This may be a new feature? When I got my MDC, it was barely tested on the 451. (In fact, Steve can confirm this, but I think I recall him saying I was the first MDC unit he sold for the 451.) They may well have updated their software since then to recognize the manual modes. If you can confirm this for sure that would be good to know. When I shift to manual mode mine shuts off instantly, as if I shifted to neutral
I'm at a trade show in Charleston this week, maybe I can confirm this Sunday when I get home. Russ
I realize I am probably the most biased person on here, so take it with a grain of salt but I'd like to address a couple of things.
First off, it was suggested that I stopped carrying the MDC at my store because I own the rights to the Area 451. In fact this is oversimplifying it. The reasons I bought Area 451 was purely business - it was an excellent opportunity (right timing) for me and I seized it. I had discontinued carrying the MDC before that took place though. The reason for me discontinuing the MDC was simple: Too many returns and problems. I hope they've addressed them and people are happy with it.
Someone also reported that MDC units have been in Canada for 400,000+km and 4+ years. Again, to clarify.... this is for their older unit for the older model. Which had far fewer problems, at least early on. In fact I am discontinuing that model too because I've had so many returns. Just today, and I'm not kidding, I had to refund over $1000 to a customer from only 8 months ago because not one but BOTH of his MDC units crapped out within a week of each other. This is becoming the rule rather than the exception. I hate knocking MDC (believe it or not) because I promoted their products exclusively for so long. Quality has fallen unfortunately and it is getting extremely frustrating. At least with SmartMadness you have a local contact in the US, just as early Canadian customers had with me.
I also want to comment on the installation. It is true that the Area 451 install is more difficult in some ways (notably the pins in the bag) but easier in others (don't have to access the pedal for example). But "easy" isn't the primary point why I was so impressed with the Area 451 unit to begin with (before I bought them). It is electrically better. They chose to sacrifice simplicity for reliablility and in the long term, that to me is the way to go. Of the 400ish Area 451 units I've sold there have been exactly 2 units fried by installation error and one unit that has been (falsely in my assessment) blamed by a dealer for causing another problem. There is also currently potentially a bug in the programming relating to window wipers but they're working on it. Of the 300ish MDC units I sold, 99% of which are for the 450, there have been DOZENS of defects. MANY of those are attributed to the way it is installed!! And I don't mean installer error. I mean the physical way the connectors are designed. It leaves it FAR too susceptible to vibration and, more importantly, moisture problems. I only brought in 10 of the 451 version, EIGHT of which were returned, and it is my belief that it is even worse in this regard than the 450 desgn was. Again, I made that assessment BEFORE my involvement with Area 451.
Those that have worked with me seem to agree that I am honest and forthright with my assessments and I put the customer first. Those that haven't dealt with me tend to jump to conclusions and have their own opinions. That's fine and I wouldn't have it any other way.
I'm not writing here to tell you to buy mine and not his. I absolutely am not trying to cause problems with Smart Madness, who I believe to be reputable and I have no issues with at all. My assessments here are honest and reflect my true opinion of the MDC cruise control and its flaws.
If you choose to install the MDC, I wholeheartedly recommend you do any and everything you can to eliminate vibration where the electronics are installed and to protect it from moisture.
Sorry, I also want to point out some misinformation on the product page. You write, "Manufactured by Delphi/Smart and imported direct from Germany"
This is only a little bit true. The wiper arm itself was manufactured by Delphi for smart, yes... but it is only the switch. It may be the pretty part of the kit, but functionally it is such a minor part of the kit that saying the unit is designed by them is misleading. The electronics are designed and manufactured by MDC (misterdotcom.de)
My vote's with SmartieParts and the Area451 unit. Rock solid technology, easy installation, great customer service in SmartieParts. The Area451 cruise control gets used several times a day in my smart. It's indispensable.
We have had numerous customers that have used this cruise control since it was introduced and love it. We have not had any issues with any of the units that we have sold.
The modules have been completely redone since you have carried the line and the ones we have now also include a sprint booster. There have been a number of improvements to the unit over the years that this unit has been produced and as always we will stand behind every product we offer.
The Area 451 unit is a good quality unit, but so is the MDC one we offer. At this time we believe the unit we offer gives smart car owners a better value for the money and is easier to install.
If there is ever a problem with the unit we will take care of it as I am sure you will with your product.
The remote LEDs are on their way and will be available in the next couple of days. They will be pretty affortable. Our goal is under $75, hopefully a lot less.
I winced when I read this (reading the thread a bit late). So perhaps when one considers price, they need to add in the cost of the remote LED into the bottom line comparison if they want that feature.
