I'm looking at picking up a used RL, 06+ with every option. I'm wondering what members opinion is on the CMBS option. I've only found one or two used RLs with this option. My girl is overly concerned about vehicle safety so I figured it would be a good option to get.

Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS), which monitors the following distance and closing rate between the RL and the car directly in front of it, warns the driver when a collision is likely and helps reduce impact when a collision becomes unavoidable.

 

I'm considering selling my low mileage 2006 RL (with CMBS), and I'm just up here in PA. If you decide to go for it, hit me up.

 

Pics & rough mileage please...

 

I have an 06 RL with the CMBS/ACC/PAX package. There are varying opinions as to the effectiveness of the CMBS system. I think it's "OK". It doesn't seem to work as well as Acura implied in its ads for the CMBS system on the RL a couple of years back, but it does provide warnings. It is supposed to have 3 stages of warnings: (1) Flashing "BRAKE" warning in the MID if you get to close to the car in front or are approaching too fast (in my experience you don't get these warnings until you are VERY close to the car in front); (2) Shoulder belt "tugs" rapidly to warn you if you don't take action; (3) Seat belts are pre-tensioned and brakes applied to slow car if collision is deemed imminent. The system does get tricked by steel plates in the road - if you aren't aware of them you can get a stage 2 warning from a steel plate that will scare the crap out of you if you aren't expecting it. In my opinion, the CMBS system seems to be more active when the Adaptive Cruise Control is engaged.

An important consideration in buying an 06 CMBS RL is the PAX tire situation. The car came with Michelin PAX run-flat tires. They can be difficult to find (especially if you get a flat while traveling) and expensive to replace. Michelin has stopped development of the PAX technology, though it will be making the tires for several years to come. Replacing the PAX tires is an expensive proposition either way. It requires specialized equipment to mount the tires so not many shops can do it, and if you decide to swap out the tires for regular tires, you need new wheels, TPMS sensors, and a spare tire and the spare tire insert for the trunk. You also can't install an A-Spec suspension kit on a CMBS/PAX RL (at least Acura will say you can't).

The RL is a great car. I really like the Adaptive Cruise Control and the PAX tires themselves are fine - they actually perform better than the stock 17" tires on the non-Tech package RL. I am a little disappointed by the implementation of the CMBS system. YMMV.

 

^ Thanks for the detailed response. The PAX system may be a deal breaker for me. The whole idea of it seems ridiculous. I understand the underlying idea but think the $$$ out weighs it's function.

The first thing I would do is rip that whole system out.

 

I have the CMBS and like it a lot. I think I've onlyhad a false alarm a couple of times and while it does "wake you up," it isn't all that big a deal. I've also hit stage 3 a couple of times and it's nice to know the car reacts as it does. Stage 1 hits pretty often when a car in front of me slows rapidly to make a turn. Stage two, once in a while. The big drawback is the PAX tire system. Very expensive to replace ($2,000 or so for just tires) but I picked up a used set of tires (90%) and wheels (like new) with center caps and TPMS sensors for $700 so I figure I'm set for a while. My originals are still good for a while. If you want to replace the PAX, you'll have to pick up a spare and other incidentals for a bit more than $500 (discounted).

If you believe the CMBS advantages outweigh the disadvantage of PAX (I do), go for it. If not, don't.

LL

 

Thanks for the input guys. This is exactly what I was looking for in terms of details etc.

 

I guess you will have to go back to the good ole days and watch whats going on rather than relying on some electronic gizmo from getting yourself killed on a head on collision.

 

Classic. This from the guy who had to have the electronic gizmo Nav system added to his car after he was too cheap to just buy the Tech version with the Nav...and then recommending to everyone who would listen that they should do the same and scour eBay or junkyards for Nav systems and add them to base model RL's even though they wouldn't have a warranty. Using your logic, you should just go back to the good old days and use a map rather than rely on some electronic gizmo to tell you how to get someplace.

