Retractable Door Handles
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 308
Likes: 76
2024 E350
China is banning all retractable door handles starting next year.
Looks like Mercedes will have to redesign the door handles for the Chinese market.
The pop-out door handle ban starts in 2027 for new cars, 2029 for existing models.
They claim to be doing it for safety reasons. In the event of a crash and loss of power there's no way for first responders to open the door.
Article source:
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/02...ing-next-year/
I actually like the retractable door handles on the E-class. It adds a coolness factor.
Looks like Mercedes will have to redesign the door handles for the Chinese market.
The pop-out door handle ban starts in 2027 for new cars, 2029 for existing models.
They claim to be doing it for safety reasons. In the event of a crash and loss of power there's no way for first responders to open the door.
Article source:
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/02...ing-next-year/
I actually like the retractable door handles on the E-class. It adds a coolness factor.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 72
Likes: 25
'26 E53 | '08 E90M
Please direct all complaints about door handle complaints (such as accusations that people who think retractable door handles are pointless and stupid are actually just people who wish we were still using horses to get around) to the following address:
Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)
13 West Chang'an Avenue
Xicheng District, Beijing, 100804
Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)
13 West Chang'an Avenue
Xicheng District, Beijing, 100804
Last edited by Richbot; Feb 4, 2026 at 12:53 PM.
Super Member
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 541
Likes: 230
From: New York, NY
2026 E53 wagon
Please direct all complaints about door handle complaints (such as accusations that people who think retractable door handles are pointless and stupid are actually just people who wish we were still using horses to get around) to the following address:
Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)
13 West Chang'an Avenue
Xicheng District, Beijing, 100804
Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT)
13 West Chang'an Avenue
Xicheng District, Beijing, 100804
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,502
Likes: 6,347
China is banning all retractable door handles starting next year.
Looks like Mercedes will have to redesign the door handles for the Chinese market.
The pop-out door handle ban starts in 2027 for new cars, 2029 for existing models.
They claim to be doing it for safety reasons. In the event of a crash and loss of power there's no way for first responders to open the door.
Article source:
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/02...ing-next-year/
I actually like the retractable door handles on the E-class. It adds a coolness factor.
Looks like Mercedes will have to redesign the door handles for the Chinese market.
The pop-out door handle ban starts in 2027 for new cars, 2029 for existing models.
They claim to be doing it for safety reasons. In the event of a crash and loss of power there's no way for first responders to open the door.
Article source:
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/02...ing-next-year/
I actually like the retractable door handles on the E-class. It adds a coolness factor.
As for redesigning the handles, MB is prepared, as the W223 in some markets like Germany has standard non pop-out handles as standard, they could just bring those over there hopefully to North America as well. This is true for both pre and facelift. https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...ml#post8763742
Last edited by W205C43PFL; Feb 4, 2026 at 03:20 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2023
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2024 GLC300 2025 E450
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MBWorld God!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2004
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I have had a 100% success rate with this as well:
A few times I tried the 'touch the middle of the handle' as the MB video linked earlier in the thread suggested, and it never worked.
you DO NOT have to swipe them to open the door. that lie was perpetuated by numerous car reviews. all you have to do is touch the indent just like with all previous entry systems on numerous car manufacturers [they probably source the same vendor anyway] and it opens. touch the button to lock, touch the button to unlock. if the door handles have popped out then you just pull the door. this has NEVER failed on my car.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,141
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From: Maryland
2024 S580
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,502
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I really believe most of the problem is the touch sensitive handles. If they would do away with the touch sensitive nature and replace it with a button, I think they would work way better. Push the physical button to lock, the physical button will deploy the handles if its pressed while they are retracted and they don't pop out when you approach
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 487
Likes: 159
From: DFW Texas
GL450, E450, Porsche 718 GTS
I think the only reason the handles try to close on people’s hands when trying to open the door is because they touch the recess when grabbing the handle. It then thinks it was meant to retract and lock.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,141
Likes: 4,630
From: Maryland
2024 S580
Thats exactly right, but the fact that its so easy to do that though is poor design, a physical button would make it harder to do that by accident
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 971
Likes: 182
From: DFW, TX
2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
Physical buttons, outside of looking cheap and ugly, have other issues such as more wear and shorter life expectancy as well as weather related deterioration and water damage. I am really glad that the Germans opted for touch open/close over the **** poor rubber buttons on other cars, mostly from Asian manufacturers.
