Dema

When you buy car you expect particular feature set, but sometimes you can discover something unexpected reading a manual, or just playing with a car. For example, when I test drove Jaguar I noticed that navigation map start showing highlighted gas station location when you are near of running out of gas. Lexus of my wife's keeps head lamps on as long as car has doors or trunk opened. Could you provide similar example for MB?

bmms8

backup brakes, sun sensor for the A/C, brakes that dry themselves, and other stuff

Dema

Sun sensor looks like a very good example. I believe old model didn't have it, so A/C started work only when everything began melting down.

mallard

The W210 does have a sun sensor. It's on the dash in the middle, very close to the windshield. Works quite well.

ashahashah

How about - this car drives much better than a Lexus. My wife's car is a Lexus and I love the drive of the E320 (so does my wife). And, BTW, that Lexus feature of leaving the head lamps on as long as the car doors are open is amazingly annoying to both my wife and I. So, for me that would count as my LEAST favourite surprise feature.

Callaway

The first time I saw the cd changer open on the front console.
That was a very impressive feature!!

marc777

The ambient lighting inside the car is popular with the children and I like it.

The combination of light grey leather and the pano roof - I took a guess having only seen pictures of the E on the internet.

The 6CD changer is pretty cool

The whole look and feel is light years ahead of my 2000 E240

Juke-box

suprised features?! lol. there are plenty.

the night ambient lighting system(great for impressing girls)
the cd-changer door(way cooool! )
the little mat for the ash tray (to keep loose change)
the different ride heights of the car when parked(still can't figure it out)
the TURNING SIGNALS!!- when changing lanes, you only have to tap the signal rod once without having it being locked in the "on" position, it will flash the turning lights THREE times by itself. very very cool! didn't have this on my E430.

Callaway

Also I like the lit segments around the speedometer when you set the Cruise Control.

And how you can adjust the digital temperature of the back passengers but swapping the adjustment with a button to the front.

W210

Sun visor which an extending arm to block off lights from the side window.

Blocktrader

Windshield wipers appear to be rain sensing when on first setting.

ValueplusClass

shut out air intake for the cabin almost instantaneously when there is air pollution outside (though manually).

ElDiabloJoe

Is that the charcoal filter button, or one of the center dash vent dials?

TIA,

EDJ

Callaway

I think he means activating the charcoal filter button.

ValueplusClass

Yes, its one of the switches on the central console with a car and a circulating arrow on it. Use it for a few seconds to shut out the air pollution from entering the car. (But you have to manually have to disengage it .) If the pollution is a lot more and for a long stretch, the recirculating air function will auto shut off (I believe). Here the charcoal filter would become necessary. To get charcoal filtering, you need to activate it using a different switch.

ashahashah

1. If you have the windows/sunroof open and you want to press the recirc button, then keep it pressed for 2-3 seconds and the windows/sunroof will automatically close. When you want fresh air again, press the recirc button again for 2-3 secs and the windows/sunroof return to their exact positions prior to turning on the recirc (even if they were half-way open).

2. Press the "Rest" button after you turn off the car and for upto 30 mins the ventilation will remain on at fan speed 1. You car will stay warmer or cooler (winter/summer) if you just have to dash out for a few minutes to get something.

3. Dual sunshades to protect you from the sun glare if it is coming from the front or the side.

There are many other little things that I am finding out as I get little bits of time to read the manual.

gobenz

Thanks ashahashah!

I missed the "rest" function that you addressed. I will definitely read up on it and use the feature.

marc777

Thanks also for the note about the recirculate button - I didn't know it opened and closed the windows when kept depressed - I even went out in -7 degrees just to try it!

bmms8

lol even the charcoal filter button does that, and of course holding lock pointing at the front passenger and driver handle look close all the winows and moonroof

ashahashah

bmms8, this is nice - in my Lexus, I could lower the windows/moonroof with the unlock button continually pressed on remote control key, but I had to put the key in the driver side door to close them all (weird).

Another nice feature - heated seat setting goes from level 3 to 2 in 5 mins, from level 2 to 1 in 10 mins and from level 1 to off in another 20 mins. Never had this in my Lexus. Plus the heat is more evenly distributed than my RX300.

ashahashah

I know what you mean. I was late for a meeting at work in the morning because I wanted to read in the manual about something else and somehow came upon this feature and the Rest button. I only wish they salesmen would show these nice things when you are considering the car or better yet when you are picking up the car after purchase. My salesman did nothing of the sort.