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

[tangey]

I suppose if you were unloading the car and had your hands full it would be useful to close the door with your foot?

This.
For every occasion that hands are full approaching the car boot, there must be similar occasions for hands being full leaving the car boot.

 

[Deadly Dave]

Voice command might solve the problem . "Mercedes, close boot"

 

[tangey]

THat is not how it (at least on my GLC) works. I Stand, kick foot in and back out again, but do not move back. Tailgate opens. In fact I think you could (if you were entirely stupid) stand close enough to activate it and it hit you on the chin as it came up. I'll double check later, without the "entirely stupid" bit.

Confirmed that you don’t need to step back. I operated with the foot movement whilst my other knee remained in constant contact with the bumper. Boot opened and then I had to move back as it hit me in my “6-pack”

 

[Deleted member 11979]

I sympathise with the OP and admire his principals in taking MB to task over it.

I can’t think he will get anywhere, but it’s true to say if you don’t make a stand anything goes!

MB aren’t alone in stupid tailgate design, Discovery 5 has a very sharp corner at head height for some of us!

With some exceptions can we not shut our own car boots?

 

[Bellow]

Voice command might solve the problem . "Mercedes, close boot"

Just make sure not to swear it. It has it in it to be vengeful.

 

[fourwheels]

My understanding (which may well be wrong) is that it is basically an over-current detector that detects the motor drawing more current than it should do, due to the obstacle. I think there is also a detection that it hasn't latched correctly when in the full down position, as a plastic bag over the metal latch on the boot floor will also trigger it.

tanger - you are probably correct and it has all those sensors but I never allow anything to cover the boot floor latch or for that matter allow anything to protrude between lid and floor latch.
Mine will stop when an empty freezer back is simply standing within the boot space. Lay the bag down, try again and it closes !!
Worst case was when I put some charity collection money in the boot for safe keeping, pressed the button and saw it close and unfortunately then walked away only to return 20 minutes later for someone to say 'that car boot has been open for 20 minutes'. The money was still there - phew!
I wait and check its locked each time now.

 

[GeeJayW]

Confirmed that you don’t need to step back. I operated with the foot movement whilst my other knee remained in constant contact with the bumper. Boot opened and then I had to move back as it hit me in my “6-pack”

I used to have a six pack. These days it's more of party seven...

 

[chrisk2010]

I suppose if you were unloading the car and had your hands full it would be useful to close the door with your foot?

I suppose it would and i did think that but you would still be standing under the taligate so it just like you're asking for it really unless you get a good kick, duck and move maneuver down.

 

[whitenemesis]

It really doesn't move that quickly!

 

[jdrrco]

If the hatch bonged on the way down as well as on the way up, it would be a cheap solution.

 

[GeeJayW]

If the hatch bonged on the way down as well as on the way up, it would be a cheap solution.

It does...

 

[Deleted member 6183]

It does...

Maybe a more noticeable and specific warning is needed, I've got in mind one of those 'caution this vehicle is reversing' type warnings like when the bin lorry is turning around. Of course, it will need to adapt to where the car is located like the bin lorries have an English and Welsh version around here for the benefit of those that don't speak Welsh.

 

[brucemillar]

Rather oddly (maybe not) in the US and on the US BMW X5 Forums, one of the promoted and often talked about positively, mods is to fit big springs to the rear tailgate gas struts. The sole purpose of these being to boost to opening force of the upper tailgate, so hat it requires no manual lift to raise all the way to its top most open position. Dangerous in the extreme, I have visions of peoples teeth flying through the air and across the car park as the newly fitted springs boing into action, launching the tailgate upwards on the unwary who has never encountered this mod.

I mentioned my fear on one of the forums and was laughed out as a "snowflake"

 

[gramey]

So I've just sat and read all five pages of this thread and watched the video, so here goes my 2 cents worth, the OP appears to have over reached when placing whatever item it was down thus resulting in having to put his foot out to maintain his balance. This has resulted in the tailgate closing, as intended by the manufacturer, and the OP has not heard the beep and turned round not expecting the tailgate to be in the position it was and stepped into it.
Had the OP moved his feet to place the object down, rather than over reaching to the point of needing to balance himself this would have been avoided. Have we all made mistakes that we've regretted yes, is it MB's fault? I seriously doubt a claim will be successful but that said in a civil case the burden of proof is far lower than a criminal case, the OP should however be prepared for a rather large legal bill if he takes it to court and the ruling goes against him.

 

[jdrrco]

It does...

Mine doesn't

 

[Deletedmember130310]

Sorry OP that vid did look painful. Wouldn't an RFID blocker wallet/pouch thingy block the signal?

I can't get my head around the need to wave your foot to close, wave to open yes. As you approach the car with shopping or what have you but it would be handy why would Merc do a wave to close.

Once all is loaded though wouldn't it be better to press a button to close as you would be standing at the end of the tailgate and made a concious decision to close it? Standing under a close tailgate having to wave your foot seems like a bad idea in any scenario.

I don't have any of these features so i'm probably missing something here.

A RIFID blocker would disable the whole system as the car wouldnt know the key is in the vicinty.

 

[chrisk2010]

Rather oddly (maybe not) in the US and on the US BMW X5 Forums, one of the promoted and often talked about positively, mods is to fit big springs to the rear tailgate gas struts. The sole purpose of these being to boost to opening force of the upper tailgate, so hat it requires no manual lift to raise all the way to its top most open position. Dangerous in the extreme, I have visions of peoples teeth flying through the air and across the car park as the newly fitted springs boing into action, launching the tailgate upwards on the unwary who has never encountered this mod.

I mentioned my fear on one of the forums and was laughed out as a "snowflake"

I nearly done this when i tightened the springs on my old W202, i was testing it held the boot button on the fob nad boing! The boot just brushed my chin. I also nearly caught my ex-girlfriend once when she approached the car to load shopping i wasn't paying attention and released (unleashed) the boot, being much shorter than me it was a very close call.

A RIFID blocker would disable the whole system as the car wouldnt know the key is in the vicinty.

I know but it would stop the boot from closing accidently

 

[Deletedmember130310]

I know but it would stop the boot from closing accidently

it would stop it opening

 

[chrisk2010]

it would stop it opening

.

That's great it won't hit anyone on the chin either! I'm all about health & safety and i think we have established that a hard hat, safety glasses, Hi vis, and saefty boots (should you kick under the bumper a little too hard) and a pemit to work should be filled out as you'll loading the boot so working in a confined space.

This keyless stuff is dangerous if someone doesn't pinch your car with an iphone the bloody thing will attack you.

 

[Deleted member 126251]

I never realised that opening / closing the boot was such a big deal.

My MK-I hand works perfectly! I've never whacked my chin opening the boot and nor have I ever banged my head closing it.

Amazing what happens when we perceive that someone else is responsible for our own safety!