CedarZ4

Hey guys,

So I'm not used to driving the Benz yet (got it recently, 2012). I have a habit of opening the door and putting my head out to see which side the fuel-cap is on...

While I was moving into the gas station (rolling at around 5-10 MPH) and opened the driver side door to peak out, the car slammed into a halt. I thought I had accidentally stepped on the brakes. When I tried to move, the car just revved and I realized I was in park.

I tried Google searching but couldn't find the answer. Does the W212 (with the automatic stalk on the steering wheel, not like the AMG with the gear lever by the cup holders) automatically put you into P if you open the door while in D? I'm just afraid I damaged the transmission because they're definitely not made to stop the car.

listerone

It's designed to do that.Safety feature,don't you know.Courtesy of The Mercedes Benz Legal Department.

xolinlevh

It does that when you are rolling at very low speeds yep, shouldnt damage anything, but next time your in for a tune up never hurts to ask them to make sure everything is still on right

sc300ccret

Why not just look at the arrow by the gauge? It tells you what side the filler neck is on from like every car ever made since 1990?

http://www.instructables.com/id/Figu...on-Without-Ge/

steph280

The way I remember which side the fuel cap is on: there are gas dispensers in Europe that are just sitting by the street. So you always pull to the right side of the street to fill up, thus the gas cap is on the right side. At least all the German cars I've own in the past were like this.

CEB

Not always correct. Some cars have no arrows at all.

Actually, there is a safety aspect to this. Most broadside accidents occur on the driver's side, so you'll see most European cars with the filler on the passenger side and most Japanese cars on (our) driver's side. UK cars have them either way depending on where that car is most commonly sold.

US cars put them on whatever side of the car the manufacturer thinks it'll fit - or who they think it is competing with.

BenzV12

Some cars have no arrow at all , that's correct like my dad's Fleetwood .
There is a gas pump logo in the middle of the gauge which means the gas cap is in the middle lol
Seriously , you need to lower the rear licence plate frame to gain access to the fuel cap , genius idea lol

CEB

What Fleetwood? I had a 1975 red over red leather with a white top that I sold in the early 1990's in Germany to a fellow who was taking it back to Turkey.

Some 50's US cars were very creative with there they put the gas cap. Some were behind the tail light - the whole assembly swung out of place to reaveal the filler pipe. Early VWs had it under the front "hood."

BenzV12

It's 1996 Cadillac Fleetwood Brougham , the last real Caddy unless GM decides to make them again

I must admit I like an idea of having two filler caps on either size like Series 3 Jaguars . I dislike their styling but that was a cool idea having two caps as well lol

CedarZ4

Thanks for the quick responses guys!

Yup, I decided to try it again while I was out before I had time to read the forums to see if I was actually crazy (yes, poor decisions) and indeed, while rolling at low speeds, I opened the door, and it went from R and then into P and car halted to a stop. I'll make sure to tell the mechanics to look at the transmission the next time to double check (but it's only sitting at 2k miles, going to be a while).

I thought it would be on the right, because it's German and on my Porsche it's on the right too but I figured I'd double check. Who knew

to the safety legal department.... The Pre-Safe brakes are annoying as well. Always beeping and braking for me. Maybe I drive to aggressively Then again, my own fault for getting the Driver's Assist package, ain't it.

With that said, does anyone know how this mechanism works? I would imagine since it's automated there would be some protection mechanism in it, like it applies the brakes, then puts you into park. As opposed to if you shifted into P in an average car manually, your car would just halt, and your transmission would be blown from attempting to stop the car.

BenzV12

Hey, don't think that you wasted some money into a system that is not necessary . I don't have it but I don't lose any sleep over it though lol

Just another thing I have observed with MB's great tranny , let's say your cars in D and you stopped and killed the engine (I mean stop the engine lol )

The tranny automatically shifts into N and if you open the door with the N selected it engages into P


I have just remembered , some MB Owners accidentally tipped the direct gear selector when they were on the move and nothing happened . Normally you could break something
These trannies are smart and protect themselves from fatalities but I still don't buy the idea of pressing the P button when you are moving is a good idea lol

Arrie

Where have you seen fuel dispensers right at side of road like you describe. I have been in most of the "western" European countries and never seen a gas dispenser like that.

I think right side location for the gas filler door has some other reason like perhaps if you would use a full service station you don't need to smell that gas as being filled up and waiting all it with window down.

WEBSRFR

What bothers me about this feature is a stupid valet person who does not know how to park looking at the mirrors can potentially harm your transmission. Even at 5-10 mph using the transmission to abruptly halt the car immediately just can't be good for the transmission...

Often times I see valet parking people open the driver's door and back up cars...

jbec.keane

Does this happen if you open the passenger side door?

listerone

Good question...my guess is..same thing.

ImInPA

I must be pretty old fashioned, but, it used to be considered idiotic to open a door while the vehicle is moving. Stupid things happen when we do stupid things.

hyperion667

reminds me of the time at the dealer when a tech was backing up and opened the door to see behind himself........except that isn't what happened.....LOL.......guy JERKED to a hault!!
too funny......and unfortunate for the owner maybe

dfordham

This has been discussed before. My theory is that the car is certainly smart enough not to snap the transmission into park at a speed that will damage the tranny.

Of course, we haven't yet found anyone willing to test this hypothesis at speed. How about you, OP?

Regards,
Don