Parts Catalog Accessories Catalog How To Articles Tech Forums
Call Pelican Parts at 888-280-7799
Shopping Cart Cart | Project List | Order Status | Help



Go Back   PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum > Mercedes-Benz Tech Information and Support > Tech Help

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #16  
Old 10-23-2001, 04:20 AM
Steve019
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
[QUOTE]Originally posted by RunningTooHot
[B]JCT,


The licensing laws in this country are utterly pathetic. I truly believe that the vast majority of people that are currently licensed have absolutely no business being behind the wheel of a potentially deadly device.



I concur.

I am constantly aggravated at the number of large lumbering SUV's driven by someone who a) doesn't know how to use mirrors B) thinks driving is secondary to whatever else they are doing c) Can't park for s**t.

I think driving a larger vehicle should require additional testing. Secondly I believe turn signals not only to be a courtesy but an intentional safety device.

Cell phone usage while driving should be outlawed on a federal level. Two years , two wrecks, both I got tail ended ( while stopped for 1 min+) by some idiot/bimbo yaking on the phone. One guy actually got out and threatened me while his Lexus was jambed under my 84 f-150 (not a scratch) he was pissed at me because he was not paying attention. I told him I would jamb him under my truck if he did not shut up and wait for the Police. My insurance rates went up on both, I AM PISSED !

Most other countries have stricter criteria on licensing I think it is time we followed suit. Our roads are becoming to crowded to do otherwise

Reply With Quote
  #17  
Old 10-23-2001, 11:22 AM
mplafleur's Avatar
User Friendly
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Lathrup Village, Michigan
Posts: 2,939
Studies show that fiddling with HVAC and radio controls cause more than 10 times the accidents than cell phones. That's not to say it doesn't happen.

If I recall:
__________________
Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 10-23-2001, 11:28 AM
apb apb is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 450
Thank you, my point exactly.
This is coming for a Belgian (now US citizen) licensed to drive in Europe who has now lived in the US for 16 years but returns and drives in Europe frequently.
I fully understand my choices: my engineering background helps me understand the science and my attorney background the law. So enough of the condescending stuff - I believe I have exercised admirable restraint to this point. I continue to be interested in the science of laser guns but will not acknowledge or validate further personal attacks.
I did not argue that I did not deserve the ticket. The flow of traffic on that stretch were the speed just dropped from 65 to 55 was about 75 (Loop 360 in Austin, Texas if you know the area). I am paying the ticket and moving on. It's good to live in a free country, even if it sometimes means that individuals are free to be passionate and opinionated!
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 10-23-2001, 03:53 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 388
Cool Radar/Laser Detectors

In the infamous words of my younger brother: "... a radar detector's only good enough to give you time to finish your beer, tuck the empty under the front seat, and pop a breath mint before the cop gets to your window...".
__________________
Bill Streep
San Antonio
'57 190SL (toy)
'08 S5500 (mine)
'09 CLK550 (wife's)
'06 SLK350 (daughter's)
'11 GLK350 (daughter's)
'03 CLK310 (spare)
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 10-23-2001, 09:06 PM
n2lw's Avatar
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Smith Mt Lake Va
Posts: 119
speeding

There are 2 issues, in reality, one the often-over-estimated ability of the driver, and secondly the road conditions
Traffic laws are written to deal with the average. Just because you think you are better dosent mean the guy beside or in front of you is.
Unless you have had special training,driving over the limit is a dumb thing to do specially where there is heavy traffic.. Even when traffic is light possession of a fast car is no guarantee of safety or expertise.
I can attest to this first hand as a former medical examiner (MD).
The Monday morning crop was not something I looked forward to.
So, use the right foot to get out of trouble, not to show off. Go to a driving school to understand how your car really performs. Learn your own limitations before you hurt someone else.
__________________
John
92 500e, 85k, silver/gray,all stock.
96 Club Wagon,Hypertech chipped( College Hauler)
97 320 SL 50k
1980 BMW e21 323 Baur conv.
1990 300GE 99k
Reply With Quote
  #21  
Old 10-23-2001, 11:07 PM
Zeus's Avatar
Moderating, Eh?
 
