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Foot operated parking brake on a manual CLK....help!

Okay, if we're doing embarassing MB related moments here's mine: Driving the first leg of the journey home yesterday having just bought and collected the car it was a lovely sunny day and getting a bit warm in the cabin. I 'turned on' the A/C and was most annoyed that it didn't work. I even went so far as to text the dealer who sold me the car and had assured me that the A/C was fine. Thankfully he did have the foresight to ask "you do know that when the red light is illuminated on the A/C switch that the A/C is actually off don't you?" Oh well, I do now!
The A/C warning light in my W209 Coupe is orange and on when the A/C is on ? Or have I been getting it wrong for the last five years LOL
 
I've got the W209 convertible with the basic "Thermatic" unit. The A/C switch is either not illuminated at all or red. The dealer's advice was that the A/C is off when the red light is on and that certainly seems to be borne out by the fact that the chilled air comes out when the switch is not illuminated. Do you possibly have the funkier "Thermatronic" unit with the digital temp display?
 
I’m another in the 'no problem' camp with my 2013 C220 manual, but it did have hill start assist, so the 'all or nothing' parking brake release didn’t matter. Without it, not sure.

My next car was a Lexus, with a push/push foot operated parking brake. Fortunately, an auto gearbox with hybrid/lecky creep gave an effective hill start assist.
 
I've got the W209 convertible with the basic "Thermatic" unit. The A/C switch is either not illuminated at all or red. The dealer's advice was that the A/C is off when the red light is on and that certainly seems to be borne out by the fact that the chilled air comes out when the switch is not illuminated. Do you possibly have the funkier "Thermatronic" unit with the digital temp display?
Thermatronic just looks after its self. - Put the temperature in, press auto, and it will work out the rest.
I thought the light was on when the compressor was running, but it's also the same light for the rest function. - There's also a light for the carbon filters if it thinks it needs them.
(The manual for my CLK confirms light on for operation, light off for deactivated.)
 
There seems to be no consistent pattern. On our 209 light off = AC on. For the SLK light on = AC on. Both have the upgraded "luxury" climate control.
 
Just another example of MB's bizarre idea of ergonomics in car controls. And don't get me on the subject of the 4 steering wheel buttons on the left. Whoever designed that set-up needs shooting.
 
Just another example of MB's bizarre idea of ergonomics in car controls. And don't get me on the subject of the 4 steering wheel buttons on the left. Whoever designed that set-up needs shooting.
Don't you have the same number of buttons on both sides of the wheel? - Volume and phone on the right, menu and sub-menu on the left.
For the most part that means right thumb does the volume, and left thumb changes tracks. - Took me a while to get used to the paddles, but it's really only the left hand to overtake and the right hand to drop it back to auto.

I wonder if the light on the air-con is something they changed with the facelift?
 
@lucklesspedestrian do you still have the manual vehicle with the handbrake, and did you manage to get used to using it on uphills? I am considering buying a W163 manual (ML), so this is a concern that crossed my mind considering I am living in a place with extreme uphills....
 
@lucklesspedestrian do you still have the manual vehicle with the handbrake, and did you manage to get used to using it on uphills? I am considering buying a W163 manual (ML), so this is a concern that crossed my mind considering I am living in a place with extreme uphills....

He/she hasn't visited the forum for two and a half years so you may not get a reply:

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Ok thanks BTB500, I did not see that. Perhaps some others here can share a view. As noted I live in an area with some seriously steep hills just about everywhere, so I was just wondering if using a Mercedes handbrake on a manual transmission will be a challenge to overcome, or rather look for something else... ?
 
I’ve owned and driven a couple of manuals with the foot operated brake.
You soon get used to it and it becomes second nature 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
 
Thx Ted, appreciate your input!
 
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