Retracted Door Handles
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 137
Likes: 22
From: Western North Carolina
2022 EQS 450+, 2020 C300 Cab, 2019 Jeep GC
Retracted Door Handles
If you haven't experienced this you might want to try it before it happens away from home. I think we all know that the car will not lock with the smart key inside...however....over time it will "shut down". This means that the door handles will retract. The same happens if you just leave the car unlocked somewhere, like inside the garage.
Either way once the door handles retract, if you are outside the car without a smart key it is difficult to open the doors. The owners manual describes the procedure as Inserting a ̰at, non-metallic (duh) object behind door handle from above and pry it slightly outward. Then reach behind door handle from below, pull it outward. This does work, but not quite as easily as described. You actually have to pull on the handle to get it to the point where the light comes on and all the handles pop out. I was able to do it with a credit card as it is the only flat non-metallic object I am likely to have in such a situation.
I did try one alternative that did not work. I thought that if I opened the tailgate then all the door handles would pop out....didn't happen.
If anyone knows a simple solution, please share.
Either way once the door handles retract, if you are outside the car without a smart key it is difficult to open the doors. The owners manual describes the procedure as Inserting a ̰at, non-metallic (duh) object behind door handle from above and pry it slightly outward. Then reach behind door handle from below, pull it outward. This does work, but not quite as easily as described. You actually have to pull on the handle to get it to the point where the light comes on and all the handles pop out. I was able to do it with a credit card as it is the only flat non-metallic object I am likely to have in such a situation.
I did try one alternative that did not work. I thought that if I opened the tailgate then all the door handles would pop out....didn't happen.
If anyone knows a simple solution, please share.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 981
Likes: 555
There are two sensor areas on the handle, even when it is retracted. The recessed area can be touched to lock the car, even with the handles retracted. Just forward of that, and described in the Owners Manual, is a larger sensor area on the outside of the handle itself. Holding you hand over this area will cause the handles to extend, and then you can open the door. I have done this on mine, even without the smartkey in my pocket. Just to make sure, I just went out to the garage and tried it again, smartkey inside, car had been sitting overnight. Hold three fingers against the handle just forward of the recessed sensor, and the handles will pop out.
Last edited by hlothery; Feb 4, 2022 at 09:30 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
Just a point of advice: Your key should never leave your pocket, purse or "murse" (that's me). If the door is unlocked, as described above, just swiping your hand over the handle should extend them. Gloves can interfere with the sensor.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
The car can be locked with the key inside. There are 2 ways: 1- with the other smart key. Happens to me occasionaly when my wife buttswipes the handle in the garage
2- with the app.
You should only have to pry the door in an extreme condition like a dead battery. Yes the handle does go to sleep (the key does too). When asleep a few slow swipes should be more than enough, if prying is the only way it works there is something wrong. Lastly to avoid the prying procedure you can always unlock the car with the app or the fob.
2- with the app.
You should only have to pry the door in an extreme condition like a dead battery. Yes the handle does go to sleep (the key does too). When asleep a few slow swipes should be more than enough, if prying is the only way it works there is something wrong. Lastly to avoid the prying procedure you can always unlock the car with the app or the fob.
Last edited by c4004matic; Sep 26, 2022 at 10:04 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
I leave the key in the car every night. In the morning, I swipe my hand over the handle twice. The first one wakes it up, the second one activates it. Once in the car I jingle my "manbag" to activate the key, and then... I can start the car.
