Button on the Console
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 597
Likes: 24
From: Nashville
2017 S550 Iridium / Black Nappa, 2015 GL 550 Paladium Silver
Button on the Console
Anyone know what the buttons are on the console in the center next to the headrest down / rear screen up buttons? Installing a stealth radar detector and would like to put a factory looking kill switch to turn it off.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 14
1953 300 Adenauer, 1971 300 SEL 6.3, 1975 600, 1978 450 6.9
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 14
1953 300 Adenauer, 1971 300 SEL 6.3, 1975 600, 1978 450 6.9
In general, there are two types of switches - momentary contact and on-off.
You'll need to buy the type of switch for your console location and find one that has a symbol on it that you'll find acceptable. There are tons of switches available in Europe because of all the individual options.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 10,557
Likes: 24
From: Earth
Porsche Macan S SportDesign / Ex M-B's: 11 & 10 & 06 E350's, 02 S500
There was a day when Mercedes had such attention to detail, apparently "Blank switches" were unacceptable and would never make it to your car. They'd use completely new pieces, designed to look good and proper with the switches you had, rather than the new cost-cutting, crude/cheap way of going about it.
Trending Topics
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 14
1953 300 Adenauer, 1971 300 SEL 6.3, 1975 600, 1978 450 6.9
There was a day when Mercedes had such attention to detail, apparently "Blank switches" were unacceptable and would never make it to your car. They'd use completely new pieces, designed to look good and proper with the switches you had, rather than the new cost-cutting, crude/cheap way of going about it.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
10 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Models You Can Buy Used
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,522
Likes: 162
From: CT
Mercedes, Porsche, BMW, Tesla
There was a day when Mercedes had such attention to detail, apparently "Blank switches" were unacceptable and would never make it to your car. They'd use completely new pieces, designed to look good and proper with the switches you had, rather than the new cost-cutting, crude/cheap way of going about it.
Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 216
Likes: 0
From: Canada
E350 4Matic 2011
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 978
Likes: 3
From: Essex County, NJ
2011 E350 Sport 4Matic - P2 & Drivers Assist / 2010 C300 Sport 4Matic - P2 / 2013 Porsche Cayenne S
There was a day when Mercedes had such attention to detail, apparently "Blank switches" were unacceptable and would never make it to your car. They'd use completely new pieces, designed to look good and proper with the switches you had, rather than the new cost-cutting, crude/cheap way of going about it.
Imagine if you get a Sprint Booster; you can have the settings rocker switch integrated into your console where one of these place holder buttons would be. A very clean and elegant design. You can also wire up your radar detector/laser jammer and integrate its on/off switch into your console via these blank place holder buttons. The possibilities are endles.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,616
Likes: 160
From: Southeastern USA
2010 E350 Luxury Sedan, Engine 272 (V6)
"Blanks" have been around since at least the 1950's. Used to cover hole where radio or clock went if car did not have one.
M-B has blanks for same reason all other car manufacturers have them. It's cheaper to produce one panel with X number of holes in it for all possible options and then cover holes with pieces of plastic if options not installed.
For proof, look in Operators Manual at instrument panel/dash and it shows what goes in the blanks.
M-B has blanks for same reason all other car manufacturers have them. It's cheaper to produce one panel with X number of holes in it for all possible options and then cover holes with pieces of plastic if options not installed.
For proof, look in Operators Manual at instrument panel/dash and it shows what goes in the blanks.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 20
From: Toronto
MY17 E43 Matte Selenite/Macchiato Beige, MY16 GLE350d Tenorite/Crystal Grey, MY17 B250
Blank switches are put into cars now on purpose. Supposed you wanted to install something aftermarket in your car and you wanted this new gadget's on/off switch to be seamlessly intergrated into your existing console. Instead of the installer having to rip your console out and try to cut a hole into it that would fit you new on/off switch, they can just simply pop the placeholder out and put in the switch thus minimizing the effort to install something, minimizing the potential of screwing your console up while trying to cut a hole into it, minimizing the possibility of the console rattling when re-assembling it and having the new switch blend in with the rest of the console. This was practice was pretty common in Europe in the 80's and early 90's.
Imagine if you get a Sprint Booster; you can have the settings rocker switch integrated into your console where one of these place holder buttons would be. A very clean and elegant design. You can also wire up your radar detector/laser jammer and integrate its on/off switch into your console via these blank place holder buttons. The possibilities are endles.
Imagine if you get a Sprint Booster; you can have the settings rocker switch integrated into your console where one of these place holder buttons would be. A very clean and elegant design. You can also wire up your radar detector/laser jammer and integrate its on/off switch into your console via these blank place holder buttons. The possibilities are endles.
