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2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
VW listens to their customers. HEY MB, DO THE SAME!
I just saw a Car & Driver review of the new GTI. The last paragraph reads:
”To make up for killing the manual (probably), Volkswagen fixed one of the worst things about the pre-facelift eighth-gen GTI: the steering wheel. What was wrong with it? Let's just say the touch controls were triggering—as in, their awkward placement easily triggered unwanted changes to the audio system or the heated steering wheel. The return to user-friendly buttons is a much-appreciated improvement and proof that VW is following through on its promise to replace the universally maligned capacitive controls.”
In my opinion, the W222 knobs, buttons & switches were just wonderful and the W223 in comparison, really dropped the ball. I don’t care for the capacitive controls in my BMW either, but at least they actually WORK, which is more than I can say for the ones in my departed 2022 S580. HEY MB: Are you listening???
Yeah, I don't seem to have any real issues with my steering wheel controls either. It really is to each their own, I guess. As for me, I still really, really love this car. Best I have ever owned.
It’s a car that is so good you want to look past the flaws. It has flaws. The 222 had less flaws IMO but this car is superior in other ways and retains its fundamental goodness.
Capacitive controls are always going to be finicky.... I also dislike the piano black in the new 7-series and W223. They look great when clean but accumulate fingerprints after just 1 short trip... They seem very functional though in both cars as I spent time in both of these cars recently, and I don't necessarily hate them but sure prefer the W222, and I also love the GLS matte and metallic physical buttons.
The only part I hated was the volume adjustment swipe function in the new Mbenz cars....very gimmicky but like I said it was still very functional and worked every-time.
I wonder if the switch to capacitive controls panels and buttons has anything to do with labor/production times. Assembling 5 buttons, instead of one large panel with capacitive touch areas, plus less parts to deal with.
It’s a car that is so good you want to look past the flaws. It has flaws. The 222 had less flaws IMO but this car is superior in other ways and retains its fundamental goodness.
Yeah; If am being offered a brand-new zero mileage W222 vs W223 today, I'd take the W223 10/10 despite some of the material drawbacks. Beside materials, perhaps creaks from what am hearing, the car is surely better than the W222 in every way.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by S_W222
Yeah; If am being offered a brand-new zero mileage W222 vs W223 today, I'd take the W223 10/10 despite some of the material drawbacks. Beside materials, perhaps creaks from what am hearing, the car is surely better than the W222 in every way.
To make that decision, I believe that one would need to drive a W222 with Magic Body Control. The option literally transforms the car from pretty great to unbelievable. As much as I love my electric drive BMW, if I could have a brand new S560, optioned as I want it AND a guarantee that there would be no transmission issues, I would order the car without hesitation.
I didn't like the capacitive buttons either, don't like them whenever/wherever encountered. In particular, the volume and cruise slider. I learned to work with them, but I'm glad they are reported to be putting these into the dustbin, and going back to real buttons.
I've been saying all along that for me, they just need to get the frequently used functions on a real button, knob, toggle, etc. I don't think buttloads of buttons stacked up everywhere is particularly helpful, and in my mind, not exactly possessed of the elegant look I'd expect in the S-class. Is that just me?
To make that decision, I believe that one would need to drive a W222 with Magic Body Control. The option literally transforms the car from pretty great to unbelievable. As much as I love my electric drive BMW, if I could have a brand new S560, optioned as I want it AND a guarantee that there would be no transmission issues, I would order the car without hesitation.
But cars optioned like that are exceedingly rare.
Originally Posted by S_W222
Yeah; If am being offered a brand-new zero mileage W222 vs W223 today, I'd take the W223 10/10 despite some of the material drawbacks. Beside materials, perhaps creaks from what am hearing, the car is surely better than the W222 in every way.
So would I.
I thought that was you on the BMW forums, congrats on the i7!
Originally Posted by crabman
I didn't like the capacitive buttons either, don't like them whenever/wherever encountered. In particular, the volume and cruise slider. I learned to work with them, but I'm glad they are reported to be putting these into the dustbin, and going back to real buttons.
I've been saying all along that for me, they just need to get the frequently used functions on a real button, knob, toggle, etc. I don't think buttloads of buttons stacked up everywhere is particularly helpful, and in my mind, not exactly possessed of the elegant look I'd expect in the S-class. Is that just me?
I think physical vs capacitive or screen controls has to be logical. I think the 223 has too few real buttons...need physical buttons for the volume and many steering wheel controls. I've gotten used to the screen HVAC controls
I wonder if the switch to capacitive controls panels and buttons has anything to do with labor/production times. Assembling 5 buttons, instead of one large panel with capacitive touch areas, plus less parts to deal with.
Capacitive buttons and touchscreens were never for the end user. They were from the beginning to cut production costs. Tesla started this specifically to keep their costs down, but then put a marketing spin on it so people would buy it. Admittedly, having physical buttons for everything in a modern car is not practical, unless you want the driver zone to look like the cockpit of an airplane, but even modern airplanes have glass cockpits to consolidate all the analog gauges of the past.
