S-Class (W223) 2021 to Present

Door Handles Rarely Pop Out When I Approach Car

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Old Dec 21, 2021 | 11:02 PM
  #1  
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Door Handles Rarely Pop Out When I Approach Car

I understood that the car would recognize when I was in close proximity and the door handles would pop out even if I had the key fob in my pocket. I am finding this feature works maybe 20% of the time? What gives? It should work all of the time. My BMW always worked. Very annoying. Anyone else experiencing inconsistencies and frustration with this feature?
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Old Dec 22, 2021 | 01:12 AM
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I haven't experienced any door handle issues. Is the key near the car already before trying to open the door? For example, if you keep it in a garage, are the keys sitting nearby the car all night? Or is this just in general and from a far distance?

I believe MB recommends in the owners manual to hit lock and unlock on the key fob I believe 4 times (would have to double check) to try and troubleshoot the issue.
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Old Dec 22, 2021 | 04:56 AM
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Maybe the car cannot detect a nearby Smartkey due to some interference (eg you have your house key folder or a mobile phone in the same trousers' pocket as the Smartkey)?
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Old Dec 22, 2021 | 07:30 AM
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There must be some interference. I always have my phone with me. It would be silly if a mobile phone nearby would cause the smartkey to not work most of the time. Car is usually parked on my driveway, maybe 10-15 yards away from key hanging in my kitchen, or in my office parking lot maybe 20 yards away from my office desk.
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Old Dec 22, 2021 | 07:41 AM
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Examples of possible interference according to the W223 User Manual
Also, check for a weak Smartkey battery too

Last edited by bishop64; Dec 22, 2021 at 07:43 AM.
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Old Dec 22, 2021 | 09:06 AM
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Also try resetting per attached bulletin 073356. Have dealer check it under warranty may need software update, proactively reference both bulletins attached.
Attached Files
File Type: pdf
LI80.61-P-073356_Ver_1.pdf (41.3 KB, 763 views)
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LI80.61-P-073358_Ver_1.pdf (297.7 KB, 641 views)
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Old Dec 22, 2021 | 03:44 PM
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Keep in mind, if the key is kept too close to the car, the door handles will pop in and out several times and then the proximity feature will stop. Probably so the motor doesn't wear out or drain the battery. Eventually you have to touch the handle or push the unlock button on the key fob to get the handle to pop out again. This is what happens to me.
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Old Dec 23, 2021 | 12:31 PM
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Originally Posted by Rockland
I understood that the car would recognize when I was in close proximity and the door handles would pop out even if I had the key fob in my pocket. I am finding this feature works maybe 20% of the time? What gives? It should work all of the time. My BMW always worked. Very annoying. Anyone else experiencing inconsistencies and frustration with this feature?
I have the same problem with my 2021 S580. Even worse, when the door handles would not pop out, I tried to make it out by touching the handle, swiping the handle and/or pressing the handle, the door handle just simply would not pop out before at lease 4 or 5 tries.

I then called the MB dealership where I bought my S580 from. The service dept. ordered the the parts to "replace the Keyless-Go function".

Yesterday I went the the service dept. to have it replaced. Guess what!? The service rep told me that even though the computer said to replace that parts, but replacing did NOT fix the problem.

I was told to have two options:

A. They would open a service ticket and I had to leave my S580 at the service dept. for "at lease 2 to 3 weeks".
or
B. I simply take my car back and wait until next year "because the 2021 S-Class is too new and we are lack of information".

Since this is the holiday season and I need my car. So I had to choose the option B.

We'll see next year.

Sad......

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Old Dec 23, 2021 | 01:49 PM
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Some things should have never changed. Please bring back the regular door handles. Just one more inconvenience and one more thing to go wrong.
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Old Dec 23, 2021 | 03:33 PM
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Originally Posted by amir1
Some things should have never changed. Please bring back the regular door handles. Just one more inconvenience and one more thing to go wrong.
Regular door handles are available from the factory. Please approach MBUSA for the same choice as for the German market.
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Old Dec 23, 2021 | 03:50 PM
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Not only are they silly, unnecessary, and overly complicated; but it is embarrassing that they ripped of Tesla’s silly idea.
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Old Dec 23, 2021 | 06:26 PM
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Speaking of Tesla, it can be a safety concern too when it doesn't pop out when rescuers are trying to open the door. Was there a certain reason they didn't smash the windows instead?
https://driving.ca/auto-news/news/de...y-door-handles
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Old Dec 23, 2021 | 11:07 PM
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With regular door handles, the door can still be locked (with the door lock button pushed down in the most old fashioned way),preventing emergency workers to open the door even though the door handle is physically there for them to grab on. So, I think safety might not be the main 'issue' for retractable door handle.

