One thing I like and one I don't
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FF. W212 E63 M156 non-pano 18" P2 ParkT NightV (gone but will be missed).
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Joined: Aug 2013
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From: Oregon's beautiful Willamette valley
2014 Mercedes-Benz E550 4Matic, 2010 Subaru Legacy 3.6R
Comand needs major reword at MB. I had no idea a car control system could be so bad until I began reading and applying the stack of manuals that came in the car.
MB should consider offering a "build your own" manual on the internet. It would work just like the "build your own" car price specifiers, with the difference being that the end result would be a printed-out car manual with only the information pertinent to your specific car and combination of options. Doing this might even save Merceds-Benz some money, since the buyer would be paying for paper and ink, and M-B would not be shipping manuals around the world quite so much.
MB should consider offering a "build your own" manual on the internet. It would work just like the "build your own" car price specifiers, with the difference being that the end result would be a printed-out car manual with only the information pertinent to your specific car and combination of options. Doing this might even save Merceds-Benz some money, since the buyer would be paying for paper and ink, and M-B would not be shipping manuals around the world quite so much.
This is my feeling on many of the aspects of this car - excessively complex design without any thought paid to how Joe Random User will interact with the systems, which results in unintuitive or hard-to-understand or just plain goofy behavior.
- navi system w/traffic is hard to use. Yes, I'm sure one can do everything I asked about doing, but it doesn't need to be so complicated. Other systems are not.
- totally agree with you on the high beams issues. For a long time I didn't think my high beams were even working because of the delay in turning them on.
- what on earth are rear fog lights? And why does turning them on affect other things?
- audio system has strange controls. To go from navi screen to bluetooth audio screen requires moving control to uppermost menu bar, selecting 'audio' than scrolling through and choosing 'bluetooth audio'. Or you can press 'disc' a bunch of times? What? I'm still trying to figure out if I can have two things on the screen at once, like audio info and navi data. This was trivial to do in my BMW but it doesn't even seem possible in this car.
- stereo sound quality is mediocre and, what's more, when I change the bass and treble controls, it does not have any observable effect on the sound. I'm sure there IS something else I don't know about using this system which is causing my adjustments to have no effect. What is that? How would I know?
- the manual is terrible. The paper manual which comes with the car doesn't even have most of this info. You need to use an electronic one to find half this stuff out. It's like Mercedes couldn't be bothered to print the latest rev for sale with their car.
But yes, when I'm flooring it, it's a lot of fun. When I'm driving and not flooring it...
I'm through complaining here. I know people don't like to hear it. I am just very disappointed and frustrated because none of these things are apparent in a test drive. Maybe the dealer did a poor job of telling me how to use the car but I've owned a lot of cars and I can usually figure out how to do things like adjust the bass or turn off voice navigation.
- navi system w/traffic is hard to use. Yes, I'm sure one can do everything I asked about doing, but it doesn't need to be so complicated. Other systems are not.
- totally agree with you on the high beams issues. For a long time I didn't think my high beams were even working because of the delay in turning them on.
- what on earth are rear fog lights? And why does turning them on affect other things?
- audio system has strange controls. To go from navi screen to bluetooth audio screen requires moving control to uppermost menu bar, selecting 'audio' than scrolling through and choosing 'bluetooth audio'. Or you can press 'disc' a bunch of times? What? I'm still trying to figure out if I can have two things on the screen at once, like audio info and navi data. This was trivial to do in my BMW but it doesn't even seem possible in this car.
- stereo sound quality is mediocre and, what's more, when I change the bass and treble controls, it does not have any observable effect on the sound. I'm sure there IS something else I don't know about using this system which is causing my adjustments to have no effect. What is that? How would I know?
- the manual is terrible. The paper manual which comes with the car doesn't even have most of this info. You need to use an electronic one to find half this stuff out. It's like Mercedes couldn't be bothered to print the latest rev for sale with their car.