Absolutely not. The last thing any OEM wants you doing is messing with the factory wiring. It's a cost-cutting/variant reduction measure, period.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 14
1953 300 Adenauer, 1971 300 SEL 6.3, 1975 600, 1978 450 6.9
I remember a BMW manager telling me that a study showed that people would rather a row equally sized blanks rather than a lopsided button and a large blank.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 20
From: Toronto
MY17 E43 Matte Selenite/Macchiato Beige, MY16 GLE350d Tenorite/Crystal Grey, MY17 B250
Correct, but the reasoning is more than merely cost cutting. As cars become more international with different options it just makes sense to fill the space with button sized blanks rather than with one much larger blank. There are inventory control issues and the whole LHD vs RHD thing as well.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Iridium Silver 2009 C63
I've searched around a bit trying to find a source for replacements for the blank switches and as of yet apparently have not figured out the right search terms.
I did find the one other huge thread on custom-etching new switches, which is a bit farther than I want to go. If these switches are truly functional already and just need a new piece of plastic on the front to replace the blank, I'm definitely interested in using them for other add-ons in my car.
Can anyone recommend where replacements for the blank switches can be purchased please?
Thanks.
I did find the one other huge thread on custom-etching new switches, which is a bit farther than I want to go. If these switches are truly functional already and just need a new piece of plastic on the front to replace the blank, I'm definitely interested in using them for other add-ons in my car.
Can anyone recommend where replacements for the blank switches can be purchased please?
Thanks.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Iridium Silver 2009 C63
As info for anyone else trying to do this, I talked to my dealer today and was told that the only way you can replace these (from MB at least) is to order the entire panel containing the row of switches below the radio. This includes the horizontal section with the buttons for the seat heaters, rear shade, etc.
The part runs ~$300, but the parts guy wasn't sure that buying a new panel with additional functional buttons would be a good idea given that the entire panel connects via wiring harness, and if your car doesn't have the functions in it that are expected for a given panel with a given set of buttons, he wasn't sure what would happen.
It could be making the connection to the harness is as simple as snipping/soldering a couple of wires to a different connection, however he wasn't sure without someone actually trying it. For $300 and no guarantee of it working, I decided just to mount my switch under my dash, and skip the use of the factory buttons. I love the idea, but am not sure if it would work. If anyone has luck with this in the future please post back as I'd be interested to know how you did it.
The part runs ~$300, but the parts guy wasn't sure that buying a new panel with additional functional buttons would be a good idea given that the entire panel connects via wiring harness, and if your car doesn't have the functions in it that are expected for a given panel with a given set of buttons, he wasn't sure what would happen.
It could be making the connection to the harness is as simple as snipping/soldering a couple of wires to a different connection, however he wasn't sure without someone actually trying it. For $300 and no guarantee of it working, I decided just to mount my switch under my dash, and skip the use of the factory buttons. I love the idea, but am not sure if it would work. If anyone has luck with this in the future please post back as I'd be interested to know how you did it.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 597
Likes: 24
From: Nashville
2017 S550 Iridium / Black Nappa, 2015 GL 550 Paladium Silver
I ended up installing the auxillary switch just under that section of the console I was able to tuck in nicely and I only know it is there.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Iridium Silver 2009 C63
Any chance at a picture where you have it? I'm having mine installed Friday and would like to be explicit in my directions to the installer so there aren't any miscommunications about where the switch ends up. Thanks.
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 597
Likes: 24
From: Nashville
2017 S550 Iridium / Black Nappa, 2015 GL 550 Paladium Silver
I had a 1/2" round rocker switch installed in the right hand corner and the led indicator light in the opposite site. The rocker switch tucks right away from sight unless you know to look for it. I had hopped to get a factory switch to fill in one of the blanks to keep the stock look but no dice!
Junior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Iridium Silver 2009 C63
I had a 1/2" round rocker switch installed in the right hand corner and the led indicator light in the opposite site. The rocker switch tucks right away from sight unless you know to look for it. I had hopped to get a factory switch to fill in one of the blanks to keep the stock look but no dice!
Is this what you mean?
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 597
Likes: 24
From: Nashville
2017 S550 Iridium / Black Nappa, 2015 GL 550 Paladium Silver
That is the exact button I have and on the E there is a recess to the console just above the ashtray. I had my installer tuck the LI switch up under the overhang and placed the alert light on the opposite corner.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
Iridium Silver 2009 C63
Thanks, I looked up some pictures of the 2011 E interior and see what you mean now. There isn't a recess like that on the C interior, so I'll go hunting for somewhere else to put it. Personally, the location in that previous picture is a bit too obvious for me. Looking for something a bit more out of the way but still easily toggled if you know what you're looking for.
