Mercedes stalk controls - Why everything on one?

[HYaz]

I drive my wife's GLB on an occasional basis and everytime I do, I am still confused as to why Mercedes insists on putting pretty much all the controls into one stalk on the left with the right stalk controlling the gears and not doing much else during a normal drive whereas the left one feels overloaded.

Surely putting in another stalk for gears if Mercedes insist on having the gears on a stalk rather than a button on the dash (as an example) frees up the right stalk to be used for other functions like wipers (front and back) as most cars do?

This isn't a question but more of a slightly bemused wondering whether this annoys anyone else.

 

[whitenemesis]

Leaves one's right hand free to hold one's phone, cigar, G&T whatever ...

 

[HYaz]

Leaves one's right hand free to hold one's phone, cigar, G&T whatever ...

Good point. I hadn't considered that.

 

[SpikyMikey]

Leaves one's right hand free to hold one's phone, cigar, G&T whatever ...

Or to do the regal wave as you cruise past the commoners in their plebmobiles

 

[tylerdurden]

I’ve known people develop mobility issues in left arm and struggle driving. Easy in a merc

 

[Londonscottish]

I drive my wife's GLB on an occasional basis and everytime I do, I am still confused as to why Mercedes insists on putting pretty much all the controls into one stalk on the left with the right stalk controlling the gears and not doing much else during a normal drive whereas the left one feels overloaded.

Surely putting in another stalk for gears if Mercedes insist on having the gears on a stalk rather than a button on the dash (as an example) frees up the right stalk to be used for other functions like wipers (front and back) as most cars do?

This isn't a question but more of a slightly bemused wondering whether this annoys anyone else.

I''ve been driving Mercs for 20 years and can't say I've noticed as I jump in and out of other cars.

For one thing, the switch for the lights is on the dash and is set to Auto so that's taken care of.

Audio controls are all on the steering wheel and/or the COMAND nudge wheel.

The gear stalk isn't used to change gear; just to select D/P/R and is really handy on a stalk as it frees up a load of space in the centre console. I've got paddles if I want to select gears (which I rarely do).

All you're left with on the stalk is indicators and wipers, no?

 

[Ted]

It has been on the one stalk for years and years. It is one of the ‘features’ of being a Mercedes.
Personally, I love it.

 

[Dryce]

This isn't a question but more of a slightly bemused wondering whether this annoys anyone else.

It doesn't annoy me.

But then when I had a W211 there were two stalks on the left - none on the right. (Indicators + wipers on one , cruise control on the other).

Given that the right hand side of the steering column was free - it would have been logical for MB to put the transmission selector there when they moved to doing that. That said - while I find the MB setup easy to use - I actually prefer the traditional centre console selector position.

 

[markjay]

Leaves one's right hand free to hold one's phone, cigar, G&T whatever ...

Yes, the Plebs do that... apparently they do not have a manservant like we do

I even heard that some people do not have a chauffeur... what is the world coming to.

 

[HYaz]

I''ve been driving Mercs for 20 years and can't say I've noticed as I jump in and out of other cars.

For one thing, the switch for the lights is on the dash and is set to Auto so that's taken care of.

Audio controls are all on the steering wheel and/or the COMAND nudge wheel.

The gear stalk isn't used to change gear; just to select D/P/R and is really handy on a stalk as it frees up a load of space in the centre console. I've got paddles if I want to select gears (which I rarely do).

All you're left with on the stalk is indicators and wipers, no?

The left stalk, from memory:

• Indicators
• High beam on
• High beam flash
• Front wipers on/off/intermittent
• Front wash
• Rear wipers on/off
• Rear wash

That's a lot of funtionality on one stalk whereas all the gear stalk does is to select D/P/R (wrong terminology to say change gear) and is not used.

So, from a user experience, you have a lot of fucntionality loaded into one stalk which does quite a lot of functionality that one needs to do in a typical drive whereas the you have the whole right side of the steering wheel that is not being used for anything other than selecting D/P/R.

The more I think about it, the more I realise that someone at Mercedes really hasn't thought this through in detail, especially from a users perspective and have stuck with their way of doing it just to differentiate themselves from other cars.

 

[whitenemesis]

The more I think about it, the more I realise that someone at Mercedes really hasn't thought this through in detail, especially from a users perspective and have stuck with their way of doing it just to differentiate themselves from other cars.

Isn't this what all marques strive to do, stand out from the crowd?

 

[HYaz]

Isn't this what all marques strive to do, stand out from the crowd?

Yes, but wouldn't it better to stand out from the crowd in terms of excellence, service, quality etc rather than sticking with a method that is not actually user friendly, doesn't offer any tangible benefits and actually makes it harder for an older generation to use their vehicles if they are switching to Mercedes?

 

[JoeJoeS212]

I drive my wife's GLB on an occasional basis and everytime I do, I am still confused as to why Mercedes insists on putting pretty much all the controls into one stalk on the left with the right stalk controlling the gears and not doing much else during a normal drive whereas the left one feels overloaded.

Surely putting in another stalk for gears if Mercedes insist on having the gears on a stalk rather than a button on the dash (as an example) frees up the right stalk to be used for other functions like wipers (front and back) as most cars do?

This isn't a question but more of a slightly bemused wondering whether this annoys anyone else.

I found this annoying when I first got my E class. Not sure if yours is the same but my right hand stalk is the drive, neutral, reverse etc.
The amount of times I've been driving and gone to put the wipers on and nearly put it in reverse are countless
I'm fine now that I'm used to it but I guess if it's yours wife's car and you don't drive it as often you'll likely forget.
Safe motoring.

 

[Bellow]

The left stalk, from memory:

• Indicators
• High beam on
• High beam flash
• Front wipers on/off/intermittent
• Front wash
• Rear wipers on/off
• Rear wash

Lose the rear wash/wipe and add cruise control and you have the LH stalk (RH is where the transmission selector lever resides) on my 1999 Chevrolet.

The more I think about it, the more I realise that someone at Mercedes really hasn't thought this through in detail, especially from a users perspective and have stuck with their way of doing it just to differentiate themselves from other cars.

So Mercedes have no differentiation over others and very likely my Chevrolet is typical of many USA vehicles. Which kinda suggests the real reason for Mercedes to have adopted (not invented) that layout.

 

[Petrol Pete]

My 2006 C class has 3 stalks on the L/H side . The usual suspect then cruise control and the steering column movement lever . I jump out of it in to my Toyota ...in which everything is arze about face on the steering column. I don't find it particularly challenging , It changes again when I drive the wife's Vauxhall , add to that my ancient van (now dearly departed) that had the horn button on the end of the indicator stalk and 1st gear in the position where 2nd gear lives on 99% of 'normal' manuals .....

Endless permutations , one day all cars will be the same , shame that.

 

[Phil1968]

Do wish they'd be consistent with the placing of the cruise control stalk though, in my CLS it's above the multi function stalk, in my Vito it's below.

 

[Will]

Do wish they'd be consistent with the placing of the cruise control stalk though, in my CLS it's above the multi function stalk, in my Vito it's below.

Newer models it’s a button on the steering wheel!

 

[Phil1968]

Newer models it’s a button on the steering wheel!

That's a step back imo, because I find the stalk quite intuitive to use

 

[Will]

That's a step back imo, because I find the stalk quite intuitive to use

You’d get used to the button soon enough. I drive both regularly back to back and the button is a step forwards IMHO

 

[BTB 500]

We have two with cruise stalks (Vito & SL) and one with cruise buttons on the wheel (C Class)

I personally prefer the stalk as it does everything, rather than the separate 2-way buttons for resume/cancel and set/adjust.