• The Forums are now open to new registrations, adverts are also being de-tuned.

A class rear view camera constantly opening at slow speed

Mmmm I may just have to learn to live with it then?
But its put me off MB for good as this is the first (and last) I’ve had!
I wouldn’t let in put you off MB completely. I also have a C class cabriolet (which I’ve had no problems with in 2 years) and it is the best car I’ve ever owned although that might be down to the fact that it is a convertible, which I really like.
 
The only thing that stopped it (by the salesman) was to go into settings and open the camera but you have to do this each time you start! Salesman is contacting MB on Monday to ask why the camera does this.- he thinks it might be to do with the Guard protection so if someone shunts you in the back the camera records it???????
If you do get an answer from them I would be really grateful if you could post that here please. Thanks.
 
I have now lodged a written complaint with MB about this camera issue so I will keep you posted.
 
I have now received a reply from MB to the effect that this is how the camera now operates on the A class and there is nothing that can be done about it.
 
Just joined this group and have a question for A class owners. Bought a new 2023 A class 180 in April and I have an issue with the rear view camera. When I first set off the rear view camera opens then closes once you get to about 20mph. Thats no problem so far. What happens next is a problem though. Every time I slow down to 16mph the camera opens then closes again once I get back up to 20mph. It can do this for up to 10 times or even more before it stops doing it. It does this every time I start the car after it has been sitting for a while. The camera opening and closing is very noisy and extremely irritating. I took it into the dealer and after doing some tests and attempted software updates I was advised that this is normal operation on the new A class as it carries out a recalibration every time the car is started up. I was taken out for a test drive in another A class and it did indeed do the same thing. Anyone else on here experienced this issue?
Same. Just bought new C class estate and love it. But for the first few days I kept checking the boot because it sounded like something was sliding about. Then I discovered that the noise was only when the gears were changing 2-3-4 or 4-3-2. So I took it to the dealer and we went for a drive and sure enough clunk clunk clunk right on cue. They kept the car for 2 days, gave it a wash and told me it was ready to collect. When I arrived at service, they said it was normal and nothing wrong. They said the car was looking for a parking space at low speeds which is why the camera kept flying in and out. So an argument ensued whereby I respectfully suggested that was a fault not normal. So I'm driving along and slow down for a speed hump. Car thinks oh you're parking and shoots the camera out. Then I speed up and car thinks OK false alarm and shuts camera. Then I slow down for lights etc etc etc. It is also quite a loud noise and more than mildly irritating. My last car was a 7 series with fixed camera so it's not credible that this "development" of a retracting camera should operate 1) so noisily 2) so erratically. My garage has said it will contact MB to seek a software solution which, to my mind is absolutely essential to solve this problem.
 
So I'm driving along and slow down for a speed hump. Car thinks oh you're parking and shoots the camera out. Then I speed up and car thinks OK false alarm and shuts camera. Then I slow down for lights etc etc etc. It is also quite a loud noise and more than mildly irritating.
Not sure the camera has anything to do with the self parking system, I've got the same car and I've never heard my camera come out when slowing down. I thought it used the parking sensors.
I think you're being fobbed off by the dealer.
 
Same. Just bought new C class estate and love it. But for the first few days I kept checking the boot because it sounded like something was sliding about. Then I discovered that the noise was only when the gears were changing 2-3-4 or 4-3-2. So I took it to the dealer and we went for a drive and sure enough clunk clunk clunk right on cue. They kept the car for 2 days, gave it a wash and told me it was ready to collect. When I arrived at service, they said it was normal and nothing wrong. They said the car was looking for a parking space at low speeds which is why the camera kept flying in and out. So an argument ensued whereby I respectfully suggested that was a fault not normal. So I'm driving along and slow down for a speed hump. Car thinks oh you're parking and shoots the camera out. Then I speed up and car thinks OK false alarm and shuts camera. Then I slow down for lights etc etc etc. It is also quite a loud noise and more than mildly irritating. My last car was a 7 series with fixed camera so it's not credible that this "development" of a retracting camera should operate 1) so noisily 2) so erratically. My garage has said it will contact MB to seek a software solution which, to my mind is absolutely essential to solve this problem.
You are likely to get the same response that I have had which is that this is the normal operation of the camera and that it goes through a recalibration sequence of opening and closing the camera a number of times each and every time the car is started up. I have responded again to MB asking them to explain in detail why it is now deemed necessary for the camera to operate in this way as I can see no logic to it and want to understand MBs logic. The previous generation of A class does not do this, nor does my 2021 C class and it is very annoying. It must be a software issue so I can’t see why they can’t fix it. It normally does the opening and closing thing 3-4 times then stops. If you can drive at around 10mph for about 100m after starting up the camera will complete the calibration exercise and close and will not do it again until you stop and switch the car off then start up again but who could be bothered doing that every time you start up even if the traffic allowed you to do it. I think the advice you have been given that the car is going into looking for a parking space mode is rubbish as, on my car at least, it only does it 3-4 times so why wouldn’t it do it every time you slowed down?
 
