Cruise control indicator W203 2k6 / 2k3

[bitonw]

Since my W203 is in the garage to sort out a brake problem and getting a Service B, I drive a 06 W203 avantgarde as courtesy car.

There are some difference between those vehicles but what I found is that when I activate the cruise control I get a message in the Instrument panel telling me at what speed I set the cruise control.

My 2003 doesn't do this, actually it doesn't show any thing but it works fine. I was always wondering why there isn't any indication of driving on cruise control.

So doesn't the 2003 W203 have any indication or displays a message when being activated?

 

[ba9rn]

Are you sure it is the cruise control speed you see, and not the limiter? If the light is on in the cruise control stalk, it is acting as a speed limiter (and should display the set speed). If the light is OFF, it is acting as cruise control - I don't think the speed is displayed in this mode. Try driving faster than the speed displayed - it won't let you. Can be very disconcerting!

You swap between the two states with the button on the end of the stick. When the light is off, you activate cruise by pushing up or down. Pull towards you for resume, and away from you (or brake) to cancel.

 

[ba9rn]

see also, the online manual: http://www4.mercedes-benz.com/e/cars/c-class/betriebsanleitung/

(look under 'In Depth'/'Driving Systems') The limiter is called 'Speedtronic'

 

[bitonw]

i know the differece between the speed limiter and the cruise control thank you.

 

[ba9rn]

Well sorreee.

 

[CMR]

The same happens on my W203 (2001). There is no indication of speed when selecting cruise control which can be slightly irritating as I prefer 'criuse' rather than 'limit' especially when going through stretches of roadworks with a speed limit and cameras that take in your average speed over the whole distance. Dont know if this works but you can select mph to be displayed (digitally) in the panel display (it replaces another option which I cant remember off hand) and with this displayed you can acurately control your cruise? Any other differences with the newer model out of interest?

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

I guess the logic is that if you want to know what you have your cruise set to look at the big dialy-thing that tells you your current speed. When you select cruise it sets it at the speed you are going. The only flaw in this, of course, is that if you accellerate and then back off without touching the brake, the car wil lgo back to your previous cruise speed and you may not remember what that was (although you'll work it out pretty quick when the car stops slowing down and then you can look at teh big dialy-thing again, think it's called the speedomoter, or "speedo" to the youths )

Just the way it works. Never really concerned me. I just say that as this is the first car I have had with cruise there is no way I'd ever buy another car that didn't have it. Fantastic invention...

 

[ba9rn]

Just the way it works. Never really concerned me. I just say that as this is the first car I have had with cruise there is no way I'd ever buy another car that didn't have it. Fantastic invention...

At the risk of incurring further sarcasm from bitonw, I'll second that. My last three cars have had cruise control, and I'd hate to go back.

 

[bitonw]

Well sorreee.

No worries ba9rn,

But I wrote about cruise control and the message in the display (between the rpm and mil dials) of the instrument cluster and not about the little light on the handle when you turn on the speed limiter.
The speed limiter isn't giving any indication other then that little light. Any way that (useless) option I personally never use, not even when driving a HGV. But I do use always the cruise control since 1988 when I had one in my Renault 25 Turbo-D. This car had the controls on the steering wheel and a control light in the instrument cluster.

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

The speed limiter isn't giving any indication other then that little light..

I know this isn't actually your point BUT are you saying the limiter does not show you the speed either? The limiter should show the speed. The cruise doesn't. It would be nice if it did, I agree.


btw, Bitonw, having re-read my post it was ment "tongue in cheek" rather than sarcatically. No offence intended.

 

[television]

With Distronic cruise, you do get the speed its set to in the dash, the same as with the limiter.

malcolm

 

[bitonw]

Any other differences with the newer model out of interest?

Since this 06 is an C180 Kompressor Avantgarde I can not really compare but here it goes:

Suspension, Stiffer and more like the IS200 I had some time ago. This is the same with the steering, more direct. Also more tyre noise. Not really my cup of thee. Hence the change from IS200 to Elegance.

Colour, The dials are white what I like but the rest of the lights are yellow like mine. Don't really like the difference they should be white too in my opinion.

For the rest I don't really see big difference other then Elegance -> Avantgarde. Personally I don't like the Avangarde, too cold. Also black colour inside makes me depressed, brrr.

I must say that the engine is fine, personally I don't like to drive diesel cars but with the mileage I drive it's better. The C180 is fine with more than enough power to drive with good economics (about 42mpg) and environment sense. But of course not good for all those UK boy racers where only the C55 AMG counts same goes with their points on they license.

 

[ba9rn]

The speed limiter isn't giving any indication other then that little light.

That is weird. In that case, it is operating in the opposite way to mine. It only shows set speed in the (as you say, useless and potentially dangerous) limiter use.

 

[bitonw]

IThe cruise doesn't. It would be nice if it did, I agree.

Well on this 06 vehicle it shows for about 5 seconds the speed you set the cruise control on. So you know on what speed you have set. Also when you change the speed say from from 60mph to 61mph it shows 61mph for about 5 seconds. This is handy so you know on what speed you have set the cruise control.

On my own vehicle (03) you don't get any information other then the large mph dial...
And on this difference was my story based on because I was wondering if my car should have this feature so I could let the garage check it since it was / is there for 3 days. Will collect it this afernoon.

 

[bitonw]

That is weird. In that case, it is operating in the opposite way to mine. It only shows set speed in the (as you say, useless and potentially dangerous) limiter use.

Will double check this when I bring it back to the garage this afternoon.

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

Mine's a 2003 as well and it sounds like they are the same. I get no indiciation of the cruise speed other than the speedo.

 

[bitonw]

Mine's a 2003 as well and it sounds like they are the same. I get no indiciation of the cruise speed other than the speedo.

Thanks for this info

 

[bitonw]

picture, Cr control 53 mph

Right. When turning on the speed limiter there is no indication on the instrument cluster window. When turn on / set the cruise control there is an sort message with the speed. See picture. I know it's hard to see but it on the top:

Cr control
53 mph

 

[OmniCognateNeutronRangler]

the speed limiter only shows the speed when you set it (if you see what I mean). The process of turning it on and setting it are separate. Push it on to turn it on and the light on the stork shows, then tweek it up or down to set the speed. Until you do that it doesn't show a speed setting. Apologies if I'm teaching you to suck eggs....

 

[bitonw]

No worries I never ever use the speed limiter

Picture is when setting the cruise control in a 2006 W203 and unfornaly you don't see this on the 2003 W203 models... But may be a hidden menu in Star Diagnostics? I really need my hands on that computer!!! :lol: