Mine pinched me today at the petrol station. I got looks. First time in 6 months it has ever done that.

 

Same 2 214s and not one handle snapping shut on someone incident. The handles are not my favorite, they're not even close to perfect, but as you said yesterday, this whole thing is blown out of proportion.

 

Nobody is "blowing it our of proportion", its just a poor design. Even if it hasn't happened to you look around, it happens to plenty of people. Still a great car. Not sure why people feel the need to try and defend any criticism of a car. Nothing is perfect.

 

I'm not defending them. I didn't say YOU blew it out of proportion. However, look at this thread. It's the third largest thread on the first two pages of the 214 forum. The only ones larger are order and delivery updates. if that's not out of proportion, i don't know what is.

 

It just shows you that for a lot of people its a problem...a lot of the reason for the length though is people trying to convince those who do have an issue with the handles that it isn't a problem...

 

Or the opposite.

 

The two go hand in hand. If you just let people express their concerns without challenging them the thread would be way shorter

 

I don't think this thread is a good indicator of "for a lot of people its a problem". This entire form likely makes up less than 10% of all owners and more often than not, people come here only when they have an issue so it's likely heavily biased with users that have some sort of an issue. I'm sure their issues are real but so are the many users who do not have an issue such as myself and others that have chimed in. Just for fun, I asked ChatGPT to summarize this thread and group user's sentiment and comment summaries. Below is what it produced. I have no skin in this game and am only here to help others with knowledge I've gained through others and trial and error. I like them, but I agree that they are unnecessary and over engineered. So far, they have worked reliably in two W214's I've driven over a total of 28K miles. If they ever stop working I'll be cursing the engineers too.

Edit: As with any LLM AI, there could be errors.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Based on a comprehensive review of the full thread, here is the finalized summary of all 16 unique users who participated.

Users with Operational Issues (5 Users)

These users reported that the handles did not pop out or work as expected.

• Furdaneta: Finds them highly unreliable and prone to "hiding" in cold weather, requiring "handle psychology" to operate.
  
• rdashley81: Frequently forced to use the key fob because the touch/swipe gestures fail 11 out of 12 times.
  
• mhollin1: Experienced a lockout when handles retracted with the key inside; currently at a dealership for a "door handle control unit" software update.
  
• regor60: Reports that neither tapping the dimple nor swiping works consistently; finds the system "sucks."
  
• SamWeb: Frustrated that a luxury convenience feature has become a frequent "hassle" and expects Mercedes to fix it.
  

Users with Safety or Retraction "Scares" (1 User)

Users who experienced handles retracting while they were in the middle of interacting with the door.

• mhollin1: Specifically reported that while standing outside the car with the key inside, the handles retracted on their own, preventing re-entry until a rear handle was manually tried. (No physical injuries were reported by any user in this thread).
  

Users with No Operational Issues (4 Users)

Users who report the handles work exactly as intended.

• L1Wolf: Claims 99% reliability and notes they work "as I would expect" almost every time.
  
• c2e2025: Observed the car successfully "learning" via AI when to stay retracted (in the garage) and when to present (out in public).
  
• Hicksra: Reports no issues other than a standard "sleep mode" after 4-5 days of inactivity, which is easily woken by the key fob.
  
• cruise2024: Finds them functional and notes they can be extended via touch even after the car has been sitting for days.
  

Critics (Complained without reporting a personal issue) (5 Users)

These users dislike the design, logic, or aesthetics but didn't say their own handles were broken.

• Roweraay: Hates the design as "useless bling" and a future expensive repair; prefers the previous generation's mechanical handles.
  
• E53DadWagon: Questions the engineering logic, suggesting the aerodynamic benefits don't justify the complexity.
  
• Baltistyle: Views the tech as "crap" and "lemming" behavior by MB, citing safety articles about emergency responders.
  
• ua549: Participated to agree with the negative sentiment regarding the move away from mechanical handles.
  
• alanluddite: Joined the thread to vent about "idiotic swiping" controls, though focused his specific anger on the interior light controls.
  

The "Technical Commentators" (2 Users)

These users did not report a personal issue but provided analysis or technical theories to the discussion.

• MB2timer: Provides a balanced but negative academic critique; analyzed potential "theft-proof" benefits but concluded they aren't intuitive.
  
• W205C43PFL: Theorized about capacitive technology and moisture levels on hands; researched how rescue workers might struggle with the design.
  

