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2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by Wolfman
I think pop-out door handles are fine. They just need to work...
MB had several years to get this figured out and i have seen very little in terms of issues with them.
OK, but please tell me what might be ANY benefit to the complex, pop out handles, with the possible exception of a virtually imperceptible reduction in the drag coefficient.
OK, but please tell me what might be ANY benefit to the complex, pop out handles, with the possible exception of a virtually imperceptible reduction in the drag coefficient.
There is no real benefit, not even to extend the range on an EV (this had been tested and shown to be minimal; maybe a mile or so). The big benefit is presentation, just like comfort access, welcome lighting, soft close doors, hands-free trunk access and perhaps automatic doors. Just some examples which adds to the sophistication, luxury, technology perception of a car. Like many other options they are feel good options. Not essential but nice to have cool features. For that they have to work of course and not become a source of frustration.
Much of that is of course can be also software driven. For example, the comfort access feature you have in the i7 (automatic unlocking, etc as you approach the car) drove many people nuts when it happens in the garage and the car constantly locked/unlocked when in range. It took a software update to add the "exclude home" feature to remove the frustration from the benefit...
I think most owner like the pop-out handles as I do and they should work well for most...
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by Wolfman
There is no real benefit, not even to extend the range on an EV (this had been tested and shown to be minimal; maybe a mile or so). The big benefit is presentation, just like comfort access, welcome lighting, soft close doors, hands-free trunk access and perhaps automatic doors. Just some examples which adds to the sophistication, luxury, technology perception of a car. Like many other options they are feel good options. Not essential but nice to have cool features. For that they have to work of course and not become a source of frustration.
Much of that is of course can be also software driven. For example, the comfort access feature you have in the i7 (automatic unlocking, etc as you approach the car) drove many people nuts when it happens in the garage and the car constantly locked/unlocked when in range. It took a software update to add the "exclude home" feature to remove the frustration from the benefit...
I think most owner like the pop-out handles as I do and they should work well for most...
We will have to agree to disagree on this. To me, the handle "presenting itself" is an unnecessary additional step and to the process of opening the door. The feature may be "cute" to some and seem to be luxurious and exclusive, but to someone who had to struggle with the feature for a year, I find them to be neither. And, lest we forget, when these cars are out of warranty, I can only imagine what the repair bills might be when these very complicated gizmos need attention. Oh well, enough said.
To be fair, have you tried them on any other car? The only ones I see complained about are MB's. I think this is an MB issue and not an issue for pop out door handles in general
We will have to agree to disagree on this. To me, the handle "presenting itself" is an unnecessary additional step and to the process of opening the door. The feature may be "cute" to some and seem to be luxurious and exclusive, but to someone who had to struggle with the feature for a year, I find them to be neither. And, lest we forget, when these cars are out of warranty, I can only imagine what the repair bills might be when these very complicated gizmos need attention. Oh well, enough said.
Fine to disagree but I need to say that many options on MB's for the last decades have been unnecessary but were still cool. I remember small chrome poles coming out of the rear quarter panels when reversing in the W140. The point made is that any of these features just have to work, then it's a non-issue. I have not have issues with these door handles as you have had but the poles were a pain I am more annoyed with car interiors that have nothing but high-gloss plastic surfaces that require a daily wipe-down with a microfiber.
Luckily I am seeing a reversal on interior materials apart from the screens...
Fine to disagree but I need to say that many options on MB's for the last decades have been unnecessary but were still cool. I remember small chrome poles coming out of the rear quarter panels when reversing in the W140. The point made is that any of these features just have to work, then it's a non-issue. I have not have issues with these door handles as you have had but the poles were a pain I am more annoyed with car interiors that have nothing but high-gloss plastic surfaces that require a daily wipe-down with a microfiber.
Luckily I am seeing a reversal on interior materials apart from the screens...