But yes, when I'm flooring it, it's a lot of fun. When I'm driving and not flooring it...
I'm through complaining here. I know people don't like to hear it. I am just very disappointed and frustrated because none of these things are apparent in a test drive. Maybe the dealer did a poor job of telling me how to use the car but I've owned a lot of cars and I can usually figure out how to do things like adjust the bass or turn off voice navigation.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2010
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2014 E63 S
Pat
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Joined: Jun 2010
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2014 E63 S
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 852
Likes: 5
From: Rural NoVA
'14 E63S, '13 G550, '06 E320 cdi, and a bunch of other stuff.
There were a couple of comments about the seat heat/ventilation in other thread(s), so I thought I'd post my thoughts over here in this centralized location...
Regarding seat heat, it is my understanding that the intended functionality is for the user to activate the heat by pressing the dash button. There will be 3 red lights. This will send the most energy to the cushion. The system will throttle down the setting automatically once a comfortable level has been achieved. You will see the lights gradually move to two and then one. The one and two light settings are MUCH lower levels. Maintenance only.
In my experience with MB heated/ventilated seats, it is a better experience if one also activates the ventilation on the lowest setting in conjunction with the highest heat setting. You will enjoy forced hot air, and it penetrate your clothing much quicker. I do not advise running the ventilation with the lower heat settings, as it tends to dissipate the heat a bit.
$0.02
Regarding seat heat, it is my understanding that the intended functionality is for the user to activate the heat by pressing the dash button. There will be 3 red lights. This will send the most energy to the cushion. The system will throttle down the setting automatically once a comfortable level has been achieved. You will see the lights gradually move to two and then one. The one and two light settings are MUCH lower levels. Maintenance only.
In my experience with MB heated/ventilated seats, it is a better experience if one also activates the ventilation on the lowest setting in conjunction with the highest heat setting. You will enjoy forced hot air, and it penetrate your clothing much quicker. I do not advise running the ventilation with the lower heat settings, as it tends to dissipate the heat a bit.
$0.02
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,462
Likes: 54
FF. W212 E63 M156 non-pano 18" P2 ParkT NightV (gone but will be missed).
That is correct with turning on the ventilation along with the heated seat for more effective and faster seat heating. It says that in the manual, too. I have been turning the seat heat to the highest with seat ventilation at 2 lights. After a while, the heat will drop down to one light and will persist indefinitely as long as you keep the same ventilation setting at 2 lights. Only seat heat alone and it will eventually turn off by itself. I wonder if it is because the ventilation prevents the overheating circuit from activation.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Jun 2010
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2014 E63 S
Not that it matters but I like to keep my facts straight.
Pat
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,279
Likes: 58
From: OC
i drive them all, fast and hard
There were a couple of comments about the seat heat/ventilation in other thread(s), so I thought I'd post my thoughts over here in this centralized location...
Regarding seat heat, it is my understanding that the intended functionality is for the user to activate the heat by pressing the dash button. There will be 3 red lights. This will send the most energy to the cushion. The system will throttle down the setting automatically once a comfortable level has been achieved. You will see the lights gradually move to two and then one. The one and two light settings are MUCH lower levels. Maintenance only.
In my experience with MB heated/ventilated seats, it is a better experience if one also activates the ventilation on the lowest setting in conjunction with the highest heat setting. You will enjoy forced hot air, and it penetrate your clothing much quicker. I do not advise running the ventilation with the lower heat settings, as it tends to dissipate the heat a bit.
$0.02
Regarding seat heat, it is my understanding that the intended functionality is for the user to activate the heat by pressing the dash button. There will be 3 red lights. This will send the most energy to the cushion. The system will throttle down the setting automatically once a comfortable level has been achieved. You will see the lights gradually move to two and then one. The one and two light settings are MUCH lower levels. Maintenance only.
