Features
As we cram more technology into our homes, cars and palms, the ergonomics of using said advancements should be getting better. Mercedes has a few elegant systems in cars like the S-Class and new C-Class that allow the driver to play with all the onboard technology with little headache. Not so in the M-Class. The LCD screen in the easy-to-reach center dash is perfect for a touch-screen interface ... except it doesn't have one.
Instead, you have to use buttons lining both sides of the screen that correspond to functions displayed on the screen. Those functions change with every screen as you move through radio, navigation and onboard computer settings. There's also a small joystick on the far side of the dash that can move the cursor around the screen, but it's difficult to use. I found myself looking for ways to work around the system most of the time, and after a few attempts at inputting directions I simply gave up. True, we should all spend time reading the owner's manual, and owners who live with the car will eventually learn the system, but a vast majority of the cars I test are intuitive enough to use without referencing the large book stashed in the glove compartment. Strangely enough, with the optional iPod connector installed in the glove box, the owner's manual no longer fit there anyway.
The stereo system was just adequate; it didn't hold a candle to the optional systems in the C-Class and S-Class.
See also:
Automatic transmission
WARNING
It is dangerous to shift the automatic
transmission out of parking position P or
neutral position N if the engine speed is
higher than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
on th ...
Parking the vehicle for a long period
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
four weeks, the battery may be damaged by
exhaustive discharge.
► Connect a trickle charger.
You can obtain information about trickle
ch ...
Important safety notes
WARNING
If you tow the vehicle, you must use a rigid
towing bar if:
- the engine is not running.
- there is a brake system malfunction.
- there is a malfunction in the power supply
or the veh ...