It seems the cars have the ability to child lock properly. In Canada, if the doors are locked, the back doors will not open, only when you unlock by pressing the unlock on the center console with the back doors open. The front door will open from the inside either way.

 

The lock pins are easily changeable and are about $8 for a set of four. It's the first thing I do to every car I get (except for the CLK, because that came with them standard... so I guess my CLK is "Euro"... OK not really, those pins aren't "Euro" no matter what anyone says).

I don't know why the lock pin was moved... probably to make the mechanism cheaper and simpler, I am not certain.

Oh yeah, my first comment about being undisciplined was NOT sarcastic... unfortunately for us! But my second one about the child being too stupid to reach up and unlock the door... that was sarcastic.

Glojo: I meant to imply that the US cars do not have the child lock switch anymore, but they are present on other versions of the car. Why this was removed is a mystery to me. Why my C43 had both "safety" features is also baffling.

-s-

 

Same problem here in the US, no stick.

Here is a very short video clip. John, you should get a kick out of this. My new lock actuator is working swimmingly. I also found a new use for it!


http://steveag.home.comcast.net/Golfball.avi

Here is the US lock pin:

 

Brilliant picture

If you hear anyone shout, "Fore\four?" anywhere near your car, make sure they are not standing close to your window.

Regards,
John
A cool morning in Torquay

 

Hi Oslo,
I'm afraid I have bad news from my car testing 'Boss'.

This morning she took my daughter to school via a different route which had steeper hills.

Compared to the much bigger 320CDI the 200K lacked power and the engine under load is much noisier than the diesel. The gradient of the hill she used varies between 1:10 up to 1:6.

This morning was the first time I have had exhaust fumes come into the utility room from our garage. I have put this down to the much higher revving petrol engine and perhaps the more powerful smell of the fuel? I was surprised at how fast it 'ticked over' when starting from 'cold' 14 degrees centigrade! It should also be pointed out that my wife did not 'rev' the petrol engine it quite simply ticks over at much higher revs than the diesel.

Unlike US diesel fuel our diesel is scented and the exhaust fumes do not have that horrible diesel type pong!

Sorry to contradict yesterdays post, but I suppose that is a lady's prerogative? She much prefers the 320CDI but I have failed to mention the MAJOR price differential.

Is the price of the 320CDI lower than the 320 petrol?

In Europe the E-class 320CDI is cheaper than the equivalent 320 petrol powered model with EXACTLY the same specifications. There is no difference in specs between the two (not sure if the 320 petrol has parameter steering though) I am writing this last paragraph solely for the information of our US members.

Bye for now,
John
A very nice sunny winter morning in Torquay

Edit:
Just noticed another MAJOR moan..... Mud flaps. I know some folks think they look untidy, but by crikey what a difference to the bodywork. This vehicle has not got mud flaps and it has all sorts of tiny pieces of debris on the bodywork which has been thrown up by the wheels.

To highlight my point have a look at Steve's picture of his loan vehicle with all the snow and ice stuck on the wing area which would have been protected by the 'unobtrusive' mud flap!

Off to my trench to duck the incoming from the 'anti' brigade.

 

Are these available at the US dealerships? If they are then I will probably order them, but if not, where can I get them?

I guess that if I replace the rear doors, then I will have to unlock the doors from the front if I want the people in the rear of the car to open the doors. Right?

If I remember correctly, don't the rear door locks stick out. The fronts are the only ones that are flush when down.

Steve

 

All four are the same (flush) on mine.

 

Yes, but you don't have a US-spec car.

Steve, the rear ones will poke out about 1/4", but not enough that a rear passenger can grab the lock and unlock the door. Unless he has pliers for hands or something. If you're so inclined, you can remove the rear door panel and bend the lock rod to take up some of this excess so they sit flush. I haven't done this but when I install my rear sunshades, I will do it.

You can get them at the dealership; ask your parts guy for lock pins for a 2001 CLK55. I would give you the part number but you know how I am about that, and actually, I would have to look it up, and the parts guy is paid for that and I am not. I do have them on my shelf but you should be able to get them at your dealership easily enough.

Oh yeah, the difference is you will need four.

-s-

 

Thanks a bunch Scorchie! When I go back to the dealer I will order 4 2001 CLK55 locks things.

Steve

 

But then where will you be able to enjoy a very quick four hole game of golf?

Regards,
Cheeky John

 

I guess it will be like everything else in life: a tradeoff. I will keep the original ones in the glove box just in case!

The only thing that is a bit of a concern is that people in the back seat will not be able to get out unless I unlock them from the front by either hitting the unlock button or by opening my own door (since it unlocks the whole car). Yes, sometimes people what to get the hell out of my car .

Does anyone see this as a big problem?

Steve

 

I thought about this... and decided it's not that big of a problem. In the event of a serious accident, the car is supposed to unlock the doors.

-s-

 

Hi Steve,
On a serious note, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Far East all have the child proof lock option which is what you are really describing.

I cannot remember reading of any problems, but if it is something that you feel strongly about, my advice is to stick with what you have.

Your piece of mind is more important than silly locks. I have joked about them, but they look okay really.

Good luck with your decision,
John

 

Now I'm confused...

