justinmorrison

After a month with my new (to me) 221, there a couple small things I haven't been able to figure out:

1. Is there any legitimate use for the little storage area inside the font seat arm rests? I can't figure out what could possibly fit in there...
2. What is the difference between the "0" and "A" positions on the lights switch? When set at "0", DRLs are on, and everything else seems to be automatic. Am I missing something?
3. On the air vents on the hood, each has a little sphere on the area closest to the center of the hood. They seem to specific to simply be "design", but also don't seem to have any purpose

mrbobby

"0" is off and "A" is automatic, i.e., lights come on and go off automatically.

Prochambers

Did you receive the owner's manual with your car? If not, you can go the MBUSA website and download another version.

1bad540

the storage compartment, fits chapstick some business cards and a nice cigar lighter. That's whats in mine currently. headlights I have no idea but have thought it too.

DaveW68

Speedriven1

Chapstick and business cards. My answer exactly.

platt-deutsch

I leave my keys in there when I don't need it locked, like in the garage..

DaveW68

Note to self: When I would like a second W221, pay a late night visit to Platt's house.

Windshield Time

1. Reading glasses - good place for them because they dont' get scratched or dirty there.

0 and A both have my headlights come on automatically, but A controls your highbeams and won't allow them to come on with too much light from the the front. That's why I don't use A. Speaking of that putting the lights on fully to right and leaving them after shutting off and locking the car, the lights will still go off automatically.

snovvman

Reading through the 2013 manual, it seems like that it is the DRL that causes the lights to automatically come on with the switch in the "0" position. I wonder if, by disabling DRL, the lights will still come on automatically while in "0".

I would test it myself, but my car is still at the dealer... :-/

DaveW68

This must be different on the face-lifted 221's. The only thing "A" controls on my car is to turn the lights on automatically when ambient light goes below a certain threshold. I have full control of bright lights in either A or O position (if the lights are on) and it has no effect on the brightness level whatsoever. Putting it on "O" will turn on the headlights under any lighting since it's the "On" switch.

DaveW68

The headlights will always be on in any position if the DRL's are switched on.

MBZSW221

The Storage area in the seats are useful for things like glasses, a first aid kit, water bottle, or even two cans of AC refrigerant.

The 0 is off for lights and the A is for automatic. Useful feature.

The two black spheres might be sensors for measuring outside temp. I doubt it is a daylight sensor because there is also a sensor on the front windshield.

justinmorrison

Sounds like I'm not the only one not seeing any difference between "0" and "A" on the lights. I understand that they are supposed to be off/automatic, but if I leave the car in "0", the lights come on at night just the same as in "A". Highly mysterious...

snovvman

Did you read posts 10 and 12?

bha

I find storage worse than in my W220.


The door pockets are hard to get your hand into with the door shut. I use mine as a garbage can (napkins, flattened plastic water bottle, etc.). The door pockets in the W221 look better designed for a thin map or something.. it's not wide and you can't get your hand in at all while driving.


I use the flip-open door armrest compartments for change and small bills. There was a compartment between the shifter and center console in my W221 with a flip-open door that was used for change and stuff. This no longer exists in the W221.


Seems that the W220 had an armrest-mounted cupholder, and a change holder in front of it. In the W221 they have combined both functions.. if you want a cupholder you lose the changeholder as the cupholder is just an add-on insert into the changeholder.


Where are you guys keeping change and small bills? When I zip through a drive-through I usually don't have time to fold a bill in half and clip it into the sunvisor for example. I get handed a bill and some change and need a place to throw it quickly.

1bad540

def cant get your hand in while driving. I throw everything in the cupholder including my phone.

bha

That never works for me, because either my wife or I has a drink in the cupholder. If there is no drink, there is an empty cup from the drink we just finished (no place to put it until you reach a garbage can).


We have tried putting change and cell phones in there, then we go to a drive through and are handed 2 drinks and the mad scramble happens to empty the cupholders...


Just seems like they went backwards in developing the storage in the W221 (vs a W220). My S550 is a long wheelbase.. for such a huge car it's amazing that there is so little storage for "small" things like cups/cellphones/change. The center console is giant and mine is pretty much empty, yet I have nowhere to quickly stash change/etc.

1bad540

transport empty cups to the rear cupholder in the rear center storage just make sure its folded down. I however agree with you, coming from a 750 that had a lot of storage plus drawers that slid out.

wilassasin

I store a lot in there like a couple bottles of water, snacks and my shades all at the same time.

DaveW68

The Germans don't give a crap about storage. This applies to Benz, BMW, Audi, and Porsche. Probably because Europeans aren't spending a lot of time going through drive-throughs to pick up a huge cup of coffee every morning. Cup holders and storage is an American thing and the only reason you have anything other than a glove box is because Americans demanded it. Feel lucky you have any storage or cup holders as you get more than they do in Germany. If you want to see crappy cup holders that are a complete after-thought, take a look at any BMW.

Jason B

Yea, it's actually pretty huge (that's what she said) and a lot of room for a lot of stuff. I heard if you have the optional rear a/c it's half the size.

1bad540

I think th op must have rear ac because I have a ton of sheet In there.

justinmorrison

I did, I should have been more specific. It seems odd that "off" becomes "auto" when DRL is on. Obviously it's by design, but still seems like a perplexing choice

justinmorrison

I think we're referring to different compartments. I mean the ones under the door handle/arm rests (flip open) in the front seats. If you can fit a water bottle in there, you have my utmost respect!

Regarding storage and cupholders in Mercedes, my last S-Class was a 560SEL. No cupholders (except the little dents on the inside of the glove box door), and outside of pockets at the bottom of the doors, no other storage to speak of. Despite that, I absolutely loved that car. Took it apart and put it back together countless times during the 10 years we were together. The 221 is great, but nothing beats the feel of that 560 and its bus sized steering wheel