Model S Dashboard and console controls

[rabar10]

Early on, when I first drove my Roadster in heavier traffic (Greater Toronto Area), I did turn the rear view camera on a few times when traffic was crawling along, stop & go...I found it acted as a "security blanket" because it helped out with the blind spots when changing lanes...

Completely agree :biggrin: Rear visibility isn't one of the Roadster's strong suits...

 

[Doug_G]

Completely agree :biggrin: Rear visibility isn't one of the Roadster's strong suits...

It's pretty good if you get Multivex mirrors.

 

[spatterso911]

Completely agree :biggrin: Rear visibility isn't one of the Roadster's strong suits...

After sitting in the S, it isn't a strong suit in this car either. I am hoping they are strongly considering a blind spot indicator system.

 

[ahimberg]

Sat in an S beta for the first time today, the biggest surprise to me was the limited rear visibility. I've been in worse, but not what I was expecting with all that glass.
We'll see if the RCs have any improvement there (the plastic over the rear crossbar area getting in the way of view...)

 

[strider]

Early on, when I first drove my Roadster in heavier traffic (Greater Toronto Area), I did turn the rear view camera on a few times when traffic was crawling along, stop & go...I found it acted as a "security blanket" because it helped out with the blind spots when changing lanes...

Ok, I'll bite. How do I do this?

 

[dsm363]

Ok, I'll bite. How do I do this?

It's in the settings on the Alpine unit. I'll check when I get to my Roadster but you select camera in the sources I believe and it'll stay on while driving.

 

[NigelM]

Ok, I'll bite. How do I do this?

Select "source", then at the bottom of the screen there are two icons, one is for the phone and the other is the camera.

 

[Larry Chanin]

Opponents say an in-car electronics ban will make driving more dangerous

In the brave new world of the 21st century, cars are about more than driving. They are full of touch screens, voice recognition software, and whatever BMW’s iDrive controller is. They deliver entertainment and information, and keep people connected with their social networks. Some critics, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), think these features are too distracting; last month, the NHTSA proposed regulations to curb embedded electronics.

Larry

 

[Robert.Boston]

Better take delivery of our Teslas soon, before they're contraband!

 

[strider]

Select "source", then at the bottom of the screen there are two icons, one is for the phone and the other is the camera.

Got it. Thanks!

 

[rabar10]

Mark Phelan: Do-it-yourself software upgrade makes MyFord Touch better on Ford vehicles | Detroit Free Press | freep.com

Ford is shipping out 300k USB sticks to owners for an at-home software and UI upgrade, no dealership visit needed.

Shows that vehicle user interface upgrades can and will be offered by other auto manufacturers after vehicles have sold and shipped (even if they don't have wireless access to do it automatically)...

 

[Doug_G]

Stalks

Here's a blow-up of the steering wheel from the Model S Design Studio (better if you click on it to zoom).

I can see several stalks:

• Upper right looks like P / D / N / R.
• Upper left looks like a standard turn signal / high beam control. Can't tell for sure if it has other functions - maybe washers?
• Middle left - there's something just under the crossbar of the wheel - looks like it may be a stalk, because it's at a funny angle if it were on the dashboard. Can't tell anything about this. Cruise control maybe? Other?
• Lower left - appears to be the steering wheel tilt and in/out joystick.

For those who've seen the newer betas in person, can you identify all of the stalk functions?

 

[doug]

I can see several stalks:

• Upper right looks like P / D / N / R.
• Upper left looks like a standard turn signal / high beam control. Can't tell for sure if it has other functions - maybe washers?
• Middle left - there's something just under the crossbar of the wheel - looks like it may be a stalk, because it's at a funny angle if it were on the dashboard. Can't tell anything about this. Cruise control maybe? Other?
• Lower left - appears to be the steering wheel tilt and in/out joystick.

For those who've seen the newer betas in person, can you identify all of the stalk functions?