In my experience with MB heated/ventilated seats, it is a better experience if one also activates the ventilation on the lowest setting in conjunction with the highest heat setting. You will enjoy forced hot air, and it penetrate your clothing much quicker. I do not advise running the ventilation with the lower heat settings, as it tends to dissipate the heat a bit.
$0.02
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 852
Likes: 5
From: Rural NoVA
'14 E63S, '13 G550, '06 E320 cdi, and a bunch of other stuff.
As discussed in the other thread, I totally [heart] the 360 view camera.
My newest gripe about the car is the lack of heated mirrors. A ridiculous omission on a $100K 4matic Benz. Even my mid-line Toyota Tundra has 'em.
My newest gripe about the car is the lack of heated mirrors. A ridiculous omission on a $100K 4matic Benz. Even my mid-line Toyota Tundra has 'em.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 900
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From: Montreal, Canada
2008 Saab 93 TurboX SC (BSR stage 1)/2014 E63 S Wagon (Rebellion Tuned/Renntech Sport Mufflers)
What? you meen it does not have heated mirrors??? Man this is a bummer... maybe someone from Canada who owns a car can verify this as I know we get folding mirrors and US dont.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 723
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From: Calgary, AB
2014 E63 S
I have been driving it all winter and haven't had any trouble. Don't be so soft guys geez
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 900
Likes: 9
From: Montreal, Canada
2008 Saab 93 TurboX SC (BSR stage 1)/2014 E63 S Wagon (Rebellion Tuned/Renntech Sport Mufflers)
usually tuns on with rear defrost... I had them on my 2003 dodge neon (drivers side), on my Saab and on my C63. I agree it's no big deal BUT it should be standard on a 2014 car in this price range. If your car is equipped with them you should see a pictogram on the mirrors.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 723
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, AB
2014 E63 S
We get heated rear seats in the premium pack and you guys don't... One would think if they are gonna give heated mirrors to anyone it would be us northerners. But I can't make sense of the Germans... Seems there are a number of little issues with this car that are p*ssing buyers off.
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 852
Likes: 5
From: Rural NoVA
'14 E63S, '13 G550, '06 E320 cdi, and a bunch of other stuff.
I actually just asked the question about heated mirrors in the AMG PL chat that just ended. I'm supposed to get an answer tomorrow. Will report back.
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 811
Likes: 5
From: Calgary, Canada
'10 F150 FX4 SCrew. '14 S212S
Pretty sure it is standard. Like folding mirrors that the US doesn't get.
http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/content/...or_canada.html
http://www.mercedes-benz.ca/content/...or_canada.html
There are also market specific equipment differences. Depending on the model, Canadian and U.S. vehicles can differ considerably in terms of specifications. Unlike U.S. vehicles, equipped-for-Canada vehicles may include any of the following features in terms of specification or standard equipment:
Heated windshield washer system;
All-season tires;
Headlamp washers;
Bi-xenon headlamps;
Heated exterior mirrors;
Factory/VPC applied undercoating for corrosion protection
Other equipment and/or modifications specific to colder climates.
Heated windshield washer system;
All-season tires;
Headlamp washers;
Bi-xenon headlamps;
Heated exterior mirrors;
Factory/VPC applied undercoating for corrosion protection
Other equipment and/or modifications specific to colder climates.
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 811
Likes: 5
From: Calgary, Canada
'10 F150 FX4 SCrew. '14 S212S
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 811
Likes: 5
From: Calgary, Canada
'10 F150 FX4 SCrew. '14 S212S
This is the US one, but makes no mention of it.
http://www.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/DigitalA...edan-Wagon.pdf
http://www.mbusa.com/vcm/MB/DigitalA...edan-Wagon.pdf
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 723
Likes: 4
From: Calgary, AB
2014 E63 S
usually tuns on with rear defrost... I had them on my 2003 dodge neon (drivers side), on my Saab and on my C63. I agree it's no big deal BUT it should be standard on a 2014 car in this price range. If your car is equipped with them you should see a pictogram on the mirrors.
