Watch TV/DVD whilst Driving 2009 ML
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davidpavey
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No, you need an additional piece of loom fitted, I believe you can find them on ebay 
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Yep its possible with STAR but you wont find much support here for enabling it.
I was asked this very question on Wednesday by a customer who had TV. I told him I wouldnt enable it as it can and most likely will kill a child or another road user.
SilverSaloon
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very dangerous and illegal. i'd avoid it.
Shouldnt you be watching the road as you blast along in a huge 4X4 rather than a TV screen?
my command in my CLK as i retrofitted it had tv on the move as i didnt use a proper tv tuner; i had a dvd player attached via a RGB box - i used it for MP3 discs so having the display on the move was useful to select tracks etc just the same as using the standard comand screen.
having a movie on the screen would be very distracting. even if its meant for passengers you couldnt help the odd glance across. i never tried it.
avoid it. get screens fitted to the rear of the car if you need it for passengers.
Shouldnt you be watching the road as you blast along in a huge 4X4 rather than a TV screen?
my command in my CLK as i retrofitted it had tv on the move as i didnt use a proper tv tuner; i had a dvd player attached via a RGB box - i used it for MP3 discs so having the display on the move was useful to select tracks etc just the same as using the standard comand screen.
having a movie on the screen would be very distracting. even if its meant for passengers you couldnt help the odd glance across. i never tried it.
avoid it. get screens fitted to the rear of the car if you need it for passengers.
The only differnece is you would not stare at a sat nav but a tv i reckon you would take a glimpse and and then another and then another and then crash.....
mapleleaf
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a few years ago when I used to buy & sell comand systems I experienced driving ( on a private road of course officer ) with sat nav and with tv /dvd on the move - Sat nav is fine as you also get audio directions so no need to stare at the screen. TV though is very very scary as you are so tempted to watch the screen for longer than a second or two & if something catches your attention then its very likely game over. Dont do it is my advice too!
robert.saunders
MB Enthusiast
So, if there is no difference, why isn't the feature to watch TV/DVD when in motion fitted as standard
amwebby
MB Enthusiast
Systems that ask for input, Satalite Navigation, CD Player, Radio, SMS, all of which are enabled whilst on the move in my MB, are potentially more distracting than TV/DVD. However the European court has ruled against the latter, hence the reason it is not installed as standard.
I would never find TV distracting as there is never anything on TV I want to watch. Glad there isn't Web surfing on the move though!
I would never find TV distracting as there is never anything on TV I want to watch. Glad there isn't Web surfing on the move though!
MBManInKen
MB Enthusiast
In theory, anything other than just driving has a level of distraction, talking to passengers, radio, etc - even staring at the speedometer.
However, there are clearly some activities that distract significantly more than others, so it makes sense to let us listen to the radio, but not allow watching tv.
As others say, tv is a very visual entertainment experience and it seems imminently irresponsible to have a tv screen on while driving the car. I sometimes have the tv on when the bbc news is on or listening to Andrew Marr on a Sunday morning. The picture is then automatically disabled while on the move as we know, so it becomes a bit like radio and that is good enough for me. Good on Alfie to stick to his guns on this important matter - it's the responsible thing to do.
We can drive and listen to music at the same time. We can manage phone calls but that's already borderline with handsfree calling, which is why you're not allowed to do it with the headset next to your ear, even further distracting from the driving.
As for SMS, you should simply not deal with SMS at all while driving. That can wait until you have arrived or stopped for a break. People are too addicted to immediate SMS or Blackberry fixes - technology should serve us, not enslave us (says a man whose career is in technology R&D).
I don't agree with the arguments that satnavs are as bad as tv. First of all, they are an alternative to those idiots you used to see staring at maps on their laps or on the passenger seat and swerving all over the place trying to keep their eyes focused on the map, then glancing now and then to the road.
To have a voice giving you direction well in advance so you can actually stay focused on the road seems a lot better to me. In addition, a sat nav implementation such as in my s-class, where you have not just the map on the COMAND screen, but also the arrows and indicators in the instrument cluster's screen, which you can glance at in the same way as you look at the speedometer etc, makes for a safe and responsible setup. The map is useful to quickly glance at in terms of general direction, but you get the key information from the voice announcements and the cluster arrow indicators. Another very good reason to prefer the integrated COMAND experience over separate satnavs.
This also underlines again my point about linguatronic, which you can use to operate all entertainment services by voice, rather than having to fiddle with buttons and take your eyes of the road for changing the radio channel or music track etc.
