Newbie to Mercedes needs advise on instrument cluster position

[RickZ]

Ok folks many thanks for your replies, I'm getting the impression many don't see the issue. It wouldn't be an issue if it affected the rev counter rather than the speedo, and I don't want to set the speedo in the multi function display because I can't see the main one. I don't think sorry officer I couldn't see the speedo will work if done for speeding. I'll set the seat right down and the steering wheel up so that I can see the speedo and try to get used to the weird driving position. Thanks again...

 

[dry run]

If this forum was the police, that would be chalked up as one crime solved

 

[RickZ]

If it's something that you need to get used to, it would have stood out like a sore thumb during a test drive.
Or did you buy without even sitting in the car?

As already posted I test drove the car but spent more time getting used to the controls and talking to the sales rep in the car with me. I only noticed the issue once I had more time at home to set my normal driving position at which point I could only see the speedo clearly by moving my head right so my left eye could see the complete speedo. It may sound daft but I've driven two seaters, normal cars, 4x4's, SUVs, pickups etc etc during my employed travels around the world but I haven't experienced this until now. I just hoped to find out why it's like it...

 

[Headhurts]

This seems like a wind up thread but if not no problems with my E Class.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Naraic]

Ok folks many thanks for your replies, I'm getting the impression many don't see the issue. It wouldn't be an issue if it affected the rev counter rather than the speedo, and I don't want to set the speedo in the multi function display because I can't see the main one. I don't think sorry officer I couldn't see the speedo will work if done for speeding. I'll set the seat right down and the steering wheel up so that I can see the speedo and try to get used to the weird driving position. Thanks again...

You are, in car terms, tall. As such, a tall person will set the seat low and the steering wheel high. So...what's the problem?

 

[Craiglxviii]

You are, in car terms, tall. As such, a tall person will set the seat low and the steering wheel high. So...what's the problem?

The seat is high and the steering wheel low

 

[LostKiwi]

Come on guys - be fair. The OP had a perceived issue and was just seeking some clarification.

 

[Naraic]

Indeed, but seat low, wheel high should be correct for him...and it enables him to see the speedo.

 

[dry run]

Haven't we all behaved a bit like Mercedes "customer service" ? I,E. Refuse to accept there is a problem, rubbish the complainant by suggesting it's his fault for not doing things right, until he just gives up and accepts he'll have to live with it? Sound familiar?
Just sayin'

 

[JBell]

Ok folks many thanks for your replies, I'm getting the impression many don't see the issue. It wouldn't be an issue if it affected the rev counter rather than the speedo, and I don't want to set the speedo in the multi function display because I can't see the main one. I don't think sorry officer I couldn't see the speedo will work if done for speeding. I'll set the seat right down and the steering wheel up so that I can see the speedo and try to get used to the weird driving position. Thanks again...

Why not get comfy and use the digital speedo instead????

 

[Naraic]

Haven't we all behaved a bit like Mercedes "customer service" ? I,E. Refuse to accept there is a problem, rubbish the complainant by suggesting it's his fault for not doing things right, until he just gives up and accepts he'll have to live with it? Sound familiar?
Just sayin'

I'm not sure what any of us can do...so unless he gets rid of the car he will indeed have to live with it. Or do you think there is a fault which can be fixed?

 

[L John]

I keep looking at the photo and can't see that it's off to one side.

The OP says he has to move his head to the right to see it with his left eye.
Maybe weak vision in the right eye?

 

[LostKiwi]

I'm not sure what any of us can do...so unless he gets rid of the car he will indeed have to live with it. Or do you think there is a fault which can be fixed?

If it were a fault the trim wouldn't fit.
As said, it's a feature of the car and the OP will have to adapt or get a different car.

 

[RickZ]

Why not get comfy and use the digital speedo instead????

I actually like to use the trip function when driving. I could use the speedo at the top of the screen if it wasn't fixed on Km/h, and don't get me going on that one....

 

[RickZ]

I keep looking at the photo and can't see that it's off to one side.

The OP says he has to move his head to the right to see it with his left eye.
Maybe weak vision in the right eye?

No it's a lack of X-Ray vision in the left eye that can't see through the steering wheel covering the edge of the speedo. Try looking at something when one eye can't see it fully, it's a little disconcerting especially when driving.

 

[RickZ]

If it were a fault the trim wouldn't fit.
As said, it's a feature of the car and the OP will have to adapt or get a different car.

I'm not saying it's a fault, I'm trying to ascertain if it's normal for a Merc. I'm used to sitting in a car with everything bang on center so I can see it. My Audi S5 had a small sports steering wheel but I could still see all the all instruments and had a good range of adjustment on both the steering wheel and seat without losing sight of any instruments.....

