Hi,

I've recently taken delivery of a MY25 D350 Autobiography - incredible car!

There's one thing which is bugging me, though, and that's the steering assist part of the adaptive cruise/lane control etc.

On my wife's BMW (the whole steering assist system is amazing on the BMW by the way, it's incredibly close to autonomous driving and works well on all types of roads. So far I've only found the FFRR's to be good on motorways/DCs), when the steering assist needs to deactivate for whatever reason (e.g. loses the lines in the road) then it vibrates the steering wheel, flashes yellow lights on the steering wheel and also (I think) makes a noise.

Essentially, it makes it very obvious that the system has deactivated and you seamlessly just take control.

My FFRR gives you absolutely no warning whatsoever! It just deactivates the system - the steering wheel icon on the dash/HUD goes from green to grey but you don't notice that. So all of a sudden you can be going round a bend and you start flying towards the verge.

I usually quickly realise what's going on and can correct, or the lane assist bounces me off the line...but it's very disconcerting and down right dangerous, really. You find yourself just wondering when is it next going to do it/not trusting it. I fully trust the BMW and have always been confident I know what it's going to do.

So, after that essay/rant, is it just my car or are they all like this? Is there a setting? I can't fathom how it was deemed to be acceptable that there can be no warning for when the system deactivates!

Thanks!

Reading your post suggests you are nearly reliant on the system as opposed to you being in control of the steering

I am not trying to be critical but and having a Defender with the same safety system I upon starting the car always switch it all to the lowest setting switching the steering system off as it annoys me too much with the constant pulling left or right etc.

The system is not meant to be an automated drive option so forgive me if I’m reading your post incorrectly  "UNDERSTEER" ----is when you hit the fence with the front of the car.
"OVERSTEER" ------is when you hit the fence with the rear of the car.
"HORSEPOWER" ----is how fast you hit the fence.
"TORQUE" -----------is how far you take the fence with you.

I'm fairly certain Defenders only have Lane Keep Asssit (LKA) and not the Steering Assist. LKA will apply steering to stop you leaving a lane, whereas the Steering Assist will actively steer to keep you in the middle of the lane.

The system on the L460 is designed to essentially be an automated drive option. I can forgive it not working as well as the BMW system but I'd like to know if it's the same for everyone where it gives no warning when it disengages, as it just seems dangerous.

00by wrote:

So all of a sudden you can be going round a bend and you start flying towards the verge.

With the BMW it took a while to trust it, but eventually you do, and it never gave me any reasons not to - a truly exemplary system.

The L460 is still very good (on main roads, at least), but I've only had the car a few weeks so not at the fully trust level yet. Like anything, you just need to understand its limitations and "how" it works in different situations.

Ok, "flying towards the verge" had a bit of dramatic effect (the same way I could say there's a risk you'll get a tyre blowout at 80mph), I just want a warning when the system has deactivated for whatever reason! Then you just take over without thinking about it, whereas without one you start moving slightly off line, think "hmm, why is it...oh" and then you steer.
I've had it in a few cars and for long journeys it's a very welcome addition - once you use it regularly you won't want to be without it.

For perspective, I did a 300 mile journey a few days ago and it only did it a couple of times, but I'd still like some sort of warning when it does!

Fair enough.

I’ve only ever had cars with lane assist which I tend to find ok but bordering on annoying on occasions.

Guess I’m just not ready to let the technology take command.

J

Yeah, lane assist is annoying, I always turn that off when I'm not using the steering assist/in a car with just LKA.

Usually if the tech is there then I'll use it. A bit like when adaptive cruise control came out...I couldn't own a daily driver without it now!

To answer your question ooby, my P440e does the same as yours, ie. loses steering assist without warning sometimes, and yes, goes grey when it does so. I guess the idea is that you remain fully in control so it is not meant to be a reliable self driving aid and they have gone with the 'subtle' option of not flashing and bonging away whenever it loses its way. I find it worse in the rain and take extra care then if I am using it. But as a motorway aid on long journeys I find it excellent.

I don't think there is anything wrong with your car, 00by. I briefly had a Hyundai hire car for a week or so, and the autonomous steering was extraordinary. It felt similar to what you just described in your BMW. I liked it for the longer motorway journeys and - despite having been sceptical of such automated systems - was looking forward to a similar system on the new RR.

Unfortunately it is very much a Lane Assist system in the RR. I would not rely on it at all in the "autonomous driving" sense. 2024 Range Rover P550e AB

The RR system is a generation behind BMW. I had exactly the same experience being used to the BMW and then finding the RR will just drift out of its lane with no warning at all. I am surprised there hasn’t been a software update to address this because it’s dangerous.

Glad it wasn't just my experience. I wonder if it is addressable through a software update? I'm honestly surprised that the RR is so far behind the competition. 2024 Range Rover P550e AB

Has anyone found that the car keeps to the side of the lane too much?

The BMW system is much more central.

Thanks all for confirming that it's not just my car!

I don't mind that it's not as good as the BMW...let's face it there are always things that different manufacturers do well. But it would make it a lot more usable if it had a warning - hopefully it'll follow in a future update.

I'd imagine they can improve the system as a whole with updates, let's watch this space.

Clipper - sometimes, yes, do you find it more towards the left on occasion? It's variable for me.

Given that the car has been in production for over 2 years without addressing this I would be surprised if they update it before the mid life cycle refresh now.

I drove over to the continent for a few days and it was completely faultless the whole time.

It definitely prefers the smooth tarmac and clearer white painted lines!