Retrofittable Adaptive Brake Light System

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Fantastic! :)

That set of wheel caps for the first order, is still up for grabs ;)

I am actually tempted to do this, makes the car safer in terms of brake warning but also brings it up to date.

I fitted one to my old W168, wasn't that difficult - would be even easier in a W202, as no messing with the tailgate rubber grommets, to keep the wiring neat and hidden.
 

David Richardson

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I'm positive that the retrofit would significantly reduce the likelihood of a rear end collision & the idea of fitting a retro kit is a superb one.

David
 
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Thanks David, it's your's and others' support that made this possible - without it I doubt I would've taken that step from a home-made enthusiast contraption, to a commercially available gadget :)
 
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Right, to celebrate the World Gin Day (and yes, I already have, somewhat), Keep Ness Robotics Ltd is offering an extra 5% off (on top of 10% discount), to any member, who orders a Flash••A••Brake™ unit over this weekend, so that's a £131.75 including delivery in the UK! Any form of payment, even turnips, accepted (how many are old enough to remember the joke?)

First order still gets a set of aftermarket black roadster wheel caps, and the second - an aftermarket Mercedes key ring.
Both are very good quality, and are from my personal stash (and I an very fussy about true MB star reproduction, etc).
 
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Ha ha, thanks!
Once I get a promotional video and the website up, it should pick up ... I hope o_O
 

David Richardson

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Really hope that your sales take off mate, I know that you've put so much effort into the development

Dave
 

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As long as your market research has been thorough, you'll already have a good idea of potential take up.
This is a very specialised niche, and unfortunately sheer enthusiasm does not always result in sales.

Hope it goes well, but I have my doubts.

Umble
 
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FLASH••A••BRAKE™ unit:

34476290513_ce62f2e8b6_o.jpg


:)
 
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I'm having a little sale, till the end of the month: an extra £10 off of the club price (10% discount), making it £129.50 delivered!

Payment by credit / debit card; PayPal (info @ keepnessrobotics.com) or bank transfer.
 
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Right, we're back to normal price, the club discount is always there though, so £139.50 incl tracked delivery :)
 
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I'm having an August sale: further £10 off of the discounted club price, making it total £129.50

Payment by credit / debit card; PayPal (info @ keepnessrobotics.com) or bank transfer.
 

Srdl

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@GLK Do I gather from your "Three Words" thread comments that sales have been disappointing?

Perhaps members might like to give some honest feedback about why they haven't purchased - because such feedback is the best way for you to understand your customers.

My reasons:
1) already standard on my car (2010 C207)
2) if it wasn't I can't say the idea would excite me enough to purchase.

Sorry :(
 
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Thanks, yes some re-thinking of target audiences is certainly in order ...
 

Ken_R

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Thanks, yes some re-thinking of target audiences is certainly in order ...

I'm certainly not a 'target audience' as I only drive about 80 miles per week, and mainly on Town and rural roads.

I'm also not a great fan of the product name. It almost infers a means of displaying a confrontational or discordant message to any driver following. I know that is not the case, but the name of the product allows for that subjective conclusion.

Indeed, if I passed the item on an outlet shelf, I might even [initially] read it as 'Flash a Bloke'.:D

I can remember when the first High-Intensity rear light was 'invented'. It was by a Taxi driver in Birmingham during a period when the City suffered severe Smogs/Fogs. It was an almost full bumper width Fluorescent red tube and, not only did he fit one to his own Taxi, but he also donated one to the then, Birmingham City Police, who fitted it to one of their Austin Westminster Traffic Cars.

Following on from that, there developed an 'aftermarket' of High Intensity rear lamps, and then Manufacturers began incorporating them in new models, and then they became a requirement.

And what do we now call then, colloquially? Rearguards.

Building upon those nuances, I would have perhaps gone for something like, "REARGUARD PLUS - The Adaptive Brake Light Module".

Brainstorming time. Anyone?:)
 

Trev1964

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I would probably be in the target audience for this.
Putting me off are 2 things...
Firstly, the price. It seems pricey.
Secondly, it requires an ignition controlled live feed.
Im assuming on my SLK that will require running a feed into the boot lid. I can't be arsed doing that.
 

JohnArnoldBrown

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You asked for honest feedback, so here goes..
It seems incredibly pricey for something I believe I could put together myself for substantially less with an Arduino and an accelerometer. Of course, I understand there may be more to it than that. Maybe you have to deal with the CAN bus or something, but it still looks dear.

I understand thet you have to recoup development costs, but if it's too expensive nobody will buy it, and you won't recoup anything.

Consumer electronics have reduced in price massively over the last decade or so, to the extent where everybody expects things to be dirt cheap. It's a big problem for anyone trying to manufacture stuff in the UK, unless it's a really niche market. I have a client who sells things for an unbelievable markup, but it's a really small audience, and there are few alternatives. But for a thing like this, which nobody really needs(although I'm not doubting that it might make you safer), you have to be realistic about price.

Out of interest, why do you think they're not selling?
 

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Newish cars have an adaptive brake light system already.
Older cars that have not had any issues in 10 years or so are unlikely to see the benefit of a retro fit.
I'm not sure if the cost is an issue, would people be buying if they were even half the current price?
Just a thought, why not do a video showing the installation followed by a demonstration of it in action, unless I've missed it and there is a video already.

Would the driver know when the system has activated? (unlikely as the driver wouldn't know with an OE system).
If the driver is not aware of when it's working to build confidence it reduces the incentive to buy.
My '08 car has it but I've no idea if it's ever activated, I trust it because it's OE
On my previous car, a Citroen Xsara hatchback (seemed like a good idea at the time) when the system activated it put the hazards on if the car did an emergency stop, not sure if it flashed the brake lights though.

Final thought, how do people know if they don't have adaptive brake lights already? Do they do a test or is there a list of MB's somewhere that would benefit from your system?
 

Comand Online Ltd is a specialist supplier of Mercedes Navigation Disks, Phone & Bluetooth, iPod, DAB, CD and other COMAND retrofit parts to enhance your vehicle.www.comandonline.co.uk
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