Useful features discovered by accident

[rascalmaster]

I like the fact that I can lock the car remotely while the boot is open, then put the key away while I unload the boot, knowing that once I've closed the boot the indicators will flash to confirm that the car is fully locked/alarmed.

unless like me you take your dirty coat off and toss it in the boot and then shut the boot... (let my key in the jacket pocket)

and then discover how the 2nd key can come in handy lol

 

[C240Sport97]

I like the fact that I can lock the car remotely while the boot is open, then put the key away while I unload the boot, knowing that once I've closed the boot the indicators will flash to confirm that the car is fully locked/alarmed.

with keyless go, the boot will not close if key in boot ...

 

[st13phil]

Brake lights that become brighter when reverse is engaged (W204 & W212)

Brake light bulb run continuously at low intensity when tail-lamp bulb fails and lights are on (W204)

Wipers disabled when bonnet not fully secured, ensuring wiper arms don't foul bonnet (R171)

 

[davidjpowell]

...in the hall table drawer, 50 miles away...

or in my case 250 miles.

I now know how to break into a w210 saloon.

 

[Springbok]

How the airbags deploy at exactly the right time.

Oh wait, that's in a accident not by accident!

 

[br0ke]

Wipers disabled when bonnet not fully secured, ensuring wiper arms don't foul bonnet (R171)

CLK w209 does that. This means you cant see where the leak from the washer is as the bonnet has to be closed - they only thought they thought of everything (if you see what I mean)

 

[paul3408]

W212 push and hold the air rec button with the windows down they close, push and hold again and they open to the same point as before

 

[BTB 500]

s124 engaging reverse gear when raining and using front wipers - the rear wiper automatically engages.

Similar on the Vito, except with the rain sensor the rear wiper operates completely automatically when you reverse.

Can't think of anything else - I'm unusual in that I tend to read handbooks

 

[evilweasel]

On the W204, I like how the aircon reduces speed when linguatronic is listening.

 

[Gerrard]

W209 - cup holder!

Only found out about it whilst looking into replacing the sound system...

 

[John]

I discovered not so long ago that my car measures my speed in reverse on the MPH display in the centre.

Not useful to me at all but interesting that they bothered.

Something I wish my previous Saab did (discovered by accident) was hold back on the fans when cold on cold days and start blowing fast when the car got warm.

 

[eGuru]

hold back on the fans when cold on cold days and start blowing fast when the car got warm.

Does that on the S class

 

[clk208]

Does that on the S class

& on the CLS

 

[John]

That'll be my el-cheapo E class for you then.

I can't believe a Saab at half the price did it although I suppose it was often parky in Scandanavia...

 

[tonyc280]

Didn't know about the w202 thingy. Will look at mine tomorrow. Cheers.

 

[brucemillar]

The petrol flap hinge is also a holder for the petrol cap. This stops it swinging on it's tether (when you put fuel in) and marking your rusty paintwork.

 

[WDB124066]

If you put the heater on No1 setting and to the floor in a 124 Cab with the roof down, it will blow nicely right on your knee caps. How they figured that I will never fully understand but I will give them credit for it. Won't happen on No. 2 fan setting as well though.

 

[chriswt]

On the wifes new S-Max the passenger side door mirror dips when in reverse - nothing new there but then discovered that the drivers door mirror will dip too if you slide the electric mirror switch over to the right.

Handy when trying not to curb the wheels.

 

[effbee584]

The fact that, on my CLS, when unlocking and opening a rear door only, the mirrors do not fold out. Hopefully prolonging the time to when one will fail.

 

[clk208]

The fact that, on my CLS, when unlocking and opening a rear door only, the mirrors do not fold out. Hopefully prolonging the time to when one will fail.

Yes, I noticed this. You can also disable the mirrors from auto folding at all in the cluster of course. I have it set this way at the moment - I figure I would rather someone knock the mirror than scrape the car if they are that close already.

Another interesting one when you open a back door (or any door) is you can hear the computer system in the boot (nav drive, dvd etc) spool up ready for action. Presumably this is in case you have rear screens.