I thought Euro cars (including NZ and Aus) have:

1) Lego axle locks
2) The doors all lock when the car drives off
3) Any door handle will unlock all the doors by default
4) There is a child proof switch for the rear doors that will stop 3 from occurring for each rear door

US cars have:

1) Golf tee locks
2) Same
3) Same
4) Not available

Now what I am reading implies that effectively US spec cars have child proof rear doors without the option.

I am sure I read a whole set of messages bemoaning the fact that this option was not available..... has it changed from one year to another?

I can see that if the child proof locks are on by default then you might want to be able to open the door with the plunger.

Scorchie, I am not an idiot. I know that I am not in the US. I thought the question was - will the lego axles be flush for the rear doors. I even went to my garage in my pyjamas to check that the answer would be correct.

 

Hi John
I have only left the Euro spec cars and 'the boss' might be wrong but she assures me that your Euro option (3) is not correct.

I will have her check it, but could you also check yours, because like you I thought our options were almost identical. (Euro, Aus, and NZ)

The US options are a minefield and Scorchie is 'sometimes' pretty switched on.

Regards,
John

 

Previous discussion

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w211/43203-kids-door-locks.html

The child proof aspect relates to whether the rear door lock can be operated manually, it looks as though it can in the US.

I will check my car today to see if it really has got the child proof switch, I realise this will not apply to US models, but the rest of the world may be interested.

 

For US cars there is one error: #3 is not correct.

If the doors are locked, the front doors will unlock the door and use the power locks to unlock all 4 doors. If you lock the rear doors and then you pull the handle, the door will not open. You have to pull the Golf Tee lock up by hand and then pull the handle.

This is why I am concerned about not being able to pull the Golf Tee lock up at the rear doors. You would be relying on the power lock actuator (not that reliable IMHO) unlock the rear door. What if the car went into water?

I think that if the rear doors would automatically unlock when you pull the inside handle, the Lego lock is simply a visual lock position indicator and nothing else. At least for the rear doors in the US, you still need to pull on the Golf Tee to make the inside handle work.

The more I think about this, the more I am beginning to wonder if I should change the Golf Tees. I might change the front ones, but I don't know if that will look bad.

Steve

 

Ok, I have just gone out to the carpark and checked.

With the doors all locked and the car at rest then

1) Either front door handle will unlock all four doors
2) The rear door handles will only unlock that door
3) There is a child lock on each rear door that, when activated, prevents 2) from occurring.
4) It is not practical to unlock the door using the lego axles (unless you maybe used pliers or something).

I have not tried this while moving, but could do at lunchtime if the traffic isn't too heavy!!

 

Steve, are you sure you don't have the child proof switch on the rear doors?

It is a small black plastic switch on the rear of the door, just above the locking mechanism. I will try to get a picture, but I guess it is pretty obvious when you look to see whether you have it or not.

Rgds John

 

No. 2 is not happening in the US cars. My European MB was that same way as you are describing though.

I have no idea why MB does not do this in US cars. BMW has a nice trick. If you want to open the locked rear door, all you have to do is pull the lever two times. The first time you pull the lever, it unlocks the lock pin. The second time you pull the handle it opens the door. I think that is nice and clever.

Steve

 

I know what you are talking about: "are you sure you don't have the child proof switch on the rear doors?"

I have had them in other cars. I have not looked (I am single with no kids). I will check the door to see if I have them. I doubt that I do.

Steve

 

Hi Johna1,
On our vehicle if you sit in the front passenger seat, lock all the doors, and then open your own door. The rear doors and drivers door will remain locked. Likewise from the drivers seat. It will only unlock the one door.

Hi Steve,
As a parent I understand completely your concern. BUT.... When you stop and think about what you have said there are all sorts of problems. Once the car is in the water there are going to be MAJOR problems opening any door because of water pressure. If young children are involved it will be academic what sort of locks there are. Your golf tee type central locking is electrical! So will only work until it 'shorts out'.

If our system was in anyway dangerous it would not be fitted. I believe the US has its own system for exactly the same reason as it does not have SBC Hold!

I still however stand by my original statement.

If you are in any way concerned do NOT change your locks. Having different ones in the rear in my opnion might look 'odd'

Just my two penarth.

John

 

Glojo, I have a vague memory that there is an option in the settings menus to have all the doors unlock, or just the one that is opened. I will check this out too! It may be just be that we are more relaxed about car jacking in the antipodes!

 

Hi Johna1,
Thanks for that and I will check the settings option. I think I prefer your way. I take it you are actually sat inside the car when checking?

Over here our MP's are more interested in Hi jack rather than hijacking. Nudge, nudge.


Take care,
John

 

John, I did not imply that you are an idiot. Nor did I imply that you did not know you are in the US. If you read my post a little more carefully, you will see that I wrote "YES BUT you don't have a US-spec car" (emphasis added), not "You are not in the US". This was to let you know that your lego axles sit flush BECAUSE you are not in the US, in the US they DO NOT.

I will try to be a little more verbose in my future posts, as hopefully it will save time down the line in not creating the need for further explanation. I had assumed people prefer to read things direct and to the point rather than wading through information that becomes distracting; maybe I suffer from ADD?

-s-

p.s. i don't know you, so i try not to assume either that you are an idiot or you are not. otherwise i would be prejudiced!