MB - Park assist disabled?

[Freakuk]

I've recently purchased one of the last C63S coupes available new in the UK (I cannot stand the though of the hybrid model).

One of the car features is park assist, I've been struggling to get this working and have been back and to with the dealer, they have provided videos, loose instructions and likewise I've scoured YouTube for videos also. This function does not seem to be on the vehicle even though it was on the spec list, the dealer has confirmed this.

Upon investigation it looks like MB have disabled this due to a new EU regulation that came into force around December 2020 and the parking sensors on the C-Class and a few other models within the MB range are not up to the required specification thus being disabled, so it look like I have paid for a feature that is on the build sheet but has been disabled.

There is a long post on MBClub.co.uk regarding this and several owners have taken this further with the ombudsman.

If this is the case, what would you suggest? I could I guess reject the vehicle as it doesn't meet the agreed specifications but that would be stupid, or should I expect some compensation from MB as I do not have the functionality I have paid for?

Is anyone else in the same boat?

[irfan1712]

Just for clarity, are you referring to park assist (drive past a space, it detects the space size, put it in reverse and it’ll park itself)

Or

Remote park assist (standing outside the car and pressing the fob which either drives or reverses into a space and does the same to leave a space too)...?

If it’s a case of regulation changes I’d guess it could just be coded back in to enable the function to work via anyone with STAR diagnostics. I think it would be a difficult argument with the dealer over something that trivial but I see your point too really.

[Freakuk]

The first point, basically it should detect a viable space and then you select whether you want to reverse in or forwards, the car does the rest. Likewise when exiting the space you can select it to exit left/right.

The issue is it's on the spec sheet, it's an option that cost ££ and it looks like EU regulation means its now disabled, but MB knowing sell you this functionality after the regulation came in, or that's what it certainly looks like currently.

[Sheepshanks]

Freakuk said:

it's an option that cost ££

Did you pay for it as an option, or was it standard on your car? If you paid for it, then surely MB must refund.

I've got an old C Class (late 2004 facelift model) that I've had since it was 5mths old. Bluetooth in the COMAND system, itself something like a £2500 option back then, doesn't work to link phones and apparently MB gave people who bought new £500 as compensation.

Wife''s Tiguan has self-parking and in 6yrs she's never used it and I've only used it for parallel parking for the novelty value. Never used it for perpendicular parking. It does parallel park very well but swings the front out very wide as it's reversing so it's no good if there's oncoming traffic.