Arrie

Don't know how useful feature this is but here it goes.

Yesterday went to change windshield washer fluid to "antifreeze" grade as at nights it gets below 32. Opened the hood and thought to suck the reservoir empty but saw that it was low so decided to just use the washer to empty it out.

Closed hood to the latch but left it unlatched and went in the car and started engine. Tried the washer but nothing worked. No wipers, no spray from nozzles.

Car did not show any warnings or anything and first thought was a blown fuse but for the wipwes and pump at the same time? Then thought that perhaps it is not working because that hood was not closed all the way and went to close it and voila, after this wipers and washer worked again.

So, before any of you go to the dealer for a broken windshield washer system check that your hood is closed all the way.

Just wish there would be a warning for the open hood, like for doors, in the display in the dash. It being open or closed obviously is built in the system but why not warning about it. My Audi had it and they even had it integrated in a point that car would not lock if hood was not closed all the way.

A minor issue but if they have a sensor in it already why not have a warning for it?

K-A

The W212's hood is a bit tricky, so it would be one where they should have put a "warning" on it. Lots of people don't clasp both sides of the "clamshell" hood on properly, which makes it look like the hood is out of alignment.

El Cid

On my car (old style switch), one of the P's on left side of switch is for left side parking lights and the other is for right side parking lights. The small "light" next to headlights on right side of switch is for both parking lights on.
I have heard the left/right thing is a European requirement.

imartin

I love that left and right side side marker feature EXCEPT for all the yahoos that come running up to me screaming "you left your light on"....

scfishnman

Yeah, they like to park partially on the sidewalk and partially in the street. When doing so, they turn on the street-side parking lights.

Tjdehya

Maybe they worked in my W211 but I tried it today with my W212 and no lights came on, I will RTFM when I get home to see what has changed with the W212 parking lights.

Arrie

Just checked my 2011 W212. When I turn the light switch all the way to left where the arrow points left my left side round parking light in front comes ON together with the rear light at left corner. No right side light ON at same time.

Above reverses when I move the switch to the arrow pointing right.

I have Bi-Xenon lights.

After buying this car and asking about the lights my dealer told me that it used to be that with the switch you also needed to put the blinker ON to the side where you want the parking light ON. He said that this is not the case any more. I don't know if this was changed between W211 and W212 or was it changed somewhere in the middle of W212s.

Westwind

K-A, you've gotta help me. I do have that problem. I am not mechanically inclined. So, when I changed my original grille to the star grill, I thought I truly accomplished something. Hate to admit, but that was the only time I ever opened the hood. And here is my problem - that hood did not shut well. There seems to be a gap on one side. I am reluctant to open it and shut it with all my might - I am afraid I may break something. OR, is that the only way to shut it? Any tips?

hyperion667

just realized today I do have the brake hold function..........LOL............cool............. .

K-A

Lol. Actually, I've heard enough horror-stories with the hood, that I've yet to open my hood!

I've heard that you want to slightly slam it from pretty high up, not sure though. I think there was a Thread here on it some time back.

Tjdehya

With my first W212 I had the problem and I took it to the dealer. I don’t know what they did but I was able to shut it every time with no problem.
With this one if you shut the hood with both hands on the side that won’t close correctly it solves the problem. I don’t slam it real hard but I don’t close it like a girlie man either.

jbean114

Driving in winter weather on the autobahns keeps me refilling the washer fluid often, so I've opened and closed the hood quite a bit. I've found that if you spread your arms wide to get closer to both clap points and give it a little *umpf* when you slam it shut with the palms of your hand, it will close just fine. The car is a tank... I wouldn't worry about hurting the car when you shut the hood.

I've only had an "improper shut" once and that was when I was timid with it at the beginning and tried to bring it down gently and push it shut.

Westwind

Understood. Will try different techniques. I know now that I would not harm the 'hardware' by slamming it. At the same time, I have to gentle enough, and apply the slam at the end - evenly on both ends. Thanks!

Westwind

I was thrilled to learn that tapping the side turn signal lever will click the lights 3 times for a lane change, etc. What a concept! Well, I recently rented an Impala, and out of habit, I tapped its turn signal, and...whoobajabishush...it did the same thing! Alas, not so innovative by MB.

vinrun

The turn signal worked the same way on my 2004 C320. I do not know how long ago Mercedes put this on their cars.

golfster

A "not so cool" feature I found, you actually CAN lock your keys in the car (P2) with the key fob in the car. I always heard you couldn't, but discovered that if you leave the fob in the car, close the trunk from trunk/lock button in the trunk (part of P2), it will lock all doors. I typically don't take my keys out of my pocket and place them in the car, so I am lucky I had a spare key in my office. Whew...

pkancel

I have two questions, what is the coffee cup and this should be an easy find but where do I find the outside temperature display?

F18BEN

You can program your remote to just unlock the drivers door with one click and two clicks opens all of them. To program: hold your key 5 feet from the drivers door and press the lock and unlock buttons at the same time for 10 seconds and its programmed. You can reverse this by repeating the same procedure. I feel safer in parking lots doing it that way.

WGB

In the speedo display - left lower. I think it can also be brought up separately in the top half by scrolling through the trip computer section.

There has been discussion here about exterior mirrors in the US not being parked when the car is locked - I assume you still have the function where the passenger's mirror tilts down to show the rear wheel when reverse is selected and also the dimming mirrors. These have been features for many years once you have memory driver's seat.

Bill

HB230

Can't you just grab the door handle and have it unlock just as if the key was in your pocket? I haven't tried to lock my keys in the car, but use the automatic unlocking of the doors just by grabbing the handle all of the time.

I thought if the key was near the vehicle it works, maybe it doesn't work if the key is inside?

Jason

WGB

You need "Keyless Go" to do that.

I don't think you can lock a Keyless Go model with the key inside the car but you can lock a normal key in the car if you use the boot locking button.

Bill

golfster

I have keyless go. If I try to lock the car from the door with the fob in the car, it won't lock, as suspected. However, if I leave the fob in the car and lock the car from the trunk, all the doors and trunk lock, with the fob locked inside. Trying to open the door as if my key is in the pocket after locking the car from the trunk, it doesn't open either. This only occurs if locking the car from the trunk button with the fob inside...never in the same situation when locking the car from the door.

WGB

More than a bit scarey.

I know I have previously locked keys in my ML that way but thought Keyless Go was more foolproof than that.

Bill

HB230

Well that is good to know. I thought it was impossible to lock the key in the car with keyless go.

Jason

cvinfig

The coffee cup is Attention Assist (does anyone use that? I turned it off...) and someone else has mentioned where the outside temperature displays. I believe you can configure whether you want the outside temp or the current speed to display in that location.