Can you reprogram the steering wheel buttons?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 274
Likes: 76
From: Seattle, WA
2020 AMG GLC 43
Can you reprogram the steering wheel buttons?
One of the things I dislike most about MBUX is how you can't cycle through your radio station presets with a + and - button on your steering wheel. How Mercedes missed the most basic of radio features is beyond me, but that rant is for another day.
Anyone know if you can reprogram the buttons on the steering wheel through software or hardware? I never use the two phone buttons (pick up and hang up), so maybe I could turn them into Preset + and Preset - buttons? If you can change the presets via menu settings and left touchpad (which has to be done every time you start the car, making it useless), then the radio must be able to receive the signal to do it. I'd just have to find a way to change the phone signals on the steering wheel into the preset signals. Anyone good with that kind of thing?
Anyone know if you can reprogram the buttons on the steering wheel through software or hardware? I never use the two phone buttons (pick up and hang up), so maybe I could turn them into Preset + and Preset - buttons? If you can change the presets via menu settings and left touchpad (which has to be done every time you start the car, making it useless), then the radio must be able to receive the signal to do it. I'd just have to find a way to change the phone signals on the steering wheel into the preset signals. Anyone good with that kind of thing?
Last edited by Tim_P; May 2, 2022 at 04:56 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 39
Likes: 5
2021 GLC300
I don't know if you can re-map the buttons, but if the main center display is on Media you can use the right thumb swipe pad thing to skip tracks, If the center display between the gauges in the dash is showing media, you can use the left thumb swipe thing, too. It's not ideal. I agree that dedicated track skip buttons would be nice, but at least this will work, even if it only works while displaying Media. FYI, I have a 2021. I don't know if it's different for models older than 2019.
Member
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 210
Likes: 18
GLC
I had the same question in a post in the past shortly after buying my '20 GLC300. It's a pain to have to use your thumb to swipe right and then press the button to move forward on your preset radio stations. Unfortunately, I haven't found any other way to advance to the next preset. How they missed this is beyond me. It would seem like one of the most basic features to be added to the steering wheel functionality. Even my '04 RX8 had this functionality! Come on, Mercedes!
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,464
Likes: 5,354
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
I've always wondered how many people are actually still using Presets. They seem to be a relict from the 90s when you had to scan for the next radio station. Modern radios scan the entire band in the background and show a station list, so you can just directly jumped to any station. With HD Radio you even see the station name. Back when I still had SiriusXM I just changed channels using voice commands. It allows for changing to a station by name. Car manufacturers used to waste space with the preset buttons on the dash. I personally never used them. I find associating a function with a numbered button/slot way outdated in the age of screens where you can show lists of stuff and just scroll through.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 274
Likes: 76
From: Seattle, WA
2020 AMG GLC 43
I don't know if you can re-map the buttons, but if the main center display is on Media you can use the right thumb swipe pad thing to skip tracks, If the center display between the gauges in the dash is showing media, you can use the left thumb swipe thing, too. It's not ideal. I agree that dedicated track skip buttons would be nice, but at least this will work, even if it only works while displaying Media. FYI, I have a 2021. I don't know if it's different for models older than 2019.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 274
Likes: 76
From: Seattle, WA
2020 AMG GLC 43
I've always wondered how many people are actually still using Presets. They seem to be a relict from the 90s when you had to scan for the next radio station. Modern radios scan the entire band in the background and show a station list, so you can just directly jumped to any station. With HD Radio you even see the station name. Back when I still had SiriusXM I just changed channels using voice commands. It allows for changing to a station by name. Car manufacturers used to waste space with the preset buttons on the dash. I personally never used them. I find associating a function with a numbered button/slot way outdated in the age of screens where you can show lists of stuff and just scroll through.
Thanks for your suggestion. Making it even harder to change stations while driving wasn't something I had considered.
Member
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 210
Likes: 18
GLC
Don't most people use pre-sets? Everyone I know who owns a car with SiriusXM or FM radio uses a preset. Why would you want to scan for a channel you want to listen to when you click one single button and go to that channel instantly? I'm not sure how you refer to scrolling through presets of stations you actually listen to as a "90's relict". And what is the difference between showing a lists of channels (that scanned in the background, as you stated) vs setting up a list of pre-sets? It's the same thing. You still need a way to scan between these channels that are showing on your display, no? There should be a single button to scan between these channels rather than using your thumb to swipe right and then press the thumb button to select.