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,774
you own a '92 500E and you have NEVER exceeded the limit?

__________________
Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired


"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon
Reply With Quote
  #22  
Old 10-24-2001, 11:15 AM
PaulC
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Like others in this thread, I don't mind putting my foot down while driving on an empty Interstate. It's certainly safer than hotfooting it on secondary roads. However, bear in mind it is not totally safe, particularly in areas where large members of the wildlife community like to stroll out into the passing lane for a chat. In many cases, Bambi + 55 MPH = expensive trip to the body shop. Bambi + 80 MPH = more expensive trip to the morgue. The higher the speed, the more likely the impact will throw the animal upwards into your windshield. Under those circumstances, K40's warranty offers little comfort.
Reply With Quote
  #23  
Old 10-24-2001, 11:50 AM
mplafleur's Avatar
User Friendly
 
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Lathrup Village, Michigan
Posts: 2,939
Before you pay the ticket. Are there points involved? Can you get a court date and ask for advicement? All they want is the money. You just don't want the points.

Tell the judge that you were stressed with job worries, etc. He may throw out ticket and charge you courts cost which are usually the same as the original fine. No points given. Everybody happy.

Never argue the ticket! Make sure you say the the officer was kind and courtious, etc.

I'm sure that none of the above is untrue. Officers are courtious and we are all stressed.
__________________
Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)

Reply With Quote
  #24  
Old 10-24-2001, 12:07 PM
apb apb is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 450
Good point on the wildlife, especially at sunset and nightime when deers like to come out. For those that don't have any, please go get deer whistles, they actually do work (but you have to travel above 30 mph for the wind to activate them).
As stated before, the ticket is not the issue here. In Texas, I can take defensive driving (which is good anyway and gives you an insurance discount) and get it dismissed. You can do this once every 12 months.
Reply With Quote
  #25  
Old 05-21-2002, 10:26 AM
ERASE
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Why I own a radar detector and a E500.

First off I would like to say that my mother used to race cars A 1955 Mercedes Gullwing, she met my step father who was coming to see her 300SL Gullwing to add to his collection of 2 other SL's along with several really old Mercedes and Bugattis.

Secondly I am nothing like my parents. Mom being a stock broker, my Dad being a Doctor. My mom rarely going under 100mph in the 1960's and 70's (we would pass over 500 cars on a drive to the Hamptons from NYC). Where did this behavior come from? Well she was rasied in Holland (then the Police drove Porsches). And she was Asian. I still have some of her racing trophies.

I'm half Asian and I'm not going to admit to a stereotype but I will say that several of my Asian Aunts have decided to give up their licenses and stop driving because they do not feel competant enough to drive with today's traffic. Rather than bad mouth Asian drivers I'm just happy that they are responsible enough to not drive as they don't feel they can.

My mother never got in ANY accidents....strangely enough she never got a single ticket- she was pulled over a few times but being extremely beautiful with a ridiculous figure (38dd, 22, 32) she always was excused from the ticket. I remember hearing Police officers asking her for her telephone number WHILE I WAS IN THE CAR! I was about 8 yrs old.

But her driving even got me nervous.

I race for a living.... but not cars. Skateboards. There is some slower footage of me racing at turnerdownhill.com I'm the one interviewed on the promo video- slow course- slow start. I go a lot faster than that. Up to 40mph through gates 7 foot on center. but you can get the idea (BTW the Mercedes emblem on the board is because the trucks were made by a Mercedes Parts manufacturer).

I also race snowboards- hit about 88 mph on those. I'm sure some of you have gone faster than this. I've done 220kpm (137mph) with my Uncle driving his Ferrari in Brazil - sketchy. And 88mph on a snowboard is a lot more scary/thrilling and a heck of a lot safer-I was in a speed skiing area. I've done about 60mph on a skateboard- closed roads + leathers helmet etc.

So that being said I get my thrills from fast sports- but not driving. I've done 120mph on an open empty road to see what my money bought me, but that isn't why I bought the car.

So why did I buy a Valentine One? Because when ever I drive without a Radar detector and I am doing about 10mph over the limit I get stopped. How? I don't know... it is always at the end of the month. My radar detector is on all the time....even if I am in standstill traffic- because the instant I turn the damn thing off...I get stopped.

example
I'm going to go set up a skateboard race course . In the area where I want to park I have to make a U-turn in a designated u-turn area. The safest way to do this is to Haul ass in front of the other cars (the traffic never ends in Mass) as soon as the light changes- get a good gap -Slow down and make the U-turn before approaching traffic even arrives in the other lane. I've done it for years.

So I take down my radar detector and ...get stopped. 45mph in a 35mph. (Mind you this is not a residential area) it is next to a gated park with no entrances on my side. I explain what I was doing to the officer and he gives me a warning and understands.

BUT I would rather not get stopped and be stressed out over whether or not I would get ticketed.

I also go to Cape Cod in the summer. The drive down is a quick on in the early morning as everyone is trying to beat the traffic on this two lane road. Traffic typically moves allong at 80+ in the morning hours. Slow down and you'll be a major hazard to people weaving around you. I drove the speed limit in my old Subaru Brat (junk but I loved it) and I was *****ed at by a police officer who said I was impedeing traffic. Later I traveled with the flow of traffic and got ticketed with about 6 other cars that landed in a speed trap.

The Valentine One has allowed me to drive without hassle.

I like it because it gives you more warning than other detectors so that Police set the traps to catch people with regular detectors- but I still have adequate warning of where they are.

I was going to Cape Cod and was in a group of 8 cars all doing 80mph. The detector starts going beserk. So I slowed down. ALL of the other cars were pulled over with LIDAR.

I drove on without a ticket or warning. If I had been driving at the speed of the cars around me I would have been ticketed. If I had been driving 55mph. I still might have gotten pulled over. There is no logic to the Barnstable Police Dept. Thank you Valentine one.

But what if I had been the lead car? I would have been tagged before I could have gotten warning. That is why I want to get one of the Blinder jammer things. I am not a speeder by choice, but by circumstance. I leave lots of time to get to my destinations- so I almost never have to rush.

I had an 1993 300E 2.8. Wonderful car. Well balanced, super clean, women liked it, I loved it. But... the seats were not as firm as I would have liked, they weren't leather, the car was about to depreciate rapidly over 85,000 miles, the car needed more guts to merge onto 128 (the only highway I have ever been on where the posted speed is 55 but everyone does 85+ during rush hour).

So I bought the E500. Plenty of power, great resale...in fact one of the cheapest cars to own and drive- near depreciation proof after the first owner, great seats, memory seating, loaded to the gills, big block m119 proven engine with longevity and relieablity, and what I consider to be the best built and sized car ever made.
Handbuilt by Porsche- I also think it is the best car Porsche ever made.

The E400 was plenty fast for me, but I liked the shift points and balance of the E500 much more- the fender flares wider stance were all just gravy. But the lasting value made the E500 a no brainer.

So what happens to my first E500? A 21 year old speeding fool in his mom's BMW M3 takes me out in Harvard Square (collece area - Harvard). Idiot must have been doing 60 mph at 1:30 with his idiot pal. He hits my car and sends me flying sideways into a parked car. Totaled my car- dmaged the front bumper on his. I was doing 25mph.

The moral. Don't drive where idiots are likely to be.... you might meet one. I love California's weather, and as a pro racer I should be living there- but the highways there have these psycho weaving kids in slammed down pacific imports. Some...though not all, have no idea or concern for the consquences of their actions.