And finally, add speedtronic to set a speed limit for the road you're driving one where cruise control is not an option because of the start/stop traffic, and you can keep your eyes pretty much on the road and focused on the traffic around you.
However, there are clearly some activities that distract significantly more than others, so it makes sense to let us listen to the radio, but not allow watching tv.
As others say, tv is a very visual entertainment experience and it seems imminently irresponsible to have a tv screen on while driving the car. I sometimes have the tv on when the bbc news is on or listening to Andrew Marr on a Sunday morning. The picture is then automatically disabled while on the move as we know, so it becomes a bit like radio and that is good enough for me. Good on Alfie to stick to his guns on this important matter - it's the responsible thing to do.
We can drive and listen to music at the same time. We can manage phone calls but that's already borderline with handsfree calling, which is why you're not allowed to do it with the headset next to your ear, even further distracting from the driving.
As for SMS, you should simply not deal with SMS at all while driving. That can wait until you have arrived or stopped for a break. People are too addicted to immediate SMS or Blackberry fixes - technology should serve us, not enslave us (says a man whose career is in technology R&D).
I don't agree with the arguments that satnavs are as bad as tv. First of all, they are an alternative to those idiots you used to see staring at maps on their laps or on the passenger seat and swerving all over the place trying to keep their eyes focused on the map, then glancing now and then to the road.
To have a voice giving you direction well in advance so you can actually stay focused on the road seems a lot better to me. In addition, a sat nav implementation such as in my s-class, where you have not just the map on the COMAND screen, but also the arrows and indicators in the instrument cluster's screen, which you can glance at in the same way as you look at the speedometer etc, makes for a safe and responsible setup. The map is useful to quickly glance at in terms of general direction, but you get the key information from the voice announcements and the cluster arrow indicators. Another very good reason to prefer the integrated COMAND experience over separate satnavs.This also underlines again my point about linguatronic, which you can use to operate all entertainment services by voice, rather than having to fiddle with buttons and take your eyes of the road for changing the radio channel or music track etc.
And finally, add speedtronic to set a speed limit for the road you're driving one where cruise control is not an option because of the start/stop traffic, and you can keep your eyes pretty much on the road and focused on the traffic around you.
Well said.
There is no difference to having a tv playing on the dash than there is having a sat nav operating.
I just don't understand how anyone can makes assertions like this, it's so obviously wrong.
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oldcro
MB Enthusiast
No, you need an additional piece of loom fitted, I believe you can find them on ebay
Stop encouraging the idiot.
thank you all for your responses.
I didn't however ask for your thoughts!
I simply asked for an answer. But seeing you gave your thoughts.
I have been driving for 6 years with a Clarion after market TV and never once have I come close to having an accident. It is the driver who cause accidents not the equipment.
I didn't however ask for your thoughts!
I simply asked for an answer. But seeing you gave your thoughts.
I have been driving for 6 years with a Clarion after market TV and never once have I come close to having an accident. It is the driver who cause accidents not the equipment.
columb
Active Member
If you are in EU then there is a great chance that you will be prosecuted for that. I believe that in UK it's 3 points + £60. In Germany you can get into real troubles for that!
And yes, drivers cause accidents. Drivers, who brake the law.
Chris
And yes, drivers cause accidents. Drivers, who brake the law.
Chris
SilverSaloon
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The best help you have had is advice not to do it.
It has become clear that you obviously will be using this for yourself when driving, rather than for passengers, which is usually the reason people want to do it...... which makes it not only illegal but dangerous.
I assume the sound still comes out the speakers but the screen goes off.. this should be good enough as surely you are watching the road ahead and not the screen, since you say you've been doing it aftermarket for years already and not had a crash. (yet)
lets hope a pedestrian or child doesnt run out in front of you as you are watching Coronation Street, eh. Its not really worth it is it? could you live with yourself afterwards?
It would be a boring forum if someone came on here asking for help and you just got answers. Other peoples thoughts and opinions may offer better solutions to problems.
Anyway, if you do it you are an idot. sorry but its that simple really.
columb
Active Member
Should the topic be closed as there is no way that solution will be provided on this forum?
Cheers
Chris
Cheers
Chris
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I would be careful about admitting on a public forum that you have been breaking the law regularly for six years. If you have an accident and an insurance company finds out or checks the car as the police will if you hurt anyone, dont expect the insurance company to pay up will you.
If it were a relative of mine that was hurt I would come after you for every last penny you had.......
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