Can someone tell me if the following is normal on a 2004 E320 4matic wagon:

1) when the ACoff button is used, cold air still comes thru the vents. Not as cold as when the button is not used but definitely colder than the outside air temperature.

2) no air comes thru the center fixed vents on the dash. Is this normal?

3) I feel a pulsating vibration on the brake pedal when I start driving the car and occasionally on inclines. Is this the suspension adjusting itself?

Any info would be appreciated............

 

Hey dave I am also in the mahwah area for work these days.

Anyway,
1) That is just the residual cold air from the vents. You run the car with AC/OFF for long enough and it will get much warmer.

2) Not sure about that.

3) Some members have reported the same. Apparently it is the SBC adjusting itself. So there is little cause for concern.

Congrats on the purchase!
What color combo do you have?

 

I get cold air even when the air conditioning has not been turned on all day and the outdoor temperature is 90+. Can't be residual cold air. But the air does seem to warm up after 30 minutes.

Does anyone have a 2004 E320 who knows if the center fixed vents serve any function?

 

I believe that large vent opening is used on European models only. I remember reading a post about that over a year ago. Somthing about how they prefer a more gentle breeze where we crazy Americans like to have a blast of air. You may have luck using a search.

 

I called the 800 number and finally got my answer to my air conditioning question. The ACoff button does not shut off the compressor as described in the owner's manual. It actually puts it in a "sleep" mode...their term for reduced AC with a slow shutdown. This explains why I always get cold air for approximately 15 minutes everytime I start the car with the ACoff. It would have been nice if they had documented this.