Computers

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Brian 1

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Nov 20, 2015
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381
Car
MB A Class 180d sport
Can you tell me how many Computers are in my CLS 250 Cdi please, it's a 2013 4 door model.......Thanks......
 
It depends what you mean by computers, and where you draw the line. It's not as simple as that.
 
My brother in law says he has 5 computers all working together in his VW what ever?? I am just wondering how he knows this and I want mine to have more.......lol
 
The ECU is a computer, but purpose built for the job. The head unit is also a computer, it might control the sat nav, be a media player, etc.

The instrument cluster has computer chips in it too, little ICs which control the screen, odometer reading, and speedo rings stepper motors, etc.

The gearbox has it's own TCU, similar to an ECU and they both talk to each other.

There'll be others, as said, it depends where you draw the line. Lots of things are controlled by integrated circuits, which are little 'computers', most with more processing power and vastly more memory the the Apollo 11's main guidance computer.

It hasn't got multiple entire desktop class computers controlling things, just different chips of different designs and powers to do different jobs.

Your RVM has chips in it too, they're also running code to control certain functionality. As I said, where do you draw the line? What is a computer? "My car has this many computers" is just nonsense Clarkson talk. Generally the more features and higher spec the car, the more 'computers' it'll have.
 
If it's one up-manship youz guys are playing, tell him yours has 7x, how's he going to know otherwise !
 
Can you tell me how many Computers are in my CLS 250 Cdi please, it's a 2013 4 door model.......Thanks......

There are a lot, all running specialist programs. Here are a few that do significant tasks

Engine controller
Gearbox controller
Airbag controller
Front SAM (takes all signals from front of car and controls lights etc etc)
Rear SAM (ditto for rear)
Overhead control panel (ditto for roof stuff, rain sensors, and all those buttons up there)
Upper control panel (switches near COMAND)
Lower control panel (switches around gear knob)
4x Door controllers (one in each door)
EIS (ignition switch stuff, also acts as gateway between engine and body networks
Instrument Cluster
SCM (controls all the switches on the steering column and steering wheel)

These basically get a decent power supply, CANbus (car's network, there are more than one) and lots of signals and outputs

There's also a bunch of simpler ones, or ones that do other tasks that just read signals from the car and send a bit of info: -

COMAND
Rotary Controller
DAB
HK sound
Rain Sensor
Windscreen Camera

And a whole load I can;t remember.

Anyway, you have very significantly more than in a VW :)

R
 
My brother in law says he has 5 computers all working together in his VW what ever?? I am just wondering how he knows this and I want mine to have more.......lol

One ECU for the engine would be enough for me. I'd happily brag that only having one would mean it's less likely to go wrong. Most of the rest are just unnecessary complication. I know electronics are supposed to be very reliable but why are there always more posts in the electronics section than any where else.
 

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