I don't even have the car yet but I'm already worried that the retractable handle will be a nuisance and is a solution looking for a problem. But please don't take away the touch sensors from our doors, they are far superior to buttons.
I don't even have the car yet but I'm already worried that the retractable handle will be a nuisance and is a solution looking for a problem. But please don't take away the touch sensors from our doors, they are far superior to buttons.
Super Member
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 541
Likes: 230
From: New York, NY
2026 E53 wagon
Physical buttons, outside of looking cheap and ugly, have other issues such as more wear and shorter life expectancy as well as weather related deterioration and water damage. I am really glad that the Germans opted for touch open/close over the **** poor rubber buttons on other cars, mostly from Asian manufacturers.
I don't even have the car yet but I'm already worried that the retractable handle will be a nuisance and is a solution looking for a problem. But please don't take away the touch sensors from our doors, they are far superior to buttons.
I don't even have the car yet but I'm already worried that the retractable handle will be a nuisance and is a solution looking for a problem. But please don't take away the touch sensors from our doors, they are far superior to buttons.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,141
Likes: 4,630
From: Maryland
2024 S580
Physical buttons, outside of looking cheap and ugly, have other issues such as more wear and shorter life expectancy as well as weather related deterioration and water damage. I am really glad that the Germans opted for touch open/close over the **** poor rubber buttons on other cars, mostly from Asian manufacturers.
I don't even have the car yet but I'm already worried that the retractable handle will be a nuisance and is a solution looking for a problem. But please don't take away the touch sensors from our doors, they are far superior to buttons.
I don't even have the car yet but I'm already worried that the retractable handle will be a nuisance and is a solution looking for a problem. But please don't take away the touch sensors from our doors, they are far superior to buttons.
Just today I took a couple of my staff members out to lunch. One of them commented on how annoying the door handle was to use.
Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 96
Likes: 41
E450 Wagon, GLC300, E550
Perhaps I’m mistaken, but most of the more significantly poor experiences seem to be from people who have an S-class. I think that the S-class had the new handles before they trickled down to the E-class. I haven’t had any real issues with my 2025 built E wagon. Wondering if earlier iterations of the handles had issues that have been improved over time through hardware and/or software changes.
I can see how a person who was previously spooked by the handles would remain suspicious and overly sensitive even if the software was later updated. I have yet to hear a report of someone actually being physically harmed, just that some people feel that they could have been harmed if they didn’t pull their hand away quickly.
I also wonder how much the ban in China is primarily a reaction to the truly bad outcomes from emergency responders unable to open Teslas after a crash. Also as a way to stick it to Tesla in the fierce competition between Tesla and EVs made by Chinese companies. Obviously Tesla could redesign their handles to still be retractable while providing an easy way to open the doors when the electronics fail. It is not the concept of retractable handles that is the problem, it is the execution.
I can see how a person who was previously spooked by the handles would remain suspicious and overly sensitive even if the software was later updated. I have yet to hear a report of someone actually being physically harmed, just that some people feel that they could have been harmed if they didn’t pull their hand away quickly.
I also wonder how much the ban in China is primarily a reaction to the truly bad outcomes from emergency responders unable to open Teslas after a crash. Also as a way to stick it to Tesla in the fierce competition between Tesla and EVs made by Chinese companies. Obviously Tesla could redesign their handles to still be retractable while providing an easy way to open the doors when the electronics fail. It is not the concept of retractable handles that is the problem, it is the execution.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,141
Likes: 4,630
From: Maryland
2024 S580
Perhaps I’m mistaken, but most of the more significantly poor experiences seem to be from people who have an S-class. I think that the S-class had the new handles before they trickled down to the E-class. I haven’t had any real issues with my 2025 built E wagon. Wondering if earlier iterations of the handles had issues that have been improved over time through hardware and/or software changes.
