Robofisherman first brought this up:

Have you had any problems with the 'chin' of your SLK scraping the concrete tire stoppers found in most commercial parking lots?

 

You could always install a FLIR (foward-looking infrared RADAR). Okay, maybe you can't.

I have a couple of low-riding cars I don't want kissing things, like those parking bumper thingies. When I park, I first make sure there's nothing between the car and the bumper thingy as I pull in to the space. Then, I look towards the rear of the car to gauge how far into the space I am. When the rear of the car looks like it's just within the painted lines, I turn it off. With my shorter cars this always works. I wouldn't do this with something longer like a Maybach or a Rolls.

There's probably something electronic and whizzy available, but I don't think you need such a thing.

 

Fortunately I have not had any damage problems....in Bangkok everyone who parks a car backs into the parking place (it is a Thai thing...I don't know why)....but this habit (imposed on me by my Thai wife) has kept me from confronting the frontal chin/skirt damage problem while in Thailad. Here in the USA my wife pointed out to me how close I was to damaging the 'chin'. And the Parktronic does not detect things that are only a few inches tall (like those concrete wheel curbs). So, now I'm just plain being careful....on the 200655SLAMG you can 'lift' the car a bit buy hitting a dash button..but it's still not enough to free you of curb damage should you overshoot.

Lugnet, since you are a very savy guy I want to ask you something: why is it that the MB 2006 55 SL AMG comes with a DVD player that can not be used in the visual mode...only the audio. Sure, it will play the sound track of a DVD but it always insists on fading the visual bits for driver safety....yet, the owner's manual describes in detail how you can adjust the visuals (zoom, screen size, sub-titles, etc.). Is there some way to override the factory settings?

With respect to my MB S in Bangkok it too has a DVD in the front compartment...but it can be used in full function (visual and audio) only when the car is in the P (Parked) transmission mode.

Why is it that in the USA MB installs a DVD that can only be played in audio? Surely if the car is in the P (park) positon the visual aspect of the DVD will not present any danger.

Thanking you in advance.

 

I thought it would play video while in Park? I don't have one, but I thought that's what others here were saying.

I think the Euro versions will play while you're driving, so yours probably can be altered. It's not a user option, though. There's a liability concern so I'm not sure who would do it for you.

 

Thanks for your prompt reply.

I don't know about the Euro one. The Thai one will only play (visually) while in Park. But the US one never plays visidual. I don't know what their (USA MB) visidual concerns are when the car is in Park....teenagers watching porno in parking places and getting PG (?)...Anyway, the restriction is totally stupid. If the visual is only 'on' when the car is in the Park position where is the problem? Americans impose too many silly restrictions.

 

All the custom shops in the US install DVD players so they play video only while the car is in Park. It's strange that MB wouldn't do the same.

 

I'll ring up my MB dealer tomorow and ask. It is so silly the you can't watch DVD in Park.

Again, thanks for your prompt and smart replies.

 

only need to change the settings to "permit while driving" by using star diagnosis.

 

How do you tell sport car from family sedan?
It is having front chin scraped. [:-]
Most of the states forbid watching any TV/DVD programs by the driver while in the motion.
All the motorhomes with TV up front have relays connected to the ignition.
Ignition on +TV off.
From what I recall California forbids installation TV in the drivers view at all, what is ridiculous, but fortunately not enforced.
The backing into parking space make lot of sense. You always see traffic around going into parking space, but when you park front in, you have to back into the traffic, that you don't see. \
I always parked backing-in in 4 seasons. Image parking front in on parking sloping down, go to a party and few hours later you are coming back, to notice the ice and a foot of snow on the road, ice and foot of snow on your car windshields.
Front windshield is quite easy to defrost, while the rear takes about 1/2 hr, not to mention that after few drinks you don't feel like scraping the glass.
Backing up on icy parking with no visibility?
Have a mercy!

 

atty corkscrew is in bangkok.

everything goes in there. you may even put a refrigirator or full size tv on a tricycle if you want.