jhillman

Per MBUSA...

"CFC-free automatic climate control with digital dual temperature and airflow controls, plus illuminated vent adjusters. Activated charcoal filter with smog sensing automatic recirculation of filtered cabin air. 4-way sun sensor.

Electrostatic dust filter. Humidity sensor. Dash-top diffuser vent. Rear cabin air vents."

Also, regarding lighting your vent controls, I do not think this is possible. I have read another post or two on this topic and it doesn't seem feasible for the coupe. I wonder who at MB decided to reserve this feature for the sedan??

MarkL

The C240 sedan does not have lighted vent controls either.

viper

They use the sensor on the rear view mirror. Its a little photocell located on the bottom right of the mirror.

MB-BOB

Viper, are you speaking of the photocell in the mirror glass? I thought this was the primary sensor for adjusting the auto-dim mirrors (not a sun sensor), although I suppose it could also have some multi-tasking duties, too. EDIT: OOPS, my bad. Just looked and there is indeed a sensor on the back side of the mirror facing forward, just as Viper describes it. Not sure what it does, though.

As for the lighted thumbwheels... Yes, they're a feature on the C320, only, and a fine feature it is, too. Very useful when adjusting at night. The "Blue" wheel looks fine, and matches the temp "cooler" button in the thermotronic climate control panel. If it's any consolation, the dashtop vent is not lighted, as that would pose a glare problem on the inner windshield.

The thumbwheel in my rear A/C vent (between the seats) is also not lighted (on my '01), but I understand that it may be lit on C320s from '02 onwards. Oh no, horrible thought... Does anyone know if this rear passenger vent wheel has gone missing, too?

And you guys ragged me and others about the famous compass thread having so many posts...:p

Matt230K

The rear passenger wheel is now a fan control which I don't think your '01 has, right? The big black box in the lower part of the center console is for this fan, rendering the compartment pretty much useless now. But your rear passengers can control their own fan speed now. Oh boy!!

As for whether it is lit or not, I don't know about that.

FrankW

don't know about the c-coupe but the c320/c32 has that fan control for the rear...it's loud when u turn it up though.

revstriker

Yup, she lights up too!

MB-BOB

Yes, on the '01 C320, the wheel simply controls whether the vent is open and how open.... just like all the other vents in the dash. The air flow is just fine for the rear seats... I think MB could have spent their time perfecting other items on the car rather than installing the fan motor. I DO like the huge console storage, instead (enough for 25-30 CD jewel cases or more).

revstriker

I had the "pleasure" of traveling one day with 3 other people in my car in the middle of a nice hot Dallas Texas summer day. Both passengers in the back commented how nice it was to have the vent/fan that they could control. They were able to stay cool without me having to crank up the AC to an uncomfortable level in the front. It is a pain that I've lost the space in the arm rest (there is a little bit of usable space there), but I'm happy with the fan. As for CD cases, I normally keep them in the house. I have 3 CD Changer cartridges that fit nicely beside the changer (two beside, one inside).

Outland

Why wouldn't it?

I'd love to see what the lighting setup on the vent wheels looklike. I have a feeling its something not far removed from a single christmass tree bulb on a short harness. Should just be able to plug and play these things.

We need an MB tech...anyone in the house?

CitronC230K_03

i would imagine that it would just require a wire drawing power from a source with a light attached at the end.

jhillman

Confirmed... I just got my 2003 C320 sedan, and the center diffuser vent and knob on the dash (previously integrated into the speaker grill) is no longer there. The fresh air wheel (blue marks on the dial) is still in the middle of the panel vents, but there is no diffuser vent at all.

bagwell

agree - my 96 Infiniti I30 climate control worked much better than the W203 sedan...and I have the electronic (C320).

bagwell

there is no diffuser vent ontop of the dash ? pics ??

bagwell

to me, in a sedan the added fan for the rear is a great feature...(I'm in TEXAS too)...funny the 02 C240's DO NOT HAVE the rear fan (right?). I wish my '01 C320 had it....I don't think it can be easily retrofitted tho - no power nearby ...or I wonder if the cig lighter power could be tapped into...it would be $$$$ anyway.

