Stop Door Handle Proximity Extending
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Joined: Apr 2011
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2011 SL 550
Stop Door Handle Proximity Extending
Is there a way to stop the door handles from extending when you are in proximity to the car? Just have them extend when you touch the lock/unlock square on the handle? Thanks
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From: Atlanta
06 E55 Black
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From: Tennessee
W214 E450
I'm not sure what the issue is. They do not unlock and only pop out if you are close. You would see anything or anyone if they were near the car when they pop out. If they tried to open it would not until you were practically on top of the car. If you had a concern, you could hit the lock button and they would go back in. This is really no different then the previous generations that just light up the handles when you approach with the key fob.
To answer your question though, I do not believe there is a way to prevent them from popping out. Maybe a third party coding could do it. To my knowledge, none of the third party coders can code for the W214 yet. Something to do with licensing, but I really don't know. You could disable the entry assist lights, but I think they will still pop out. Haven't tried myself to know for sure as I have no desire to do this.
To answer your question though, I do not believe there is a way to prevent them from popping out. Maybe a third party coding could do it. To my knowledge, none of the third party coders can code for the W214 yet. Something to do with licensing, but I really don't know. You could disable the entry assist lights, but I think they will still pop out. Haven't tried myself to know for sure as I have no desire to do this.
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From: Tennessee
W214 E450
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2019 C63CS
The only way I know of is to not have the fob on your person and don't use the digital key, otherwise your phone will trigger it. This is one of those things that makes you wonder. These extending door handles seem an unnecessary gimmick that will just fail sooner or later. How much do they really improve aerodynamics when you have the mirrors sticking out way farther than the door handles. Also there are ways to design flush door handles w/o a complicated retracting mechanism that sometimes has a mind of its own.
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From: Tennessee
W214 E450
The only way I know of is to not have the fob on your person and don't use the digital key, otherwise your phone will trigger it. This is one of those things that makes you wonder. These extending door handles seem an unnecessary gimmick that will just fail sooner or later. How much do they really improve aerodynamics when you have the mirrors sticking out way farther than the door handles. Also there are ways to design flush door handles w/o a complicated retracting mechanism that sometimes has a mind of its own.
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
I agree with you, but I'm sure people said similar things about power windows, locks, auto dimming mirrors, and countless other added complexity to cars as they have evolved over time. What is "good enough" will always be challenged and tested. Some ideas will fail while others will become standard on all cars.
Also, I pretty much lived through all the examples you listed. They were pretty much all extra cost luxury features at first and people were willing to pay for them, because they added value. That's when you know that the change is a good one if people are actually willing to pay money for it. I'm sure some people probably would pay money for retractable door handles as there are people who pay for form over function, and don't mind looking like a fool when trying to open the doors and for some reason they don't extend.
Last edited by superswiss; Jun 15, 2025 at 08:50 PM.
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
Thanks for the clarification. I see now that my W212 is different. Sorry to distract.
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From: Tennessee
W214 E450
I would disagree with the second part. The things you listed added convenience. I'm always for tech that makes life easier and improves the status quo. What convenience or improvements from the user's perspective do retracting door handles add? As far as I can see they make opening the doors more cumbersome, because sometimes they don't extend when they should. I accept that technology fails eventually, as long as it adds value while it works. My issues are with change for change's sake.
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I would like the option to keep it extended at all times as well, especially for those that want the more "traditional" experience come on MB, give us the option, it is just one line of code (I think?)
Plus it cost MB nothing (I think?) since they don't have to swap the handles back to the traditional ones.
Plus it cost MB nothing (I think?) since they don't have to swap the handles back to the traditional ones.
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From: Harrison, ME
2025 S580
The handles don't always extend, which is not an issue in summer, but in winter they don't respond to normal winter gloves. Don't like having to remove my gloves in Maine winters, or have to fumble with the fob wearing gloves. Another issue: I was wondering if there is some kind of safety limiter that will stop the retracting of the handle if resistance is felt. Let's say you approached the car, the handles extended, and then you waited too long before entering the car and the handles retracted. So I stuck a rag behind the handle and waited till the handles retracted. Crunched the rag good. I don't think it would break any bones but it would give a good solid pinch, especially if it was a child's hand behind the handle.
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From: DFW Texas
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The handles don't always extend, which is not an issue in summer, but in winter they don't respond to normal winter gloves. Don't like having to remove my gloves in Maine winters, or have to fumble with the fob wearing gloves. Another issue: I was wondering if there is some kind of safety limiter that will stop the retracting of the handle if resistance is felt. Let's say you approached the car, the handles extended, and then you waited too long before entering the car and the handles retracted. So I stuck a rag behind the handle and waited till the handles retracted. Crunched the rag good. I don't think it would break any bones but it would give a good solid pinch, especially if it was a child's hand behind the handle.
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2019 C63CS
The handles don't always extend, which is not an issue in summer, but in winter they don't respond to normal winter gloves. Don't like having to remove my gloves in Maine winters, or have to fumble with the fob wearing gloves. Another issue: I was wondering if there is some kind of safety limiter that will stop the retracting of the handle if resistance is felt. Let's say you approached the car, the handles extended, and then you waited too long before entering the car and the handles retracted. So I stuck a rag behind the handle and waited till the handles retracted. Crunched the rag good. I don't think it would break any bones but it would give a good solid pinch, especially if it was a child's hand behind the handle.
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From: Harrison, ME
2025 S580
With a hand behind the handle, it doesn't retract as the capacitive sensors in the handle will detect the hand. A rag is not conductive, so it won't get detected. Having said that, it does bring up the question of can you unlock the doors while wearing gloves? I'm asking, because I never wear gloves in the mild climate here. Gloves typically don't work with capacitive sensors as the fabric is not conductive, unless conductive material is especially woven into the fabric. Many gloves these days have at least one conductive fingertip, so you can use modern touchscreens, but the rest of the glove usually doesn't.
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From: The Middle of the Fairway
2025 E450 All Terrain Wagon, Nautical Blue Metallic, Macchiato Beige/Black Interior
With a hand behind the handle, it doesn't retract as the capacitive sensors in the handle will detect the hand. A rag is not conductive, so it won't get detected. Having said that, it does bring up the question of can you unlock the doors while wearing gloves? I'm asking, because I never wear gloves in the mild climate here. Gloves typically don't work with capacitive sensors as the fabric is not conductive, unless conductive material is especially woven into the fabric. Many gloves these days have at least one conductive fingertip, so you can use modern touchscreens, but the rest of the glove usually doesn't.
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From: Harrison, ME
2025 S580
With a hand behind the handle, it doesn't retract as the capacitive sensors in the handle will detect the hand. A rag is not conductive, so it won't get detected. Having said that, it does bring up the question of can you unlock the doors while wearing gloves? I'm asking, because I never wear gloves in the mild climate here. Gloves typically don't work with capacitive sensors as the fabric is not conductive, unless conductive material is especially woven into the fabric. Many gloves these days have at least one conductive fingertip, so you can use modern touchscreens, but the rest of the glove usually doesn't.
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Since I can't unlock the doors using my regular winter gloves, does that mean it likely wouldn't detect my fingers behind the handle and would "crush" them? Don't think I'll test it since it did really squeeze the rag.... I wonder what activates the touch controls on Volvo's since I never had a glove issue with my V90.
