Parktronic - I think it is broken and made me crash

mcat · 01-01-2007

While doing a Switzerland-UK round trip over Christmas I think my partronic failed and subsequently caused me to crash!

I am pretty sure parktronic is supposed to beep in ever increasing frequency as you approach. Mine no longer does. The distance indicator lights come on and work as they should but the tone only starts in the red zone. I am pretty sure the tone used to come on a lot earlier.

Please could someone with parktronic confirm at what point the tone starts. (My rear facing parktronic works as it should.)

How did it cause my crash? Subconciously I must have started relying on it without realising it when I am in slow moving traffic jams. ie, not paying much attention to the car in front until I hear the beep. As stupid as it sounds, it didn't go off and I drove into the back of the car in front on the M25 on the way to the channel tunnel!!

Not much damage. I cracked my license plate holder and did a very small scuff on the bottom the the rear bumper of the guy in front. He still insisted on taking all my details but if he asks for more than £20 to buff it out he can swing for it.

Anyway, please can someone confirm the correct operation of the tones on the front parktronic. Thanks.

DansSlk · 01-01-2007

Don't rely on them mate they are not exactly trustworthy and get thrown off by a lot of things.

Front sensors just activate the light bar until the red zone and then it will beep.

Guess they figured since you can see outta the front of the car easy why make them so intrusive.

Anyways glad the damage is only slight mate

Vin · 01-03-2007

On the SLK they rear work with increasing frequency as proximity to an obstacle occurs. on the front they only work when you reach the red zone.

most other Mercs (i know CLK and CLS) make beeping sounds on the red zone only front and rear so beware.

mcat · 01-03-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vin

On the SLK they rear work with increasing frequency as proximity to an obstacle occurs. on the front they only work when you reach the red zone.

most other Mercs (i know CLK and CLS) make beeping sounds on the red zone only front and rear so beware.

I was convinced that they beeped earlier. Was all ready to march down to the dealer and demand a warranty fix. Thanks for saving me from that embarrassment.

steve-p · 01-08-2007

Mine had a bit of a fit last year for a couple of days when it would just go off practically all the time. Although the car wasn't very dirty, I cleaned the front and rear bumpers and everything returned to normal, and it hasn't happened since. Apart from that, it's been superb and even detects high kerbs etc which you really wouldn't see any other way.

Wimbledon_SLK · 01-08-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve-p

Mine had a bit of a fit last year for a couple of days when it would just go off practically all the time. Although the car wasn't very dirty, I cleaned the front and rear bumpers and everything returned to normal, and it hasn't happened since. Apart from that, it's been superb and even detects high kerbs etc which you really wouldn't see any other way.

It detects kerbs as well?
This is really interesting!
Last summer I climbed on top of a kerb on the upper floor of the car park at Gatwick airport... no major damage, I just lost the plastic bit where the jack is supposed to go. If it does detects kerbs, then maybe I will consider Parktronic as an option in the future.

Ciao

P

**Duo-Art** · 01-08-2007

I wish we could get Parktronic on an SLK in the US. It is not available here.

Vin · 01-08-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve-p

Mine had a bit of a fit last year for a couple of days when it would just go off practically all the time. Although the car wasn't very dirty, I cleaned the front and rear bumpers and everything returned to normal, and it hasn't happened since. Apart from that, it's been superb and even detects high kerbs etc which you really wouldn't see any other way.

i found that my car did that a bit, on the front sensors in heavy sunlight

DansSlk · 01-08-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duo-Art

I wish we could get Parktronic on an SLK in the US. It is not available here.

Its a pain to do aftermarket but mostly because you need new bumpers apart from that the system is very simply there is just one harness to fit and thats it

steve-p · 01-08-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wimbledon_SLK

It detects kerbs as well?
This is really interesting!
Last summer I climbed on top of a kerb on the upper floor of the car park at Gatwick airport... no major damage, I just lost the plastic bit where the jack is supposed to go. If it does detects kerbs, then maybe I will consider Parktronic as an option in the future.

Ciao

P

It even detects the regular height kerb opposite my house when I reverse out of my driveway into the road. It's not foolproof and it helps if you are moving slowly, but generally it works very well.

RacerCub68 · 01-08-2007

Well, I wish I had the opportunity to crash with parktronic! ;-)

My other half keeps moving things behind my car in the garage as I need less distance. I back in, so one of these days, I'm gonna hit the generator or some small item he puts back there.

