Hazard Light Switch too high
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 68
Likes: 3
EQS Sedan, W222, W221, W220
Hazard Light Switch too high
Hi,
I have a suggestion - I often place a computer on the center console while parked in order to do work while travelling. When doing this, it often turns on the hazard lights. It seems that the hazard light button is slightly raised more than everything else around it. It really should be depressed a little below the surface so it is not so easy to turn on by mistake.
Anyone have an issue or solution for this?
Thanks.
I have a suggestion - I often place a computer on the center console while parked in order to do work while travelling. When doing this, it often turns on the hazard lights. It seems that the hazard light button is slightly raised more than everything else around it. It really should be depressed a little below the surface so it is not so easy to turn on by mistake.
Anyone have an issue or solution for this?
Thanks.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 2,133
Likes: 265
From: NM
2023 AMG EQS
Its not that its too high... why is it there in the first place? It is not a commonly used button. There are several very poor design decisions with this vehicle and that is just another one of them.
But yes you are correct. Whichever idiot decided to put it there should have at least had the common sense to realize that it would be beneficial to make it a recessed button.
I considered buying on of those flip up Start button covers. This will prevent it from being accidentally pressed but the cover would just stick up even further and will likely look very tacky.
I may end up just removing the button if I get frustrated enough one day.
But yes you are correct. Whichever idiot decided to put it there should have at least had the common sense to realize that it would be beneficial to make it a recessed button.
I considered buying on of those flip up Start button covers. This will prevent it from being accidentally pressed but the cover would just stick up even further and will likely look very tacky.
I may end up just removing the button if I get frustrated enough one day.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 4,524
Likes: 1,181
From: WI
17 E43; 21 GLS580
In the US we seldom use it (because our driver education is terrible) In Germany its used quite frequently. Its used to let others know that there is a hazardous condition up front. They use it as the track flag warnings. Basicly it means slow down some sort of danger ahead. In most german vehicles, its prominently placed in the center of the dash or on the console so you can find it in a hurry.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,314
Likes: 5,273
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
To be fair, the center console isn't a desk. It's traditionally been the place for storage and vehicle controls such as gear shifter, jog wheels, touch pads and various buttons to control the different functions of the car. I hope you don't have the piano black cover or it'll be scratched badly pretty soon. As said above, the hazard button is frequently used in Germany and Europe as a whole. They actually teach drivers to turn on the hazards when approaching congestion on the Autobahn for example. A sound advice considering that somebody could be closing in on you at 200 mph. BTW, in Europe they also know how a zipper merge works.
Anyway, the button cluster is only back there if you have the Hyperscreen. Otherwise it's right below the center display. The placement way back there is definitely an odd choice. It's quite inconvenient to reach back there for any of the functions, and you likely bang your elbow into the seat if you actually need to press the hazard button in a hurry. When I drove the EQS 580 I wanted to change the drive mode and had to twist my body to reach back there for the DYNAMIC SELECT button. At least in the AMG variants you can change the drive mode from the steering wheel.
Anyway, the button cluster is only back there if you have the Hyperscreen. Otherwise it's right below the center display. The placement way back there is definitely an odd choice. It's quite inconvenient to reach back there for any of the functions, and you likely bang your elbow into the seat if you actually need to press the hazard button in a hurry. When I drove the EQS 580 I wanted to change the drive mode and had to twist my body to reach back there for the DYNAMIC SELECT button. At least in the AMG variants you can change the drive mode from the steering wheel.
Last edited by superswiss; Feb 15, 2023 at 08:18 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 22
Likes: 4
Audi ETron
To be fair, the center console isn't a desk. It's traditionally been the place for storage and vehicle controls such as gear shifter, jog wheels, touch pads and various buttons to control the different functions of the car. I hope you don't have the piano black cover or it'll be scratched badly pretty soon. As said above, the hazard button is frequently used in Germany and Europe as a whole. They actually teach drivers to turn on the hazards when approaching congestion on the Autobahn for example. A sound advice considering that somebody could be closing in on you at 200 mph. BTW, in Europe they also know how a zipper merge works.
Anyway, the button cluster is only back there if you have the Hyperscreen. Otherwise it's right below the center display. The placement way back there is definitely an odd choice. It's quite inconvenient to reach back there for any of the functions, and you likely bang your elbow into the seat if you actually need to press the hazard button in a hurry. When I drove the EQS 580 I wanted to change the drive mode and had to twist my body to reach back there for the DYNAMIC SELECT button. At least in the AMG variants you can change the drive mode from the steering wheel.
Anyway, the button cluster is only back there if you have the Hyperscreen. Otherwise it's right below the center display. The placement way back there is definitely an odd choice. It's quite inconvenient to reach back there for any of the functions, and you likely bang your elbow into the seat if you actually need to press the hazard button in a hurry. When I drove the EQS 580 I wanted to change the drive mode and had to twist my body to reach back there for the DYNAMIC SELECT button. At least in the AMG variants you can change the drive mode from the steering wheel.
Greatly agree with zippering - big problem here in Florida.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,314
Likes: 5,273
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Voice commands have their place for more complex tasks such as entering a navigation destination that would otherwise take tedious typing on a keyboard or turning and twisting a knob, but for simple tasks like switching the drive mode that's much better accomplished with a well placed physical button. This is the crux with everything going touchscreen. Digital assistants such as Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa, Hey Mercedes etc. have largely failed. Nobody really wants to talk to a machine in the current state. Still very unnatural. I read a report not too long ago and the most used voice command in Siri etc. is checking the weather. People really don't use them for much. Amazon just recently disclosed that they've lost billions with Alexa, because contrary to their initial believe, people don't wanna shop by talking to Alexa.
Having to use voice commands to change the drive mode is rather awkward quite frankly and kinda slow. In my AMG for example it takes a quick press of the drive mode selector knob on the steering wheel to activate my Individual mode and a quick turn to activate any of the other modes. It's practically instantaneously. Having to say "Hey Mercedes, change drive mode to Sport+", then wait for it to think for a moment, then confirm it and finally change to Sport+. All just feels like shooting birds with a cannon. Can be done, but unnecessary tedious.
Having to use voice commands to change the drive mode is rather awkward quite frankly and kinda slow. In my AMG for example it takes a quick press of the drive mode selector knob on the steering wheel to activate my Individual mode and a quick turn to activate any of the other modes. It's practically instantaneously. Having to say "Hey Mercedes, change drive mode to Sport+", then wait for it to think for a moment, then confirm it and finally change to Sport+. All just feels like shooting birds with a cannon. Can be done, but unnecessary tedious.
Last edited by superswiss; Feb 16, 2023 at 02:26 PM.
