Send to a friendPaul In Jersey November 2nd, 2007 11:26 AM Link
What’s a VCR? Oh, I remember now…that was that thing that used magnetic tape to record TV shows. Wow, what a flashback!
Mercedes Prepares for Frustrated Owners After Daylight Saving Time Ends
Written By: Winding Road Administrator
And you thought adjusting your clocks for standard time, which arrives this weekend, was easy…
If you own a Mercedes-Benz, that’s not necessarily so.
Owners who are in the company’s online database received an e-mail earlier this week as the answer to a frequently asked question: “How do I set the time?” Note this information was transmitted BEFORE the expected flood of questions.
(Click through to find out how many steps it takes to change the clock in your Mercedes.)
There is some sort of a message here. Does Mercedes management get it?
If you have a COMAND system (that’s not a misspelling, but an acronym for Cockpit Management and Data): First, make sure the car is outside and the engine is running, and then follow the seven steps outlined in the instructions.
If you do not have a COMAND system, using the multifunction steering wheel (Mercedes’ term, not ours), you can do the same thing in four steps to set the hours and another four for the minutes. The engine must be running, hopefully outside.
Is technology really your friend?
And supposing you aren’t in the MB data base? Then call 1-800-FOR-MERC. Or figure it out yourself.
And if all else fails, read the owner’s manual.
What’s easier, setting the clock on your VCR or in your Mercedes? Let us know in comments.
8 Comments
FPF422 November 2nd, 2007 11:35 AM Link
I have a SLK350 with the DVD Comand and changing the time doesn’t take more than 30 seconds… and btw, you don’t have to have your engine running… and there are no seven steps… (maybe in Retardland there are… but not here…)
Clint November 2nd, 2007 12:00 PM Link
Is the implied Winding Road message here that A) Mercedes owners lack the ability to figure out how to change the clock in their cars, B) Changing the clock in a Mercedes is unnecessarily complicated, and C) Mercedes Corporate knows this and is trying to head off trouble before it starts?
I don’t think it’s any of these. The instructions posted don’t sound all that complicated. As cynical as I can be, I think this is just a case of Mercedes taking the initiative to provide customer service.
Adam W. November 2nd, 2007 1:23 PM Link
Sounds better than beeing an customer of BMW with iDrive, or a Car & Driver reader with their new layout. At least MB is doing something.
Why do you think so few people actually read the Mfg. instruction manuals? Because there are ALWAYS twice as many steps as are actually needed to do something, and they are always written to the lowest common denomiator — ie dumbasses.
So exactly how often have you guys written about 90’s Hondas that, for a while, REQUIRED you to go to the dealer just to turn off the oil change indicator?
Muscle Cars World » Blog Archive » Mercedes Prepares for Frustrated Owners After Daylight Saving Time Ends November 2nd, 2007 1:49 PM Link
[…] What’s easier, setting the clock on your VCR or in your Mercedes? Let us know in comments. Sphere: Related Content […]
ernie November 4th, 2007 11:16 AM Link
Well, after 40 years of fixing/programing computers (and I do not claim to be a genius, just happens to be the line of work I was in), the MB is a real challenge. My previous E320 clock setting was to the book and I had NAV/GPS which it was slaved to.
Now I have the 2008 CLK350 w/NAV and the book screen shots does not agree at all with the instruments or the NAV screen. AND worse than that, the email that MB recently sent out with a link to how to set your MB clock does not have the same displays. I actually think that my car was a very early 2008 and they forgot to put some of it’s brains in!! (or maybe my brain is lacking, oh to be 22 again)
Jay November 12th, 2007 10:32 AM Link
8 steps actually..
Setting the clock using the COMAND controls
Step 1
Press the SVC button.
Step 2
Highlight and select System Settings by rotating and clicking the rotary knob.
Step 3
Highlight and select Settings.
Step 4
Highlight and select Date/Time on the settings menu and press to confirm. The menu displays the date and the time with the minutes highlighted.
Step 5
Press the right-hand rotary/button (on newer systems, use the arrows to select minutes or hours). When setting mode is active, the minutes will be highlighted.
Step 6
Turn the right-hand rotary/button to the right. Each click or press will move the time ahead in one-minute increments (on systems without a rotary knob, the up or down arrow is used to adjust minutes or hours; with GPS reception, the time is changed in 30-minute increments).
Step 7
Turn the right-hand rotary/button to the left. Each click or press will move the time back in one-minute increments (with GPS reception, the time is changed in 30-minute increments).
Step 8
To exit the system, press the Back button or hold the rotary/button for more than two seconds (on newer systems press the Back key or OK to save your settings).
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