Trending Topics
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
8 Oddball Mercedes Ideas That Actually Made it to Production
Verdad Gallardo
Dubai Tuner Gives the Mercedes G-Class An Entirely New Look
Verdad Gallardo
Six Gift Ideas Your AMG Loving Dad or Grad Will Cherish
7 Craziest Things AMG Gas Ever Built
Verdad Gallardo
New Electric Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe Unveiled: 10 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
6 Mercedes Models That Did NOT Age Well (But Are Somehow Still Cool)
Verdad Gallardo
Manual Mercedes? 6 Times Sindelfingen Let Drivers Have All The Fun
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Verdad Gallardo
8 Classic Boxy Mercedes Designs That Have Aged Like Fine Wine
Verdad Gallardo
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,757
Likes: 958
From: Atlanta
2022 Mercedes EQS 580
Yes that works if the door doesn't respond to swipes. I use both techniques. However I find these days the swipe always works. It was just a matter of honing the technique.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 32
Likes: 18
2022 MB EQS 580
Is there a way to leave the car unlocked and the door handles extended? I have a detailer who comes to my house and washes my car every week. And right now, I have to give him the key fob while he's cleaning the car. With my Tesla, I can just unlock the car from the app and he can clean the car whenever he arrives. Seems like another minor software feature that I'm surprised MB hasn't addressed.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
Is there a way to leave the car unlocked and the door handles extended? I have a detailer who comes to my house and washes my car every week. And right now, I have to give him the key fob while he's cleaning the car. With my Tesla, I can just unlock the car from the app and he can clean the car whenever he arrives. Seems like another minor software feature that I'm surprised MB hasn't addressed.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,501
Likes: 336
From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
Is there a way to leave the car unlocked and the door handles extended? I have a detailer who comes to my house and washes my car every week. And right now, I have to give him the key fob while he's cleaning the car. With my Tesla, I can just unlock the car from the app and he can clean the car whenever he arrives. Seems like another minor software feature that I'm surprised MB hasn't addressed.
You can unlock the Mercedes too remotely from the Mercedes Me app but I assume door handles will not remain extended for a long time and Mercedes usually locks doors again if doors are not opened after unlocking. The person detailing your car should be able to enter it if the car is unlocked remotely at the correct time but that may not be sufficient for you detailer. I have to admit that I have not tried any of this with a W223, have done it with a W213 previously but it does not have the same door handles.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 6,501
Likes: 336
From: Europe
223.168 & 213.012 & 906.633 & 214.005
A very good point. I was assuming that one would need the key fob once the car retracts door handles but it does not seem to be the case if the car is simply left unlocked.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 821
Likes: 185
From: New England/Florida
2005 SL 500. 2015 S550. 2016 GLE400 2018 S560
I was thinking the same thing. I don’t have my car yet, but from what he was asking I thought that maybe the car locked itself all the time and it was not possible to leave the car unlocked while sitting idle. That would be a pain.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2022
Posts: 32
Likes: 18
2022 MB EQS 580
Thanks for all the replies. I now see my mistake. I was using either the app or the key fob to unlock the car and walking away. This led to the car automatically re-locking itself after a few minutes, i.e. before the detailer arrived. I now realize if I unlock the car AND open a door, this will bypass this auto re-lock feature. Therefore my detailer can simply swipe the handle on the unlocked car and the handles will extend. And without a key fob nearby, I don't have to worry about him touching the small lock touch point on the handle and accidently locking himself out of the car. Thanks everyone
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 434
From: 🇨🇦
W463 G550 / C190 GTC //prev: W204 C63 507 / R170
What happens when there is freezing rain and the door handles are flush and have a layer of ice on them?
We know Tesla owners cannot get into their cars. I’m hoping MB has thought of this…
We know Tesla owners cannot get into their cars. I’m hoping MB has thought of this…
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 756
Likes: 226
From: Sweden
2023 EQE SUV 500 4Matic
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 434
From: 🇨🇦
W463 G550 / C190 GTC //prev: W204 C63 507 / R170
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2022
Posts: 756
Likes: 226
From: Sweden
2023 EQE SUV 500 4Matic
What you write is valid about whether Mercedes designers thought about this possibility. I fear it's another case of aesthetics prevailing over function.
I guess we've never been entirely free of this risk during the most severe of ice storms. I can recall instances of "old-style" locks and door handles needing de-icing one way or another.
