W211 E Class setting - default display in Centre of speedo

[Goldfish11]

Does anyone know how to change the display in the Centre of the Speedo so it displays the Temperature instead of Km/h at the bottom of the screens which display fuel consumption etc.

I was in an EClass Taxi in Denmark a few weeks back and noticed that the display had all the usual fuel consumption data but instead of km/h at the base of the screen the outside temperature was displayed instead in most views.

I have been through the menus on the stearing wheel control and can not find a setting to change this.

Has anyone managed this or do UK vehicles not have this option?

 

[RichardM]

You can't! It is programmed to always show km/h.

There is a menu option on mine to change it, but it has no effect.

 

[glojo]

Does anyone know how to change the display in the Centre of the Speedo so it displays the Temperature instead of Km/h at the bottom of the screens which display fuel consumption etc.

I was in an EClass Taxi in Denmark a few weeks back and noticed that the display had all the usual fuel consumption data but instead of km/h at the base of the screen the outside temperature was displayed instead in most views.

I have been through the menus on the stearing wheel control and can not find a setting to change this.

Has anyone managed this or do UK vehicles not have this option?

I might be talking rubbish here as I am not able to get up to check it. I think it has to stay on kilometres per hour when the vehicle is moving to comply with European laws.

John

 

[saorbust]

Not talking rubbish at all John - perfectly correct.

 

[glojo]

Not talking rubbish at all John - perfectly correct.

Hi Jonathon,
I suppose that would be another item a US imported vehicle would have to comply with?

What a misty, dismal day,
Regards,
John

 

[Aswall]

Can we put this in an FAQ? It's asked every week now

 

[calum]

One other downside of the removal of the km/h marking from around the speedo - which is the root cause of *this* issue, since you have to have a km/h display at all times - is that, when using the speed limiter on a UK car in Europe, having changed the console to km/h, you can't tell at a glance what speed you've set it to. I much preferred the digital numeric limit display, as opposed to these new "blobs".

 

[glojo]

I much preferred the digital numeric limit display, as opposed to these new "blobs".

I just get angry that we have these stupid laws. The facility is there to display kilometres if required. It should be a matter of choice.

John

 

[Goldfish11]

So in summary:

Its law, we have to have Kmh displayed on the speedo at all times in some form.

 

[RichardM]

One other downside of the removal of the km/h marking from around the speedo - which is the root cause of *this* issue, since you have to have a km/h display at all times - is that, when using the speed limiter on a UK car in Europe, having changed the console to km/h, you can't tell at a glance what speed you've set it to. I much preferred the digital numeric limit display, as opposed to these new "blobs".

Just pull the lever towards you and it will display the speed its set to.

 

[calum]

yup, thanks Richard, I know, but that's hardly "at a glance". It's a minor thing, but I do see it as a (slight) regression from my CLK, where it was always visible numerically. Ditto the outside temp. Why do I have to lose the temp display if I'm using the console nav, or radio, display?

These are very minor points, of course, but they are some of the few areas where I feel things have gone backwards. In almost all other respects, the new car is miles better than my W208

Discovered a downside of the plastic boot lid: can't affix my magnetic GB plate to it...

 

[glojo]

Discovered a downside of the plastic boot lid: can't affix my magnetic GB plate to it...

I never realised the boot lid was plastic. Thanks for the info.

Talk about one rule for us and another for Europe?? I thought we had the freedom to travel throughout Europe. Why do we need to display a GB plate? We have to display kilometres per hour because we are part of Europe??? Or are you visiting countries outside of the European market?

I am completely out of touch with modern laws and I suppose my statement is more of a question.

Just remembered yet another option the US cannot have on the 211 E-class. DVD video

Regards,
John

 

[RichardM]

Discovered a downside of the plastic boot lid: can't affix my magnetic GB plate to it...

That's how I found out it was plastic! I then went around the car and was surprised just how many panels weren't metal.