JAM

I am anticipating delivery of my C240 4Matic Sedan this week (C1, C2, C3, C4, Premium Audio, Heated Seats, Cd Changer--Would you believe there was only one in the country with all of those options? Luckily it was a good color (Desert Silver/Java).

Anyway, I had to investigate the vent lever issue immediatley.....Just went to the local dealership and looked around.... Here's what I found....

On a mix of 03's, coupes, sedans, wagons, 240s, 320s, 230s, 4Matic ,etc....

No pattern, so its probably by build date. Most had no lever on the diffuser vent and no blue cold air lever in the center.

Some had one or the other. Out of 30 new C's, only one had both levers.

Like someone said earlier, I also hate blanks and must have all the switches--just one of those stupid things...

If my new C is without them, I am going to perform surgery.

Here's a list of my out of the gate mods that I intend to perform....

1. Climatronic digital unit (from a 2002, I like the solid colored red and blue buttons better than the new unit with arrows)
2. Illuminated vents ( will probably buy the assembly from C320)
2a. I may get all blue switches if I can order them separate from the vent.
3. Illuminated door sills
4. Audio 10 or Command, not sure yet.
5. Something to replace the one blank switch
6. Possibly a rear fan retrofit

Oh here's something disturbing.... Some had option packages labled as having and L1 option package in addition to a C1, the windows stickers option packages were not in sync with the options in the brochure or on mbusa.com.

Anyone else have any thoughts about the missing vent switches?

jhillman

Why not just get the C320, which already includes the digital climate control, the lighted vent knobs, the rear fan control, etc.? And if you already know you want COMAND, why not just get the car with COMAND instead of doing a retrofit later? You're going to end up spending the difference in the price between the C240 and the C320 on all these mods anyway. Plus, the difference in engine/power between the 240 and 320 is way worth the extra money alone, in my (and I'm sure most people's) opinion.

Also, by the way, I have a 2003 C320 with the fresh/cold air control knob but no dash-top diffuser control. I don't really think the dash-top diffuser is necessary, so I don't miss having it.

Kar don

My 2003 C320 is the same way. I have the blue air control between the vents, but no control for the top vent on the dash.

JAM

in response to jhillman.... Believe me I wanted the C320, but I could not find one with all the options that I wanted. I watched my sales rep do a national search... All of them had C2, but none in the country had C3 and C4 (saw the list for myself). Limiting the search to 4Matic vehicles really limited the option choices available. Same deal with Command, just can't find it. Plus I may just go with an Audio 10. Had navi in my 99TL, great toy, rarely used it....

BTW, why not have one built? My ML is oming off of its lease and I need a car fast....

I could retrofit the xenons, but the fold down seats would be too much of an ordeal to retrofit, and I really need that feature.

I could live without the diffuser control, but the missing blue fresh air control would drive me a bit nuts. Gotta have it.

I'll know what vent levers it has very soon--I get the feeling it is going to be missing two levers....

jhillman

I've never seen a C-class sedan without the fresh air knob, so you should be okay in that department.

dswildfire

i have. last week we had a 2003 c240 loaner that had neither the fresh air knob, nor the top vent control. i think you're ok without the top vent control, bc all you really have to do is change the flow. and as far as fresh air goes, i've never really closed it, and dont know too many people that do, so i think it is rather pointless to have a knob, and instead just leave it open all the time.

Kar don

I asked my salesperson about this knob on the top vent. He had no idea either, but he also noted that some cars had it and some didn't of the same model (ranging from C230- C32). Not sure what the deal is, I would like to hear a straight answer from MB. My dealer has not been able to give me one.

rubensans

Hello,

In my sportcoupe 2002 C230K Evolution, I have the 2 wheels, but it's not all, there is more: all are ILUMINATED including the blue except the top one !!!!

Best regards,

Ruben.

rubensans

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rubensans

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