronic system actually works and it was the magazine that made a mistake? That sounds like a good excuse to some people but not to me.

What does weight distribution has to do with this thread? Who says that Audis have bad weight distribution? A8 is the driver's car of the three no matter what weight distribution it has.

What part of "the system wasn't activated" don't you understand Yannis. You love to point to reviews when the suite your ill-concieved notions about Mercedes, yet because these same journalist reviews have said that Distronic works you ignore.

Either re-read the story or give this up, you're only making yourself look very foolish. For the last time, the system wasn't activated an the magazine editor was driving the car and was supposed to hit the brakes to SIMULATE what the system would do, but he didn't because he didn't feel the S run over the board placed on the floor indicating for him to stop.

No matter if the system worked or not , the crash made it to headlines worldwide and caused a great deal of negative publicity for Mercedes:

No kidding? Now which is it? A negative incident or a faulty system? See this what happens when the intent is to bash for no good reason, but without the proper research.

M

 

[Yperion]

You believe what you are told so easily when it serves you. When the test happened noone had told the viewers that it was only a display and not the real thing. They only said afterwards that because of metal surfaces around the cars, the system didn't work. Only a few days later they said that the system was diactivated.

Since you don't have a good memory let me remind you:

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.

http://www.germancarforum.com/showthread.php?t=1088&page=1

 

[Merc1]

You believe what you are told so easily when it serves you. When the test happened noone had told the viewers that it was only a display and not the real thing. They only said afterwards that because of metal surfaces around the cars, the system didn't work. Only a few days later they said that the system was diactivated.

Since you don't have a good memory let me remind you:



http://www.germancarforum.com/showthread.php?t=1088&page=1

What does this prove Yannis? It proves no wrong doing or failure of a Mercedes' system. I believe what is told to me so easily? If that ain't the pot calling the kettle black I don't know what is. You're the one that ran with this BS as if it were some type of big failure on Mercedes part. The bottom line is that this system works in the conditions it is designed for. Period. You have nothing to prove otherwise, and you still ignore that every single automotive agency around the world has driven the S_Class by now and if this system was so faulty don't you think at least one reviewer would have wrecked or at the very least reported that Distronic Plus doesn't work!

You have no basis for your original statements Yannis other than a bent bias.

M

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

That might be the case... but you have to admit, the system if far from intuitive...

What does intuition have anything to do with it. You press a button to activate it, and about 15MPH it shows a night view of the road ahead. Pretty simple. As for the positioning of the screen, There simply isnt any better place to locate it. I doubt a full block HUD would be appropriate to have in front of the windscreen.

 

[LaArtist]

Man yannis you really need to let this one go.. you lost it big time.. to go on would just be foolish.. and bring alot more tension to a false claim..

 

[Centurion]

Yannis, since the system wasn't even activated the test is more or less invalid and can't be used as an argument against the S. The journalist was a nut and the system wasn't tested in a proper way. Period

Just let it go. The A8 is a fantastic car but the S is simply the best car in it's class.

I know you are a Porsche fan, so Im I but its not difficult to see you like MB, especially CLS and S-class.

Yeah it's seem like I'm still dreaming of the star.

 

[warot]

What does intuition have anything to do with it. You press a button to activate it, and about 15MPH it shows a night view of the road ahead. Pretty simple. As for the positioning of the screen, There simply isnt any better place to locate it. I doubt a full block HUD would be appropriate to have in front of the windscreen.

Are you joking? Have you ever tried driving while looking down at your speedometer constantly?
If you can't have a full block HUD, then the techonology is simply not ready IMO.

And I would also like to see proof that the range of the nightvision increases if you go past 15mph.

 

[LaArtist]

The point of that system is not to stare on the speedo night vision screen.. its just there to show you objects before you can see then with the naked eye.. and its in your vision range..so if anything comes up you will notice.. the point is not to look at the screen..and not looking out of the windscreen...

 

[bum-man]

Here is Cadillacs system, warot, Mercedes most certainly tested both systems obviously the LCD screen has less drawbacks than a window projected HUD.

Cadillacs system:

"The Infrared Night Vision system activated at night when the headlights were on, projecting an image of the road ahead at the base of the windshield directly in front of me. The system displayed temperature differences in the same way that a black and white TV displays color differences. Hot items were white while cold objects were black with temperatures in between as shades of gray. People, animals and running automobiles stood out brightly in this display and were visible well beyond the range of the headlights. People and vehicles (especially the tires and exhaust pipes) showed up brightly while trees, shrubs and fences appeared as slightly warmer than the surroundings. This system provides the additional security of allowing a driver to easily spot an intruder who may be lurking in the bushes as they pull into a dark driveway.

While the infrared image was distracting at first, I soon grew accustomed to keeping it in my peripheral vision, except when something significant appeared. This system had a brightness and position control and I could shut it off on well-lit city streets. I believe that drivers who often travel on unlit rural roads will appreciate the value of Night Vision, but for city folk, it is just an intriguing novelty that is difficult to show off because the windshield display is for the driver's eyes only The only way a passenger can see the display is if they put their head on your shoulder or they sit behind the wheel. "

 

[gustavo]

That might be the case... but you have to admit, the system if far from intuitive...

I'm wondering sometimes what the people are talking about here?
Have you ever driven one? I don't think so.

