Backup warning

[Ronnie]

Having narrowly missed being creamed several times while backing out of a parking slot I've been researching (googling) a solution. My preference is a warning sound like on many delivery vehicles.

I found one that issues a bright light as well as loud beeping that replaces the backup light bulb. According to the product specs the manufacturer offers a unit as a replacement for type 1156 bulb. It is an economical fix if it works.

After much discussion with my Arizona smart dealer parts and service departments there doesn't seem to be a problem using an American type replacement bulb since it is technically not a Mercedes designed vehicle.

This has to be a universal problem for smart owners. It is so short that two will fit in a regular shopping center parking space. I've gotten in the habit of parking at the rear half of a space when I cannot pull through to drive out rather than back out. So many other drivers are unconscious.

Comments or suggestions anyone.

[jwight]

...since it is technically not a Mercedes designed vehicle.

OK, I'll bite - who designed it?

Let us know how this light swap works out; if nothing else it will surprise the other driver if they're expecting to see a truck!

[hsterk]

Originally Posted by Ronnie

Having narrowly missed being creamed several times while backing out of a parking slot I've been researching (googling) a solution. My preference is a warning sound like on many delivery vehicles.

I found one that issues a bright light as well as loud beeping that replaces the backup light bulb. According to the product specs the manufacturer offers a unit as a replacement for type 1156 bulb. It is an economical fix if it works.

After much discussion with my Arizona smart dealer parts and service departments there doesn't seem to be a problem using an American type replacement bulb since it is technically not a Mercedes designed vehicle.

This has to be a universal problem for smart owners. It is so short that two will fit in a regular shopping center parking space. I've gotten in the habit of parking at the rear half of a space when I cannot pull through to drive out rather than back out. So many other drivers are unconscious.

Comments or suggestions anyone.

It's for this very reason with any car, I rarely drive into a parking spot, I almost always back-in. Thus, I like to pull out of a parking spot, in my mind it's the safest way.

[ckgonska]

Originally Posted by hsterk

It's for this very reason with any car, I rarely drive into a parking spot, I almost always back-in. Thus, I like to pull out of a parking spot, in my mind it's the safest way.

I was going to say the same thing!
A lot cheaper to just back in to the space, do it all the time in my truck.

[Ronnie]

Originally Posted by hsterk

It's for this very reason with any car, I rarely drive into a parking spot, I almost always back-in. Thus, I like to pull out of a parking spot, in my mind it's the safest way.

Thanks for the suggestion. My problem is unique in that I am blind in my right eye which makes it frustrating trying to back in/out. My preference is also to drive out of a space as I said in my post. I thought if there was a warning sound then other drivers would allow me to back out slowly whenever I have to. We all live in different environments with differing personal circumstances.

[Ronnie]

Originally Posted by ckgonska

I was going to say the same thing!
A lot cheaper to just back in to the space, do it all the time in my truck.

Pplease see my reply to hsterk. Applies to your post also.

[Ronnie]

Originally Posted by jwight

OK, I'll bite - who designed it?

Let us know how this light swap works out; if nothing else it will surprise the other driver if they're expecting to see a truck!

Today while pressing Arizona smart parts group for whether or not the 1156 bulb replacement would be a problem for my cabrio the surprise reply was that since it was not designed by Mercedes...

I asked who did design the smart...

His reply was, "the Swiss designer of the Swatch (watch) brought designs for the smart to Mercedes for Mercedes to assemble, (see Wikipedia quote below) and if it had been designed by Mercedes the American version of the replacement lamp/bulb would not work properly".

When you asked who did design it, I internet searched further. For what it is worth I found an article in Wikipedia about the Swatch Group and one other clue, copied below:

"In 1994, Swatch entered into a joint venture with Germany's Daimler AG to produce the Smart Car, but they later withdrew from this project".

Wikipedia information is interesting if taken with a grain of salt. But, combined with the unsolicited info I got from a smart dealer, who knows.

[jetfuel]

..the light bulb...Thomas Alva Edison 1879...
...better make that back up beeping extremely loud to be heard over the blasting stereo....

jetfuel

[szmatrs]

Back-up beepers are very annoying, especially when you are trying to sleep. I had a work truck with one of these installed. We put in a bypass switch so I wouldn't disturb my neighbors when I came home late at night.

[jdlynch99]

Hey.... It's a Smart just make a U-Turn in the parking spot.