R171 Memory seats

[johnoc]

We recently bought an SLK 350 - fabulous car but a significant problem with the memory seats and 'key dependency' feature.

At just 5' 00'' tall, my wife requires the seat positioned as far forward as it is possible for the seat to go, but also needs the 'easy exit' feature to move the seat back and steering column forward turned on to make getting out of the car easier.

Since taking delivery of the car, we have found that each time my wife gets in the car, using her key, she has to move the seat further forward after the seat has supposedly returned to her memory position. Our local dealership has finally advised me that the seat will not return automatically to the furthest forward position, despite this being the latest setting, and has been unable to provide me with an adequate explanation other than 'that's the way it's designed and all SLK's will do that'.

Is this true, and if so, can anyone tell me why?

 

[jberks]

The only logic I can think of is the same one that means that the seat part of the easy exit feature on my E doesn't work for me (but is fine for the wife). The thinking, in so far as I understand it, is that if the seat moved further back than I am already sitting, it may squash the people in the rear. So it has a maximum range that it will cover automatically. If you sit outside that range, you have to adjust manually and therefore be present and deliberatly hold the button. (same reason the remote window close feature only works on the IR).
I assume the same is true on the forward range. It may even be based on the space between the wheel and the seat which whilst fine for the Mrs, could crush someone larger? You get the picture - friend picks up her keys to move the car, jumps in with seat well back, pops in the key, seat starts to move keeps going - crunch!