Granted that retractable door handles might be aesthetically pleasing for the car as a whole and might provide better drag coefficient, I personally would not trade it for the possible inconvenience. My 2021 W223 does not have a successful rate as low as the OP's 20%, but it is not 100%. Mine is about 85%, which is high enough for me to tolerate and not bring the car in for immediate service.
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Old Dec 24, 2021 | 02:50 AM
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Originally Posted by cfmistry
Not only are they silly, unnecessary, and overly complicated; but it is embarrassing that they ripped of Tesla’s silly idea.
A bit less embarrassing for Mercedes now that so many other brands have copied the same silly idea. I wonder how bad it is in our winter (a real winter) if it is bad in Florida and California.
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Old Dec 24, 2021 | 11:39 AM
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Door handles are another reason to avoid the new S-Class.
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Old Dec 24, 2021 | 01:16 PM
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Originally Posted by Diesel Benz
A bit less embarrassing for Mercedes now that so many other brands have copied the same silly idea. I wonder how bad it is in our winter (a real winter) if it is bad in Florida and California.
How is the door going to open if it is covered with solid ice and snow?
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Old Dec 24, 2021 | 01:26 PM
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Originally Posted by MBS63AMG
How is the door going to open if it is covered with solid ice and snow?
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Old Dec 24, 2021 | 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by elmalo
Door handles are another reason to avoid the new S-Class.
Or any MB. The SL, EQS, and EQE has them. I'm sure it'll trickle down to all models eventually.

Last edited by ColeBlooded; Dec 24, 2021 at 01:37 PM.
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Old Dec 24, 2021 | 02:14 PM
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Originally Posted by MBS63AMG
How is the door going to open if it is covered with solid ice and snow?
Usually unlock doors with the remote and pull the door handle. Quite usual in Europe to park cars on the street even in winter but opening doors is hardly any issue (unlocking an old car with a mechanical key may be difficult).

Hopefully the flush door handles open equally effortlessly as on the previous video. I would stop complaining about them.
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Old Dec 24, 2021 | 08:39 PM
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Originally Posted by ColeBlooded
Thanks for the video. Don't they realized it is easier if instead of creating problems that wouldn't exist in the first place (like shown in the video by having to de-ice the handle just so it can pop out) by just going with regular door handles. I believe there are way better things they could use their R&D money on.

Originally Posted by bishop64
With regular door handles, the door can still be locked (with the door lock button pushed down in the most old fashioned way),preventing emergency workers to open the door even though the door handle is physically there for them to grab on. So, I think safety might not be the main 'issue' for retractable door handle.

Granted that retractable door handles might be aesthetically pleasing for the car as a whole and might provide better drag coefficient, I personally would not trade it for the possible inconvenience. My 2021 W223 does not have a successful rate as low as the OP's 20%, but it is not 100%. Mine is about 85%, which is high enough for me to tolerate and not bring the car in for immediate service.
Yup, I don't know the full story of what happened, for example, I still don't understand why they couldn't had just smashed the windows instead. If they are worried about the glass shards injuring the driver, they could go for the rear window or at least the window furthest from the driver. The main problem here was lack of oxygen so any open window will help the fumes get out and oxygen to go in. I agree thanks for bringing up that point on how traditional door handles if it is locked the door is locked just like retractable door handles but (I am just guessing... for traditional door handles, I wonder if at least they (the firefighters) could at least pull the door handle and then use a tool to pry somewhere or hit the mechanism so it loosen up, I am not sure if that is how it works.
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Old Dec 24, 2021 | 08:50 PM
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Originally Posted by cfmistry
Not only are they silly, unnecessary, and overly complicated; but it is embarrassing that they ripped of Tesla’s silly idea.
Hmmm, so I am genuinely curious, who actually started using it? I saw a patent by GM (Liquidation Motors Company, Formerly GM) on this but who was the first manufacturer that introduced these handles on a concept or production vehicle, was it really Tesla? I would thought since GM holds the patents, they would had introduced it on their vehicles first?
https://patents.google.com/patent/US3153553A/en
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Old Dec 24, 2021 | 09:07 PM
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Originally Posted by W205C43PFL
(I am just guessing... for traditional door handles, I wonder if at least they (the firefighters) could at least pull the door handle and then use a tool to pry somewhere or hit the mechanism so it loosen up, I am not sure if that is how it works.
I thought of this as well. I thought a traditional door handle can be used for a special tool as an anchor point to pull on or pry the door open.
I did try to look this up but it does not seem so. Instead, firefighters has a tool that looks like a hydraulic spreader (looks like a crab pincer) or cutter to force open the door or cut through it. Of course, the first attempt is to see if the door handle is still working or not.
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Old Dec 24, 2021 | 09:35 PM
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Originally Posted by bishop64
I thought of this as well. I thought a traditional door handle can be used for a special tool as an anchor point to pull on or pry the door open.
I did try to look this up but it does not seem so. Instead, firefighters has a tool that looks like a hydraulic spreader (looks like a crab pincer) or cutter to force open the door or cut through it. Of course, the first attempt is to see if the door handle is still working or not.
Thanks for sharing your research findings, this video demonstrates it well:
youtube.com/watch?v=SeWZpo2Mqc4
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Old Dec 25, 2021 | 06:47 AM
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Assuming these cars can be started remotely , would the heater/defroster system eventually warm the door handle areas enough to thaw the door mechanism to the point it would work? I'm not sure if the HVAC system can be turned on remotely like the engine does. Might take 15 minutes of the car running to do this.
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Old Dec 25, 2021 | 08:25 AM
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Originally Posted by MBS63AMG
Assuming these cars can be started remotely , would the heater/defroster system eventually warm the door handle areas enough to thaw the door mechanism to the point it would work? I'm not sure if the HVAC system can be turned on remotely like the engine does. Might take 15 minutes of the car running to do this.
HVAC, seat and panel heating can be turned on remotely but it would take ages for that heat to penetrate through door panels to melt ice on the handles. The handles could have dedicated heating but the resulting water tends to create more problems for the next attempt to open doors.
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