 

[RickZ]

If it were a fault the trim wouldn't fit.
As said, it's a feature of the car and the OP will have to adapt or get a different car.

I don't doubt it's a feature of the car but why when it serves no purpose and limits seat and steering wheel adjustment....

 

[Craiglxviii]

I don't doubt it's a feature of the car but why when it serves no purpose and limits seat and steering wheel adjustment....

I'm sure you're trolling.

I've given you a pretty detailed explanation of how and why car manufacturers arrive at the setup and layout that they do. I have 3 MBs ranging across 16 years and all different models, that have a pretty damn-near identical setup, I've checked out the A/ GLA and they have a near-as-makes-no-difference identical layout; no-one else on the forum has reported ever having this issue; there are zero, say again zero threads on the other forum about it either.

By the way, I have access to some lists that you don't and there are for the 15 years' records that I have available, zero, say again zero customer complaint issues reported on the available pan-OEM customer issue databases as concerns this subject for MB cars.

I also yesterday checked with a seat design engineer as regards eye position in XYZ relative to top of steering wheel and instrument binnacle. All German OEMs use pretty much identical standards and share pretty much the same customer biometric data. So think about the car as a three-dimensional construct, to read the instruments through the gap in the steering wheel while still being able to see mirrors, to the front and side there is a range of angles the driver's eyes can be in relation to the instruments. That is, the eyes have to be in a definable zone of XYZ co-ordinates relative to the instruments. Ze Germans use pretty much identical data in this regard- so Audi, BMW, MB, Volkswagen, Skoda, SEAT, Porsche all share the same datasets on customer height/ build to get that 95th percentile customer size to meet those XYZ co-ordinates.

That is, the driver's eye position relative to the instruments are pretty much near as dammit the same across all those models. Some slight variation but no more than 5mm either way, something like that.

It isn't a feature of the car per se. It is that the way you have set up your driving position, plus the shape of your body, causes that issue. So you either need to accept that and work around it, or set the speedo up to display MPH in the DIS and live with it, or sell the car and drop a grade back to Audi.

But either way round, it's been explained to you. Try to understand and please stop moaning.

 

[Vehementi]

Ask yourself these two questions....

1) Can you see out the front window?
2) Can your feet reach the pedals?

That's all that matters.

 

[RickZ]

I'm sure you're trolling.

I've given you a pretty detailed explanation of how and why car manufacturers arrive at the setup and layout that they do. I have 3 MBs ranging across 16 years and all different models, that have a pretty damn-near identical setup, I've checked out the A/ GLA and they have a near-as-makes-no-difference identical layout; no-one else on the forum has reported ever having this issue; there are zero, say again zero threads on the other forum about it either.

By the way, I have access to some lists that you don't and there are for the 15 years' records that I have available, zero, say again zero customer complaint issues reported on the available pan-OEM customer issue databases as concerns this subject for MB cars.

I also yesterday checked with a seat design engineer as regards eye position in XYZ relative to top of steering wheel and instrument binnacle. All German OEMs use pretty much identical standards and share pretty much the same customer biometric data. So think about the car as a three-dimensional construct, to read the instruments through the gap in the steering wheel while still being able to see mirrors, to the front and side there is a range of angles the driver's eyes can be in relation to the instruments. That is, the eyes have to be in a definable zone of XYZ co-ordinates relative to the instruments. Ze Germans use pretty much identical data in this regard- so Audi, BMW, MB, Volkswagen, Skoda, SEAT, Porsche all share the same datasets on customer height/ build to get that 95th percentile customer size to meet those XYZ co-ordinates.

That is, the driver's eye position relative to the instruments are pretty much near as dammit the same across all those models. Some slight variation but no more than 5mm either way, something like that.

It isn't a feature of the car per se. It is that the way you have set up your driving position, plus the shape of your body, causes that issue. So you either need to accept that and work around it, or set the speedo up to display MPH in the DIS and live with it, or sell the car and drop a grade back to Audi.

But either way round, it's been explained to you. Try to understand and please stop moaning.

It was a genuine question, I'm not trolling in any way what so ever. The two photo's attached are a better representation of what I'm seeing from each eye with steering wheel fully up and seat in the right position. In order to see properly I have to set my seat so that the top of my shoulders are below the bottom of the drivers side window which means I can't see the bottom 20% of the multi function display. I haven't had to drive any other vehicle including sports vehicles I've owned sat so low in order to see the main speedo dial. I now accept this is a Mercedes thing I'll have to get used to. In future I'll remember that many Mercedes members have little tolerance for genuine questions from those new to Mercedes.....