I adjust the radio volume/station and other stuff via my 12 buttons on the wheel, but the climate control temperature, I have to reach down for. I don't have to look, I know where the dials are. One thing I would have to glance down for is if the dual zone seems to be having a fight and I need to see the Mono button to hit that (if previous passenger has messed with their side).
The only 'button' on my steering wheel sounds the horn .
Mercedes were the original masters of ergonomics , being the first to realise that rows of similar buttons or switches are a bad idea , and developed the idea of dissimilar controls , many of which are multi functional , with each operating in different ways , hence falling easily to hand and without confusion .
The MB light switch , with turns clockwise for sidelights and headlights , anti-clockwise for parking lights , and pull out for fog lights , goes all the way back to the 1950's . Other controls , like the multi function stalk , which combines indicator , high/low beam and flashing , with multi speed wipers and washers evolved over a few decades , with the dip switch being taken from the floor into the stalk ; then after the floor switch was used for the washers for a while , and a little rocker switch built into the stalk for different speeds , someone thought to add twist and press in movements to add different functions . The stalk itself , of course , was originally only for flashing headlamps , with one position for momentary flashing , and another for continuous flashing ( very useful on the autobahn to leave the headlamps constantly flashing to warn slower traffic to get out of the way ) and indicators back then were actuated by rotating the horn ring . 1950's MB also had such things as a knob to advance/retard the ignition ( twist operation ) , choke knob ( pull out ) and push button for the starter . Gear change was , of course , on the steering column - either manual , clutchless manual ( Hydrak ) , or if you were seriously wealthy and could afford an Adenauer , then you could have automatic .
While MB have had separate heater zones since the 50's too , and the controls have always been tactile , they moved from simple levers for hot/cold and up/down on each side , with always available cold air to the face , and optional heat everywhere else , to knobs or thumb wheels for temperature and air direction controls from the early 70's - arguably the earlier controls were more intuitive - but all could become familiar and used without looking away from the road .
Becker had one of the first self seeking radios , which would find the stations for you , so gadgets were around even then ; and several decades later Sony offered multi function remote controls ( such as the RM-X4S I have in each of my cars ) which like the MB multi function stalk offers each function in a different way and can be operated purely by touch .
) cars don't have any costs to keep them on the road.
