I have a 2000 S500 with about 58k miles. Bought it a few months ago and so far no problems.
On Page 89 of my Owner's manual, where it discusses the seat and mirror memory settings, there is a little blurb at the bottom of the page:
"Two stored positions are available for EACH (emphasis mine...) of the electronic main keys."
That says that there are a total of four settings available to be stored in memory between the two main keys. However...you guessed it...no matter how I store the settings using either key, I only can store TWO settings...one in each numbered position. (I am only talking about the driver's seat..)
Am I missing something or is my manual a little ahead of it's time ? I have a "late" 2000 model.
Well, I am able to store TWO settings with each key. It simply doesn't seem to matter which key I use. The TWO settings, Buttons 1 and 2, remain the same no matter which key I use.
Just wondering.
Speaking of the key, I valet parked the other day and kept the metal key. When I retrieved the car, the COMAND system didn't seem to be working and I assumed it was because I still had the metal key in my pocket. I thought..wow, this is really neat. The valet can't mess with the radio or nav or any of the COMAND if I remove the metal key.
But...I now believe the valet simply turned off the Power button on COMAND and that was what "disabled" the display. Oh well.
Don't you think that would be a really nice feature to have though? Where do I send Mercedes the idea?
I just want to be sure you're doing the right thing with key-dependent settings.
One key would be used to store the ONE setting for Driver #1 (that's me in my car). The second key is used to store ONE setting for driver 2 (my wife). When I insert my key, the seats & mirrors adjust to memory 1, my driving position. When my wife then inserts key 2, the drivers seat and the mirrors adjust to memory 2, her settings.
The stored memory in the door controls doesn't change. The different keys simply call up settings 1 or 2, depending on which key you use.
Unfortunately, valets can mess with COMAND. I turn mine off when using a service.
Your explanation makes sense, but.... that is not quite what the manual says. I'll re-read the manual, but in the meantime, how do I "pair" my key to Position 2 (long story here...) and my wife's key to Position 1?
I will try to remember to simply turn off COMAND when I valet, but what do you think of the idea of removing the metal key disabling COMAND? Seems like a good idea to me.
Quaintly enough, I wrote this up in another forum very recently. The procedure follows:
"C'mon Jayhawk - you're an academician - a little research can't be all that daunting! - Oh, I forgot - it's the Mercedes owner's manuals. Strike that!
You can access an owner's manual for your car in .pdf format at http://www.mbusa.com/sitemap.do if you're registered with MBUSA; at least the .pdf is searchable. Now, if we could just remember the exact term they used....
I believe the procedure entails 1) enabling the "Key-dependent" feature on your instrument cluster MFD (you may already have done that, but check it) - then 2) inserting the key you want to "mate" (synchronize) - and calling up the seat/mirror memory settings you want to "mate" with that key. To do that, press "memory" on your door control, then within 3 seconds, press the memorized position number you want stored with that key. 3) Do the same with the other key, inserting it and then calling up the other memory position.
One of the nicer features is that you can also set your passenger side mirror to tilt downward for assistance backing up, when the car is placed in reverse; and that setting is also retained for different drivers.
To carry the discussion a bit further - your keys are also coded for your specific car, and when the batteries in the keys require replacement, the dealer must have all electronic keys to re-code them for your car. Then you get to re-synch them!"
You may have to pay attention to things such as whether you have to open or close doors, etc when inserting the key and calling up the memory position you want stored with that key. If that doesn't work for you, I can offer no additional help. Your owner's manual should have covered the procedure, or you can double-check the online version through the link provided.
Thanks for the tips, but the MB owner's site doesn't have the PDF manuals for cars prior to 2004. I swear there was no discussion of mating keys in my manual, but I could have missed it.
I am driving a 2000 model and maybe "key-dependent" was not available for that year.
I had the key-dependent feature in my 2000 S500 manufactured in late November 1999. What I don't recall is whether I had the ability to activate/deactivate the feature using the multifunction display. However, it was definitely a feature my wife and I enjoyed.
I do recall that when I tried to use the feature upon purchasing my '05 from my own memory, it would not work. i went to the owner's manual and found out I had to activate the feature in the "convenience" settings. Once I did that it worked just like my '00.
Now I wonder if it was part of an option package. My '00 had a number of them, and the dealer was often telling me I didn't have a feature that in fact I had (like the easy-exit feature on the steering wheel).
Well, mycar is one month younger but also quite loaded. I did already invesitigate alot reagarding this topic with no clear result.
So my suspicion is the EIS allows this feature fom a certain point on.
Do you have a Star Diagnosis Report from you old car ?
Cheers, Frank
Quote:
Skylaw - 3/3/2006 2:05 AM
I had the key-dependent feature in my 2000 S500 manufactured in late November 1999. What I don't recall is whether I had the ability to activate/deactivate the feature using the multifunction display.
Now I wonder if it was part of an option package. My '00 had a number of them, and the dealer was often telling me I didn't have a feature that in fact I had (like the easy-exit feature on the steering wheel).
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