2026 E class - no retracting door handles?
Discussion
foreverfalling said:
I ve just received an E300DE urban edition. When I saw one in the showroom it had retracting door handles but the car I have received doesn t.
Is that a new thing? Thanks
Maybe talking bIs that a new thing? Thanks
ks but retracting handles have been banned in China for safety reasons, after occupants died when rescuers couldnt open the doors after crashes and so maybe Merc have decided to not offer them anywhere for production simplicity?foreverfalling said:
I ve just received an E300DE urban edition. When I saw one in the showroom it had retracting door handles but the car I have received doesn t.
Is that a new thing? Thanks
Is that a new thing? Thanks
That is interesting.
After initially being interested in the new E Class W214, I was told that the specification I wanted is not available in the UK. My further research revealed that the W214 is not actually an all new model, but a facelift of the W213 facelift.
Several of the 'improvements' I did not like, one of which being the door handles.
I subsequently found a nearly new W213 facelift. Remarkably, it only cost half as much as a new W214.
You will be familiar, but these photos show the different door handles.
W213 - Conventional - They were available as chrome, or painted body colour.
W214 - Pop Out.
I wonder whether Mercedes-Benz have changed back to the older type door handles?
Some online reviews have shown the door handles not working as expected at times.
If they have changed back, that means using the older design doors.
Wills2 said:
The W213 had its own facelift around 2020 the W214 is based on the MRA2 platform not the MRA1, so as its new chassis designation shows it's a new model.
Oh that is alright then Wills, the MRA2 platform. In which ways would we feel the platform improvements, when riding in the car?
When I studied the visible exterior and interior changes, between W213 facelift and the W214, it is surprising how few alterations have been made.
Front - changed the grille.
Rear - changed the rear lights and incorporated a vent slot on either side of the lower bodywork. I can imagine the tosh, to describe why those tiny vents are so vital.
Sides - the bodywork crease marks going the full length, passing in line with the door handles, has changed to just forward and rearward creases which disappear in the central section.
Interior - a huge glass screen goes across the entire dashboard. On a sunny day, flickering reflections galore.
Touchpad has gone.
Previously the two screens (appear as one) were neatly recessed into the dashboard, avoiding the very popular 'stuck on afterwards' appearance.
Most of the physical buttons were scrapped for the new model. Good luck finding the correct menus when driving.
Need to use voice control I suppose, which is good, but for example, changing the fan speed without needing to look is easy on the W213.
Are you sure M-B are not copying the soap powders manufacturers? As you will have observed, for decades they have been constantly replacing their soap powder, with 'NEW' soap powder. Print 'NEW' on the packaging, run an advertising campaign and job done. Sales increase, because it must be a 'greatly improved' product. You only need 10% or 20% of buyers be taken in, for the overall sales to improve.
Have M-B reverted to pull type exterior door handles?
Dewi 2 said:
Wills2 said:
The W213 had its own facelift around 2020 the W214 is based on the MRA2 platform not the MRA1, so as its new chassis designation shows it's a new model.
Oh that is alright then Wills, the MRA2 platform. In which ways would we feel the platform improvements, when riding in the car?
When I studied the visible exterior and interior changes, between W213 facelift and the W214, it is surprising how few alterations have been made.
Front - changed the grille.
Rear - changed the rear lights and incorporated a vent slot on either side of the lower bodywork. I can imagine the tosh, to describe why those tiny vents are so vital.
Sides - the bodywork crease marks going the full length, passing in line with the door handles, has changed to just forward and rearward creases which disappear in the central section.
Interior - a huge glass screen goes across the entire dashboard. On a sunny day, flickering reflections galore.
Touchpad has gone.
Previously the two screens (appear as one) were neatly recessed into the dashboard, avoiding the very popular 'stuck on afterwards' appearance.
Most of the physical buttons were scrapped for the new model. Good luck finding the correct menus when driving.
Need to use voice control I suppose, which is good, but for example, changing the fan speed without needing to look is easy on the W213.