This is my first Mercedes so I can't compare to previous models, but I have always found the cruise control to be much better than other cars I've driven because you can set it to an exact speed, e.g 50mph, in other cars I've driven you don't know exactly what its set to, it could be 49 or 52.

 

[calum]

I never realised the boot lid was plastic. Thanks for the info.

I had noticed before that the boot makes quite a different sound on closing than the satisfying clunk made by my W208.
I'm hoping that this is for safety reasons - perhaps better crash deformation - rather than to reduce manufacturing costs

Talk about one rule for us and another for Europe?? I thought we had the freedom to travel throughout Europe. Why do we need to display a GB plate? We have to display kilometres per hour because we are part of Europe??? Or are you visiting countries outside of the European market?

Good question: I had just assumed that I needed one (in France); perhaps I don't?

I also can't imagine why it's not trivial to switch the car over to dipping the lights the other way, with Xenon ALS. Given the lights are constantly moving, you'd think this would be something they could easily control.

I've seen a few threads on this recently, but no conclusive answer: with my current W211, Xenon ALS, is there an easy way to have the lights switched to LHD friendly? Having the dealer do it doesn't seem feasible, since it's then wrong for the drive to Folkestone and back.

 

[calum]

This is my first Mercedes so I can't compare to previous models, but I have always found the cruise control to be much better than other cars I've driven because you can set it to an exact speed, e.g 50mph, in other cars I've driven you don't know exactly what its set to, it could be 49 or 52.

Yes, I've always liked this feature, for this reason.
However, in all previous models I've had it on, the setting was permanently visible, numerically, in its own dedicated display area. For the speed *limiter*, rather than the cruide control, I found that more reassuring.

 

[RichardM]

I've seen a few threads on this recently, but no conclusive answer: with my current W211, Xenon ALS, is there an easy way to have the lights switched to LHD friendly? Having the dealer do it doesn't seem feasible, since it's then wrong for the drive to Folkestone and back.

I haven't tried it but from the previous threads it seems quite easy, you remove the cover on the back of the lights and switch the lever. As I say I haven't tried it myself yet!

 

[calum]

I haven't tried it but from the previous threads it seems quite easy, you remove the cover on the back of the lights and switch the lever. As I say I haven't tried it myself yet!

Thanks; I couldn't work out from earlier threads whether this method was also valid for the Xenon lights. Is it safe to be sticking your hand in there, even with the ignition off? I thought there was lots of high voltage around the Xenon lights.

 

[RichardM]

You should be fine. These are the instructions Brian posted:

Switch OFF engine and Lights, as they are high voltage. Remove cover from Xenon which screws on, reach inside and on the Inner side of the bulb you will find a lever , feels a bit springy, push lever down and thats it. Do the same the other side.

 

[calum]

You should be fine

Should be. heh

thanks much for that Richard, I will give this a try on this month's trip.

 

[saorbust]

I had noticed before that the boot makes quite a different sound on closing than the satisfying clunk made by my W208.
I'm hoping that this is for safety reasons - perhaps better crash deformation - rather than to reduce manufacturing costs


Good question: I had just assumed that I needed one (in France); perhaps I don't?

I also can't imagine why it's not trivial to switch the car over to dipping the lights the other way, with Xenon ALS. Given the lights are constantly moving, you'd think this would be something they could easily control.

I've seen a few threads on this recently, but no conclusive answer: with my current W211, Xenon ALS, is there an easy way to have the lights switched to LHD friendly? Having the dealer do it doesn't seem feasible, since it's then wrong for the drive to Folkestone and back.

How strange. Just had this very change done to my car for Europe next week ! :bannana: :bannana: I have to have it changed back on my return, but according to the dealer with Xenon's its a dealer change option - apart from the volts, they also have to do some alignment work - not just the level flick option for normal lights.

As for GB - I have it on my number plate, so nothing to worry about there.