Interior issues

[chrisc2]

Hi im chris a student at coventry uni studying automotive design, i have a project in which i have to analyse the interior of a luxery saloon car and design a improvement to solve any problems i find.

I am using a neighbours merc clk500 (52 plate) for the basis of my project and i would like any current/previous owners' feedback regarding the interior.

I need to focus on opinions from people in the 55 - 70 age range but all opinions will be useful and used. User needs would be useful from users in this age range.

In particular i need examples of faults/issues regarding:
- technology / lack of / useless tech etc.
- ergonomic issues / hard to find switches / crowded controls / location of controls etc.
- useful improvements / features which would be useful to implement etc.

More recent technology / innovations can be used to update the model which were not widely available when the model was launched.

I will greatly recieve any feedback which you could give.

Thanks

 

[jberks]

Hi Chris,
You've given yourself a major task, may I suggest you swap to something from Japan?. German interiors are, on the whole, pretty well sorted whereas Honda for example (certainly a few years ago, not sure about today) are a complete mess in comparison.

Speaking for myself - picking fault with mercs interiors is really nit picking ....
The boot release button on the door is hard to see/reach - it used to be much better on the centre console.
I think the satnav screen (if fitted) is too low on the dash.
Otherwise - can't think of a thing.

Waht you have to remember with MB is tha they're not, or at least weren't followers of fashion. What served them in the 70s wouldn't be changed unless someone could come up with a good reason to do so. Hence their basic ergonomics have really evolved over the years and so work really well.

 

[P_BELLY]

Chris,
Agree with JBerks, the interior of the 02 CLK, as most other Mercs, is pretty well sorted. Some very minor gripes on this particular model:

- Cup holders - the W208 had a great cup holder but the W209 only has one on passenger side as an option (panel next to glove box) - a step backwards
- Electric seats, when you pull them forward to allow rear access the base of the seat should really slide forward automatically (again it used to on the W208 CLK). In the W209 it either doesn't move if the seat is far enough forward or is a manual lift, not too luxury.
- Sat nav screen too small and system is slow as CD based (both fixed on the facelift after 2005)
- With the auto lights option there's actually nothing on the dash to tell you ifthe lights are on or off which is an oversight, I find myself looking at reflections of the car to see if my lights are on
- On RHD versions they didn't change around the C/S button on the auto box so it's on the wrong side of the gear lever
- Thermotronic system could be simplified a bit, it's not as intuitive as the typical Merc interiors
- Rear windows don't have an auto up function, you have to hold the button up, the front ones have this. Also the front passenger doesn't have control of the rear passenger side window which.
- No postcode entry on the Command system.... what were they thinking.

God I've just re-read this and I sound like a real whinger.... I love this car!!!

 

[PeterCLK]

Hello Chris

If you look on page 3 you will see a thread "how many things have Mercedes invented"
I think you will find it quite useful.
My CLK has the upgraded dash.
I really like - cruise control so easy to use + the digital speed display in the centre dial.
Very minor niggles - only one cup holder in front & the chrome on the air vent covers reflects on the windscreen.
Generally I think steering wheel mounted controls (which all marques have these days) are a boon.
Peter

 

[chrisc2]

Thanks for responding to my thread, the responces were exactly what i ws looking for. I will use all of the responces in my work.

I have spoke to the owner again since my first entry and he showed me faults with the small gap betwen the gear lever and the centre console, which makes it hard to use the heating controls when driving, and it is easy to change gear by mistake.

Also he showed me that the speedometer/dials can be obscured by the adjustable steering wheel when it is in certain positions.

Because i have to implement a new technology into the cabin area for my project, i was concidering a head up display which should solve the problem. The BMW M5, a major competitor for the mercedes range has got a head up display and i am curious to know your views about the possibility of a head up display in the clk.

1. Would you like a head up display in the interior in the clk?
2. Would you use a head up display?
3. If so, what information would you like it to show?
4. Do you think that it should be available across the clk range or just on the higher spec cars?
5. Where would you like the controls used to operate it to be located in the cabin area?

 

[chrisc2]

Could i have ant thoughts about the sat nav system in the clk please.

Thoughts on size, positioning, ease of use, how complicated it is to use, how frequently you have to keep looking at it etc. please.

Im heading down the route of a head up display from my research
Thoughts atm are to give clearer instructions on a head up display such as arrows when to turn from the sat nav so drivers dont have to keep looking away from the road.



thanks

 

[P_BELLY]

Chris, do note that the sat nav already puts these types of arrows onto the screen in the middle of the speedo so you don't have to look down to the COMAND screen.

However, if you could have a HUD where the arrows actually pointed down the correct road in a 3D manner so you saw your route overlain on the actual road ahead that would be cool..... very cool. Guess it would need some sort of 'widescreen HUD'

 

[jberks]

I'[d agree. We had this discussion recently. Command in everything pre-the new C class is in the middle of the centre console. I accept there is an additional prompt on the cluster but the main info is in the wrong position IMHO, requiring you to look inside the cabin to read it. Even the new C with its pop up screen isn't ideal, especially when compared to a tomtom positioned actually on the windscreen. To this aim, yes a satnav hud would be a real boon. This is more the case as all cars are now relying more and more on TV screens for all functions from the radio to the heater. (BMW I drive and even the new S is almost entirely TV controlled).
Personally I think this is a dangerous development as it can't possibly be as simple as twiddling a knob so must be more distracting. Even on my E, if I want to something as noddy as redirect the airflow to the floor, I have to repeatedly press a button and watch an LED move round a dial until the right position is reached. Fine, but not as quick and easy as my previous E when I could just turn a knob to point in the right direction without even having to look - maybe a hud is the way forward.. - though I'd still prefer to go back to a simple knob.