Garage door homelink, very short range!
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: USA
W140 Mercedes S350, W221 S550 sport
Garage door homelink, very short range!
The range is horrible. I've used homelink in other cars to open my garage door and as soon as I pulled into my driveway it would open. Now, with this car, I have to be in front of it for it to open! I thought something may be wrong, but it just seems to be this way.
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From: Central Pennsylvania
2012 S350 Bluetec 4Matic, Diamond White, P2
This is because of the coating used in the glass. I noticed this too. It is, however, normal for this type of glass. The S-Class has a solar reflection additive to reflect heat.
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From: USA
W140 Mercedes S350, W221 S550 sport
Ok. So my next question is. How well does this coating work? It is all hype, or in the hot summer months, does it really keep the car cool inside?
Last edited by Jason B; Mar 17, 2014 at 11:43 AM.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: USA
W140 Mercedes S350, W221 S550 sport
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Central Pennsylvania
2012 S350 Bluetec 4Matic, Diamond White, P2
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S550
JK btw....
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 3,430
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From: USA
W140 Mercedes S350, W221 S550 sport
Same issue with the 2014+ w222:
https://mbworld.org/forums/new-s-cla...ted-range.html
Now, I'm still curious to know if these coating really helps keep the car cool when sitting in the sun? Or is it more of a gimmick.
https://mbworld.org/forums/new-s-cla...ted-range.html
Now, I'm still curious to know if these coating really helps keep the car cool when sitting in the sun? Or is it more of a gimmick.
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Laguna Beach, CA
2022 S500 4Matic
Where is the HomeLink Antenna?
All,
I have a 2007 S550 and have the same short range issue. I can "buy" the window coating argument, IF the antenna for HomeLink is in the rearview mirror. Does anyone know for sure?
I actually had to add a remote receiver to the Garage Door Opener and place the antenna at he garage door opening, and even then my MBZ must be pulled right up to the door in order to work. Really short range!
RGS
I have a 2007 S550 and have the same short range issue. I can "buy" the window coating argument, IF the antenna for HomeLink is in the rearview mirror. Does anyone know for sure?
I actually had to add a remote receiver to the Garage Door Opener and place the antenna at he garage door opening, and even then my MBZ must be pulled right up to the door in order to work. Really short range!
RGS
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 779
Likes: 205
From: Texas
63 Falcon vert
I have noticed the same thing. Based on my garage setup, I think the transmitter is directional as in forward looking only with a narrow beam. As to signal range, i have no clue but there is a directional component.
When in the driveway out side of the garage, I can have my front bumper inches from an adjacent door and the main door will not open. If I backup 3 feet, the main door will then open from the offset position.
My hand held remotes do not have this directional issue. As to signal strength comparing car to handheld who knows. The car has limits the handheld does not.
If glass coatings are the limiting factor, we are driving excellent reflectors for the radar guns.
When in the driveway out side of the garage, I can have my front bumper inches from an adjacent door and the main door will not open. If I backup 3 feet, the main door will then open from the offset position.
My hand held remotes do not have this directional issue. As to signal strength comparing car to handheld who knows. The car has limits the handheld does not.
If glass coatings are the limiting factor, we are driving excellent reflectors for the radar guns.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 643
Likes: 51
From: Southern California
2007 CL550
All,
I have a 2007 S550 and have the same short range issue. I can "buy" the window coating argument, IF the antenna for HomeLink is in the rearview mirror. Does anyone know for sure?
I actually had to add a remote receiver to the Garage Door Opener and place the antenna at he garage door opening, and even then my MBZ must be pulled right up to the door in order to work. Really short range!
RGS
I have a 2007 S550 and have the same short range issue. I can "buy" the window coating argument, IF the antenna for HomeLink is in the rearview mirror. Does anyone know for sure?
I actually had to add a remote receiver to the Garage Door Opener and place the antenna at he garage door opening, and even then my MBZ must be pulled right up to the door in order to work. Really short range!
RGS
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From: Alberta, Canada
'18 GLE63S AMG /'19 PORSCHE TURBO S / '09 CORVETTE ZR1 /'14 LEXUS RX350/'16 RAV4 Ltd
You may get increased range performance by adding a wire lengthening the antenna wire that hangs off the opener motor..just a thought
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2012
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2012 e350 bluetec / 2014 s550
I have my 2014 S-550 for about a month now and my only issue is the homelink very short range. My previous 2012 E-350 had far better range and it's so annoying that you have to push the buttons a few times and be right in front of garage door before it opens. Has anyone found a solution to this problem. Very disappointing that a car loaded with so much technology would screw up on a supposedly very simple homelink feature. Someone ought to bring this up to the engineers at MB.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: USA
W140 Mercedes S350, W221 S550 sport
Correct. It's due to the various coatings on the windshield. No fix.
Or do what I did, control your garage doors from your phone with x10, from anywhere.
Or do what I did, control your garage doors from your phone with x10, from anywhere.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Bay Area
08' S550, 04' E320 4matic, 03' Acura TL-S 6 speed, 1968 Vespa P150
I got tired of getting honked at parking in the street waiting for my gate to respond so I added a Zwave control to my gate and garage. Now I can open it 1/4 mile away from my phone.
U can look at the MyQ.
U can look at the MyQ.
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Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Chicago burbs
2015 S550
I can open and close my garage door from several houses away with my S600. But I have an early production 2007 that has the extra antenna nub on the trunk lid, so that might have something to do with the great range.
My E60 M5 had brutal range with the Homelink system. I basically had to pull right up to my garage to get it to open or close. But BMW's are well known for poor Homelink range.
My E60 M5 had brutal range with the Homelink system. I basically had to pull right up to my garage to get it to open or close. But BMW's are well known for poor Homelink range.
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S350 BT 4MATIC
Here's a question did anyone try to open a window and see if that improves the range. Since the RF transmission probably has side lobes, you may just simply open up a window and get more RF energy out of the car?
