Active Park Assist

rob2005

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Can anyone give a bit of an idiots guide to using active park assist?

The manual is a bit confusing and whilst i dont feel im likely to use it much it would be handy to know its there and works.

I thought if i drove past a parallel or reverse parking space slowly and then stopped the arrow would appear and i'd be able to park, i tried it once at the weekend and it didnt give me the option to use the park assist.

Do i need to indicate or something? A simple description would be appreciated!

Thank you.
 

John Laidlaw

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Yes, you need to indicate.
Basically, slowly drive past the space you intend parking in, with the indicator on
select reverse
Sign on your dash will appear- ‘active park assist yes/no’, select OK
Follow instructions and watch the magic happening...
 

Andy.M

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When you drive slowly the P symbol appears in the display. When it detects a space a small arrow pointing which side this is will appear. If you want a space on the right you will need to be indicating that way.
You stop, select reverse and the display will say something like Do you want to auto park?
Select OK and take your hands off the wheel and use accelerator and brake normally.
At the appropriate time you will have to go from reverse to drive to move into the middle of the space.
When you come back, I think it gives you option of getting you out of the space as well!!
 

John Laidlaw

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Oh and the 2014 model will only do parallel active park assist, not perpendicular (like multi story car parks etc). I have that on my Volvo XC90 though and it’s fun!
 
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rob2005

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Thanks both - will give it a try, it might have been the indicating which i missed... :)
 
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rob2005

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Oh and the 2014 model will only do parallel active park assist, not perpendicular (like multi story car parks etc). I have that on my Volvo XC90 though and it’s fun!

Oh that's interesting the manual seems to indicate it does both - i have a facelift version (W205 i believe)
 

John Laidlaw

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When you drive slowly the P symbol appears in the display. When it detects a space a small arrow pointing which side this is will appear. If you want a space on the right you will need to be indicating that way.
You stop, select reverse and the display will say something like Do you want to auto park?
Select OK and take your hands off the wheel and use accelerator and brake normally.
At the appropriate time you will have to go from reverse to drive to move into the middle of the space.
When you come back, I think it gives you option of getting you out of the space as well!!
It does indeed give you the option to get out of the space the same way- however I’ve found that a bit fraught! You select it to get you out of the space and all goes well until you’re out of the space and of course switches off leaving you like a sitting duck if there’s traffic around!
 

John Laidlaw

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Oh that's interesting the manual seems to indicate it does both - i have a facelift version (W205 i believe)
Sorry you may be right Rob, mine is of course an E Class 212 2014 vintage and I just have parallel - you may well have both!
 

mikestrivens

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Perhaps one should consider whether they need to hand their driving licence back if they need these aids to park and reverse.
 

John Laidlaw

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^ Bah humbug!
I hear what you’re saying and of course quite right.
However it’s like all ‘aids’ - we never had power steering at one point , now not many people would consider a car without it. Some technology can be good if used in the correct way and we still retain the ability to drive and control the car correctly.
 
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rob2005

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Perhaps one should consider whether they need to hand their driving licence back if they need these aids to park and reverse.
Its not a case of needing them - its a case of knowing how to use them as they are there.

Technology moves forwards and if technology is there what's the harm in using it? I presume you drive a horse and cart and posted to the forum with your slate and chisel....
 

mikestrivens

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Its not a case of needing them - its a case of knowing how to use them as they are there.

Technology moves forwards and if technology is there what's the harm in using it? I presume you drive a horse and cart and posted to the forum with your slate and chisel....

No but I do know how to parallel park and reverse without the car doing it for me. Is the technology really necessary and what happens if it goes wrong? Even the horse knows how to reverse.
 

Jim Agar

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Does the system detect the kerb thus avoiding any chance of kerbing those expensive alloys?
 

Craiglxviii

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It’s interesting. APA as a system is a right pigs ear, it’s expensive and involved. It was also a strenuous market request- mainly from the laydeeez.

As soon as it came out into the market, we discovered that people weren’t using it because... not because it didn’t work/ had broken, or was crap... because they didn’t trust it. Like 50-60% of customers who bought a car with it fitted.
 

John Laidlaw

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^ on both counts I could see why that would be the case!
I think it’s still in ‘gimmick’ stage- something to show off to your kids really, but as mentioned above if it saves an alloy here and there, what’s the harm?
 

rorywquin

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Perhaps one should consider whether they need to hand their driving licence back if they need these aids to park and reverse.
Very useful if you cannot see the ends of your car. Park assist came as standard in my car, and in a SL you sit very low - I'm 6'2" and my shoulder is barely above the sill (and I sit quite upright) so I cannot see anywhere near my front or rear bumpers and rely on parking aids. However I have only used park assist once in France. My car usually does not go to places where there is congested parking...;-)
 

Frosty149

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My grandson thinks it’s magic!
Also it gets the car into spaces that are ‘tight’, sometimes too tight to trust others, not bump your pride and joy!
 

keefysher

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I mentioned to a mate that had a beemer with it he should get his blue badge, I ducked quick ;)

Although I have it, and on the last car, don't use it. The 360 camera system helps more to save wheels on kerbs.
 

John Laidlaw

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The 360 camera is indeed a better tool i think (I just don’t have it :()
 

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