Installed Smartmadness MDC cruise control yesterday

[JimDantin]

The end cap simply snaps on/off -- use your fingernail or a thin blade to get under the edge and it will pop off with very little pressure.

[Gilbert's]

I have mine and I love it the extra light indicator I installed it to the indicator light at the meter...http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/gal...p?imageid=8622

[kdfcogwheel]

Gilbert's -- From your pic you installed the LED as in the Area 451 video depicts. Is this the MDC LED? The Area 451 LED was mounted on a very small PC Board, is color adjustable and just slipped in behind the legend, but not all of the way in. The MDC LED displays in three colors for programming and operational purposes, how does that show through in the speedo legend? I would like to take advantage of the "factory" legend rather than boring an ugly hole in the dash.

[Woody14619]

Originally Posted by satxbiker

The one thing they mention is that you can take the end cap off the old stalk and put on the new one

It's easy to do, just grip it and pull. It pops on and off like the speedometer. If you lack leverage, slide a paperclip or some other soft metal wedge into the gap and just pop the cap off.

Originally Posted by kdfcogwheel

The MDC LED displays in three colors for programming and operational purposes, how does that show through in the speedo legend?

The speedo legend is clear, so the color of the indicator is based on the LED showing through it. I used a nibble tool to nibble out a small notch for the wire to pass through in the white plastic near the circuit board. You could just as easily use a dremel or a drill to make an appropriate sized hole.

The hard part with the MDC line is that the wire itself is just a bit short for my tastes. After running the line around the cirucut and out the hole in the back (near the existing data plug), you have just enough wire to reach the control box, after you put the speedo back in place. So if you ever want to take the speedo off again, you have to disconnect that line from the board first.

It does look nice though. My only issue it that when the break is engaged (or the door it open, or the boot is open, or it's just started up, or...) it likes to flash red-green-yellow, which nothing else does on the console. Kind of makes it stand out a little. But still, looks nice.

[mcmunn]

The MDC is in stock... Just ordered one...

BTW... Rachel's mothers maiden name is Brabus... Kinda weird.....

[Ozzie]

""My only issue it that when the break is engaged (or the door it open, or the boot is open, or it's just started up, or...) it likes to flash red-green-yellow, which nothing else does on the console. Kind of makes it stand out a little. But still, looks nice""

Every time you press the brakes? That could end up being annoying. So your driving down the street and everytime you press the brakes to slow down the Cruise Icon in the dash flashes?
I hope there's a software fix for this at some point.
Ozzie

[satxbiker]

Yes the light flashes when you start up the car and if you have doors open or the emergency brake on. However when you are driving you do not get the red/yellow flash when you put on the brakes at all. I do notice that when you turn the cruise on it flashes green and then when it is engaged is goes solid green. I had the cruise turned on at a slow 45mph and the cruise was engaging off an on as needed to keep it there.. so the light would flash green periodically then go solid when the gas was needed. Kind of different... most cruise controls just stay solid when they are on.

[SmartMadness]

Thank you for the positive feedback. Glad you like the CC.

Just a couple of FYI's...

We received new shipments and now have both Coupe and Cabrios in stock (running low on Coupes again).

The LED's now come packaged with the CC.

We have the CC w/LED on promo for $449.99 complete.

We also have the 450 version available (sold out, but more on the way).

Thanks again everyone for your support and the fantastic feedback!

Boris

[Woody14619]

Originally Posted by Ozzie

Every time you press the brakes?

By brake, I meant parking brake. No, it doesn't light up every time you hit the break pedal, what would the point of that be?

Over all it's a minor thing. You usually only see it doing the flashing thing when first turning the car on or parking. But if you try to drive around with the rear hatch down, or a door slightly ajar, it blinks and refuses to engage cruise. (Which can be annoying if you just have something sticking out the back of the car and want to cruise at 35 or 40 down a back road.)

[Gilbert's]

Originally Posted by Woody14619

By brake, I meant parking brake. No, it doesn't light up every time you hit the break pedal, what would the point of that be?

Over all it's a minor thing. You usually only see it doing the flashing thing when first turning the car on or parking. But if you try to drive around with the rear hatch down, or a door slightly ajar, it blinks and refuses to engage cruise. (Which can be annoying if you just have something sticking out the back of the car and want to cruise at 35 or 40 down a back road.)

When you activate the hand break it flashes... but when you press the foot break ..no doesnt flsahes.