I’ve had the pop-out door handles on my Tesla S for a year now, and they’ve never failed me once. I believe MBenz simply needs to improve the implementation of their pop-out door handles. Without UWB, it’s likely impossible for the car to predict how far the driver as he is approaching the car. With a keyfob but not UWB phone as key, I’m not sure how accurately the car can predict the distance between the keyfob and the door handle before the door handle presents itself to the driver in advance, as you are approaching the car. My Tesla had UWB. However, I do prefer the current door handles on my i7, even over well-functioning pop-out handles. Even when the pop-out door handles worked fine, I felt like it was an unnecessary step to wait for them to present themselves after I touch the handle.
Last edited by S_W222; Sep 9, 2025 at 07:16 PM.
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I’ve had the pop-out door handles on my Tesla S for a year now, and they’ve never failed me once. I believe MBenz simply needs to improve the implementation of their pop-out door handles. Without UWB, it’s likely impossible for the car to predict how far the driver as he is approaching the car. With a keyfob but not UWB phone as key, I’m not sure how accurately the car can predict the distance between the keyfob and the door handle before the door handle presents itself to the driver in advance, as you are approaching the car. My Tesla had UWB. However, I do prefer the current door handles on my i7, even over well-functioning pop-out handles. Even when the pop-out door handles worked fine, I felt like it was an unnecessary step to wait for them to present themselves after I touch the handle.
That might explain why the GLC with EQ technology said to have improved handle popping according to a forum member in this thread... Is it because that vehicle has UWB now, does it? Since it now has the digital key.
I float on formus where I'm seriously considering buying: Lucid has had their struggles; stuck in, stuck out, the most interesting was where the handles started popping in and out rapidly, and couldn't be stopped. The last I only saw once. Without data, and this is just me observing, the failure to present is by far the one that comes up the most.
I thought the handles were cool with this car. It took a little time to adjust to their foibles, but once I did, they were reliable for me.
A framework I put them in is that I missed the doors I had before with Porsche, while owning the S580; those stayed where you put them. I'd take that feature 110 out of 100 times vs pop out handles. On the flip side, I didn't miss the pop-outs when they went bye-bye. Not for one second. Not sure that resonates, but it says something to me about the value of pop-outs as a feature.
I think my perfect door has no handles, just an unobtrusive pad that comes to life when I near it with my phone. Not fob; phone. I touch that pad, and the door auto opens to max with 100% accurate object detection preventing carnage. It stays there. The only walk-up feature would be courtesy lights; those are actually useful in a place where rain is a thing. They would however disable themselves automatically when home, for garage walk by purposes.
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
I must admit that I have so thoroughly blocked out memories of my S580, that I forget some of the episodes. I now recall when the pop-out door handle tried to EAT my fingers. I was able to get them out just a nanosecond before I would have been hurt more than the pinched skin I did get. Honestly, if I had really been hurt or my wife or grandkids had been hurt, I just might have taken a hammer to the handles and fixed them once and for all.
OK, so they did the pop-outs. Many if not most folks have little to no issues with them. BUT, are there more than a handful who really LOVE them? I doubt it. So, they did them, but now it’s time to go back to what the vast majority love. These worked perfectly for many years. Virtually zero issues. If they went back to these, just imagine the drop in warranty visits to the dealers. Why must they fool with “perfect?”
I must admit that I have so thoroughly blocked out memories of my S580, that I forget some of the episodes. I now recall when the pop-out door handle tried to EAT my fingers. I was able to get them out just a nanosecond before I would have been hurt more than the pinched skin I did get. Honestly, if I had really been hurt or my wife or grandkids had been hurt, I just might have taken a hammer to the handles and fixed them once and for all.
OK, so they did the pop-outs. Many if not most folks have little to no issues with them. BUT, are there more than a handful who really LOVE them? I doubt it. So, they did them, but now it’s time to go back to what the vast majority love. These worked perfectly for many years. Virtually zero issues. If they went back to these, just imagine the drop in warranty visits to the dealers. Why must they fool with “perfect?”
Was European spec base model is where you can get the standard handles on the W223?
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by W205C43PFL
Was European spec base model is where you can get the standard handles on the W223?
