W210 Is climate control worth having?

[st4]

Is there a lower temperature limit below which air conditioning ceases to function?

I remember on VW's the A/C function switches off below about 7C.

Thats pretty bad, its advantegeous to run a/c in cold weather as it prevents the windows steaming up as it takes moisture out the air. When its colder air can hold less water, so it condenses (onto windows). If a/c is on then the air is dried and the windows don't steam up.

I never drive without a/c on for that reason. Carbon this and global that I couldn't give a monkeys, I'd rather see out my car :bannana:

 

[dave e320]

climate bulb

Climate is nice but the back light tends to fail meaning you can't really see which button to press at night, with the dials it's a lot easier to remember what does what.

Anyone know how to fix the back light?

simple to replace . did mine about 3 months ago. 1st get bulb from mb (accessory stores dont keep them, only 75p from mb) 2nd at bottom corners of unit 2 long holes insert flat keys (radio ones work well)3rd pull unit forward whilst moving it from side to side , 4th when out disconect wire loom, turn unit upside down in middle of unit there is a plug . twist plug and bulb is there . replace bulb and wire loom now turn ignition on and check it lights up (not very bright behind lcd as only a low watt bulb) if all is well gently push unit back into hole not trapping wires (you do not need to use the keys for replacing unit) an heyho job done

 

[welland99]

but the set temperature may not be possible, if for example the exterior temp is hotter than the interior and you're asking for the interior to get colder

Will, What did you mean when you wrote this? You have described a standard situation in the summer time. ie, exterior temp is hotter than the interior, and you want the interior to be colder. This is what AC / climate is dsigned for, isn't it?

 

[wemorgan]

Will, What did you mean when you wrote this? You have described a standard situation in the summer time. ie, exterior temp is hotter than the interior, and you want the interior to be colder. This is what AC / climate is dsigned for, isn't it?

Yes it is exactly.

My comment was in relation to the 'eco' button. Which I believe turns the climate off, but then despite still being able to 'set' the temperature the 'set' temperature may not be feasible.

In short.....don't use the 'eco' button if you want full control of your climate control.

Hope I'm a little clearer now

 

[stevesey]

Will, What did you mean when you wrote this? You have described a standard situation in the summer time. ie, exterior temp is hotter than the interior, and you want the interior to be colder. This is what AC / climate is dsigned for, isn't it?

Will's reply was in the context of the ECO button.

Omega has an eco button (climate control off) but you still adjust the temp with the digits.

but the set temperature may not be possible, if for example the exterior temp is hotter than the interior and you're asking for the interior to get colder

 

[rlowy]

Climate Control

I'm currently looking for a W210 around 1999 to 2001 and would like to know if the climate control is worth having. Do you have it and like it or dislike it? Is it reliable or troublesome?

I have been looking for a good one with climate, but have found this to be very difficult. Should I give up and go for regular AC?

Essential, set and forget

 

[DrNick]

I've got the dual zone air con in my W210 (with the knobs ie not digital) and its absolutely fine. Leave the dials in the white zone and leave the AC button in the on position and thats it. Never normally need to touch it again. The AC button (EC) makes no noticable difference to fuel economy on mine - I've had 2, an E300TD and a E280 petrol

 

[C240Sport97]

simple to replace . did mine about 3 months ago. 1st get bulb from mb (accessory stores dont keep them, only 75p from mb) 2nd at bottom corners of unit 2 long holes insert flat keys (radio ones work well)3rd pull unit forward whilst moving it from side to side , 4th when out disconect wire loom, turn unit upside down in middle of unit there is a plug . twist plug and bulb is there . replace bulb and wire loom now turn ignition on and check it lights up (not very bright behind lcd as only a low watt bulb) if all is well gently push unit back into hole not trapping wires (you do not need to use the keys for replacing unit) an heyho job done

I did the same thing .. and I am hopeless with car maintenance

 

[welland99]

My comment was in relation to the 'eco' button.

Sorry for being slow on the uptake about the eco button . I know exactly what you mean now.

 

[welland99]

Thank you everybody for your comments on this thread . Nobody has said climate is a waste of time and most of you wouldn't be without it.

I will indeed keep looking for a good 7 seater with climate, but as i have found none available at reasonable price in 3 months, I ,may soon have to admit defeat and get one with regular AC.

If anybody knows of a good one for sale, please let me know.

 

[aka$h]

Mine is going up for sale next week on autotrader.
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=65503

Pretty well spec'ed but no climate.

 

[Dieselman]

Other than automatic fan control there is no appreciable difference between A/C and climate on a W210.

There seems to be a lot of misinformation that the regular system doesn't control the temperature and needs adjusting. If it does, it's faulty.

The climate has a sun sensor but otherwise they operate exactly the same..set and forget.

 

[welland99]

Other than automatic fan control there is no appreciable difference between A/C and climate on a W210.

There seems to be a lot of misinformation that the regular system doesn't control the temperature and needs adjusting. If it does, it's faulty.

The climate has a sun sensor but otherwise they operate exactly the same..set and forget.

That's interesting. Never having owned or read the hand book for one of these I wouldn't have known that.

So are you sure the temperature control is automatic on the regular AC system (subject to the manual fan setting)?

 

[welland99]

Mine is going up for sale next week on autotrader.
http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=65503

It does look interesting. Whereabouts are you? Don't you find the leather seats cold without heaters? Exactly what can you do with the satnav radio thingy (is this what some refer to as comand?)?

 

[aka$h]

It does look interesting. Whereabouts are you? Don't you find the leather seats cold without heaters? Exactly what can you do with the satnav radio thingy (is this what some refer to as comand?)?

In in SW London. Well the seats are a little cold in the morning, but finding one with all the spec was getting impossible to find with a colour combination I liked.
The COMAND unit allows, Radio, CD changer control, Navigation, full control of nokie phone. All of the above functions can also be controlled via the steering wheel. It also allows for an AUX input, for an ipod.

 

[Birdman]

Only problem with my climate (MY2001) is the digital display is beginning to break up.

Otherwise going strong after 8 years. Only had it serviced twice in that time (regassed & filters or summat)

 

[welland99]

In in SW London. Well the seats are a little cold in the morning, but finding one with all the spec was getting impossible to find with a colour combination I liked.
The COMAND unit allows, Radio, CD changer control, Navigation, full control of nokie phone. All of the above functions can also be controlled via the steering wheel. It also allows for an AUX input, for an ipod.

Are you going to post up the link to the autotrader ad when you have done it?

What is the sat nav like compared to the more modern portable systems, like Tomtom? At around 10 years old it is getting on a bit isn't it? Does it have a touch screen? Is it possible to update the firmware or the mapping data from the internet? Do you do that by burning a CD with the update files on it?