I had a situation some 30 years ago, where I came out of the office late at night, after a raging rain/ice storm in NJ and my car was totally encased in ice. I would have risked damaging the car in order to chop it out, so I called a taxi to take me to the train station.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
EQS 450 4MATIC
Hi all,
New to the forum
Got my 2023 450 4MATIC end of september last year.
Now the driver door handle does not work. Stuck in the retracted position. All the other door handles work, but it is inconvenient to say the least to open the driver door from the inside or use the "plastic tool option".
The winter here varies from -20 C to +5 every time it goes from sunny to snow then rain.
Of course this makes most things freeze solid, including door handles, charge port flap, rear view camera. So I suspected this to happen at some time.
Not good for such an expensive "luxury" model I think. Where the car will operate under such conditions all these areas should either be heated (pre entry) and/or have some protective curcuit (like the wiper motor) to prevent the electric motor to fail. As it has on my EQS.
Will post back when my dealer has fixed this. Wish the door handles was like on my previous EQA. They work in winter Norway.
New to the forum
Got my 2023 450 4MATIC end of september last year.
Now the driver door handle does not work. Stuck in the retracted position. All the other door handles work, but it is inconvenient to say the least to open the driver door from the inside or use the "plastic tool option".
The winter here varies from -20 C to +5 every time it goes from sunny to snow then rain.
Of course this makes most things freeze solid, including door handles, charge port flap, rear view camera. So I suspected this to happen at some time.
Not good for such an expensive "luxury" model I think. Where the car will operate under such conditions all these areas should either be heated (pre entry) and/or have some protective curcuit (like the wiper motor) to prevent the electric motor to fail. As it has on my EQS.
Will post back when my dealer has fixed this. Wish the door handles was like on my previous EQA. They work in winter Norway.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,034
Likes: 434
From: 🇨🇦
W463 G550 / C190 GTC //prev: W204 C63 507 / R170
Hi all,
New to the forum
Got my 2023 450 4MATIC end of september last year.
Now the driver door handle does not work. Stuck in the retracted position. All the other door handles work, but it is inconvenient to say the least to open the driver door from the inside or use the "plastic tool option".
The winter here varies from -20 C to +5 every time it goes from sunny to snow then rain.
Of course this makes most things freeze solid, including door handles, charge port flap, rear view camera. So I suspected this to happen at some time.
Not good for such an expensive "luxury" model I think. Where the car will operate under such conditions all these areas should either be heated (pre entry) and/or have some protective curcuit (like the wiper motor) to prevent the electric motor to fail. As it has on my EQS.
Will post back when my dealer has fixed this. Wish the door handles was like on my previous EQA. They work in winter Norway.
New to the forum
Got my 2023 450 4MATIC end of september last year.
Now the driver door handle does not work. Stuck in the retracted position. All the other door handles work, but it is inconvenient to say the least to open the driver door from the inside or use the "plastic tool option".
The winter here varies from -20 C to +5 every time it goes from sunny to snow then rain.
Of course this makes most things freeze solid, including door handles, charge port flap, rear view camera. So I suspected this to happen at some time.
Not good for such an expensive "luxury" model I think. Where the car will operate under such conditions all these areas should either be heated (pre entry) and/or have some protective curcuit (like the wiper motor) to prevent the electric motor to fail. As it has on my EQS.
Will post back when my dealer has fixed this. Wish the door handles was like on my previous EQA. They work in winter Norway.
Newbie
Joined: Jan 2023
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
EQS 450 4MATIC
The fun fact in my case, is that just after I posted here and making an appointment with my local MB dealer, I decided to do yet another test with the keyfob (from inside the house.. about 15meters from the car).
Then I could see that all lights went on indicating that all the door handles came out.
I went outside and could confirm that the previous non-functional door handle on the driver side suddenly had start working again
Contacted my dealer the next day and they could not give an answer as I expected.
I would like to know how the ECU/car find it OK to make the door handle motor stop working and suddenly start working again.