Helpful Users & Contributions

The following 6 users provided troubleshooting, technical data, or solutions to others:

1. L1Wolf: Provided the most support; shared AI/MBUX learning documentation and explained the technical differences between MB and Tesla handle mechanisms.
   
2. digital_b: Debunked the "swipe" myth, explaining that the handles are designed for a "touch" on the dimple rather than a swipe, which improved success for others.
   
3. mhollin1: Informed the group about a specific software update for the "front door handle control unit" available at service centers.
   
4. W205C43PFL: Researched and shared links to older S-Class threads (W223) to show that these issues have been documented in other models.
   
5. Baltistyle: Provided links to the official Mercedes Emergency Unlocking procedures to help users who might get locked out.
   
6. Hicksra: Correctly identified that "sleep mode" is a battery-saving feature, not a defect, and clarified how the Digital Key (phone/watch) affects proximity sensors.

 

Compare it to the number of people on forums that have issues with traditional door handles or electronic door handles that don't pop out...

I just don't see the value in trying to "explain away" criticisms of a product...nothing is perfect.

Flaw in the ChatGPT data, I'm not reflected. So...who else isn't reflected?

 

This retractable handles design, is a solution that was solving a non-existent problem. I have gotten used to it by now, but even now I wish Mercedes had spent the development dollars for something that served a real purpose, than create a turd that will pose problems in the long-term.

 

Nobody is trying to explain anything away. It it what it is. Some here don't like them and feel the need to rehash their disapproval over and over. Nobody is helped by people bashing them or praising them over and over. We are all entitled to our opinions. You hate them, that's cool. Other people like them, that's cool too. If you don't like them you have options. One of them is to sell your car and buy one with traditional handles. Another is to deal with them and maybe, just maybe, learn how to use them.

 

I know how to use them, they're just poorly designed. Don't hate the car because of it would just like to see Mercedes go back to putting function over form.

When there is a learning curve to door handles, they're poorly designed.

Just stop arguing with us about it and the thread will die . It’s not like people are spamming the forum, this is a thread about issues with the door handles. Let people complain in peace.

 

You’ve already complained 14 times on this thread. We heard you the first 10 times…. Maybe if you stopped arguing the thread will die.

 

Fanboyism is funny lol

 

maybe these ****ty handles were brought in to improve gas mileage.

 

They were. See post #151.

 

I really don't think thats the reason why. Its an attempt to be "cooler" and "techier" and to follow brands like Tesla. Thats why they irritate me, a company like Mercedes is supposed to be a leader, not a follower. Its frustrating to see them focusing more on flash, putting stars everywhere etc than they put on thoughtfully designing a car.

 

Wow, 0.23 Cd… that is crazy!

https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w...ml#post9255867


Aero mods are in a sense like weight reduction: a little bit here and there will cumulatively make a huge difference. I believe it has to play a role in their decision making do to more stringent fuel economy standards.


But I also agree that it’s a functionally poor design. Why reinvent the wheel (handle)? It was fine the way it is.

i also do think that trying to be techy was another motivator in the redesigned handle. After all, every car now has a tablet display in the middle of their car, replacing all their stereos and climate controls.

I was reading about the lotus Evija the other day. They removed the side mirrors and replaced them with cameras! i expect to see other brands follow suit in the following years.

all this “innovation” looks cool, but it really comes at our expense. They’ll be so expensive when they break, and they surely will break. And that’s not to mention the pain from getting your fingers pinched. Maybe you guys can sue for that.

 

Don't know how much the handles contribute to drag. But you have to keep in mind that at normal highway speeds, 50% of the engine's power is used to overcome drag. Automakers seem to make it a point when their vehicles go from a 0.23 to 0.21 drag coefficient.

 

 

I believe they stated that the W214 matches the last version of the W213, in terms of Cd. Despite the slight increase in the frontal area.

Either way, in case of the E450 Wagon, the new version has LESS height INSIDE the car and certainly not something I am happy about, since it allows MB to get a low Cd bragging right, but has taken away practicality from the buyer. I doubt the pop-out handles have done anything whatsoever to bettering the ownership experience.

 

An attractive nuance. If aerodynamics is the rationale behind "flush" door handles, there are plenty of examples of levered mechanical types. Of course, they do not extend and greet you as you approach. Gimmick or Innovation? After more than 220 responses (opinions) I'm willing to declare it a TIE.

 

Is your car called "Christine" by any chance 😂😂

 

CD is independent of frontal area. Drag area is what counts, which is CDxFrontal Area.