Very obscure 1st world annoyance

[Argg]

Anyone else noticed this or just me?

Had my first MB in 2017, E220d estate (S213) Premium Plus inc adaptive cruise with steering assist. Loved it on motorways. I accept it’s not about hands free driving but about 30 secs before the warning was just enough (eg swapping glasses for sunglasses). More importantly in slow moving stop/start rush hour queues, if under 20 mph then no need to touch the wheel at all.

Changed to E220d Coupe (C238) last year, (pre latest facelift). Exactly same spec. Now I get 15 secs before warning and always get the warning in crawling stop/start traffic.

As I say, very 1st world problem, but was something changed or is it something that can be coded?

 

[Dryce]

As I say, very 1st world problem, but was something changed or is it something that can be coded?

I think you're insulting the 'first world'.

 

[Paulhick]

What’s the warning?
Honestly can’t make head nor tail what this is about.

 

[slade1]

Paulhick, I think it's about not paying attention to the job in hand, driving the car

 

[Argg]

Steering assist/keep in lane assist with adaptive cruise control.
If you have it, you’ll know

 

[jdrrco]

Presumably the time has been reduced to stop people driving hands-free.

 

[Deleted member 113659]

Steering assist/keep in lane assist with adaptive cruise control.
If you have it, you’ll know

We have it. Used it a few times when we first got the car. Haven’t bothered with it since.

 

[Dryce]

Steering assist/keep in lane assist with adaptive cruise control.
If you have it, you’ll know

But it's not for the purpose you describe.

So if somebody who understands its use properly and has a car equipped with it then they might not relate to your post or your 'issue' with it.

I think the best advice anybody can give you is to read and understand the manual - think about what you are asking in the post at the top of this thread - and rethink the way you use this feature.

I can't put it any more politely than that.

 

[markjay]

Steering assist/keep in lane assist with adaptive cruise control.
If you have it, you’ll know

My other (non-Merc) car has both, I believe it's called 'Level 2', though it didn't occur to me to try and remove both my hands from the steering wheel - I'll try this next time I'm on the motorway, will be interesting to see what it does.

BTW, I generally try to get myself used to keeping both hands on the steering wheel at all time (in the 'quarter-to-three' position), especially when driving on the motorway, so that I can react quickly to any unexpected events that may unfold. Though I have to say that in all my years of driving, it only ever paid dividends once, when a sudden strong gust of wind blew a traffic cone from the other side of the road and straight into my path. I imagine that if the car was in autonomous driving mode it would have simply slammed the brakes, instead of swerving? Braking would not have avoided a collision, which would have no doubt left me in need of a new bumper, and possibly also a few other bits....

Also, I wonder if when braking autonomously the cars also takes into consideration the situation with the traffic behind me? Brake-or-swerve is a split-second decision for a human driver, I wonder how an autonomous car would deal with that.

Incidentally, the only time I would take both hands of the steering wheel while driving on the motorway, is when I do so very briefly on a straight patch with no other cars, to check that the car isn't slightly pulling to one side. But my car being still brand new (90 miles on the clock....) it will be a while before I start worrying about wheel alignment or uneven tyre wear...