Why we should be concerned about Charlie Sheen's stolen Mercedes...

dd74 · 02-05-2010, 10:55 PM

So early Friday morning, the film and TV star's Mercedes was somehow stolen from his gated home. It was then pitched down a hillside off Mulholland.

But that's not the point, IMO.

When the Mercedes was ditched, it hit something that tripped off the airbags which deployed and also called the LAPD with the car's location.

Okay, I can appreciate the safety aspects of such a feature, yet again, there's something terribly Big Brother about a car that can call the cops when it has been in an accident.

What do you guys think?

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I don't think Charlie is going to be driving any car for a while, so this isn't too much of a loss for him.

stomachmonkey · 02-06-2010, 04:26 AM

If you're Tony Soprano you don't want On-Star. Me, I think it's a good thing when kept as a privately run enterprise.

daepp · 02-06-2010, 05:14 AM

I think the whole story is fishy. Can a modern MBZ be driven without the key?

And out of a closed garage. In a gated community? I'm not buyin' it!

masraum · 02-06-2010, 06:22 AM

Wasn't there a story about something similar several years ago with a BMW. Some guy took his BMW to the track, got into an accident. Then, a short while later, the cops, fire, ambulance showed up.

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by DAEpperson

I think the whole story is fishy. Can a modern MBZ be driven without the key?

And out of a closed garage. In a gated community? I'm not buyin' it!

Nope a modern mercedes can not be driven without the keys, but when the perp broke into the house the keys were hanging on a hook in the garage and they used the keys.

Hey I better take the keys off the hook for my PORSCHE, LOTUSES and BMUU in the garage.

I hate carrying all those keys in my pants because it ruin the lines of the pants. LOL

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I don't think Charlie is going to be driving any car for a while, so this isn't too much of a loss for him.

Wife is going to recant because that bimbo knows that if Charlie is sent to jail the sugar daddy is gone.

KevinP73 · 09:51 AM

On Star doesn't call the police, it was the On Star operator who notified authorities. Accuracy in reporting leaves a little to be desired.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinP73

On Star doesn't call he police, it was the On Star operator who notified authorities. Accuracy in reporting leaves a little to be desired.

This was a Mercedes, not a Chevy. On Star is a GM feature. Mercedes has had its own version that calls 911 by itself when the airbags activate for at least ten years, (2000 models if not mistaken). So no accuracy in reporting issue if that is what you read or heard.

speeder · speeder's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I don't think Charlie is going to be driving any car for a while, so this isn't too much of a loss for him.

He bought a new car yesterday and he is definitely still driving.

GG Allin · GG Allin's Garage

Charlie was probably too busy beatin' the s*** out of some hot chick to notice.

KevinP73 · 02-06-2010, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

This was a Mercedes, not a Chevy. On Star is a GM feature. Mercedes has had its own version that calls 911 by itself when the airbags activate for at least ten years, (2000 models if not mistaken). So no accuracy in reporting issue if that is what you read or heard.

Oh OK....I see the failure in the reporting was with the story I had heard. They said "On Star" had called the police.
Either way, Personally I'm just glad to see it wasn't a case of Charlie driving drunk off the side of Muholland like some speculation was leading towards.

pwd72s · 02-06-2010, 09:57 AM

Poor Charlie...hasn't been a great month for him, has it?

lendaddy · 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speeder

This was a Mercedes, not a Chevy. On Star is a GM feature. Mercedes has had its own version that calls 911 by itself when the airbags activate for at least ten years, (2000 models if not mistaken). So no accuracy in reporting issue if that is what you read or heard.

Onstar does not but the Ford Sync system does call 911 directly...I imagine the Merc does the same. It's an automated deal where we can hear in the veh even if the operator is toast. This assumes functioning electronics of course

911 ability to locate is a great thing that you can opt out of. I pinged the phone on a missing diabetic kid (23yrs old) last weeks and we found him in a diabetic coma in his car 60 miles away. I'm sure he's glad he didn't opt out

That being said I fully support the right to opt out, nothing like this should ever be forced on us.

For those that don't know, pinging is when the cell company bounces a signal to your phone in order to get your location. You don't know it's happening. We have to submit a written request to the cell companies and they make the decision if the ping request is within their agreement with their customers. We can't do it from our office.

fingpilot · 02-06-2010, 11:20 AM

Does 'disabling' the E911 on the cell menu prevent the ping?

What does the disable do, actually?

Kev! Nice Avatar. I'd ping that for a dollar!

m21sniper · 02-06-2010, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dd74

So early Friday morning, the film and TV star's Mercedes was somehow stolen from his gated home. It was then pitched down a hillside off Mulholland.

But that's not the point, IMO.

When the Mercedes was ditched, it hit something that tripped off the airbags which deployed and also called the LAPD with the car's location.

Okay, I can appreciate the safety aspects of such a feature, yet again, there's something terribly Big Brother about a car that can call the cops when it has been in an accident.

What do you guys think?

I would definitely disable that feature.

Tobra · 02-06-2010, 12:53 PM

I don't leave keys in cars, or hanging by the front door, I keep valuables in more secure places than that, generally speaking. The wife leaves her keys by the front door, but I don't like trucks much in general, don't care much if someone drove off in it, needs paint anyway.

On a commuter I would not mind the automatic call in the paramedics deal, as there are too frequently times I am reminded that I need to switch back to the Axxis Ultimate brake pads on the Honda. Some cell phone talkin'radio adjustin' make up applyin' obliviate cuts in front of me every few trips on business 80 downtown. I just could not do a commute on a scoot, dig bikes, but would not want to have that sort of exposure to idiots without a steel safety cage protecting me.

lendaddy · 02-06-2010, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fingpilot

Does 'disabling' the E911 on the cell menu prevent the ping?

You know, that's a good question. I'll see if I can find out.

Disabling the E911 feature is(at a minimum) disabling what is called "phase II" cellular, it's a locating feature that tells us where you are on a map within about 40 feet when you call 911. It pops up almost immediately (though can be buggy). It's nothing like a ping. It's very useful to us when the caller is hysterical or we have an open line call.