YES, and I forgot about THAT! The traditional handles are optional in Germany. So, it would be a piece of cake for them to unceremoniously drop the pop-outs on the refresh and just pretend they were never there.
YES, and I forgot about THAT! The traditional handles are optional in Germany. So, it would be a piece of cake for them to unceremoniously drop the pop-outs on the refresh and just pretend they were never there.
I recall your event - dead battery on the side of the road, no battery means no handles means locked out of car
what a nightmare these engineers couldn't predict somehow
2019 SL450, 2019 E450 Luxury Trim Wagon, 2024 BMW I7 xDrive60
Originally Posted by PeterUbers
I recall your event - dead battery on the side of the road, no battery means no handles means locked out of car
what a nightmare these engineers couldn't predict somehow
Yes. And remembering that, here is a potential scenario that thankfully never happened to me, but it makes you wonder: A major crash. Occupants of the pop-out door handle equipped vehicle are unconscious and/or badly hurt. A gas tank has ruptured and gasoline is flowing in and around the crash site. Passersby want to attempt a rescue, but the door handles have not popped out and nobody knows the alternative way to open the doors. Nobody has anything with which to break the glass, etc., etc. The handles are SUPPOSED to pop out when an emergency is detected, but why do I feel that just might not be foolproof?
Nobody asked for the pop-out handles. There was absolutely NOTHING wrong with the wonderful handles used previously. I seriously doubt that anyone bought the W223 JUST because of the door handles and that anyone would NOT buy one just because the car didn't have them. They need to just bite the bullet and go back to the previous design--but I know they won't.
Yes. And remembering that, here is a potential scenario that thankfully never happened to me, but it makes you wonder: A major crash. Occupants of the pop-out door handle equipped vehicle are unconscious and/or badly hurt. A gas tank has ruptured and gasoline is flowing in and around the crash site. Passersby want to attempt a rescue, but the door handles have not popped out and nobody knows the alternative way to open the doors. Nobody has anything with which to break the glass, etc., etc. The handles are SUPPOSED to pop out when an emergency is detected, but why do I feel that just might not be foolproof?
Nobody asked for the pop-out handles. There was absolutely NOTHING wrong with the wonderful handles used previously. I seriously doubt that anyone bought the W223 JUST because of the door handles and that anyone would NOT buy one just because the car didn't have them. They need to just bite the bullet and go back to the previous design--but I know they won't.
or to just engineer something where if the power completely dies in the vehicle, all the handles immediately pop out as a safety mechanism for the exact scenario you were talking about, but that's beside the point, we don't need pop out handles
when I'm running to my car in a hurry out of fear or out of need to get to an appointment quickly, I don't wanna fight with a handle, I wanna get in my car and start driving
obviously many other vehicles have pop out handles and I wonder what their safety mechanisms are.
Yes. And remembering that, here is a potential scenario that thankfully never happened to me, but it makes you wonder: A major crash. Occupants of the pop-out door handle equipped vehicle are unconscious and/or badly hurt. A gas tank has ruptured and gasoline is flowing in and around the crash site. Passersby want to attempt a rescue, but the door handles have not popped out and nobody knows the alternative way to open the doors. Nobody has anything with which to break the glass, etc., etc. The handles are SUPPOSED to pop out when an emergency is detected, but why do I feel that just might not be foolproof?
Nobody asked for the pop-out handles. There was absolutely NOTHING wrong with the wonderful handles used previously. I seriously doubt that anyone bought the W223 JUST because of the door handles and that anyone would NOT buy one just because the car didn't have them. They need to just bite the bullet and go back to the previous design--but I know they won't.
By the way, this is VERY true and logical thinking. Not sure if it's been said here before, but China auto regulations is on it's way to ban the pop-out, or any retractable, car door handles starting 2027 mainly due to the same safety concerns you mentioned above. Sounds like you and the chinese think the same way, lol, but all jokes aside, they really think the failure rates after a side impact will be high.
