W202 Parking Sensors - mounting position?

[stevesey]

Thinking of fitting rear parking sensores to my W202 - question is where on the bumper. In the vertical face of the top section, or at the top of the main vertical section?

Anyone done it - where did you put yours? Also where were the factory fit Parktronic ones located?

 

[jberks]

The best bet is to remove the rubbing strip from the bumper and have a look. You may find knock outs mounded in too.
Have a look at this http://forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=27189
Its for a 203 but I suspect the 202 won't be that much different in principle.

 

[philharve]

Acquire 'the feel'

Hi All

I've heard it said that parking sensors aren't that accurate and you'd be better off acquiring a feel for where the bumpers are? I works for me but you have to be able to accurately judge distance. It's a skill some find difficult to acquire.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[stevesey]

No problem with judging the distance - I parallel park every day - more concerned about the wife who doesn't driver my car that often.

Actually from my viewpoint I was a bit concenred that most sensors can give you a continious tone at 30cm-40cm (and less) - not much use for those times when you only have 1ft clearance at either end!

 

[jberks]

They are a mixed bag. Like you, I can generally judge it to the nearest few mm. Comes from years of transit van driving and trailer towing, you generate an instinct. But, I've also rolled into a a post I didn't see (no damage as I was stopping anyway but still annoying) and it does give a second opinion if you're not sure of the shape of what you're reversing to. Also helps when you're coming out of a space whre you can't always tell if you're going top miss that car behind.
Knowing when it goes off, I know that once I get a constant tone and red lights, I still have 2" left.
Plus there is always that kids bike parked under the rear wheels. OK we all survived perfectly well without it, but I quite like it anyway.

 

[M6AJJ]

And I wouldn't do without them either, they just give you that extra security.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

Hi All

I've heard it said that parking sensors aren't that accurate and you'd be better off acquiring a feel for where the bumpers are? I works for me but you have to be able to accurately judge distance. It's a skill some find difficult to acquire.

REGARDS

Phil

ML - privacy glass - raining - night time - not easy!!!!

I swear by my sensors - and they are VERY accurate.

 

[stevesey]

That extra security when it comes to low/hidden objects is definite plus point.

 

[JEZ.S320L]

That extra security when it comes to low/hidden objects is definite plus point.

Absolutely! It's the low bollards which can catch anyone out - more importantly, it's the Little People (young children) who walk behind the car whilst you are reversing that's scary.

 

[A210AMG]

I agree,

I love a challenge and can usually get my car into a gap that doesn't look possible. With the sensors now fitted its added security more if I park and have a low mx5 type car right behind me. It is then quite difficult to judge exactly how close I am.

I fitted just the two sensors and they work a treat.

For £30 its a cool gadget that works very well. I may look at adding them at the front

 

[stevesey]

Absolutely! It's the low bollards which can catch anyone out - more importantly, it's the Little People (young children) who walk behind the car whilst you are reversing that's scary.

But children are soft and don't damage the paintwork :twisted:

 

[JEZ.S320L]

But children are soft and don't damage the paintwork :twisted:

Ooooooooooooohhhhhhhhhh - I've put a spell on you for that. A breakdown - next two weeks!!!!

 

[stevesey]

Hopefully a prophetic spell! Had head gasket done on wife's Astra today - discovered mayonaise when changing the oil at the weekend. £300 for headgasket, skim, new cambelt and waterpump (best done while there as car was within 10K of the normal VX water pump failure mileage) - wonder how that compares with Merc prices.

 

[Blobcat]

As per jberks above either behind the rubbing strip or on the inside of the bumper you may find cutout marks. I know I had them on my previous E & again on this one.

 

[television]

As all of the good folk above,they are there

 

[philharve]

Alternative to ultrasonic sensors?

Hi All

Is there an alternative to ultrasonic distance measurement, e.g. optical, or is ultrasonics the de facto standard for all vehicles nowadays? I have a feeling I have seen a laser/optoelectronic system in use but that was many years ago.

I have seen a miniature cameras used ... connected to a small monitor mounted in the facia. I think I saw it in a Toyota Soarer I was interested in.

Don't some trucks have rear-mounted reversing cameras? Solid-state cameras are small enough and cheap enough, I'm surprised they are not more common in motor cars.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[stevesey]

Several camera based kits on e-bay - also electro-magnetic based ones which just use a wire behind the plastic bumper skin (neat and tidy). Have read that these only work when you are moving in relation to the object - not much help if you stop when a low bollard is out of sight (am I nearly touching or have I got another foot to go?)

 

[television]

My friend has the reversing camera on his 221 S class, he also has the infra red camera on the front so that you van see the road ahead in the fog, I have been out in it,its great

 

[Blobcat]

I have thought about the reversing camera thing and I think it would integrate into the Comand fairly easily. Just need time, inclination and some folding.

On an aside I parked in my workshop yesterday which is half full of decommissioned equipment. I parked nose in to within 1mm of the rack in front. The "Bomb-Sight" makes a great parking guide