rustybear3

I notice all the new 2021 Mercedes have done away with the analog clock. What gives? One of the classiest thing about Mercedes, as well as practical. A simple glance and you see the time, as opposed to that hard to read digital clock.

2012 merc amg

Yep more cost cutting. I'm glad my wagon is a 2019 as they did away with the folding seat backrest buttons on each side of the seat, I use those a lot. I do miss my Cabriolet like your Dune Silver one but I had to get rid of it. It was just a little to low for me and I was have trouble getting out of the car. Didn't want to make my physical condition worse by keeping it.

teksurv

I've read several posts in other forums where younger customers bemoaned the inclusion of the "antiquated" analog clock. Cost cutting, I'm sure plays a part. Another may simply be a slow transition from the current customer demographic to the incoming one.

JakeW213

The most stupid thing is that they have not changed the look of the buttons around... so the it actually looks like something is missing.

superswiss

I've seen the clock being optional in some markets with the prior models or not offered with certain trims. For example the C63 came w/o the clock if you spec'd the piano black trim. Buttons were still the same, so it was never something that all specs had. I do agree it kinda adds a nice touch to the center console, even though there are several other places to see the time, and it's technically a cheap digital plastic clock with analog IWC design and logo, but it isn't an IWC timepiece. Not sure if the relationship with IWC ended or something, but the coming fully digital dashboards starting with the S Class have no place for it anymore.

DFWdude

For a generation that no longer wears a wrist watch, the deletion of analog (appearing) clocks in cars is a further extension. Sad, but true. Their loss, not mine.

Of course, everyone knows the clock in the W212 is only analog in appearance. It is purely electronic behind its face, something I enjoy watching when it changes from DST to CST.

e55phil

I will also mis the clock. I suspect the time will be displayed on the screen.

Cao Black

Do younger customers actually buy E class Mercedes.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/227750/people-living-in-households-that-own-a-new-mercedes-usa/

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-cars-with-the-oldest-buyers-2014-11-06

Elvisfan0108

are you shilling for statista? You have to have an account to view this.

Cao Black

I googled "average age of mercedes drivers" and got the graph without an account.



Seriously, I just don't see "young customers' as a reason to do anything regarding E or S class Mercedes. Maybe they should offer a denim interior with ripped knees.

rustybear3

What's puzzling is that all the young ones are all wearing a form of I-watch on their wrists. So the excuse that they're doing it because of the younger generation would be bogus. It's got to be a cost saving measure. Why not make it an option? You might as well get rid of the MB emblem as well if you're going to be that cheap. Were not talking an entry level Chevy here. It was the one thing that made it distinctive IMO. The tiny digital clock on the infotainment screen is practically worthless....

hyperion667

I'll say I use my clock all the time, in that I mean I look at it to see what time it is Cost cutting fawkers!

teksurv

For the record I really like the analog clock in my car. It offers a touch of class along with the dual widescreens and other technology that I appreciate. I had a 2021 loaner the other day and the blank plastic space where the clock used to be looks bad. That said, when looking at the EQS and the new Hyper Screen, I'm really liking what I am seeing. Being mid-forties/Gen-X I appreciate legacy luxury and technology.

As for the current average age of a MB buyer, looking at the previous A class compared to the current one, there has been a huge leap in technology, first with MBUX targeting the up and coming younger demographic. All this is just my opinion, but it seems to me they are targeting future and would be customers.

murman

And make virtue signaling a standard feature. It's amazing what one can do with LEDs these days.

Egonvdv

i find the analogue clock out of place, it doesn't have the same style as the rest of the interior.
i also never look at it, only at the digital one on the dash.
they should replace it with an even bigger menu button that doesn't do anything ;-)

haibieb

Soon MB will do away with the 3 pointed star on the steering wheel….Oh well, modernism at its best ……we need to adapt as long as they keep selling cars, MB is not going to change to the past. My wife noticed the missing clock on the 21 E Class we had as a loaner and was not a happy camper. Perhaps, they should concentrate on their build quality. This loaner with less than 1,000 miles had so many noticeable rattles and squeaks that gave me pause in ordering one to replace our 19 CLS 450 later this year.

splunge

Given the number of complaints here and probably a hundred times that number including myself , it would seem that to save a couple of $'s Mercedes could have potentially lost a few $100,000 car sales . I would definitely pay extra for it as an option or even after market . It's useful ,elegant and right in front and centre .

Elvisfan0108

I can’t imagine MB losing one sale because the clock is gone. I can’t picture someone coming in and saying “Hey, the analog clock is gone, I’m buying the BMW 7 series instead.”

decorily

GLC version! !

JakeW213

looks photoshopped

decorily

It is!

ua549

People reject cars for strange reasons. I stopped buying BMWs because they don't support Android Auto.

Cao Black

Strange reasons indeed. Every opinion poll I've ever seen states that consumers generally prefer knobs or dials to digital controls, yet...
manufacturers continue to try to eliminate them.

Maybe it's because I know something used to be there, but the void created by removing the clock just screams "fill me".

DFWdude

To me, that one is easy. "Knobs and dials" are mechanical, bulky, weighty, prone to failure. "Digital Controls" are conceptual, smaller, lighter weight, less prone to mechanical failure. Since smaller, lighter, more reliable are all desirable attributes, it makes sense to me that car manufacturers pursue them. Not only for manufacturing sake, but to satisfy govt. requirements, too.

On the other hand, car makers should not forget that humans can't relate directly to computer chips. Interaction with such require intermediary tactile or visual inputs that humans can touch, feel and see.

For those of us who grew up with analog clocks, we can't relate to sundials and water clocks that came before. I remind myself of this when I ask myself if today's youth are better served by digital numbers versus hands on a sweeping arc. It's just a matter of context, I suppose.

ua549

For those who dapple with time measurement this link should be of interest.