Why did MB not include a trunk release located inside the cabin in my '83 300D? Other cars had this feature long before 1983, so it was nothing new then.

The absence of this item was driven home yet again last week when I was passing through a U.S. checkpoint at the Canadian border. I was sitting in the car answering the border guard's questions, and he asked me to open the trunk so that he could have a look. Somewhat embarassed, I told him that I couldn't do that from inside the car and that he would have to push the button on the trunk to open it.

The real question is; why do their newer cars include this kind of crap.

Simpler = Better

I've owned eight cars in my 15 years of driving, including multiple Japanese and German cars, some as old as my '83 and some newer, and without fail they have all had a trunk release in the cabin. And for one reason or another, I use this feature pretty frequently. I really don't think it can be considered some sort of pointless gadget that would add unnecessarily to the complexity of the machine.

In the cars that have it, I use the interior trunk release far more than I use a hood release, yet MB saw fit to include that in the cabin.

I have owned significantly more than eight cars in my 35 years of driving and the only two that had an internal trunk release were a couple of 914s (required due to the configuration of the front trunk). This is the kind of nonsense I intentionally avoid when I buy cars. This is why I won't buy a new Benz (or any ricer). If you want/need these types of toys, there are plenty of other cars to choose from.

Have you noticed the lack of cup holders yet?

I am guessing that the fact that you can open the trunk without a key made the engineers think it was pointless.

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1959 Gravely LI, 1963 Gravely L8, 1973 Gravely C12
1982 380SL
1978 450 SEL 6.9 euro restoration at 63% and climbing
1987 300 D
2005 CDI European Delivery
2006 CDI Handed down to daughter
2007 GL CDI. Wifes

...and they were correct.

Most European cars have the trunk release on the trunk, they have some foolish notion that you will be near the trunk when releasing it rather than climbing in the car first.

I don't miss it and prefer the outside to an inside release, but I've had both.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

What is the embrassment? He/She can just push the botton to open the trunk. May be we need to install an automatic opening motor to pop up the trunk cover ( some mini vans and high end sedans have them ) to please them. But seriously, I think most cars with trunk release inside the car is because you need the key to open the trunk, there may or may not be a push button.

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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

Actually, this discussion is pretty academic. It is what it is, and I doubt any of us were there when the W123 was designed.

It's common on most European cars though, from the VWs to the Saabs, Mercedes and Fiats.

If this is the first time a customs officer has seen this, he started at lunch today.

Personally I like the pushbutton of the '90s and earlier Mercedes over the key-fob of the later ones, I can bump the button with my knee when my hands are full, and it's open.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I'm really annoyed they *removed* the trunk button from my Jetta for the US market.... That's one last thing I have to get right.

I love central locking, I don't understand why it seems most Americans don't.

-Jason

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1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

[QUOTE=babymog;2299347]

If this is the first time a customs officer has seen this, he started at lunch today.

QUOTE]

I think there is a legal issue here. You opening the trunk is a consent to search.

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Charles
1983 300D, bought new, 215k+ miles, donated to Purple Hearts veterans charity but I have parts for sale: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-benz-cars-sale/296386-fs-1-owner-83-mb-300d-turbo-rebuild-parts.html

I prefer the outside push button to an inside release mechanism anyway. Partially because I attribute the nice "pushing a door closed" feel you get when closing the trunk to the fact that it has a real latch mechanism instead of a cheesy quick-release one that doesn't stay closed half the time.

However... the lack of cup holders is the single #1 biggest pet peeve with these cars. Engine trouble, body trouble, rush, windows that quit working... I could deal with it all if I had a place to set a Coke bottle while I was making 2 hour drives.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

Our '96 E300D (W210, OM606NA) has a trunk-release button inside the car. It also has a spring-loaded lid lifter so when you press the button, the trunk lid pops up. Consequently, we have dented the lid twice by accidentally popping the lid up when the car was under a low overhang. If the problem were more severe, I'd disable it. I believe it is automatically disabled when the car is in motion.

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

I wouldn't find the trunk release at all annoying...if my central locking worked. What could possibly be embarrassing would be having to give your keys to the Border Guard because you cant just push the button.

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-1978 300D