Petrol Warning Fail.

[Spin_bowler]

discovered that an indicated zero would actually get me to a petrol station a couple of miles away. Never did the car actually splutter to a halt.

I got from J19 to J22 on the M25 in rush hour traffic with the display on my old W220 showing zero. It was a sweaty few miles

 

[rjmghome]

I got from J19 to J22 on the M25 in rush hour traffic with the display on my old W220 showing zero. It was a sweaty few miles

You sort of expect any car to be prudent.

I was taken aback because it normally tells me I am about to crash, then I don't, but then it ground to a halt with no beeps, vibrations or flashing lights at all.

Maybe it is prudent in the same way Gordon Brown was.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Welcome to the forum rjmghome

You might get more sympathy if you don't mention the C word, well not a word but the letter followed by the numbers 63.

I honestly think many members on this forum think the C63 is a joint manufacturing venture by Audi and BMW, cleverly disguised as a MB

That's soooooo last year darling, the forum is a place of peace and tranquility now...

 

[Gollom]

That's soooooo last year darling, the forum is a place of peace and tranquility now...

Where are those kittens when ya need them

I like reading this new op - nice turn of phrase, a little self-depreciating and no TxtSpk!

Encore! Encore!

 

[trapperjohn]

What Gollom says.

The OP is a true wordsmith and strings together a readable provoking post. And does not mind incoming.

 

[Dieselman]

Given the myriad complexities of accurately determining the true range when fuel is low, I wonder why cars don't provide the option of displaying how much is in the tank (ie: in litres) so that the driver can make his own judgement as to how far it will take him.

Most people can't think that far nowadays...

You sort of expect any car to be prudent.

I was taken aback because it normally tells me I am about to crash, then I don't, but then it ground to a halt with no beeps, vibrations or flashing lights at all.

As ^ proves...

God knows how we managed to create an Empire or lead the World in an industrial revolution...

 

[NISFAN]

To be fair, MBs also show how many miles you have left (provided they're working correctly), although I'm not sure about the "deadly accuracy" in either marque (or any other, for that matter), as this will depend on largely on driving style and, to a lesser extent, driving conditions, both of which are difficult for the car's computer to predict.

In my experience, both with my current (R172) and previous (R171) SLKs, the range is only a best-guess indication based on whatever information is available at the time. My previous SLK would show the "range" right down to 1 mile, and then zero miles, although I never really knew how far one mile's worth of fuel would actually stretch, and on one or two occasions while I was seeking out a Shell station, I discovered that an indicated zero would actually get me to a petrol station a couple of miles away. Never did the car actually splutter to a halt.

In the R172, when the range drops to below 20 miles or so it stops trying to guess how far you can get and just displays what will henceforth be referred to in these parts as the PANIC! symbol. However, if you then adjust your driving style, it will switch back to showing the range if it decides you may now be able to eke more than 20 miles out of what you have left.

Incidentally, after I filled up last week my range indicator was optimistically showing 410 miles. By the time I'd sedately driven a couple of miles down the road from the petrol station, it had rather amusingly tumbled to around 382 miles, and by the time I'd arrived home about 12 miles later, it was showing 260. As our American friends might say, go figure.

Given the myriad complexities of accurately determining the true range when fuel is low, I wonder why cars don't provide the option of displaying how much is in the tank (ie: in litres) so that the driver can make his own judgement as to how far it will take him.

You are right with regards to the style and type of driving you are doing having an effect on the range, it is a moving target. However, I think most when told they are running out of fuel do make adjustments to driving style.

I do feel that MB are behind on this front certainly in W204. My W204 would go into 'PANIC' mode way too easily. Once up, it refuses to give you any indication of range ......at the time it is most needed.

My personal observations with indicated range left vs amount of fuel taken to refill, suggested that the MB fuel gauge system had some room for improvement. To be fair W204 is coming to the end of it's life, and can be forgiven for not being cutting edge.

 

[Dieselman]

You are right with regards to the style and type of driving you are doing having an effect on the range, it is a moving target. However, I think most when told they are running out of fuel do make adjustments to driving style.

I do feel that MB are behind on this front certainly in W204. My W204 would go into 'PANIC' mode way too easily. Once up, it refuses to give you any indication of range ......at the time it is most needed.

Mine is the same...gives no range at all...ever.

Never run out though...and I even manage to wipe my own ar$e when visiting the loo...

 

[Deleted member 37751]

To be fair W204 is coming to the end of it's life, and can be forgiven for not being cutting edge.

Cutting edge?!

I've got a simple formula with regards having fuel in the car; when it indicates it's getting low, I find the nearest petrol station and go and put some more in.

You want to try and drive a van for 300 miles in the middle of the night that has a dodgy sensor, one minute I'd have a full tank and the next blink I'd be on empty. That would make your jacksie twitch!

 

[MOCAŠ]

I like reading this new op - nice turn of phrase, a little self-depreciating and no TxtSpk!

That'll be the car, not the blogger.

 

[Gollom]

That'll be the car, not the blogger.

Damm, got me!

Self-deprecating of course

 

[rjmghome]

Mine is the same...gives no range at all...ever.

Never run out though...and I even manage to wipe my own ar$e when visiting the loo...

I fear your tank is also empty. Loo rolls at the ready...

 

[MOCAŠ]

Loo rolls at the ready...

Presumably you have a fail-safe system to alert you when you're about to run out of those...

 

[Mr. B]

 

[NISFAN]

Cutting edge?!

I've got a simple formula with regards having fuel in the car; when it indicates it's getting low, I find the nearest petrol station and go and put some more in.

You want to try and drive a van for 300 miles in the middle of the night that has a dodgy sensor, one minute I'd have a full tank and the next blink I'd be on empty. That would make your jacksie twitch!

Did said van cost over £70,000?

 

[NISFAN]

I fear your tank is also empty. Loo rolls at the ready...

Ah, the days when MB used top of the range gauge specialists VDO. Did they spend that kind of money on the W204 gauges?

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Did said van cost over £70,000?

Yes.


















It had £60k in the glovebox.

 

[Dieselman]

I fear your tank is also empty. Loo rolls at the ready...

Nah.

It's done another 65,000 miles since then...still not brought any panic warning on yet.


Big tank, see...

 

[NISFAN]

yes

it had £60k in the glovebox.

:d :d

 

[lxi]

To the OP - this is the best, most amusing thread I have read for some time - absolutely brilliant - thank you for that

The practice of dry wit, tongue in cheek comments however will not curry favour with some members here when it involves any - and I do mean any - criticism of Mercedes Benz cars. Think fanaticism and you are starting down the right road, albeit with some way yet to go

Congratulations on maintaining a proper sense of decorum despite extreme provocation and please - do keep posting !!