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I initially liked the E53's fancy retractable door handles, but after a while, I hate them; they are about as reliable as a cat at bath time.
One moment, they're all slick and stylish, and the next, I'm standing there like a fool wrestling with a stubborn door handle that seems to have a mind of its own.
In cold weather, forget it! It's like the handles are playing a game of hide and seek—only I'm the one losing. Who knew I'd need a degree in handle psychology to get into my car?
Nice try, Mercedes, but for future models, I'll take function over fashion any day. Just give me a good old-fashioned handle that doesn't need a motivational speech or a prayer to work!
Lots of car manufacturers are using them these days. I've not had much of an issue with them myself. Occasionally the car doesn't automatically unlock as fast as it should, but that's less an issue with the door handles than it is with the automatic unlock feature. I'm talking about when they are out, but pulling on them doesn't open the door as they are still locked. There has been a time or two where they don't pop out, but using the key fob to unlock has always worked when that happens. I would say 99% of the time, they work as I would expect. The other 1% is more likely an edge case where the car was not locked when I walked up to it or I just closed the trunk while the car was locked and it didn't unlock the doors as quickly as I would expect.
You are not the first to complain about the retractable door handles and certainly won't be the last. I'm not sure if it's a defective car, poor design, or just that some people are hitting more edge cases with their operation than others. I think leaving the car unlocked will cause it to not always pop out the handles when you approach. I'm guessing that another issue could be when two or more key fobs (digital key included) come within range at the same time. Typically a swipe along the handle or a finger touch on the dimple in the handle will get them to retract if they don't automatically do so. Failing that, pressing unlock on the key fob should work 100% of the time assuming it has a good battery.
I completely agree with the reviewer about the Mercedes retractable handles; they are disappointing.
It's frustrating when a feature meant to enhance convenience turns out to be more of a hassle.
It's surprising for a brand known for luxury to have such an issue.
This is definitely on MB's list of things to address.
I hate the damn retractable door handles thing. A solution that went looking for a problem that never existed.
I used to have the 2022 E-450 All-Terrain, that had the regular grab handles, and currently have the 2025 E450 All-Terrain with the retractable handles. Never had a whisper of an issue with the 2022 AT, and the last thing they should have done is to design handles that cycle in and out, which is a future expensive repair waiting to happen.
I keep thinking there’s a trick to get them to pop out that I don’t know. It’s great when they proactively present when you walk to the car, but on the times they don’t I’ve taken to just pushing the unlock button on the remote because it takes about a dozen swipes to get them to pop out otherwise.
My handles used to pop out all the time when I first got the car even when I was just grabbing something from the garage without the intention of opening the car door. Then it eventually stopped popping out the handles but would do it when I was out and about. Its almost as if the car computer figured out that when its sitting in the garage it knew I wasn't going to drive it so it stopped popping out, but it knew that when I was outside it did. It's like the car learned the routine or something as the parking assistance turns on whenever I am close to home too. Weird.
My handles used to pop out all the time when I first got the car even when I was just grabbing something from the garage without the intention of opening the car door. Then it eventually stopped popping out the handles but would do it when I was out and about. Its almost as if the car computer figured out that when its sitting in the garage it knew I wasn't going to drive it so it stopped popping out, but it knew that when I was outside it did. It's like the car learned the routine or something as the parking assistance turns on whenever I am close to home too. Weird.
The car is supposed to have a learning capacity and will adjust behavior as it does. I don't know if the handles popping out is part of that, but they may be. Here is what Google has to say from the question ”how does the Mercedes W214 use AI to learn driver behavior and adjust”.
