Everything is power-operated in the Mercedes-Benz, as it should be in a vehicle that costs $56,000. But some features you just don't expect to be powered, like the head restraints.
I got into the R500 last night and I think the Jolly Green Giant must have been driving it because the front seat was miles away from the pedals and the head restraints were up to maximum height.
I'm not embarrassed to admit that I spent a good 5 minutes trying to figure out how to put them down to normal-person level...
Well, I finally tried the seats controls that are located on the side of the front seat cushion. If you press the backrest down from the top, it lowers the head restraint. Doh.
On a side rant, the R500 has a trip computer that counts how much time you have spent in the vehicle, how many miles you have driven, and your current MPG. Well, last night was Valentine's Day and traffic was a nightmare. I looked down at the trip computer and it stared back at me mockingly. I had traveled 2 miles in 46 minutes, earning 2 MPG. It ultimately took me 1 hour and 46 minutes to get home, 20 miles from the office. Just thought I'd share.
Managing Editor Donna DeRosa
bimmerjay says:
01:43 PM, 02/15/07
Do they automatically raise and lower based on the seat position? I thought new M-B's do that... so the headrest should have motored down as you moved the seat forward and vice versa.
autoboy16 says:
08:55 AM, 02/17/07
I like how mercedes has more or less kept the seat controls on the door. Thats dating all the way back to the 300D or 190E days...
playdrv4me says:
01:39 PM, 02/18/07
Yet another place where this odd vehicle departs from MB tradition... Mercedes' cars usually have the seat controls mounted high on the door panel. In fact, Lincoln copied this for a while on the Town Car and the Continental. I dont know why they didnt continue with this on the R Class (and maybe the GL and ML too I dont know).
My Cadillac Seville had the identical setup, the headrests were power and the control to raise and lower them was "up and down" on the seatback portion of the seat control.