Memory Seats?

[mw_C32]

Ordered the Memory Package on my ML thinking that when my short wife uses the car and moves the seat right forward I can come along next time open up the car and the seat will move to where I want it. Nope.

I have to stand in the rain with my finger in the memory button to move the seat back before I can get in. Whats all that about??? Is this now normal or just specific to the ML. I'm sure my C32 moved the seat to the desired memory position when the corresponding key was pressed before I had to get in.

The worst thing is that the seat moves slowly compared to pullin a lever and moving it manually. No point havinmg the memory pack then!!

Unless I'm doing something wrong!! Any ideas?

Mark.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

If she thinks you'll be using it next, maybe your wife could press your memory button before she gets out of the car?

Doesn't answer your question, but it may help make more bearable?

 

[glojo]

Again not answering your specific question, but does the ML have the Easy Entrance\Exit feature?

This option moves the seat back to allow easy, comfortable exiting of the vehicle. This will allow the next well endowed in the height department type person an easier more comfortable entrance into the vehicle.

John

 

[mw_C32]

Thanks.

Bobby,

As if she has time to remember that!!! When there is all that shopping to unload from the boot.

Glojo,

Yes we have easy entrance/exit feature but even then the seat only moves back a couple of inches and the steering wheel will only move up a fraction, so I still have to stand there with my finger on the button.

In fact when I get out, only the steering wheel moves up as the seat is too far back to move. (seen this discussed elsewhere).

It's not really a big deal but just seems one of those annoying omissions ( or someone in R&D who thought this was the best use of the memory function) still, as seen on top gear, that's what they spend £10million a day on.

Mark.

 

[glojo]

Glojo,

Yes we have easy entrance/exit feature but even then the seat only moves back a couple of inches and the steering wheel will only move up a fraction, so I still have to stand there with my finger on the button.

Hi Mark,
On our vehicle which has the Easy Exit fear=ture we have had the movement of the seat altered via Star Diagnostic equipment.

Whilst the mobilio technician was going through some diagnostics he asked if we wanted the range of movement extended. The drivers seat now goes right back against the stops.

We own a 2004 E-class, so the settings might be different.

Regards,
John

 

[richard]

Are we talking about the latest ML ?? The old W163 ML didnt know about different keys/different drivers ..

I've noticed that the newer model cars are losing the 'key dependance' feature .. which means the car doesnt set itself differently for the different drivers - presumably it was causing too much confusion when the seat memories changed for the different keys - it caused me hastle a few times on my SL until the dealer pointed out I had turned on key dependance but one of the seat memories on one key was set to a silly position - which is what was confusing me

- As it happens its still in the clusters (certainly on the A class !), just not coded or documented in the manuals anymore, so some people out there can turn it on.

BUT, I cant remember whether it automatically moves the seats for to a certain position for the different keys, or you still have to do it - I think it probably moves the seats for you - as I think thats what got me confused once.

Richard

 

[mw_C32]

Will check out both your suggestions at the dealership. Thanks

Mark.

 

[mw_C32]

Actually I dont hold out much for what the dealers can do.

I took the ML in last week to have the Kilometer per hour reading changed to show outside temp and also to turn off the seatbelt warning chime. After about an hour they could not change them. I was watching from the viewing room and the tech was on it for the whole time.

They could change the settings on the star computer but in the vehicle it was still the same, even to the point of asking to change the system to NL country code but still no can do. In the end the tech said he would need a special code from MBUK but was not prepared to do it. So it would seem that they have very limited ability to change any settings at the dealers. They were very helpfull and did not charge for their time so a plus point for that.

Will try for the seats tho.

Mark

 

[richard]

You need someone with star diagnosis machine with the 'factory mode' enabled. - this is normally done with a special password which changes every month -

Only then can they fully recode things, like turning off UK mode and enabling features that arent normally available on the current model.

apparently the factory is being more and more hesitant about releasing the password to a dealer unless they have a really genuine reason for needing it (i.e theres something broken on your car that needs special coding)

So I dont expect your MB will be able to do it

There are a few indepednants that can also do this for you, as they have bought star machines from the factory etc etc - PM me and tell me where you are, and I will let you know if I know anyone

It may take me a day or two to respond at the moment ..

