I have a question regarding the two attached pics. Note that they are both taken from a 1997 S500 but they are different.
Look at pic A, notice the hot cold air flow buttons are side by side, with what looks like a little speaker or sensor above. Above that there is an orange oval. However, in pic B the hot/cold air flow buttons are on top of each other. After searching forums and looking at different cars on ebay I have come to the conclusion that pic A is a car that is equiped with parktronic. If this is in fact part of the parktronic system, is that the speaker above the hot/cold airflow buttons? Also, what is the orange oval for? Does it show where the object is located relative to the sensors in the bumper?

Thanks for all your replies.

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Here is the second pic. I can't seem to figure out how to post more than one pic at a time!!

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Yes it is the parktronic system which uses that oval to show you how far you are away from the other car. This system is indespensible in maneuvering such a large car. I have it on my W220 S600 and I can parallel park it like a mini cooper.

I'm curious as to how that orange oval work.

How does it show the distance between the rear bumper and the object?

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

i'll suppose 8 years would have been enough time for you to figure out how it works but just in case you haven't ... the orange oval fills up with little orange and red bars ... the two red ones come last after the orange ones indicating that you have about 10 cm of space left from the front / rear car .... the first orange one displays when the distance to the front / rear car is less than about 1 meter ... hope this was helpful ...