We have Park Assist on the LS430. I acutally use the rear camera display as it works better, but the system has never falsed.

One thing you forgot, and we have this problem with the Lexus... If you come up behind someone close at a stop light, or in a drive through, the front starts beeping. It is annoying, as you can only stop it by turning the system completely off or put the car in park. This is probably the reason why Mercedes made it NOT beep until you were way too close. If you have to move up to let someone through, you'll have it going off through the light.

DansSlk · 01-08-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve-p

It even detects the regular height kerb opposite my house when I reverse out of my driveway into the road. It's not foolproof and it helps if you are moving slowly, but generally it works very well.

Ditto

Move real slow when your using it on my car there is visible lag when i back the car out between the gateposts both sides beep if i am doing anything bar crawling then system system lights up after i have passed the posts

RacerCub - In Drive the rear sensors shut off and the front are active only at low speed it goes mad if somebody walks in front of the car.

01-01-2007	#1 (permalink)
mcat Founding Member #3 Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Switzerland & UK Vehicle: 2006 SLK350 MT LHD & 2009 SLK350 7G RHD Posts: 274 Country: Thanks: 1 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Parktronic - I think it is broken and made me crash While doing a Switzerland-UK round trip over Christmas I think my partronic failed and subsequently caused me to crash! I am pretty sure parktronic is supposed to beep in ever increasing frequency as you approach. Mine no longer does. The distance indicator lights come on and work as they should but the tone only starts in the red zone. I am pretty sure the tone used to come on a lot earlier. Please could someone with parktronic confirm at what point the tone starts. (My rear facing parktronic works as it should.) How did it cause my crash? Subconciously I must have started relying on it without realising it when I am in slow moving traffic jams. ie, not paying much attention to the car in front until I hear the beep. As stupid as it sounds, it didn't go off and I drove into the back of the car in front on the M25 on the way to the channel tunnel!! Not much damage. I cracked my license plate holder and did a very small scuff on the bottom the the rear bumper of the guy in front. He still insisted on taking all my details but if he asks for more than £20 to buff it out he can swing for it. Anyway, please can someone confirm the correct operation of the tones on the front parktronic. Thanks.

01-01-2007	#2 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,752 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 221 Times in 173 Posts	Don't rely on them mate they are not exactly trustworthy and get thrown off by a lot of things. Front sensors just activate the light bar until the red zone and then it will beep. Guess they figured since you can see outta the front of the car easy why make them so intrusive. Anyways glad the damage is only slight mate __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

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01-03-2007	#3 (permalink)
Vin Senior SLK World Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: London/GX Vehicle: Audi S5 Posts: 186 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	On the SLK they rear work with increasing frequency as proximity to an obstacle occurs. on the front they only work when you reach the red zone. most other Mercs (i know CLK and CLS) make beeping sounds on the red zone only front and rear so beware.

01-08-2007	#5 (permalink)
steve-p Senior SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury, UK Vehicle: SLK55 AMG Other Toys: '65 Mustang Fastback with 302ci HiPo engine Posts: 188 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Mine had a bit of a fit last year for a couple of days when it would just go off practically all the time. Although the car wasn't very dirty, I cleaned the front and rear bumpers and everything returned to normal, and it hasn't happened since. Apart from that, it's been superb and even detects high kerbs etc which you really wouldn't see any other way.

01-08-2007	#7 (permalink)
Duo-Art Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 544 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 14 Posts	I wish we could get Parktronic on an SLK in the US. It is not available here.

01-08-2007	#11 (permalink)
RacerCub68 Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: South Beach (Miami Beach, FL) Vehicle: 2006 SLK350 - All Opts. Except AMG Package & Auto. Clean looking 6-speed. Posts: 710 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Well, I wish I had the opportunity to crash with parktronic! ;-) My other half keeps moving things behind my car in the garage as I need less distance. I back in, so one of these days, I'm gonna hit the generator or some small item he puts back there. We have Park Assist on the LS430. I acutally use the rear camera display as it works better, but the system has never falsed. One thing you forgot, and we have this problem with the Lexus... If you come up behind someone close at a stop light, or in a drive through, the front starts beeping. It is annoying, as you can only stop it by turning the system completely off or put the car in park. This is probably the reason why Mercedes made it NOT beep until you were way too close. If you have to move up to let someone through, you'll have it going off through the light.

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