I've got the chance to drive a S500 with night vision this weekend. I used it in the town and on the autobahn. Believe me, it's great, usefull and I had never the impression that the system isn't intuitive.

 

[warot]

I'm wondering sometimes what the people are talking about here?
Have you ever driven one? I don't think so.

I've got the chance to drive a S500 with night vision this weekend. I used it in the town and on the autobahn. Believe me, it's great, usefull and I had never the impression that the system isn't intuitive.

The car is not even out in the States yet... besides, I don't get to drive Benz's much so my answer is no.
I'm just so surprised that there is such a huge uproar when I say that the system doesn't seem intuitive. Why? Because it's not even in your line of sight. If that's so hard to grasp, then I'm going to have to throw in the towel on this one. Keep in my mind, I'm not only criticizing Benz's system, but also BMW's.

 

[warot]

Here is Cadillacs system, warot, Mercedes most certainly tested both systems obviously the LCD screen has less drawbacks than a window projected HUD.

Cadillacs system:

"The Infrared Night Vision system activated at night when the headlights were on, projecting an image of the road ahead at the base of the windshield directly in front of me. The system displayed temperature differences in the same way that a black and white TV displays color differences. Hot items were white while cold objects were black with temperatures in between as shades of gray. People, animals and running automobiles stood out brightly in this display and were visible well beyond the range of the headlights. People and vehicles (especially the tires and exhaust pipes) showed up brightly while trees, shrubs and fences appeared as slightly warmer than the surroundings. This system provides the additional security of allowing a driver to easily spot an intruder who may be lurking in the bushes as they pull into a dark driveway.

While the infrared image was distracting at first, I soon grew accustomed to keeping it in my peripheral vision, except when something significant appeared. This system had a brightness and position control and I could shut it off on well-lit city streets. I believe that drivers who often travel on unlit rural roads will appreciate the value of Night Vision, but for city folk, it is just an intriguing novelty that is difficult to show off because the windshield display is for the driver's eyes only The only way a passenger can see the display is if they put their head on your shoulder or they sit behind the wheel. "

Hey Bum-Man, thanks a lot for the link, I appreciate it. This is a system that makes a lot more sense to me to be perfectly honest. It is directly in your line of sight and at night I'm sure it makes a huge difference. IMO, looking down at the instrument cluster is just a distraction, even more so during nighttime.

By the way, just out of curiosity, does Benz have a HUD system available on their cars?

 

[gustavo]

The car is not even out in the States yet... besides, I don't get to drive Benz's much so my answer is no.
I'm just so surprised that there is such a huge uproar when I say that the system doesn't seem intuitive. Why? Because it's not even in your line of sight. If that's so hard to grasp, then I'm going to have to throw in the towel on this one. Keep in my mind, I'm not only criticizing Benz's system, but also BMW's.

You wrote before
but you have to admit, the system if far from intuitive...

When you've never used it, you can't claim, that the system is not intuitive.
Anyway, I understand your arguments now. I hope you'll get soon the chance to drive one to retrace my experience

 

[yomomwhat]

And I would also like to see proof that the range of the nightvision increases if you go past 15mph.

no offense but if Mercedes says it only activates over 15kph then i think they know what they are talking about, parking sensors deactivate over about 15kph and people dont say oh parking sensors suck i want to see proof that they work on motorways do they?

 

[warot]

no offense but if Mercedes says it only activates over 15kph then i think they know what they are talking about, parking sensors deactivate over about 15kph and people dont say oh parking sensors suck i want to see proof that they work on motorways do they?

Ok I've watched the 5th gear show over and over again to see if there was any difference when it was at a standstill or actually driving. I couldn't tell the difference in the range of night view assist but I could be wrong.

What you don't seem to understand is that my main concern with the system is that it is not in your line of sight that's all. I'm not so much concerned about the range really. Again, if you still don't believe me, I also criticize the BMW's system because it is so low.

By the way, I did some research on these systems, and the BMW's system uses FIR (Far Infrared) and has a range of 300m.
The other thing is, (I'm sure BMW uses the same), Night View Assist is not even a Benz techonology. You guessed it right, it's Bosch.

 

[yomomwhat]

Ok I've watched the 5th gear show over and over again to see if there was any difference when it was at a standstill or actually driving. I couldn't tell the difference in the range of night view assist but I could be wrong.

What you don't seem to understand is that my main concern with the system is that it is not in your line of sight that's all. I'm not so much concerned about the range really. Again, if you still don't believe me, I also criticize the BMW's system because it is so low.

By the way, I did some research on these systems, and the BMW's system uses FIR (Far Infrared) and has a range of 300m.
The other thing is, (I'm sure BMW uses the same), Night View Assist is not even a Benz techonology. You guessed it right, it's Bosch.

do all the other companies systems pick up cold objects as well as hot objects? i read something ages ago about the night vision which made it different from other current systems??

 

[warot]

do all the other companies systems pick up cold objects as well as hot objects? i read something ages ago about the night vision which made it different from other current systems??

Well that's what night vision is. It picks up heat from the surroudings so that's how you differentiate the cold from the hot.

 

[yomomwhat]

Well that's what night vision is. It picks up heat from the surroudings so that's how you differentiate the cold from the hot.

yea, but some cars have systems which say cannot pick up a tree laying across a road, i read this article a while back where they were discussing the new s class and they said how the night vision was better than cadillacs system (i think!) but i really dont know, i will try to look for it in the week...