Radar (for Distronic, dead angle assistant, etc.) fails with dirty coolers?

Hello, a part of the radar electronics, via which Distronic, dead angle assistant, presafe brake etc. are realized, is apparently in the Mercedes star at the front of the cooler. Now I have found on a different MB model as well as on my R231 that the radar sometimes fails, today e.g. after temporary snowfall at higher speed. Again higher temperatures or manual wiping of the star seem to help against it, i.e. the star must apparently be fairly clean and icy Is the radar really so sensitive that it already paralyzes a bit of dirt on the star? And: Since the radar seems to work sideways and backwards for example for the dead angle or the parking assistant, why is the star at the front apparently so important?