Trending Topics
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 32,514
Likes: 6,348
I guess that is Mercedes' intention or what they are good at, just look at the amount of screens the newest models have, thankfully the climate controls are always on the same screen/interface instead of in layers of menus in competitors' vehicles but nothing makes life easier than a traditional button or knob, does it?
Last edited by W205C43PFL; May 3, 2022 at 12:56 PM.
MB World Stories
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
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
Flawlessly Restored Mercedes 190E Evo II Heads to Auction
Verdad Gallardo
Electric Mercedes C-Class Unveiled: 11 Things You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes EQS Gets A Major Update: Everything You Need to Know
Verdad Gallardo
5 Underrated Mercedes-Benz Models That Don't Get the Love They Deserve
Verdad Gallardo
Mercedes 300D Has Pushed Well Past 1 Million Miles and It Ain't Stopping
Verdad Gallardo
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,464
Likes: 5,354
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Ah yes, just scroll through 200+ sirius channels, in addition to all the AM and FM stations, via menus and touchscreens. Because pressing a single button to quickly switch between the 10 stations I listen to - without taking my eyes off the road - is soooo 90's!
Thanks for your suggestion. Making it even harder to change stations while driving wasn't something I had considered.
Thanks for your suggestion. Making it even harder to change stations while driving wasn't something I had considered.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 274
Likes: 76
From: Seattle, WA
2020 AMG GLC 43
Using your voice is slower than a physical button. Especially when you have to cycle through five stations in a row before finding a song you like.
Regardless, this has become off-topic from my original question so I’ll wait to see if anyone can help with that.
Regardless, this has become off-topic from my original question so I’ll wait to see if anyone can help with that.
Member
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 210
Likes: 18
GLC
Great point. By the time I say, "Hey Mercedes.... Play Sirius XMU", it takes 5+ seconds to understand my comment, change the current station and load my requested station, I could have already pushed the button five different times to scroll through my selected pre-sets.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 817
Likes: 175
From: USA
04 E55, 06 E55, 05 G55, 14 E63s, 12 cls63
Check out RJautomotive1 on IG, recently ran across their page. from what i have heard from others they can remotely program just about anything in MB
im not affiliated with them in any way just heard they do good work.
im not affiliated with them in any way just heard they do good work.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 274
Likes: 76
From: Seattle, WA
2020 AMG GLC 43
Thanks for this, I had forgotten about RJ. Unfortunately they told me the steering wheel buttons are hard coded and cannot be changed. I asked him if instead he could make the menu setting for using your left trackpad to change the presets permanent, but he didn't respond. I may ping him again in a day or two - perhaps he's looking into it.
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 817
Likes: 175
From: USA
04 E55, 06 E55, 05 G55, 14 E63s, 12 cls63
Thanks for this, I had forgotten about RJ. Unfortunately they told me the steering wheel buttons are hard coded and cannot be changed. I asked him if instead he could make the menu setting for using your left trackpad to change the presets permanent, but he didn't respond. I may ping him again in a day or two - perhaps he's looking into it.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 645
Likes: 204
From: Central Indiana
2021 GLC 300 4Matic
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 274
Likes: 76
From: Seattle, WA
2020 AMG GLC 43
When you're on the Radio in the left cluster, by default the thumbpad only goes up or down to the next station, not the next preset. I don't know anyone who scrolls through every station on the dial, so it's pointless. You can have it scroll through presets if you go into the menu and select that option. However, that setting does not remain permanent, and must be done every time you start the car.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 645
Likes: 204
From: Central Indiana
2021 GLC 300 4Matic
When you're on the Radio in the left cluster, by default the thumbpad only goes up or down to the next station, not the next preset. I don't know anyone who scrolls through every station on the dial, so it's pointless. You can have it scroll through presets if you go into the menu and select that option. However, that setting does not remain permanent, and must be done every time you start the car.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 30
Likes: 2
GLC 300 Coupe
When you're on the Radio in the left cluster, by default the thumbpad only goes up or down to the next station, not the next preset. I don't know anyone who scrolls through every station on the dial, so it's pointless. You can have it scroll through presets if you go into the menu and select that option. However, that setting does not remain permanent, and must be done every time you start the car.
Super Member
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 645
Likes: 204
From: Central Indiana
2021 GLC 300 4Matic
You can set the left swipe to cycle through the presets but only when the radio/media option is in the center portion of the driver's gauge cluster. When the radio,/media is set to the center view, press the left swipe button and a menu will pop up and you can choose from FM, AM, and ultimately, presets is available at the bottom.
