Experiences with Distronic Plus

[duberalles]

Would be very interested in hearing people's experiences with Distronic Plus, both positive and negative.

I have just got my 2011 E350 Cab (A207) with Distronic Plus because I'm refusing to pay 5k for a train season ticket and am going to not worry about sitting in traffic running in and out of central london from Kent.

Experience so far is that this really is a killer feature in heavily congested UK. You get moments of stop start automation in crawling traffic and it feels like you're in your own luxury private train carriage, all you're doing is giving the occasional steering input. Its a surreal experience, and then as traffic clears you are wafted automatically back up to 70+ mph.

I've watched movies sitting in traffic with feet up catching the sun (DVD plays up to 2 or 3mph), enjoying every minute of the congestion. You feel so secure and cocooned in the E Cab that I almost regret getting home.

One thing that you have to be aware of is not just following the car in front around roundabouts and up to junctions. In 90% + of complex traffic situations the Distronic system picks the apporpriate safe option, it sees motorcycles, and even cyclists (despite Mercedes not admitting this). It encourages proper use of your indicators using this info for the algorithm to hook up to a car in another lane. It uses sat nav data to slow automatically around country lanes. It really is very very impressive. Best new tech option I've ever had on a car.

Anyone else with similar or contrary experiences.

 

[elisetype25]

Distronic is fantastic IMHO.

I would not buy a car like the E without it. I think it is the most significant safety feature of recent years.

Regards, Neil

 

[petermansell]

Another supporter of Distronic here - I would not buy a car without it now.

 

[Brian WH]

I also have great admiration for the Distronic Plus system. It takes a lot of the strain out of driving in slow traffic and fast. But you have to still watch the road and unexpected happenings in front of you.

The only two negatives I would comment on are: -

1. It brakes far too late. The system picks up the slower/stopped car in front at about 100 yds, but it doesn't brake then, it starts to slow down and then brakes at about 30 yds. Which at 70 mph approaching stopped traffic is far too late for me.
2. It will over-ride your braking if it thinks you are going to hit the car in front.
The other day I got the warning triangle and started to brake, distronic wasn't even on, when the system slammed on the brakes unexpectedly, when I was stopping anyway.

 

[LTD]

What would happen if you had it on and it slowed you behind a car that then went round a bend ?

Would you then accelerate into the bend ?

 

[tylerdurden]

so wish this could be retrofitted

 

[abecketts]

just wondering say in 10 years time these superb electrical systems may not function as designed and could result in many fine vehicles heading to the scrap yard very early.

 

[RAG]

just wondering say in 10 years time these superb electrical systems may not function as designed and could result in many fine vehicles heading to the scrap yard very early.

The thought of most modern high spec cars out of warranty scares the life out of me!

 

[duberalles]

What would happen if you had it on and it slowed you behind a car that then went round a bend ?

Would you then accelerate into the bend ?

The fantastic thing about DP is how well the radar locks onto the right car, despite bends, wide lanes, overtaking and oncoming traffic, road signs and all the other complications of modern roads such as road works etc.

The radar doesn't see in the same way we do, it selectively ignores oncoming obstacles for the locking on algorithm but still maintains all the presafe brake prep as a potential anti collision system.

I have followed cars around roundabouts , country lanes - what happens when it loses 'sight' of tracked car is a combination of maintaining current speed (not accelerating up to your desired speed) for a second or two, almost pauses until it can reacquire the target car. It does this seamlessly on country roads. And it will actually slow if the sat nav data is showing a tight bend, regardless of tracked car.

I believe MB are tweaking DP constantly and the system is different from one generation to the next. The current DP on my car gets things tight 99% of the time. Yes there are errors, but it's an algo that works using current limited tech. And I 100 percent agree it's no substitute for full awareness of your surroundings.

I think of it as delegating mundane tasks freeing up my mind to be even more attentive to everything going on around. In stop start m25 traffic I can do long shoulder checks, physically turn my head, scan the environment looking for bikers, aggressive drivers, all knowing the car allows me this freedom.

John

 

[duberalles]

The only two negatives I would comment on are: -

1. It brakes far too late. The system picks up the slower/stopped car in front at about 100 yds, but it doesn't brake then, it starts to slow down and then brakes at about 30 yds. Which at 70 mph approaching stopped traffic is far too late for me.
2. It will over-ride your braking if it thinks you are going to hit the car in front.
The other day I got the warning triangle and started to brake, distronic wasn't even on, when the system slammed on the brakes unexpectedly, when I was stopping anyway.

It reacts late because it wants a smoother concerteener effect when tracking cars that are usually floating around different speeds. If it reacted instantly to a change in tracked car speed you'd end up with a very inefficient and uncomfortable follow. It does have its downside when the car in front is rapidly slowing - I normally just brake myself, match roughly the new speed, re-engage DP. It's all second nature now that I know the system better. I'd much rather a smooth tracking algo that saves fuel and me intervene every now and then.

Yes DP is the tracking algo but the other aspects of the radar system is that presafe brake is always active. Its like having a conservative co-pilot that warns you with a little red triangle and later a chime if you are getting very close to a collision. I find myself muttering - 'thanks, yes Ive seen it too'. One day I may not and will thank my ever vigilant co-driver.

I've tested presafe brake at Brooklands handling circuit and when needed the car will brake with the most incredible ferocity - literally gut wrenching forces. It'll brake far harder than most of us humans could or would want to. But that may just save a life or lessen injuries if engaged at the right moment. There are not many serious accidents that have been lessened in severity by less braking. More is usually better.

John

 

[C43AMG]

I have Distronic + on the S-Class and would not buy another car without it. That is one of the reasons it took so long to find the CL as not many have the Distronic as an option, even the Distronic without the + is great.

 

[Brian WH]

I experienced Pre-save Braking when I hadn't had the car long and wondered what was happening for a moment.
I was in the middle lane at a roundabout and was creeping forward as the traffic moved up to the line when - the car suddenly screamed at me, braked and showed on the dashboard what was happening: -
A car was coming up on the inside and turning left, swinging very close to the corner of my rear bumper. The screen showed this in miniature, very clever.

 

[grober]

For those interested in such things, this very clear technical paper gives the background research and technical details such as the differences between distronic and distronic plus---it's worth a read.
http://www.soumu.go.jp/main_content/000041628.pdf

 

[ssd55423]

W221 S500 Distronic Plus Problem

I have a '06 S500 in the United Kingdom (badged in US as S550). The distronic unavilable message comes up intermitently since I bought the car in 2008. MB said this was possibly down to the plastic lamination I had on the front and rear buper to avoid damage from stones. I have now realised that the problem only occurs when I am near a Mazda or Jaguar and presume their is a conflict between the Mercedes' and their radar or other parking aid system. I doubt every Jaguar and Mazda has radar cruise control so more than likely it is their parking aid system that casue the problem, but it will happen with every Mazda that I overtake. Is their any solution to this, and does anyone have experience of Mercedes sorting this problem even though the warranty has now lapsed (becasue it was reported to them within the warranty period and this new info which may show a design problem with the system has only become available now)

 

[developer]

I drove 180 motorway miles from my sister's in Scotland without using the pedals apart from a few corrective actions when people left things a bit late.

It's a great feature

 

[Brian WH]

What would happen if you had it on and it slowed you behind a car that then went round a bend ?

Would you then accelerate into the bend ?

No it takes time to pick up and is watching the car in front, so normally it is OK.

When you go round a corner it knocks the distronic off.

The other thing to remeber is that you are in charge of the safety of the car and need to be vigilant to changes ahead that may affect you.