But as said, frequently used functions should be buttons or stalks that can easily be controlled by feel around the steering wheel. Controls put on steering wheels are after all things one uses while driving. I have no issues with putting the HVAC controls on a touchscreen for example. I rarely use them anyway. The HVAC for me is set and forget. Occasionally I may lower the temperature a couple of degrees, but that's it. It's an automatic climate control system for reason. I don't constantly fiddle with the thermostat in my house, either.
The newest Audis, specifically the new A/S5 were designed (capacitive everywhere) before VW decided to switch back to buttons. In those cases, look to the mid-cycle refresh. Though in that product line I admit, the absence of wood or metal in the cabin is cheap. I'm looking forward to what Audi does in the near future for their upper end vehicles.
Originally Posted by Frenetic
VW has selective hearing. They ruined the interiors of the newer Audis in spite of owners clamoring them to not screen everything.
Sorry to say but MB, BMW or Audi have not listened to its customers in recent years. Do not even get me started on the fall of Jaguar in the last 5+ years. Even Porsche while they have done what I think a great job I still think the idea of too many screens in a sports car is just a no go for me. Or any car as a matter of fact. Just my .02 cents
The newest Audis, specifically the new A/S5 were designed (capacitive everywhere) before VW decided to switch back to buttons. In those cases, look to the mid-cycle refresh. Though in that product line I admit, the absence of wood or metal in the cabin is cheap. I'm looking forward to what Audi does in the near future for their upper end vehicles.
Speaking of audi... The A8 is long due so not sure what will that thing be.
Sorry to say but MB, BMW or Audi have not listened to its customers in recent years. Do not even get me started on the fall of Jaguar in the last 5+ years. Even Porsche while they have done what I think a great job I still think the idea of too many screens in a sports car is just a no go for me. Or any car as a matter of fact. Just my .02 cents
The 2023+ model year macan removed the buttons and replaced it with capacitive touch which scratches when you look at it. My family member has one and I hated so many things about the car as a whole. Anyways story for another time. Although admittedly the previous design with the physical buttons is quite a clutter when it comes to that car at least. The capacitive touch also hides "blank switches" that proves you didn't option everything
The cheap black plastic that scratches when dust falls on it, and is better at getting fingerprints than any detective, is the subject of a different thread. I'm not against complaining about it, hate the stuff, but it isn't the subject of this thread.
However, since ground has already been broke. Yeah, what he said! ^^^^^^^
I have done a good job of keeping mine scratch free, but it isn't easy. I have an air compressor I use to blow all of it off before I wipe it down with cleaner and a microfiber.
My daughter got into the passenger seat one time and went to lay my sunglasses from the seat on the piano black console and I was like "Nooooooooo!" and saved it before she did it lol
Honestly I have grown to really like the tech forward interior. That interior in the SL is from another era. No interest in going back to that, we just need a few more physical controls.
Like it or not the W223 is designed for me not for you. I’m 43.
I liked it. Give me some physical buttons for the crap in constant use like music volume, get rid of the black plastic, and I'm without my biggest complaints.
Other than the stupid lack of granular options. But I think that's a given. And we're not talking about it on this thread anyway. This is about capacitive buttons, not the lack of choice when ordering. Forget I even mentioned it. My bad.
One of the most telling things is my wife. I am beyond my years in my likes and dislikes, I always have been but she isn’t. She never liked driving my W222 or my Lexus LSs because she said she always felt like she was driving her dad’s car. She does like driving my W223 and says it feels much younger.
Honestly I have grown to really like the tech forward interior. That interior in the SL is from another era. No interest in going back to that, we just need a few more physical controls.
Like it or not the W223 is designed for me not for you. I’m 43.
Well, I am with you - I am 62 and will never go back to dials and switches. If I wanted a 1964 Piper Cub cockpit, I would have bought one of those! lol
I love tech - would I like some stuff (like lumbar and other seat controls) to be a bit more up front and not buried in a sub menu somewhere 5 clicks away? Yes. But I love the screens in my W223...
Yeah having had the 223 and the 222, the shift in their design philosophy is really clear
Yes, there should be a seat button that just pulls all the seat controls right up. Lexus had such a button on the LS500s. You can click home, comfort and then seat and its not too bad but still not as quick as it should be, and you can save a fsvorite but that still requires a click, scroll, click.
I have done a good job of keeping mine scratch free, but it isn't easy. I have an air compressor I use to blow all of it off before I wipe it down with cleaner and a microfiber.
My daughter got into the passenger seat one time and went to lay my sunglasses from the seat on the piano black console and I was like "Nooooooooo!" and saved it before she did it lol
Even better than blower..... Get ONR, diluted to 3-5% in a water bottle as a drying aid, spray it all around after the wash, and you can gently dry your car with a towel and no concerns about scratches whatsoever. Porbably easier and more satisfying than using a blower. Plus the ONR will help with a final detailing-spray like finish
Mercedes SLR McLaren 722 S Is Extremely Rare Example Modified by McLaren
Slideshow: A one-of-one U.S.-spec Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren Roadster became even rarer after a factory-backed transformation at McLaren's headquarters.
