syswei

The 08 S550 is my first MB. Could someone please help me understand if the following are normal behavior for the car?

1. The car won't lock from exterior door handle sensor, unless the keyless-go key fob is in the vicinity. This seems odd to me...if it is designed to work that way, the driver can't park and walk away first, and ask the kids to lock the car from the exterior handle when they follow (for instance, if my kid wants to finish the chapter in his book, before following us).

2. Opening the car from exterior door handle is basically instantaneous, but when locking the car from the exterior door handle sensor, there is a delay of 1-2 seconds, and I can hear a light clicking sound from the rear of the car (maybe a relay clicking?) as I keep my finger on the sensor, waiting briefly.

3. Interior door locking / unlocking switches (the driver and front passenger aluminum ones on the inside of the door):

.....a. The passenger side switch doesn't work when the front passenger door is open.

.....b. When the driver door is open, the switch locks the other 3 doors, but not the driver's door.

Thanks in advance to anyone who might shed some light on this.

Diesel Benz

This is seen a safety feature (like it or not). If you forget doors open on a car without KG, your kids cannot go and lock it from the driver's door, unless they have a key.

AsianML

#1 defeats the purpose of the safety behind KG if you can lock or unlock with the key at any range.

#3 is sort of odd. I think all MBs are that way to prevent locking yourself out of the car. That shouldn't be a problem with KG if the car doesn't sense any keys are inside the car though.

velvet fog

1. That's the way the KG in my SL works too.

2. There is a delay on mine also, but you don't need to hold your finger on the button. Just press once and the car locks in a second or two.

3. Can't help you here.

dieseldoc

My KG works the same way on my GL

AustinGuy

This is one thing I won't gripe about. MB has done a very good job with the functionality of KG.

I'ts designed as such with safety as the #1 goal. I can't see how the car/doors could/should function with the key fob 1 mile away... doesn't make sense.

syswei

I don't understand how being able to lock the car from the outside (without the KG fob) would compromise safety?

Diesel Benz

This isn't likely the only reason and I believe it does not apply for US cars but on some countries the doors cannot be unlocked from inside once doors are locked and interior protection is activated. In this case a person accidentally left inside the car would be a significant safety issue. The driver should be able to look after this not happening but a person passing by cannot be trusted.

PHYBENZ

#3 is the case on any car I have ever driven. It prevents you from locking the keys in the car.

Diesel Benz

I should have mentioned that but honestly forgot this issue completely.

But doesn't that apply for a non-KG car only? Or could it be for a KG car when the key battery has run out?

syswei

Thanks for the replys, guys. It sounds like my locks may be working as MB intended.

One more question, though: it seems that the driver's manual door switch (the one that stands up from the door) can't actually be locked manually. I tried using the electronic switch (the aluminum one inside the door) to lock the doors and it operates the other 3 doors. When I then tried to push the manual switch down, it seemed stuck. Is that normal?

Diesel Benz

Which button (you can refer to the figure) do you mean? My car locks from the pin at the top of the door (not in the figure) and also from number 3 button on the figure?

benzmodz

The only way to find out is to visit a dealership and try another car.

trumpet1

I can't believe this!! All this time I've been griping to myself about how I have to press on the lock pad sensor for 2 seconds when all along it only needed a quick touch! I just learned something today that I thought all along was a problem. Just tested it and sure enough, it only has to be quickly touched to lock.

Thanks

cjf_moraga

Hmm... try washing your car with the keys in your pocket. The doors lock and unlock every time you run your sponge over the handles...

Chris

syswei

I meant the pin at the top of the door...the driver's one can't be pushed down if the door is open, and I think it doesn't matter if the KG fob is nearby or not.

In #3 in my original post, I meant buttons 2 and 3 in your diagram.

BTW, is there a PDF of the entire owner's manual somewhere?

syswei

A reasonable suggestion, but in my case I bought from a dealer in another part of the country, and had the car trucked to me. If I visit the local dealer and ask to borrow a key to experiment on a car outside, they might ask who my salesman was. The cars inside the showroom normally have the locks etc disabled.

Diesel Benz

Sorry, I missed your definition about the door being open, sure you cannot lock the door from that pin then.

You should be able to download a pdf manual from MBUSA if you subscribe as a US MB owner.

AsianML

Why should they treat you any different if you bought the car somewhere else?

I'd expect different treatment from service, but not from sales.

syswei

Well, before I bought from out of state and was a prospective customer, I thought the sales guy at the local dealer wasn't terribly helpful, and now that I've bought elsewhere I wouldn't expect an improvement.

syswei

So, if my wife is away and I've somehow lost my own KG fob, it seems like there is no way to lock the car, unless I call MB and have them do it remotely (assuming I've subscribed beyond the initial free year)?

trumpet1

Oh yeah, I know what you mean. I've learned to keep the keys inside the car as I wash it. It locks, unlocks, locks, unlocks if they are in my pocket while washing it . Sometimes just allowing the water spray to touch the pad locks it.

Diesel Benz

No, that isn't correct. I have never tried it on my car but if you open the rear door and lock all doors (not sure if you need to do it on all doors), then you should be able to close the rear door and have all doors locked. This is something you are not supposed to do by accident.

451/443=EW

All these concerns about how the locks work are just as MB has intended for the prospective countrys. Iv heard that in some countrys the convertibles or sunroofs close when it rains due to the rain sensors. So you will get different answers from different regions. As for the doors not locking by hand on the driver door, even BM's do the same. Dont know if its safety or security reasons. There is a trick to looking the doors manually. You have to open the rear door and lock all the doors by hand and then lock the last rear door and close it. ( Go in from the back door ).

syswei

Thanks again, guys.