E-Class (W211) 2003-2009

What does this knob do?

Old Apr 17, 2005 | 06:17 AM
  #1  
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2004 E320 4matic, 2007 530xiT
What does this knob do?

I just noticed that on one side of my driver seat there is a big round knob with a pointed extension. The knob rotates but I can't tell what it is for. I have looked in the manual and can't seem to find anything about it.

Anyone have any idea what it does? The front passenger seat does not have it.
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Old Apr 17, 2005 | 08:14 AM
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picture?
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Old Apr 17, 2005 | 09:25 AM
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Originally Posted by guru
I just noticed that on one side of my driver seat there is a big round knob with a pointed extension. The knob rotates but I can't tell what it is for. I have looked in the manual and can't seem to find anything about it.

Anyone have any idea what it does? The front passenger seat does not have it.

That is the ejection seat control. Be cautious.......
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Old Apr 17, 2005 | 09:27 AM
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It's used to adjust the firmness of the back of the seat. (The part that your back rests on).
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Old Apr 17, 2005 | 09:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Spartan
That is the ejection seat control. Be cautious.......
too late....it's great how the sunroof opens up on your way out...
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Old Apr 17, 2005 | 09:35 AM
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Originally Posted by xabo
It's used to adjust the firmness of the back of the seat. (The part that your back rests on).
I figured it was something like that.... I just wasnt able to notice much difference when i moved it back and forth...will try again..thanks
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Old Apr 17, 2005 | 09:36 AM
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Which side of the seat is this knob on? I have a lumbar control knob on the inside of my seat, just about the center console. I think I have the same knob for the passenger seat, too, but my car is in the shop so I can't verify.
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Old Apr 17, 2005 | 09:46 AM
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On the inside....

I dont have it on the passenger side, unless it is on the outside on that seat...

Also sadly, what a common E class statement "my car is in the shop".....
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Old Apr 17, 2005 | 10:37 AM
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It's a lumbar firmness knob but I've never noticed that it will make any difference no matter how much I turned it.
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Old Apr 17, 2005 | 10:46 AM
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It's not that it's in the shop, it's that it's been there since Tuesday for service C and an alignment. The alignment is a redo from three weeks ago. They just "can't seem to get it within specs". They "might" have it done tomorrow (Monday). No offens to C class drivers of the world, but I can't drive the C240 they gave me as a loaner for one more day. I hate that car.
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Old Apr 17, 2005 | 10:48 AM
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You don't have one for the passenger seat? I swear I do. Can somebody confirm that the '03 had it and the '04 doesn't. Or is it a difference between an E500 and an E320? BudC is right, though, doesn't do much, if anything.
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Old Apr 18, 2005 | 12:18 AM
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Originally Posted by hilmar2k
You don't have one for the passenger seat? I swear I do. Can somebody confirm that the '03 had it and the '04 doesn't. Or is it a difference between an E500 and an E320? BudC is right, though, doesn't do much, if anything.
My car has the knob on both front seats. Since it's an '03 E500, I can't say if that makes the passenger-seat knob an E500 thing or a pre-decontenting thing. I do feel a slight increase in the lower seatback firmness when I rotate the knob clockwise (as seen from the passenger's side); not a big deal but worthwhile on long trips.
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Old Apr 18, 2005 | 06:51 AM
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I have the knob on both seats, on an 03 E320 CDI.
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Old Apr 18, 2005 | 08:50 AM
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I have the knob on both seats on my '03 E320.
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Old Apr 18, 2005 | 09:26 AM
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They decontented it on the passenger seat for 2005 (and late 2004's) as well as the strap on the rear armrest, the ashtray tray, the shelf in the glove box, etc, etc..
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Old Apr 18, 2005 | 10:33 AM
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Originally Posted by atssystems.com
They decontented it on the passenger seat for 2005 (and late 2004's) as well as the strap on the rear armrest, the ashtray tray, the shelf in the glove box, etc, etc..
Well that is a nice thing about ordering the early model R Class...they can't "decontent" anything since if has not been "contented" if you get my drift. Of course based on the extensive option list for the R Class, it looks like they "decontented" anything that wasn't nailed down and made it an option. One way to keep the intitial base price under $50,000....:-)
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Old Apr 18, 2005 | 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by atssystems.com
They decontented it on the passenger seat for 2005 (and late 2004's) as well as the strap on the rear armrest, the ashtray tray, the shelf in the glove box, etc, etc..
It's an odd difference here in the UK: my new E350 has the lumbar adjustment both sides, and also the glovebox shelf. It doesn't have the rear armrest strap, and the mirror puddle lights have been replaced with under-door downlights (4).
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Old Apr 18, 2005 | 12:40 PM
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The deletion of the armrest strap has to be the most unbelievable deletion in history. Without it, it is impossible to get the armrest out without "raking" up the leather...

I had to check other cars before I could make myself believe that such a basic thing as a strap would be removed.
Philip
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Old Apr 18, 2005 | 12:46 PM
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Originally Posted by prprandall51
The deletion of the armrest strap has to be the most unbelievable deletion in history. Without it, it is impossible to get the armrest out without "raking" up the leather...

I had to check other cars before I could make myself believe that such a basic thing as a strap would be removed.
Philip
Bean counters are not engineers or apparently riders in back seats. They also don't have any idea of what that strap was for. Strange things happen when people start making cuts to save money.
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