The Mercedes W214 uses Artificial Intelligence to learn driver behavior by collecting data on your interactions with the vehicle's features, recognizing patterns in your preferences, and then making automated adjustments to enhance personalization and comfort. Through the Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) multimedia system and onboard cameras, the AI learns routines, such as your preferred climate settings or seat positions, and proactively suggests adjustments or automatically implements them based on your daily habits and environmental factors like the time of day or weather. [1, 2, 3] Data Collection 1. Interaction with Vehicle Features: The AI begins by observing your manual adjustments and usage of various vehicle features, such as seat positions, mirror settings, climate control, and infotainment preferences. [1, 3] 2. Environmental Data: The system also gathers contextual data, including the time of day, weather conditions, and the duration of your journey, which helps the AI understand how your needs might change. [1, 2] Pattern Recognition 1. Identifying Habits: The AI identifies recurring patterns in your behavior. For example, it learns that you always turn on the heated seats during your morning commute. [1, 4, 5] 2. Learning Routines: By observing these patterns over time, the system builds a profile of your daily routines and preferences. [2, 5] Automated Adjustments & Personalization 1. Predictive Suggestions: Based on your learned routines, the AI can proactively offer suggestions or automatically adjust settings. [1, 2] 2. Real-time Adaptation: The AI makes automated adjustments to suit your learned preferences, enhancing your comfort without requiring manual input. [1, 2] 3. Specific AI Routines: The MBUX system has an AI routines feature where you can manually teach the system by pressing and holding a button for about 10 seconds to save a specific action as a routine, like adjusting the seat. [4, 5] Examples of AI Adjustments • Climate Control: The system can automatically adjust the cabin temperature based on your learned preferences. [1, 2] • Seat Position: The AI can set your seat to your preferred position based on detected driver profiles. [2, 3] • Infotainment & Navigation: It can load your favorite radio station for your morning drive or suggest your most-visited coffee shop as a destination. [2, 5] • Safety Features: The system can adapt how driver assistance features like adaptive cruise control or lane-keeping assist respond to your driving style, offering more subtle or assertive interventions as needed. [3, 6] AI responses may include mistakes. [1] https://digitaldefynd.com/IQ/mercede...ai-case-study/[2] https://www.mercedesbenznaples.com/b...mart-features/[3] https://www.arrowheadmb.com/blog/how...edan-help/amp/[4] https://www.arrowheadmb.com/blog/lea...mercedes-benz/[5] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_7lKdAYKP8[6] https://tactilemobility.com/the-role...ng-experience/
I just wish the idiots had retained the regular grab-handles that worked without a single hitch, like in the prior generation E-class (S/W/X213). No pop-outs to worry about, just walk-up, grab open and go.
And instead of useless bling like pop-out door handles, I would have been pleased if they kept the perfect grab-handles from the prior gen, and spent those engineering dollars in providing more room in the rear-seats (as an aside, a Honda Civic has the same legroom as the E-class, and the Honda Accord has around half a FOOT longer legroom than the E-class), or something similar that is of some real utility.
I just wish the idiots had retained the regular grab-handles that worked without a single hitch, like in the prior generation E-class (S/W/X213). No pop-outs to worry about, just walk-up, grab open and go.
And instead of useless bling like pop-out door handles, I would have been pleased if they kept the perfect grab-handles from the prior gen, and spent those engineering dollars in providing more room in the rear-seats (as an aside, a Honda Civic has the same legroom as the E-class, and the Honda Accord has around half a FOOT longer legroom than the E-class), or something similar that is of some real utility.
other engineering feats: perfume sprayer, video screen for passenger, 3D dash display,
My handles used to pop out all the time when I first got the car even when I was just grabbing something from the garage without the intention of opening the car door. Then it eventually stopped popping out the handles but would do it when I was out and about. Its almost as if the car computer figured out that when its sitting in the garage it knew I wasn't going to drive it so it stopped popping out, but it knew that when I was outside it did. It's like the car learned the routine or something as the parking assistance turns on whenever I am close to home too. Weird.
Maybe it was because you had your phone in your pocket and it was reading your digital key. I’ve noticed this happening to me.
I had a variety of small things resolved (my car's currently in service). One of the items that they're working on is the front door handles not popping out on-touch. There's a software update for the "front door handle control unit," which they're applying. We'll see if it resolves the issue. I had a couple of different problems from the moment I picked up the car; when I went to drive it off, I left the key in the console while it was in accessory mode, got out of the car to talk to someone, and couldn't get back in because the car retracted the handles. Even pressing the unlock on the other key wouldn't extend the handles. It took someone trying the rear handles to get 'em to extend out.