I can see how a person who was previously spooked by the handles would remain suspicious and overly sensitive even if the software was later updated. I have yet to hear a report of someone actually being physically harmed, just that some people feel that they could have been harmed if they didn’t pull their hand away quickly.
I also wonder how much the ban in China is primarily a reaction to the truly bad outcomes from emergency responders unable to open Teslas after a crash. Also as a way to stick it to Tesla in the fierce competition between Tesla and EVs made by Chinese companies. Obviously Tesla could redesign their handles to still be retractable while providing an easy way to open the doors when the electronics fail. It is not the concept of retractable handles that is the problem, it is the execution.
I can see how a person who was previously spooked by the handles would remain suspicious and overly sensitive even if the software was later updated. I have yet to hear a report of someone actually being physically harmed, just that some people feel that they could have been harmed if they didn’t pull their hand away quickly.
I also wonder how much the ban in China is primarily a reaction to the truly bad outcomes from emergency responders unable to open Teslas after a crash. Also as a way to stick it to Tesla in the fierce competition between Tesla and EVs made by Chinese companies. Obviously Tesla could redesign their handles to still be retractable while providing an easy way to open the doors when the electronics fail. It is not the concept of retractable handles that is the problem, it is the execution.
At the end of the day its not a deal breaker, I still love the car but its just an example of form over function IMO, fixed handles are a better user experience and making a couple changes to the retractable handles would improve them a lot.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 971
Likes: 182
From: DFW, TX
2014 E350 Wagon, 2025 GLC 350e, 2026 E53 Wagon
Companies have been using physical buttons on exteriors of cars for a long time, longevity isn’t an issue. The touch sensitive handles also just don’t work well, I have to press them 2-3 times to get them to lock. A physical button works every time. When the door handles snap shut on your passengers hands you might feel differently!
Just today I took a couple of my staff members out to lunch. One of them commented on how annoying the door handle was to use.
Just today I took a couple of my staff members out to lunch. One of them commented on how annoying the door handle was to use.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,141
Likes: 4,630
From: Maryland
2024 S580
Sorry, I specifically was referring to the kelyess entry system on non-retractable handles. I infinitely prefer the touch area to lock and putting my hand into the handle to unlock over a rubber button which is how cheaper cars tend to have solved this problem. That rubber, in the Texas summer just doesn't last...
For instance on my Lexus vehicles they had a rubber button on the handle to lock, but the surface on the inside of the handle that unlocks the door is touch sensitve.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2024
Posts: 487
Likes: 159
From: DFW Texas
GL450, E450, Porsche 718 GTS
Initially, I had the handle retract on me twice (which was somewhat startling) but once I figured out the cause, I.e., touching the recess, I now have a habit of avoiding touching it and have never had an incidence since. I’ve never had an issue getting them to pop out. It all just seems like a lot of hand wringing over a minuscule infrequent problem.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 9,141
Likes: 4,630
From: Maryland
2024 S580
Initially, I had the handle retract on me twice (which was somewhat startling) but once I figured out the cause, I.e., touching the recess, I now have a habit of avoiding touching it and have never had an incidence since. I’ve never had an issue getting them to pop out. It all just seems like a lot of hand wringing over a minuscule infrequent problem.
Complaining about it compels MB to improve the design going forward...
Super Member
Joined: May 2025
Posts: 541
Likes: 230
From: New York, NY
2026 E53 wagon
Issue is when other people go to get in the car they don't know to be careful. Like I said before, my 11 year old daughter refuses to touch the door handles, I have to open the door for her because they snapped shut on her hands several times. They have done so to my mother, my wife and several other passengers. Whether its minuscule or infrequent depends on your situation.
Complaining about it compels MB to improve the design going forward...
Complaining about it compels MB to improve the design going forward...
