CLS recall & distronic

Neil H

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Hi all,
Picked my CLS up this morning, it had been coming up with an error message over a series of months "without changing gear, consult workshop" so I eventually took it in for a checkup. It turns out that there is a recall on CLS350 for a software mod to fix the issue but ironically mine was already booked in when the recall notice came through. If you have a similar issue, it may be worth sorting soon.
Anyway, for the second time, I was lent the C63 to ferry me around, this time due to the weather there were no fun and games, unless that it trying to drive on a motorway/river at 50 in a straight line! Two things emerged, firstly, the C63 is a hugely uneconomical and inpractical car, as a weekend toy yes, nothing more. Secondly, it was fitted with distronic, what a remarkable and lovely toy that is. I travelled my usual 35 mile commute on the M6 and M62 (for my southern chums, think M25 Heathrow at rush hour) and it genuinely reduced the stress and anxiety massively. I am definitely specifying it on my next car, its the best option I could imagine! I love it!
:)
 
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SL63 Mark

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Agreed. Distronic is a real eye opener. I thought it would be a useless gimmick, but I am a real convert now.
 

television

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I have been saying this for the last 6½ years, many thought I was potty in the head :( It is a wonderful thing and I use it on B roads when in a line of traffic.

Like when auto boxes became common place, in the beginning if you changed cars you were always stalling a manual, and with distronic when you jumped into another car the CC just did not slow you down when the traffic in front slowed. One soon adapts to it, its a shame that all models cannot have distronic right now
 

whitenemesis

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I'm still trying to come to terms with Distronic..

Cruising on the motorway DTR set to 70mph and all is well. A car pulls in front of us and DTR slows us down to maintain a safe distance, cool :cool:. That car then pulls in and BANG! We are catapulted toward the horizon at warp speed :shock:

Now, I'm not adverse to a brisk progress but when in cruise mode I sort of expect a more progressive return to the set speed, not like someone has dropped the start flag!!

I've tried various "build" speeds, allowing the car to slowly reach cruise speed before setting DTR, or accelerating briskly to the desired cruise speed before setting DTR. Either way when DTR resumes, after being slowed by traffic, it's instant warp speed acceleration to the set speed.

Quite unnerving :Oops:
 
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television

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I have never had a problem like that in all these years with it.

I do know and its been tried that if you enter the motorway in a non aggressive manner, the car will not accelerate hard to regain the set speed.

This is where the engine talks to the gearbox re your driving style, once you start booting it, then distronic will behave the same way.
 

Gkinghorn

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I'm still trying to come to terms with Distronic..
Now, I'm not adverse to a brisk progress but when in cruise mode I sort of expect a more progressive return to the set speed, not like someone has dropped the start flag!!

Quite unnerving :Oops:
ahh that's what makes it fun :D
 

whitenemesis

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ahh that's what makes it fun :D

LOL and the accompanying sound track is very addictive :evil:

But that said it may appear a little antisocial to fellow road users? :Oops:

Perhaps it's a "characteristic" of the AMG to deploy as many of the 470 horses it has lurking under the bonnet at every opportunity ... :cool::cool::lol:
 
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Developer

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I find that those who don't like Distronic (and there are a few) either don't have it, or don't fully understand it - mine is fab.
 

television

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The last time I used distronic on a motorway was on the M3, we were not in any hurry, sure I keep mine for the best part set to max distance from the car in front, I did that with the SL and do with the CL. Now when there is a gap cars do like to overtake and cut back in causing your car to maintain the max distance, so I might adjust to close the gap a touch, but I do not like doing it as all my cars never get stone chips. Interesting the if you check the car out on max it is exactly 2 chevrons spacing from the car in front.
 

whitenemesis

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I have DTR set to the max distance and noticed the same, 2 chevrons, or as near as damn it..
 

Smacsor

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I find that those who don't like Distronic (and there are a few) either don't have it, or don't fully understand it - mine is fab.

I think it's crap becuase I don't understand it and don't have it:p
 

Andy.M

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Never experienced it. Do the brake lights come on when the car is adjusting speed?

Only asking as it was mentioned that it works well on B roads. I'm just imagining in that keeping up with the flow of traffic the brake lights would be constantly popping on and off affecting the driver behind in that he thinks he's following an idiot, particulaly at night?
 

television

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Never experienced it. Do the brake lights come on when the car is adjusting speed?

Only asking as it was mentioned that it works well on B roads. I'm just imagining in that keeping up with the flow of traffic the brake lights would be constantly popping on and off affecting the driver behind in that he thinks he's following an idiot, particulaly at night?

Nope, the brake lamps do not come on while distronic is adjusting the speed of the car, its funny for the car behind when going down hill as all the other cars brake lamps come on, but not yours.
 

Troon

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Nope, the brake lamps do not come on while distronic is adjusting the speed of the car, its funny for the car behind when going down hill as all the other cars brake lamps come on, but not yours.

I'd put good money that the brake lamps do light when the system has to use the brakes rather than the engine to slow the car. There may be a threshold such that very light brake application might get away without, but they'd never be able to homologate the car if it can autonomously decelerate hard without brake lights.

Edit: just checked WIS, the Distronic control module has an output for "stop lamp suppression for minimal braking" - so as per my prior comment.
 
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Andy.M

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Very intrigued to try it. Shame I can't afford a car with it fitted :)
 

whitenemesis

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According the MB the rate of acceleration on resumption of set speed is limited to 1m/sec^2, which is (if my maths is correct) approx 2.2mph per second. So in 5 sec the car will have gained 10mph. Seems a damn sight faster to me! :shock:

Also, interventions by the braking system are limited to about of 20% of the maximum possible braking power, on safety grounds! Conditions requiring greater braking force flag up a warning message and tone requiring the driver to WAKE UP!!!, sorry, to intervene.. :rolleyes:

Setting the distance from the car in front, the adjustment range lies between a time interval of 1 to 2 seconds to the vehicle immediately ahead which represents 0.28 to 0,56 times the speedometer reading in meters. :cool:
 

television

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I'd put good money that the brake lamps do light when the system has to use the brakes rather than the engine to slow the car. There may be a threshold such that very light brake application might get away without, but they'd never be able to homologate the car if it can autonomously decelerate hard without brake lights.

Edit: just checked WIS, the Distronic control module has an output for "stop lamp suppression for minimal braking" - so as per my prior comment.

Yes that is probably correct, in the case of a hard braking I have not been checking :D So we can say for the best part that they do not come on;)
 

television

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According the MB the rate of acceleration on resumption of set speed is limited to 1m/sec^2, which is (if my maths is correct) approx 2.2mph per second. So in 5 sec the car will have gained 10mph. Seems a damn sight faster to me! :shock:

Also, interventions by the braking system are limited to about of 20% of the maximum possible braking power, on safety grounds! Conditions requiring greater braking force flag up a warning message and tone requiring the driver to WAKE UP!!!, sorry, to intervene.. :rolleyes:

Setting the distance from the car in front, the adjustment range lies between a time interval of 1 to 2 seconds to the vehicle immediately ahead which represents 0.28 to 0,56 times the speedometer reading in meters. :cool:


We did have that lady who went into the central barrier when she engaged CC going through some water, I would imagine the acceleration is about the same
 

Blobcat

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The CL500 I tired on the A1 took it from 70 to stop as the traffic slowed in front of me. My foot was only microns from the brake pedal but I didn't touch it
 


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