Press Release
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Genuine accessories from Mercedes-Benz in internal endurance tests
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Toughest tests in the world ensure greater safety and protection
Before a product is approved by Mercedes-Benz and allowed to bear the "Genuine Mercedes-Benz Accessory" seal, it must undergo extremely demanding internal tests. The premium manufacturer's high standards for quality and safety go far beyond all legal requirements here. The tortures that the products are put through include crash tests, vibration tests, emergency braking manoeuvres at various speeds, and sudden lane changes. There are also tough endurance tests that simulate the entire life of a vehicle, as well as salt-exposure tests and climate chamber tests. The testing programme is rounded off by aerodynamic and acoustic measurements. All of these tests put the products under much greater strain than a normal Mercedes-Benz customer ever would.
No breaks for safety-relevant components
The quality tests can last up to four months. After they've been successfully completed, the new product is approved as a "Genuine Mercedes-Benz Accessory". The tests can get particularly gruelling when the subject is a component relevant to safety, such as a carrier system or roof box.
The design, development, and testing of an accessory is generally aligned with the model or component it will be used with. Roof racks, for example, are always tested with the type of Mercedes-Benz roof upon which they are to be mounted. This is done to guarantee that the boxes will conform to specific aspects of the vehicle, such as roof shape, vehicle dimensions, and the normal type of use of the model in question. Such a procedure also helps ensure that the accessory will in no way damage the vehicle.
Extreme stress loads on the oscillating table
One of the most spectacular tests is the one conducted on the vehicle body test rig, also known as the oscillating table. Here, the roof and the carrier are shaken back and forth and up and down in such an extreme fashion as to make an observer dizzy. Despite the extraordinarily strong forces at work on the carrier, a bicycle or anything else fastened to it must not fall down, or damage any part of the vehicle. It is only after this demanding test under extreme stress loads has been passed that an accessory is allowed to bear the Mercedes star.
Tests tougher than the "City Crash"
The internal crash tests conducted by Mercedes-Benz are undertaken at higher speeds and acceleration forces than those required by DIN 75-302 (German Institute for Standardization), the ISO 11154 (International Standard Organisation) and the "City Crash" test. The latter is recommended by both the Stiftung Warentest consumer watchdog organisation and the ADAC automobile association, although it is not required by law. This test is supposed to simulate a typical rear-end collision in an urban setting at a moderate speed.
A roof rack's life in fast motion
Laboratory examinations are supplemented by extensive driving tests on Mercedes-Benz test tracks and in situations based on actual occurrences. One such test is the special driving endurance test covering a distance of 25,000 kilometres with a 50 per cent overload of the roof rack. The route here includes motorways, winding secondary and rural roads, and very rough road surfaces.
Additional tests are conducted for handling, emergency braking manoeuvres at various speeds, and driving dynamics - for example, the famous ???????????????????????????????????Elk Test????????????????????????????????, which is actually an ISO evasion test. The programme is rounded off by high-speed drives and extended trips on poor roads. In the complete vehicle tests, the test crews also examine vehicle components that can be affected by the accessories. For example, sunroofs are checked to ensure that they will still open and close properly. Accessories are also checked to make sure they fit precisely to the vehicle and do not cause any damage.
Optimised aerodynamics leads to lower fuel consumption
A key aspect of accessory development involves optimising aerodynamic and acoustic properties. For this reason, the roof racks and boxes are put through an extensive testing programme in a wind tunnel, whereby they are turned at different angles to the wind at various speeds, ultimately up to the maximum speed of the Mercedes-Benz model in question. A predefined benchmark serves as the target value that a new product must achieve. Customers benefit from the resulting optimised aerodynamics in the form of significantly lower fuel consumption than would be the case if a comparable non-genuine accessory were to be used.
Acoustic properties are tested and optimised on the road; the goal here is to eliminate unpleasant noises such as buzzing and whistling. These can only be identified when the accessory is driven with the vehicle it is to be used with, which is also why each rack is approved only for a specific model.
Corrosion tests that go far beyond the norm
Great effort is also required to ensure the long-term quality displayed by every Mercedes-Benz product. For example, the corrosion tests conducted on individual components in saltwater sprayers last more than twice as long as is stipulated by the DIN 75-302 standard. In addition, the products are put through extended corrosion tests while mounted on the vehicle, and are also exposed to extreme temperatures in a climate chamber. All of these tests are meant to ensure that the products will not crack in freezing temperatures or deform in extreme heat.
Design: Perfect alignment with the vehicle silhouette
Mercedes-Benz applies the strictest criteria to design, which is why genuine accessories are developed in close cooperation with design engineers for the vehicle models at the Sindelfingen Design Center. The roof boxes and roof rack systems thus blend in harmoniously with the Mercedes-Benz passenger car design lines, combining maximum functionality with the highest degree of elegance. Such successful integration with the vehicle is especially apparent in the SL- and SLK-Class, in which the curved ???????????????????????????????????Alustyle???????????????????????????????? basic carrier follows the elegant lines of the innovative vario-roof in a manner ensuring that the vehicle's sporty silhouette continues to stand out. A perfect appearance is achieved by the fact that the carrier module is mounted solely on the upper end of the A pillar and at the rear.
The elegant style of the designers can also be experienced in the fine details. For example, customers can choose to have their Mercedes-Benz roof box in the luxury colour tones of titanium metallic or matt silver. If desired, they can also have their Mercedes-Benz partner paint their roof box in any Mercedes vehicle colour.