Should I be charging $75 for the remote LED for the Area451? If anyone who ordered the remote LED kit for the Area451 cruise control from me would like to make up for the difference in arrears, please PayPal the balance to the same address you used to purchase it in the first place. [sarcasm in italics]
If I produced 100 of these in a production batch, it would probably be $6 of cost in each. I craft them by hand so it's a little more costly for me. I can see trying to make 100% profit (50% net) at the manufacturer and again at the vendor, but $75? It's an LED!
What the market will bear, I guess.
Good ventures with the MDC offering. Having not experienced the MCD myself, I'll still try to talk anyone who owns a smart into an Area451. It's the best cruise I've ever owned and all those I've owned were stock. And my opinion is not because I'm offering the LEDs - I'd much rather have someone else do that work but I offer it to enhance the experience for others from a product that's superb from the start.
I winced when I read this (reading the thread a bit late). So perhaps when one considers price, they need to add in the cost of the remote LED into the bottom line comparison if they want that feature.
Should I be charging $75 for the remote LED for the Area451? If anyone who ordered the remote LED kit for the Area451 cruise control from me would like to make up for the difference in arrears, please PayPal the balance to the same address you used to purchase it in the first place. [sarcasm in italics]
If I produced 100 of these in a production batch, it would probably be $6 of cost in each. I craft them by hand so it's a little more costly for me. I can see trying to make 100% profit (50% net) at the manufacturer and again at the vendor, but $75? It's an LED!
What the market will bear, I guess.
Good ventures with the MDC offering. Having not experienced the MCD myself, I'll still try to talk anyone who owns a smart into an Area451. It's the best cruise I've ever owned and all those I've owned were stock. And my opinion is not because I'm offering the LEDs - I'd much rather have someone else do that work but I offer it to enhance the experience for others from a product that's superb from the start.
Sigh... It unfortunately seems to me that now that we started to offer an alternative to the Area 451 module, folks are getting really defensive about the 451 unit (possibly ones that have some financial gain from the product line?).
We have stated numerous times within this forum, that the 451 unit is a good product and the people that offer it are nice folks. The times that I have spoken to Steven, he was kind and respectful and I/ we have nothing negative to say about his or his company. We simply don't conduct business in that type of a manner.
What we now offer is an alternative solution that has been on the market for a lot longer and is used in thousands of cars all over the world. There are global smart dealers that also install this unit and in fact a number of them have told us about the unit and how much they like the ease of use and installation.
With that said, threads are starting to appear with little, side negative "wink wink" comments. Now I am reading that the unit has or had problems and that is why the previous vendor stopped selling it. I think the case may be that the 451 unit is more profitable and the MDC unit is not; I can't confirm but that's a hunch. Since we offer 300+ items we are OK with making less and offering an alternative to what is out there. We put ourselves in our customers shoes everyday, that is why we started this business. We wanted variety and choices all combined with ease and I think we have proven to follow through on that.
Now MDC has upgraded their unit and added a Sprint Booster like upgrade, with four different modes that a user can select. It makes the MDC unit a much better value to the end user. Are they both good products? Of course. Is the MDC unit a better deal? Most would think so. There are many users on this board that have installed and use the MDC unit. Most seem to like the way it performs and love the ease of installation.
Either way you go you will be happy with the purchase. In fact we have current customers who enjoy the 451 unit but they understand why we sell it. If one selects the MDC unit we will do our best to make sure you enjoy yours too.
In regards to the LED.... I stated "Our goal is under $75, hopefully a lot less." That meant exactly that. We did not know our exact cost and stated this.
We had plans to share with the community the cost of the LED at a later time, but rather than waiting, we decided to take the opportunity to announce it here... After working our numbers, the price of the remote LED component will be $24.99. I think we met our goal of bringing it out under $75. I know we can get it done for less here in the US, but that would be ripping off someone's design and stealing their idea. I think we'll pass and continue to deal with our manufacturer.
After working our numbers, the price of the remote LED component will be $24.99. I think we met our goal of bringing it out under $75.
Great news on the price!
I really do hope the product line does well for you, there was no tongue in cheek.
Personally, if I sound defensive it may be because 1) I continue to be impressed by the Area451 cruise control and 2) the market for the Area451 cruise control has been smaller than the worldwide MDC cruise control market and I would love to see a new company with an extraordinary product succeed.
If the LED you're offering could replace what I'm providing, I would encourage Area451 owners to buy them from you. Monetary gain is not why I pursued this offering; my motivation was just getting a good solution into the hands of more than just me and two other Smart owners.
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