Given how important the chinese market to Mbenz (specifically the S-class), if they truly proceed with the ban, we can all hope then that we will naturally inherent proper door handles in the near future as Mbenz must comply and standerize their production parts for all region on something like this........ Well, unless they think 0.01 reduction in drag coefficient or 1-2 miles of extra range is important to the US market to justify keeping the pop-out handles
..//.. I can only imagine what the repair bills might be when these very complicated gizmos need attention. Oh well, enough said.
Agreed. An article on MSN claims that: pop-out "door handle failures accounted for 12% of repairs" for an undisclosed manufacturer; and in the same article, an insurance institute reported that "electronic door handles have a 33 per cent failure rate following a side impact". In comparison, mechanical door handles have 2% rate of failure.
Source: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/...ns/ar-AA1MbR8o
The pop out handle used to be a major PITA for model S owners. One of them famously started the right to repair discussion as it pertained to Tesla. He essentially became a repair tech to solve his issues. Amusing videos on YT. Not sure if it’s the same part as Mercedes uses but it feels and looks very similar.
By the way, low mileage i7s have hit the $60s on Carmax. Pretty nuts.
Last edited by Quietride; Sep 10, 2025 at 08:10 PM.
The pop out handle used to be a major PITA for model S owners. One of them famously started the right to repair discussion as it pertained to Tesla. He essentially became a repair tech to solve his issues. Amusing videos on YT. Not sure if it’s the same part as Mercedes uses but it feels and looks very similar.
By the way, low mileage i7s have hit the $60s on Carmax. Pretty nuts.
Yes, they are becoming very UNDENIABLE in my opinion as far as value to cost ratio, especially pre-owned or CPO. The eDrive50 RWD are hitting the 68-69K mark, and the xDrive60 AWD 2023s (not so great spec) are hitting the 76-77K mark. Not bad honestly for a 2023 model year (that's where the S580s are hanging around for 22-23's when I looked at some)... Nowadays one can easily aim to spend no more than 80-89K to get a low mileage i7 almost fully loaded xDrive60, but the loaded ones are hard to find, and usually hitting the upper range of the asking price. Still, great car for the money. The gas 760 is sticking around the 80-90s still for low mileage ones, a good 10K more than S580s.
Meanwhile one can grab same model year (2023s-2024s) EQS 450+ for mid or high 30s...!
YES, and I forgot about THAT! The traditional handles are optional in Germany. So, it would be a piece of cake for them to unceremoniously drop the pop-outs on the refresh and just pretend they were never there.
Originally Posted by PeterUbers
I recall your event - dead battery on the side of the road, no battery means no handles means locked out of car
what a nightmare these engineers couldn't predict somehow
Hmmm, it seems like even with the pop out handles, you can still manually pull it out with a card or something then there is still that emergency slot to unlock?
By the way, this is VERY true and logical thinking. Not sure if it's been said here before, but China auto regulations is on it's way to ban the pop-out, or any retractable, car door handles starting 2027 mainly due to the same safety concerns you mentioned above. Sounds like you and the chinese think the same way, lol, but all jokes aside, they really think the failure rates after a side impact will be high.
Given how important the chinese market to Mbenz (specifically the S-class), if they truly proceed with the ban, we can all hope then that we will naturally inherent proper door handles in the near future as Mbenz must comply and standerize their production parts for all region on something like this........ Well, unless they think 0.01 reduction in drag coefficient or 1-2 miles of extra range is important to the US market to justify keeping the pop-out handles
If like previously mentioned, it is standard or an option for standard door handles on the W223 in Europe, they could just implement that in banned places. That said, I got curious and looked up some of the chinese brands and their domestic brands have a lot of models with pop out handles so I am not sure how difficult it will be to implement the ban when they are all using it in china. Besides pop out handles, there are some brands that use tuck in handles, so unlock the handle falls inside instead.
Last edited by W205C43PFL; Sep 10, 2025 at 08:28 PM.
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I am more annoyed with car interiors that have nothing but high-gloss plastic surfaces that require a daily wipe-down with a microfiber. 
