chairman

In short, the position of the stalk is stupid. It does not have an on/off switch, my wife and I never use cruise at all, can I turn it off?

The other night I almost killed my self exiting from a highway and instead of turning off my turn signals, I activated the cruise. Now my car with just over 1000 miles has two wheels with major curb rash.

Maybe it is just me but the design and placement of the stalk are an accident looking for a place to happen.

<rant off>

pfphipps

I think it depends on what you are used to using. I find it to be the best placement of ony curise control but maybe that is because I have been driving mostly Mercedes for a long time. Just seems to be where it should be at to me.

Yes, you can turn it off, kind of. Just push the lever forward, toward the speedometer, and it turns of the cruise control. However, if you give it another push or pull in some other direction, it will turn back on.

chairman

Thanks for your response. Over the years I have driven many different cars, none of which was an MB.

I guess, like anything else there is a learning curve, but I am still upset about my wheels. Any suggestions? I'm in the DC area.

mbtech208

People have long criticized the location of the cruise control stalk. Mercedes has been putting it there for decades though, so it's probably there to stay. At least they're farther apart now than in some older cars.

chairman

Thanks

moa4r

you just gotta get used to it man

konigstiger

Personally, my preference is to have the cruise control placed at the steering wheel. Also curious as to why MB chose to cancel the bars displayed up to the speed limit set (inside speedometer) and have the remaining bars above the limit remain rather than the other way around. All in all, other than having to fine tune the speed setting after engaging (always seems to come in a mile or two above or below choice), I’m satisfied.

chairman

Love the car hate the cruise. Oh well another challange.... BTW Anyone have an idea on fixing the wheels?

Turbo2

chairman-
Ye Olde Wheel Shop is somewhere in MD (near Baltimore I believe), they do amazing work but they usually have quite a wait to have work done. I would give them a call if your interested.

Good Luck

JimPurdy

I can understand your frustration with the M-B "und you vill like it" design mentality. Many car reviews have noted the cruise control stalk as an issue. I find that I prefer the M-B stalk to other cruise control controls such as buttons on the steering wheel. I especially like the ability to change the speed setting up or down 1 mph per movement of the stick. It has taken me several years to appreciate the design but I would still have moved the stalk a little further away from the steering wheel and made it a little shorter.