Hi there, I take it no one has any further updates on this 'issue'? I also picked up a 23 plate A Class a couple of months ago and have the camera flap opening and closing as I'm driving along.

I also took the car back to the service centre as I couldn't believe this is a feature that Mercedes thinks is completely normal. But alas, the technician said this is what the car is supposed to do.

I was told it's the camera calibrating to look for a parking space which makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Surely if it really needs perform this task, then it should be a one off...not every time the car starts?!
 
I got the same 'recalibration' answer and was more or less told to live with it!
It means I drive the car as little as possible and will be selling it back to MB as soon as financially viable and I will certainly NOT be buying another MB ever!
Such a shame that something that could easily be fixed with software updates can ruin an otherwise nice car
 
I got the same 'recalibration' answer and was more or less told to live with it!
It means I drive the car as little as possible and will be selling it back to MB as soon as financially viable and I will certainly NOT be buying another MB ever!
Such a shame that something that could easily be fixed with software updates can ruin an otherwise nice car

I can see why it's annoying, but is the sound really that bad, to the extent that it stops you from driving the car? Genuine question.

Also, I wonder if there's a setting that can be accessed by STAR that changes how behaviour of the camera? Might be worth taking the car to an independent specialist to check this ?
 
I can see why it's annoying, but is the sound really that bad, to the extent that it stops you from driving the car? Genuine question.

Also, I wonder if there's a setting that can be accessed by STAR that changes how behaviour of the camera? Might be worth taking the car to an independent specialist to check this ?
It's really annoying. It's a similar sound to the central locking system click. Imagine that happening every time you slow down and speed up...until you hit the requirements for calibration.

It's bonkers that on a car like this I have to try and find a few hundred metres of empty road to cruise at around around 15 mph to stop it from happening...every time I start the car up! My understanding is this wasn't a thing on previous versions of the A class, but they also had similar camera/parking functionality.

There's two things for me. 1 - The logic behind the process doesn't make any sense to me and 2 - If it really has to do this recalibration every time you drive then surely make the mechanism quieter.

I do agree with David's comment above, when it's time for renewal I won't buy another car that does this. It's a really lovely car to drive but I flinch every time the flap clicks and that's no fun!
 
Interesting that folk mention three or four operations before the camera settles. My camera doesn't seem to calibrate at all and will clunk in and out endlessly while I'm driving round town. I've written to MB but no reply. Thinking of writing to car mags to highlight the problem.
 
Interesting that folk mention three or four operations before the camera settles. My camera doesn't seem to calibrate at all and will clunk in and out endlessly while I'm driving round town. I've written to MB but no reply. Thinking of writing to car mags to highlight the problem.

PinkMink said: "....find a few hundred metres of empty road to cruise at around 15 mph to stop it from happening..."

Have you tried that?
 
PinkMink said: "....find a few hundred metres of empty road to cruise at around 15 mph to stop it from happening..."

Have you tried that?
Couple of times but it's very difficult when you live in town. I regard that as a workaround but I think MB should offer a fix.
 
PinkMink said: "....find a few hundred metres of empty road to cruise at around 15 mph to stop it from happening..."

Have you tried that?
Yeah, it's a daft situation where the camera flap has to be open, then drive along for along for a few hundred metres in a completely straight line just under 15mph. Absolutely ridiculous!

If you can't achieve this requirement and you're driving through town, floating between 15mph and 25mph, then it'll be clicking all over the place!

Happy to chip in to a bulk letter to the car mags. This is surely something that can be tweaked with a software update.
 
Yeah, it's a daft situation where the camera flap has to be open, then drive along for along for a few hundred metres in a completely straight line just under 15mph. Absolutely ridiculous!

If you can't achieve this requirement and you're driving through town, floating between 15mph and 25mph, then it'll be clicking all over the place!

Happy to chip in to a bulk letter to the car mags. This is surely something that can be tweaked with a software update.
Thanks
 
I have written again to MB following their initial response that this is the normal operation for the camera. I asked them to explain why it is deemed necessary to go through this calibration every time you start the car up as the previous version of the A class didn’t do it, it makes no sense to me and it is quite noisy and annoying. I have not received a further response so far and, unless I press them, I doubt I ever will. I would have thought that this could be fixed with an easy software mod but I guess they can’t be bothered. Like many manufacturers now I don’t think they are very interested in updating petrol cars very much as they see the future in expensive electric cars which are not for me.
 
I would also chip in to a bulk letter to car mags
Anyone fancy creating a draft?
I suggested it so happy to draft something and share. These are not cheap cars and in my case, I love the car except for this, not particularly minor, irritation. We're all Mercedes customers on this thread and we're not happy with this "feature" but yet we're being deaf-eared by Mercedes. So going public might be our next option and hopefully build momentum.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

  • Ted
Back
Top Bottom