It's a safety system. It's not meant to allow the driver to not pay attention, but to lessen the likelihood or severity of an impact.

 

I guess I had that coming...I am a control freak...I install and service commercial refrigeration computer controls for a living...I use ALL of the RL technology, and while I respect the CMBS I think it has limited value and may provide a additional safety, but it can also create a false sense of security which may keep the driver from being as alert as possible.

Even with all the Nav systems out there, I still tell my family and friends that seek advice on GPS systems, that they should pre-plan their route via personal knowledge, or via map and then use the GPS unit for close up navigation. The GPS units don't always send you on the prefered route. Instead it picks what it perceives to be the quickest. (in the real world, we know you need to stay off of certain highways and roads during rush hour)

DW as for the RL basic-to-Nav upgrade can be done in under 1/2 hour with no real special skills or technical knowledge. As for the use of the word "cheap"...prehaps frugal, value-oriented, or just intellegent would be a more precise description.

 

"...but it can also create a false sense of security which may keep the driver from being as alert as possible."

I disagree...I don't think any of us CMBS owners think to ourselves "let's take a nap while the CMBS keeps an eye on things." In fact, I don't even think about it at all...until it activates. For the most part, it does nothing to add to the safety of the situation (I'm aware of what's hapenning) but once, it did kick right into the third stage when the car in front of me stopped suddenly. Nice to know it was there and ready. One thing to remember, it's not a collision avoidance system, it's a collision mitigation system. It's not designed to stop the car, but to lessen the severity of an impact.

LL

 

I particularly like the adaptive cruise control. I originally felt I wouldn't use it because I never used to use cruise control in my previous vehicles. In reality, that was because I often had to disengage the cruise due to the speed of cars around me. Enter adaptive cruise control....I really like it. All the slowing down and speeding up that I used to have to do is handled by the adaptive cruise control. It is a really nice feature and in my mind "what cruise control should really be".

I have had the CMBS fire a few times. In each case I was getting close to a car but operating in a safe mode, the CMBS was "doing its job" and I figure it is a good thing to have.

 

CMBS works great. It doesn't intrude in normal to enthusiastic driving. If you start shaving other peoples bumpers, however, it will activate. I have only fully activated it once and it saved me from a very nasty accident. I use the cruise control all the time, but, I live in an area where there traffic on the highway is rather light.I have also used it in the Chicago area with excellent results. Don't let the Pax tires dissuade you, simply replace them as part of the initial deal, the optional Acura 18 inchers look a lot better than the regular wheels anyway. CMBS is worth the money and it is the only truly active system in the market that really works.

 

We wanted the CMBS but the PAX tire situation prevented us from getting it. The tire system is over priced for what it is. The CMBS seems like a great safety feature, not unlike VSA. I've never used VSA but I'm sure it would help in an emergency.

 

Death: On a used RL the CMBS option is practically a freebie. When we bought our used '06 RL (3900 mi. virtually new) the VW dealer we bought from didn't even know the car was equipped with the CMBS/PAX option and had the car priced the same as a standard RL. So apparently (most)dealers don't even know what the option is or how to recognize those cars so equipped.

We've found it's a valuable extra safety feature (costly to the original buyer, but virtually free to second owners) that's there if you ever REALLY need it -- and because its totally transparent in operation, it doesn't cause you to become a less attentive driver .

As RL06tech said, don't let the PAX system dissuade you. A complete set of take-off wheels and tires can usually be found on E-bay for about a third of what a set of PAX replacement tires would run. I've replaced the original PAX tires with a standard OEM set and I think the car actully rides better -- though others might disagree.

 

+1 on this point. I bought my RL used (3000 miles) from a Honda dealer who had two other non-CMBS/PAX RL's for sale and all were priced similarly. They didn't realize the difference between the two models.

 

I've found an 07 RL with CMBS & PAX for a decent price. Now I just need to off load my TL-S.