Hopefully this resolves the issue. Maybe check and see if you have a similar update available?
Serious question: why did they do this? Is it just because they look cool? Can’t imagine there is a real aerodynamic benefit that would be worth this trouble.
Serious question: why did they do this? Is it just because they look cool? Can’t imagine there is a real aerodynamic benefit that would be worth this trouble.
Other than looking cool (but really, does it ?), there's zero benefit to this kind of a retractable handle, while potentially being a future trouble-spot, as the open-close actuations of the door-handles mount, and the miles pile on.
My 2022 E450 All-Terrain, which is pretty much identical to the 2025 All-Terrain (drivetrain, mechanicals etc), had the regular grab handles, and not even a whisper of a problem, anywhere in the car, ever, and currently it is with my brother and has close to 70K absolutely trouble-free miles.
Here's a picture of my prior 2022 E450 All-terrain's door handles. Functioned beautifully ! What problem were they trying to solve here, with the pop-out useless bling ?
Last edited by Roweraay; Sep 23, 2025 at 07:44 AM.
Traditional Mercedes handles work. Trying the retractable handles of the E53 in the showroom totally confused me. When doing a test drive, one of the exercises was avoiding the handles closing on my hands. It shouldn't be difficult to figure out how to get in or out of a car
So what is the consensus, on how and the best strategy to get it to pop out. If I recalled in the W223 thread, can't find it right now, it isn't a swipe, was it a tap?
I hate the damn retractable door handles thing. A solution that went looking for a problem that never existed.
I used to have the 2022 E-450 All-Terrain, that had the regular grab handles, and currently have the 2025 E450 All-Terrain with the retractable handles. Never had a whisper of an issue with the 2022 AT, and the last thing they should have done is to design handles that cycle in and out, which is a future expensive repair waiting to happen.
I wish I could give you multiple likes for your post.
I surmise that there is a slight aerodynamic advantage to recessed handles, but they could retain that feature and still keep them mechanical.
I suppose electric retractable handles are somewhat more theft or carjack proof.
There is probably a wow factor that is somewhat prestigious, although it is very difficult to value prestige in hard currency.
All in all I dislike the handles because they aren’t intuitive, and end up fighting you more than cooperating.
I have given them every chance and time to grow on me, but they haven’t.
Unless there is some insight I am missing, my mind is made up.
I wish I could give you multiple likes for your post.
I surmise that there is a slight aerodynamic advantage to recessed handles, but they could retain that feature and still keep them mechanical.
I suppose electric retractable handles are somewhat more theft or carjack proof.
There is probably a wow factor that is somewhat prestigious, although it is very difficult to value prestige in hard currency.
All in all I dislike the handles because they aren’t intuitive, and end up fighting you more than cooperating.
I have given them every chance and time to grow on me, but they haven’t.
Unless there is some insight I am missing, my mind is made up.
If it is a relay attack it probably won't do much...
That said, more likes for the other forum member? Yes please ""
Just like the soft close doors and the pop up and down windows when opening/closing doors, a big repair expense for a useless benefit when they break in the future, and they will….
I really don’t dislike the pop out handles but I will when the mechanisms go south.
2025 E450 All Terrain Wagon, Nautical Blue Metallic, Macchiato Beige/Black Interior
I rather like the door handles. Yes, sometimes I have to tap/swipe a few times for them to react, but for me, it’s OK and I don’t find it to be too big a deal.
Just like the soft close doors and the pop up and down windows when opening/closing doors, a big repair expense for a useless benefit when they break in the future, and they will….
I really don’t dislike the pop out handles but I will when the mechanisms go south.
I love the soft close doors. They save me from getting out and walking around to a passenger door it when guests, usually children, don't close it all the way. I have not had any maintenance issues with them.