I have a dot.com friend. He drives fast. He is one of the most skilled drivers I know. He's been in a bunch of accidents -all of them "he was not at fault". His statement was always like this..... I was passing this person and they didn't see me, I was merging and they didn't see me." etc.... Well he is expecting that the other people on the road are as alert as he is. Fact is it could be some Doctor in a BMW who just got off a double shift...looks perfectly aware and alert from a distance. And he pulls over while my friend is whizzing by and wham! To him other driers on the raod are always "not paying attention and in the way".

If you drive with people ,drive with them- not against them. Best of all try to drive with no one around. So don't try to blast through that pack of cars up ahead if you have a comfortable safety zone around you. And have a comfortable clean ride so traffic doesn't frustrate you to speed.

If you get a Valentine One or Blinder don't get them with the express purpose to think....."Oh boy now I can speed all day!". get them to drive responsibly and know when there is a speed trap ahead so you are prepared for someone to slam on their brakes in front of you when they see a cop.

If you want to speed a lot....go to a track, wear a helmet and learn to drive like a pro from a pro. You'll have a lot more fun and improve your overall driving skills in a safe environment. If you want to race someone- do it at a track. The "Fast and Furious" street racing stuff- wanna play in the streets?- go to Turnerdownhill.com- you'll never kill anyone that way. In the short run it's a lot cheaper at the track. In the long run it's gotta be more expensive since racing tends to be addictive.
Reply With Quote
  #26  
Old 05-21-2002, 11:06 AM
jsmith's Avatar
Ronin
 
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: At Sea
Posts: 1,729
the only cloaking technology that i have seen working with my own two eyes is the one used by the Klingons (on several episodes - and I'm pretty sure it wasn't a camera trick) :p
__________________
joE
1993 300e-2.8
- gone now <sigh>
"Do not adjust your mind, it's reality that's malfunctioning"
http://banners.wunderground.com/bann...L/Key_West.gif

Last edited by jsmith; 05-21-2002 at 11:14 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #27  
Old 05-21-2002, 11:26 AM
MercManiac
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
I've had my 2001 S600 since August 2000.....had dealer install K40 package front and rear with "laser mitt". It has worked fine for both radar and laser. Good eyes are still the best defense.

Only reason I got it.....wasn't to speed around like crazy....but for highway driving where I do 80mph in 70mph zones.......just don't want to be a "quota" pullover.

When I have the need for speed....I pay $$$$$$ at Road Atlanta, put on a helmet, and wear out the tires on my Z8. If I mess up on a turn.....I don't take out a minivan loaded with kids......just ream up a lot of grass and dirt into my wheel wells.
Reply With Quote
  #28  
Old 05-21-2002, 02:27 PM
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: SF Bay Area, CA
Posts: 180
Few quick notes here:

Have never been hit by laser that I know of. We bought the latest iteration of the Valentine One for the cross-country drive in the 500E, and it alerted on lidar precisely once, at a time when we had a big reflective truck about 150m in front of us in bright sunlight. Probably falsing on a polarized sun bounce.

The V1 did save us repeatedly from good old radar. Even Ka-band can be a tough opponent in the hands of an officer who knows how to use it stealthily (instant-on, past a hilltop or curve).

Laser jamming is illegal by statute in California, as of about two years ago.

So far as the slow-down-and-live argument goes:

Safe speed is a complex matrix of driver temperament, driver ability, vehicle competence, weather, road surface, traffic, available light, and a dozen other factors. Sometimes legal speed = safe speed. And I don't object to police enforcing hard in those circumstances. Nor do I object to them busting people who think that public streets and highways are racetracks.

But I find that there really are cases where legal speed < safe speed, and many of us rather resent being picked off to augment Officer Friendly's departmental budget (as well as to augment the budget of various loony gooberment schemes elsewhere -- a lot of police agencies have to pass along a large share of their vig from ticket writing to other accounts).