Kinda looks like the washer/wiper symbol on the left middle stalk.

 

[evinfairfax]

For those who've seen the newer betas in person, can you identify all of the stalk functions?

It's all standard Mercedes switchgear (probably sourced from ZF).

On left side starting from the top to bottom:

1.) The cruise control stalk. The particular one in the picture here has the Distronic dial, which I think is not actually on the Model S.
2.) The middle stalk is turn signal, wipers, high/low beam headlights and the windshield washer.
3.) The bottom small stalk is to control the steering wheel position and the steering wheel heater.

Again, the markings on these are identical to Mercedes.

The right side stalk if, as you said, the transmission control (or I guess "drive control" might be a better term in this case?)

 

[dsm363]

I kind of like the buttons for drive, reverse..etc on the Roadster. Guess since this is a more mainstream car it makes sense to put it on the steering column.

 

[evinfairfax]

Here are some clips from a Mercedes owner's manual if anyone is interested. If Tesla goes with these stalks on final cars, I think you'll all find they are very good quality and proven over many decades now. The combined turn signal, wiper, high/low beam stalk has been basically unchanged since the first Mercedes I drove in the 1980's. In the early beta I sat in, this switchgear was easily the highest quality, nicest feeling part of the interior.

Hope that helps.

 

[AnOutsider]

It's all standard Mercedes switchgear (probably sourced from ZF).

On left side starting from the top to bottom:

1.) The cruise control stalk. The particular one in the picture here has the Distronic dial, which I think is not actually on the Model S.
2.) The middle stalk is turn signal, wipers, high/low beam headlights and the windshield washer.
3.) The bottom small stalk is to control the steering wheel position and the steering wheel heater.

Again, the markings on these are identical to Mercedes.

The right side stalk if, as you said, the transmission control (or I guess "drive control" might be a better term in this case?)

Do Mercedes vehicles have the 3-blink tap functionality on the turn signal stalk? If so, I wonder what the odds of getting that on the Model S will be. I'm so used to that.

 

[AnOutsider]

Here are some clips from a Mercedes owner's manual if anyone is interested. If Tesla goes with these stalks on final cars, I think you'll all find they are very good quality and proven over many decades now. The combined turn signal, wiper, high/low beam stalk has been basically unchanged since the first Mercedes I drove in the 1980's. In the early beta I sat in, this switchgear was easily the highest quality, nicest feeling part of the interior.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for that. I didn't see auto sensing wipers, don't Mercedes vehicles have that as well? I haven't seen it mentioned in any Model S literature, so I guess that's not coming on board. Nor probably speed-sensitive wipers (and audio). Stuff I've taken for granted.

 

[evinfairfax]

Thanks for that. I didn't see auto sensing wipers, don't Mercedes vehicles have that as well? I haven't seen it mentioned in any Model S literature, so I guess that's not coming on board. Nor probably speed-sensitive wipers (and audio). Stuff I've taken for granted.

The first Mercedes I had with autosensing wipers I think was 2003. They may have introduced it a few years before that. The switch didn't really change, though. The first detent which used to be "slow" on older cars is now basically "auto".

And I don't remember exactly when we got 3-blink tap. The 2007 model I drive now does have it. I'm fairly certain my 2003 did also. And I know my 1994 did not. So somewhere in there.

I really don't think the switchgear in the design studio reflects the final switches in the Model S. Because I was told, and I think others here have said this also, that the Model S will not have radar based cruise control. But the top stalk in the picture shows the dial for this.

 

[Todd Burch]

Thanks for that. I didn't see auto sensing wipers, don't Mercedes vehicles have that as well? I haven't seen it mentioned in any Model S literature, so I guess that's not coming on board. Nor probably speed-sensitive wipers (and audio). Stuff I've taken for granted.

From the Model S specs page:
"Rain sensing, adjustable speed windshield wipers"

So they should have an auto system...likely made by TRW.