Keyless entry, Kick under bumper, Mercedes refuse to inform me how to operate my car safely.

[Deleted member 126251]

....

I also have so far remembered the safety advice from my dealer to avoid wearing clown shoes when loading the boot space.

Perhaps the op has big feet.

 

[Deleted member 6183]

Perhaps the op has big feet.

Not too big to fit in his mouth.

 

[Deadly Dave]

Wear a hard hat when operating the boot. Problem solved !

 

[snipez999]

Perhaps the op has big feet.

Ah, that's where my size 14 clodhoppers come into it then!

 

[Simonship]

Didn't MB refuse to inform you how to use your car safely then?

If somebody can explain to me how to post a video, i do have the cctv footage which i am happy to share?

 

[Simonship]

I have recently had an issue with my Mercedes GLC. I was loading the boot when the boot closed automatically and shut on my face causing considerable damage. Mercedes said it was my fault as i had the key in the keyless detection zone and i had triggered the auto close by moving my foot under the bumper whilst loading.

My response to Mercedes was:-

• Can you please inform me what the detection range for the keyless detection is?
• If you cannot keep the key on your person when are loading the car by yourself what are you supposed to do with the key whilst you load the car?
• What you are basically saying is it is unsafe to load the boot of your car with the car key in your pocket. How do you load the boot of this car safely, where does the key need to be for the boot not to auto shut?

They have responded with the following :-

• As you are seeking legal representation all further correspondence will now need to be in writing, however after extensive consultation with Mercedes-Benz Cars UK Legal and Daimler AG Legal we are not obligated to answer your questions. As such we will not be providing a response. You have previously had a final statement stating that this is not a product liability matter or product defect.

Has anyone else had anything similar happen to them, and does anyone know what the detection range is?

I cannot grasp where the key is supposed to be kept enabling the boot to be loaded safely. It is ludicrous that Mercedes are refusing to answer some very simple questions regarding how to safely operate a car they manufacture, I don't feel i should have to go to the motor ombudsman to find out how to operate my car safely, especially as Mercedes should clearly know the answers to my questions.

I have tried leaving the key inside the car / in my pocket but where ever i leave the key it still triggers the auto boot closing. I now have no idea how to load my boot safely. More so i have no i idea why Mercedes are unwilling to help me to use the car safely, it makes no sense at all.

In all honesty I'm disgusted how Mercedes have treated me and i am looking to see if anyone can answer any of my questions or have had a similar experience?

Thanks in advance

Simon

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[Doodle]

Not so much "trapped and pinned" shut as "started closing and I faceplanted it".

 

[Bluegnomes]

I don't have the underfloor swipe closing system on my s213 since we have a towbar (you can't have both) but I have had the boot close a couple of times when I was standing under it I presume due to the key in my trouser pocket being accidentally activated due to some unintended pressure. I got clonked on the head once. My fault - shouldn't have had the key in a tight pocket. Am I going to sue MB - no.

It also looks to me from the video that the OP didn't put their foot under the car hence I'd suggest that this is accidental operation of the fob.

 

[renault12ts]

At 11 secs you moved your foot under the bumper (perfectly normal to balance yourself) and it set it off. Not acceptable and I can see how this could happen again and again.

 

[Deleted member 37751]

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I suppose the most concerning thing is what would happen if it was a child.

I’m absolutely astounded that Mercedes don’t have a motion sensor on the boot lid as a safety device - that video is pretty shocking!

 

[ph47mf]

yeah just looking at the footage it seems like you did stick your foot underneath the bumper to activate the boot.

most of these auto boots i have come across, especially the cheaper trim level cars don't have beeping warning sound or sensors to stop it from closing, it won't stop until it hit something, it did try to retract after hitting your head. is that dangerous? not really, it's not gonna cut you in half.

save yourself the hassle and move on

 

[GeeJayW]

That does look somewhat unpleasant, I can understand why you'd be miffed.

 

[KennyN]

You would think there would be a button inside the boot or on the tailgate that , when pressed , would inhibit the auto -closing to prevent such incidents.

Even if there was a warning tone then it is possible that due to surrounding noise it may not have been audible.

Kenny

 

[Yugguy]

Might not be fatal but I imagine it bloody hurt catching your head on the metal edge of the boot.

I can see the vague advantage of it opening by waving your foot underneath but I really don't get the logic of it closing when you do so.

 

[Simonship]

hopefully you can view the video and

yeah just looking at the footage it seems like you did stick your foot underneath the bumper to activate the boot.

most of these auto boots i have come across, especially the cheaper trim level cars don't have beeping warning sound or sensors to stop it from closing, it won't stop until it hit something, it did try to retract after hitting your head. is that dangerous? not really, it's not gonna cut you in half.

save yourself the hassle and move on

Id say it was dangerous yes, 2 black eyes for 3 weeks, and still scarring 6 weeks later from the cut would also agree.
What if it was a child?

 

[Bluegnomes]

"What if it was a child?" It would have missed them... they are usually quite short you know

Sorry for being flippant and I hope that your black eyes and injuries heal soon. But as others have said, move on.

 

[ShaunB]

I've never had any issues with the powered boot lid on my car, at least not yet anyway.
I just find it incredibly handy when you come back to the car with two armfuls of stuff that needs to go in the boot

 

[Simonship]

"What if it was a child?" It would have missed them... they are usually quite short you know

Sorry for being flippant and I hope that your black eyes and injuries heal soon. But as others have said, move on.

Its with the ombudsman currently so i will just have to wait and see what they advise i suppose.
We each entitled to our own opinion, and mine is that it isn't safe.
I can not see personaly how it was passed as safe for use in the UK, or anywhere for that matter.
If everybody moves on with these things then nothing changes, and companies will continue to introduce silly systems that sound good in the boardroom, but in reality don't work safely.

 

[Petrol Pete]

I have a powered bootlid on my E63 and, while it emits a warning "bong" just before it closes, it doesn't detect an unexpected load - such as hitting someone's head (don't ask me how I know ) - and stop or reverse as would a window. Frankly, if it were a piece of machinery I don't see how it would pass safety certification

If it were in the workplace it would be illegal. End of. It would not pass even the most basic safety check.

 

[Simonship]

I've never had any issues with the powered boot lid on my car, at least not yet anyway.
I just find it incredibly handy when you come back to the car with two armfuls of stuff that needs to go in the boot

I agree, in theory its a great system. Its not a good system if when leaning into your boot you happen to put your foot in the wrong place and it shuts on your face.
Just keep whits about you whilst using, i wouldn't want anyone else to suffer injuries because of the system.