If more money is required for legitimate police purposes (such as, in my opinion, apprehending drunks behind the wheel), that's fine, I'll be happy to throw in more cash in generically apportioned taxes to cover that base. But much of traffic enforcement exists simply to fund itself. And it's certainly not doing much to improve driver safety (see my recent post in a wiring-harnesses thread).

Can't recall the last time that I saw a car being pulled over for following another at an unsafely close distance. Nor the last time that I saw a pullover for someone obstructing the passing lane.

s/b
Reply With Quote
  #29  
Old 05-21-2002, 04:05 PM
ERASE
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
other laser jammers/////////

While I myself am not a huge speeder- I have sped in the past- speed with the flow of traffic and do at times speed when there is no one else on the road. I try to use good judgement that would reduce any chance for accidents/impact with animals etc.

I think it is far safer to travel on an empty road at 100 mph in a Mercedes E500/500E than go 75 mph in Yugo.

I do think Police take into account the type of car when they see a speeding motorist. Given the choice between pulling me over 38yrs old grey hair and a 19 yr old in a 1982 Souped up Mustang- they go for the Mustang EVERYTIME.

And they should. Statisically speaking it is frightening to see that percentage of drivers ages 16-19 that are in a major accident (not minor) before the age of 20.

But when there isn't a Mustang/ImpalaSS/Camaro/souped up honda/graphics covered ford focus/ on the road with me I would like some protection from Police Laser guns.

There has got to be a better solution than the k 40. The K 40 according to that review reduces the range- but is targetable up to 750 feet. Isn't there anything that outright blocks it all?

Has anyone read a real test on the Blinder Unit which has two transmitters?
Reply With Quote
  #30  
Old 05-21-2002, 06:41 PM
blackmercedes's Avatar
Just a guy
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 3,492
Re: other laser jammers/////////

Quote:
Originally posted by ERASE
I think it is far safer to travel on an empty road at 100 mph in a Mercedes E500/500E than go 75 mph in Yugo.
It's safer to drive 100mph in a 240D than 75mph in a Yugo.

I find that a Mercedes is not much of a heat-score. Drive a Porsche 911 Turbo! I spent half my time with my hands on the hood. However, not one ticket.

Choose your weapon, choose your road. We in Canada are fortunate that our highways are pretty good, traffic lighter, and enforcement lighter too.

One exception is Edmonton. Within the city, they write 260,000 speeding tickets annually. Compared to Ottawa, Vancouver or other 1 Million population centers, we write the most. Other Canadian cities write about 15-20,000. Just a fraction of what our draconian police write.

Some days it's frustrating to see squids careening in an out of traffic, tailgating and road raging all over, but no ticket. No one seems to ever be stopped for those infractions, but drive 16 km/h over the limit, and a nice surprise is coming in the mail.

Our city has become addicted to the revenue from speeding tickets, and enforcement of other offences seems rare.

Our police use the latest stuff. They were among the first anywhere to use LIDAR. They use photo-radar like crazy. In the 'burbs, our RCMP ignore school-zone speeders, and pick off people ont he freeway. And they've started up with photo-radar, and very little "other" offense enforcement.

Hey, we've got great cops. Overall they do a terrific job. But, I hate to see "speeding" claimed as the #1 reason for deaths on our roads. Well, those cities that write 10% of our ticket volume have the same fatality rates...

__________________
John Shellenberg
1998 C230 "Black Betty" 240K

http://img31.exs.cx/img31/4050/tophat6.gif
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Color Laser Printers and Counterfeiting Lebenz Off-Topic Discussion 10 11-26-2004 11:24 PM
OverLoad Protection Wire Connector $140 rsmcmahon Tech Help 1 08-02-2004 07:58 PM
escort laser shifter install dairel Off-Topic Discussion 5 06-20-2004 12:02 PM
Signs that a CD laser is dirty? JHZR2 Car Audio and Multimedia 1 11-16-2003 08:52 PM
Laser Eye Surgery Frank X. Morris Off-Topic Discussion 14 03-24-2003 08:38 PM



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 05:12 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2024 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Peach Parts or Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page