Are you sure M-B are not copying the soap powders manufacturers? As you will have observed, for decades they have been constantly replacing their soap powder, with 'NEW' soap powder. Print 'NEW' on the packaging, run an advertising campaign and job done. Sales increase, because it must be a 'greatly improved' product. You only need 10% or 20% of buyers be taken in, for the overall sales to improve.
Have M-B reverted to pull type exterior door handles?
It's a new model by any measure, you don't seem to like it which is fine (looks a bit odd to me as well inside and out) not a fan of the Imax interior style either but none of that has anything to do with whether or not it's a new model or facelift, which is where we came in.
For me the facelift C238 coupe is peak e class just the right amount of everything.
Wills2 said:
- - - It's a new model by any measure, you don't seem to like it which is fine (looks a bit odd to me as well inside and out) not a fan of the Imax interior style either but none of that has anything to do with whether or not it's a new model or facelift, which is where we came in. - - -
Mercedes-Benz have allocated a new model number, so therefore (as seen in these photos) it must be a completely different all new model. - Really?
Might be handy for a spot the differences game.
This photo is of a pre-face lift car. With the post facelift W213, even the rear lights (side view) would appear the same as on the W214.
Notice the fuel filler cover? This photo is of a plug-in hybrid model.
There is an old story told in the motor trade, about a new model car launch to dealers.
This was the existing model.
The top dealer staff were assembled, wine was flowing, excitement was at fever pitch, but as the car cover was slowly drawn away from the new model, the room was completely silent. Not even one clap. Astonishment might have been the word, but in the wrong kind of way.
Many of the dealers had travelled a long way and this is the all new model that they were being asked to sell.
How many differences are there, apart from the different paint colour choice.
The answer - Engine.
Old model 3 litre.
New model 4 litre Rolls Royce.
Edited by Dewi 2 on Monday 20th July 08:32
Are those pictures the right way round?
I thought the trend of that era was to move from wing mounted mirrors to door mounted.
I know nothing of old cars. These predate the A prefix plates. It could have been the trend to send the mirrors out to the wing before they travelled back to the doors in the late 60s/early 70s.
I thought the trend of that era was to move from wing mounted mirrors to door mounted.
I know nothing of old cars. These predate the A prefix plates. It could have been the trend to send the mirrors out to the wing before they travelled back to the doors in the late 60s/early 70s.
Yes, they're the correct way around, and the fins on the first car are more of a 1950's 'thing'.
Most, if not all, cars in the 50s and 60s did not have external mirrors as standard. Even older cars sometimes had a mirror fitted to the top of the spare wheel if it was mounted on the driver's side running board, but accessory mirrors were generally wing mounted, although there were clip-on mirrors that could be fitted to the frames of the front quarter lights.
Most, if not all, cars in the 50s and 60s did not have external mirrors as standard. Even older cars sometimes had a mirror fitted to the top of the spare wheel if it was mounted on the driver's side running board, but accessory mirrors were generally wing mounted, although there were clip-on mirrors that could be fitted to the frames of the front quarter lights.
TarquinMX5 said:
Yes, they're the correct way around, and the fins on the first car are more of a 1950's 'thing'.
Most, if not all, cars in the 50s and 60s did not have external mirrors as standard. Even older cars sometimes had a mirror fitted to the top of the spare wheel if it was mounted on the driver's side running board, but accessory mirrors were generally wing mounted, although there were clip-on mirrors that could be fitted to the frames of the front quarter lights.
Most, if not all, cars in the 50s and 60s did not have external mirrors as standard. Even older cars sometimes had a mirror fitted to the top of the spare wheel if it was mounted on the driver's side running board, but accessory mirrors were generally wing mounted, although there were clip-on mirrors that could be fitted to the frames of the front quarter lights.
Yes. I have wondered why the (usually) after market external mirrors, were normally fitted to the front wings.
The rear field of view is far better, when positioned closer to the driver.
My conclusion is that door mirrors might have obstructed the hinged quarter light windows.
Now of course, modern cars do not have hinged quarter lights.
In the photo of the 3 litre model, the mirror arm must be long enough to allow full opening of the quarter lights.
Keen observers will have noticed the less exaggerated rear tail fins on the 4 litre car.
Probably the only bodywork change between those two models.
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