W211 instrument panel status line stuck on speed, and km/h too

[calum]

I'm a little confused as to whether this is supposed to happen. Just got my new 'E', and I'm confused by the "status line" on the instrument panel; that's the line above the trip meter.

i.e the standard display is:

1. outside temp

2. "status line"
3. trip meter

4. odometer

The manual suggests, under Settings, that the status line can be set to show either outside temp, or speed, but I don't have a setting to control this. The manual also says, on a different page that either outside temp or speed can be set as the status line display, "except for the UK, where the digital speedo is always displayed".

So, two questions:

o Why would they restrict the status line to always showing speed, just in the UK?

o Why is it in *km/h*, and not mph? I have miles set as my distance unit, and if I choose to show the speed (in line 1 of the display, above) it does show in mph, but the status line (3 above) is still stuck on km/h?

So, to sum up, it seems that the status line is permanently stuck on km/h, regardless of settings. Is it just me that sees this (and thinks it a bit strange?).

thanks much,
c.

 

[marcos]

The part showing kmph down the bottom is so us brits can easily keep to speed limits when driving abroad. It's actually very handy

 

[calum]

Yup, ta, I did wonder about that; bit silly though, when you can easily switch the entire display to km with a different setting, no?

and why force it the status line to always speed, and not temp? Same reason?

thanks...

 

[calum]

Perhaps it's also because the main speedo itself is now marked only in mph. My previous Mercs have always had km/h in smaller numerals.

 

[Aswall]

Yep, it's a legal requirement to have a km/h visible all the time and they have got rid of the metric scale from the outer edge of the speedo

Accept it and move on

 

[calum]

interesting, thanks. Was just wondering. Thanks for clearing it up.

 

[RichardM]

I spent quite a while trying to switch mine too, as the manual does suggest it can be done. Would be nice to display the temp, and have the main screen on mpg etc.

 

[Rory]

This is annoying me too, on my recently acquired C270. I find myself driving along and constantly converting the displayed KPH figure into MPH. I suppose I'll get used to it after a while.

 

[Aswall]

This is annoying me too, on my recently acquired C270. I find myself driving along and constantly converting the displayed KPH figure into MPH. I suppose I'll get used to it after a while.

If you look a bit further up there's a big needle moving round

 

[Rory]

If you look a bit further up there's a big needle moving round

I can't see it most of it - the steering wheel's in the way.