kenromero

This morning my neighbor had their 2022 S580 washed in their driveway and the detailer left the key inside the car and closed the doors. The car would not respond to any method to open. The Mercedes App indicated the car was unlocked but it would not respond with a direction to lock or unlock. None of the handles would pop out and the trunk would not open, The husband, a doctor, had the 2nd key with him at work so the option to open it with the 2nd key was not available. I suggested she call MB and have them open it but that didn’t work either and MB sent a tech out to assist. I wasn’t there to see what he did and was told he inserted something that looked like a blood pressure cuff at the top of the window and inflated the cuff to open it.

Anyone else have an experience like this? My 2021 S580 will not do what my neighbor’s does. MB didn’t suggest a software update but she didn’t talk to a Service Advisor just the person on the MB 800#.

Any suggestions for them? Has anyone seen a device that she described to open a window? She is a retired nurse so I respect her description.

The Accountant

Well that blows. I would be so pissed.

I leave my key in the car all the time (‘22 580). Once or twice it’s taken some coercion for a moment to get the handles to pop out, but never anything bothersome.

MB really should have a mechanical way to open the door with a pop out or a valet key. More, the app should never fail. Mine fails all the time to do just basic stuff. I consider it hardly usable, so that’s how often I use it.

bishop64

I wonder if this could be a security feature by design.

Imagine this situation, which might be quite common:-
You park the car in the parking lot of a shop and your wife goes in for some shopping. You wait inside the car and the key is inside the car as well (eg in your pocket).
After a brief while (I do not remember the exact timing), the popped out handles retract.
A lunatic or robber or whatever approaches your car and tries to open a door, with bad intention.
If he can simply swipe across a handle to make it pops out, then he can gain access into your car. Of course, this is not desirable.
In fact, when your wife returns, you will need to press the 'unlock' door button on the door to extend the door handle (even though the door is not locked).

Makes sense?

kenromero

That does sound possible, however, shouldn’t the MB me App still have control or even MB at their 800#?

superswiss

Not sure why the app wasn't responding. I don't have a W223, but I can unlock/lock my car from the Mercedes me connect app w/o any issues. As for the key being inside and the handles not popping out that makes some sense. The key fob has a motion sensor in it and the fob goes to sleep if it doesn't sense motion for 2 minutes. This is a security measure in response to the relay attacks that have become somewhat common place. Cars being stolen from people's driveways by relaying the signal from the key fob left near the front door for example to another thieve standing next to the car with a second device. Now the fobs go to sleep, so if you leave them sitting somewhere in the house, they don't emit a signal when left motionless. I believe the door handles pop out if it senses the key fob, but if the key fob is asleep then it won't sense it and I guess swiping the handles may also not respond if it doesn't sense the key. Unintended consequence of the retracting door handles.

Baloo588

The Mercedes key has a mechanical portion you remove from the key and insert it into the special groove in the handle to unlock the door.

E55Greasemonkey

Handles can be manually popped out by first pushing and holding the forward edge, then grab the handle with your other hand.

Baloo588

Oh yes I forgot about this. My uncle had a 2021 S580 and their door handles did come out but when they pulled the handle the doors wouldn't open. They tried the app etc like what the OP said and had to call the MB emergency roadside assistance to get the car towed to the dealer. The car was bought back after dealer couldnt fix the issue and got them the 2022 S580 and since then so issues. They showed us how to use the key fob to open the door.

Baloo588

Duplicate post.

crabman

Well... That sounds a little broken. I have never had a car where the app works flawlessly and on most it's been weak at best. I keep thinking the next one will be better...

kenromero

I attempted to duplicate what my neighbor experienced but was not successful. I left the key in the car for 1/2 hour and when I touched the handle it popped out quickly.

Rockland

I once left my keys in my S580 for an extended period of time (hours), and when I tried to open the door it certainly took awhile to get the door handles to pop out. Like, greater than a few minutes - which seems even longer when you are outside trying to swipe the door handles to pop out.

Sonic Boom

Same happened to me once. Handle wouldn't extend at all. I had to "manually" open handle by pressing (hard) with thumb on left side of handle until right side extended a bit and then pulled.

kombz

Hey - great post. SO this has happened 5x now to our 2023 S580. When we return to open it - it will not open. Handles will pop out but not unlock. The valet key entry is brutal... we are at a loss - the dealership has the and says everything seems fine. We will not take the car back... I am very curious about a software reset as we can also not access the toll app in our vehicle.

Streamliner

Regarding the MB pop-out door handles, it would be interesting to know:

1. The number of words typed on the subject since they hit the market.
2. The amount of time MB dealer personnel have spent trying to explain them to customers.
3. The number of complaints MB has received about them.
4. The percentage of owners who are repeatedly frustrated by them.
5. If dealers in Germany, where they are actually OPTIONAL on the W223’s, try to dissuade customers from ordering them.
6. If anyone at MB in Stuttgart was fired over these ridiculous, idiotic, unneeded, insanely overly complicated door handles.

Just curious.