View through the camera
The area behind the vehicle is displayed as a
mirror image, as in the rear view mirror.
! Objects not at ground level may appear to
be further away than they actually are, e.g.:
R the bumper of a parked vehicle
R the drawbar of a trailer
R the ball coupling of a trailer tow hitch
R the rear section of an HGV
R a slanted post
Use the guidelines only for orientation.
Approach objects no further than the
bottom-most guideline.
The rear view camera may show a distorted
view of obstacles, show them incorrectly or
not at all. The rear view camera does not show
objects in the following positions:
R very close to the rear bumper
R under the rear bumper
R in the area immediately above the tailgate
handle
Activating the rear view camera X
Make sure that key position 2has been
selected with the Start/Stop button.
X Make sure that the "rear view camera"
function is selected in COMAND (see the separate operating instructions for
COMAND).
X Engage reverse gear.
The COMAND display shows the area
behind the vehicle.
You can also switch off the display of the area
behind the vehicle in the COMAND display. Blind Spot Assist
Important safety notes Blind Spot Assist uses a radar sensor system
to monitor the areas on both sides of your
vehicle. It supports you from speeds of
approximately 20 mph(30 km/h). A warning
display in the exterior mirrors draws your
attention to vehicles detected in the
monitored area. If you then switch on the
corresponding turn signal to change lanes,
you will also receive a visual and audible
collision warning. For this purpose, Blind Spot
Assist uses sensors in the rear bumper.
Blind Spot Assist is only an aid. It may fail to
detect some vehicles and is no substitute for
attentive driving.
G
WARNING
Blind Spot Assist does not react to:
R vehicles overtaken too closely on the side,
placing them in the blind spot area
R vehicles approaching and driving by with a
speed difference of more than 6.8 mph
(11 km/h)
As a result, Blind Spot Assist may not give
warnings in such situations. There is a risk of
an accident.
Always observe the traffic conditions
carefully, and maintain a safe lateral distance.
i USA only:
This device has been approved by the FCC
as a "Vehicular Radar System". The radar
sensor is intended for use in an automotive
radar system only. Removing, tampering
with, or altering the device will void any Driving systems
141Driving and parking Z
warranties, and is not permitted by the
FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in
any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this
device could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment.
Monitoring range of the sensors In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if:
R there is dirt on the sensors or anything else
covering the sensors.
R there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog, heavy
rain or snow.
R a narrow vehicle, e.g. a motorbike or
bicycle, is traveling in front.
R the road has very wide lanes.
R the road has narrow lanes.
R you are not driving in the middle of the lane.
R there are barriers or similar lane borders.
Vehicles in the monitoring range are then not
indicated. Example (Roadster)
Blind Spot Assist monitors the area up to
10 ft (3m) behind your vehicle and directly
next to your vehicle, as shown in the diagram.
If the lanes are narrow, vehicles driving in the
lane beyond the lane next to your vehicle may
be indicated, especially if the vehicles are not driving in the middle of their lane. This may
be the case if the vehicles are driving on the
inner side of their lane.
Due to the nature of the system:
R
warnings may be issued in error when
driving close to crash barriers or similar
solid lane borders.
R warnings may be interrupted when driving
alongside particularly long vehicles, e.g.
trucks, for a prolonged time.
The two sensors for Blind Spot Assist are
integrated into the sides of the rear bumper.
Make sure that the bumper is free of dirt, ice
or slush in the vicinity of the sensors. The
radar sensors must not be covered, e.g. by
overhanging loads. Following a severe impact
or in the event of damage to the bumpers,
have the function of the radar sensors
checked at a qualified specialist workshop.
Blind Spot Assist may otherwise not work
properly.
Indicator and warning display 0043
Yellow indicator lamp/red warning lamp
When Blind Spot Assist is activated, indicator
lamp 0043in the exterior mirrors lights up
yellow up to a speed of 20 mph (30 km/h). At
speeds above 20 mph(30 km/h) the indicator
lamp goes out and Blind Spot Assist is
operational.
If a vehicle is detected within the monitoring
range of Blind Spot Assist at speeds above
approximately 20 mph(30 km/h), warning
lamp 0043on the corresponding side lights up
red. This warning is always given when a 142
Driving systemsDriving and parking