Richard

 

[saorbust]

Actually I dont hold out much for what the dealers can do.

I took the ML in last week to have the Kilometer per hour reading changed to show outside temp and also to turn off the seatbelt warning chime. After about an hour they could not change them. I was watching from the viewing room and the tech was on it for the whole time.

They could change the settings on the star computer but in the vehicle it was still the same, even to the point of asking to change the system to NL country code but still no can do. In the end the tech said he would need a special code from MBUK but was not prepared to do it. So it would seem that they have very limited ability to change any settings at the dealers. They were very helpfull and did not charge for their time so a plus point for that.

Will try for the seats tho.

Mark

I think you'll find the seat chime and the kph settings are for legal reasons in this country - although don't quote me. I'm sure its part of the EU Certificate of conformance for the vehicle. Either way your dealer will not change it.

 

[richard]

I think you'll find the seat chime and the kph settings are for legal reasons in this country - although don't quote me. I'm sure its part of the EU Certificate of conformance for the vehicle. Either way your dealer will not change it.

There was a long thread on mbclub about the kph setting, in which someone asked the appropriate UK authority, who said as long as it was still possible to set it to show KPH its legal, and I think MB said it could be done, as long as it was done after the car was delivered .. (the latter, I suspect because it was set that way when the conformance stuff was done).

The way the seat belt binger works has changed over time - on my 2004 SL, it bings a few times and stops (3-4) if you dont have the seatbelt on when the car is started.
On my 2006 A class, it doesnt, it just beeps once in a while, and gets more and more frequent if the seat belt isnt on and you are moving ... which is nice and informative and never annoying,

I like the warning if passenger removes seatbelt, in case its one of my kids as the passenger - in fact, I got my SL tweaked so it tells me if the passenger seatbelt is undone - it didnt used to ..

I remember that my friendly MB tech once told me (a long time ago, around 2004) that they could turn of the seatbelt warning binger, but they made you sign some disclaimer - same if they turned of the TV motion interlocks, or the fact that air-recirculate mode turns off after a while to let fresh air in .. but, over time, MB have removed their ability to do all of that in Star Diagnosis.

Cheers

R

 

[saorbust]

There was a long thread on mbclub about the kph setting, in which someone asked the appropriate UK authority, who said as long as it was still possible to set it to show KPH its legal, and I think MB said it could be done, as long as it was done after the car was delivered .. (the latter, I suspect because it was set that way when the conformance stuff was done).

The way the seat belt binger works has changed over time - on my 2004 SL, it bings a few times and stops (3-4) if you dont have the seatbelt on when the car is started.
On my 2006 A class, it doesnt, it just beeps once in a while, and gets more and more frequent if the seat belt isnt on and you are moving ... which is nice and informative and never annoying,

I like the warning if passenger removes seatbelt, in case its one of my kids as the passenger - in fact, I got my SL tweaked so it tells me if the passenger seatbelt is undone - it didnt used to ..

I remember that my friendly MB tech once told me (a long time ago, around 2004) that they could turn of the seatbelt warning binger, but they made you sign some disclaimer - same if they turned of the TV motion interlocks, or the fact that air-recirculate mode turns off after a while to let fresh air in .. but, over time, MB have removed their ability to do all of that in Star Diagnosis.

Cheers

R

From memory, I'm sure the only reason the C Class achieved 5 stars in the NCAP rating is because it had a seat belt chime. I'm sure its part of the test. Might be completely barking here though....

 

[Rory]

From memory, I'm sure the only reason the C Class achieved 5 stars in the NCAP rating is because it had a seat belt chime. I'm sure its part of the test. Might be completely barking here though....

Yes, the chime is an NCAP thing.