Now I know the snowflake is by no means universally loved, but is it fitted to the 2004 (pre-facelift) S-Type (in my case, STR) and if so where? I can't find it in the handbook (found it in the later model but the dash is different).

My external temp sensor was reading -1 C so I figured the snowflake would be there.

Is there anything that accompanies the snowflake - such as an audible chime and/or message centre text?

 

if your Ipack has the snowflake, it should illuminate on start up when all the lights self check

 

I don't have an answer for you but have wondered what the significance of the snowflake is. Several Mercs and BMWs I had while living in Germany featured this but other than the obvious (it's cold out) what does it do?

Thanks

 

On my 2005, there is no audible alert or display on the screens. The big orange snow flake lights up.. that is all. (Usually when it hits 39 degrees fahrenheit or less) I believe it's between the engine temperature gauge and the tach. (IIRC)

 

Yep, no audible alert. It simply illuminates when the temperature drops to about 39 degrees or below. In terms of what else it does, the answer is "not much". I think it is simply a reminder that you may encounter frozen patches of pavement, sort of a "let's be careful out there" universal message. Since winter has always been my favorite season, I happen to like the snowflake. Always brings a smile to my face....

 

Thanks everyone, especially Brutal for something I can easily try (so long as the bulb's not broken LOL).

 

Jon,

Easy for you to say..you live in North Carolina. I've read their snow removal plan is to wait for spring. After last winter, I don't want to see snow again. We got nailed by three bad storms. Two of which each dropped over two feet of snow. The third dropped about 8" but drifted significantly.

Mike

 

JOn:

A bit of a funny - The winter night I test drove my 06, the snowflake popped on. I thought it was a symbol for a gear, and, the car had some kind of drivetrain problem. When I returned the car to the dealership, I asked the salesguy, who is British, about it. I thought he was going to die laughing. Then he explained to me what it was.

 

Mike, I'd prefer to live in Jackson Hole, Wyoming where a typical winter day is about minus 15 degrees with six feet of snow on the ground. But that's one battle that I continue to lose with my wife....

Oldengineer, you reached a perfectly logical conclusion when that snowflake popped up during your test drive. It does indeed resemble a gear. Great story....

 

Jon,

Given that I spent a good bit of my early years in upstate NY where temperatures were often below zero outside and about 50 degress inside the house, I see her point.

Mike

 

Trust me thats a battle that you will never win. I'm from Michigan and my wife hates the cold so much she will only visit up there when its spring or summer. We are also not allowed to move anywhere north of North Carolina this is as far north as she will go. Kinda kills me always wanting to live in a cabin in the mountains idea. I can say this cause she doesnt know I post on these forums. At least I hope not. Love you hun.

 

Vance,

Did you complete your move to the Raleigh/Garner/Fuquay area? If so, whereabouts?

 

I did something similar thinking it was ABS failure or a traction problem. Limped home along the back roads expecting the car to die at any second. Of course, if I had RTFM I'm sure all would have been revealed..........

 

Starting to pack this week. We did get a place just waiting for the wife to finish the semester so we are planning on moving around the 17th. So should be settled in by Christmas. We will be living in Fuquay. Friends of my wife happen to have just finished renovating a rental home they had so we signed a lease with them. Great location only about 5-10 min. from my school.

 

Glad it worked out for you. I think you'll like the area - far enough out in the boondocks to be somewhat isolated, but close enough to Raleigh for when you need to hit the big city....

 

Mikey:

Thanks - Now I don't feel so bad.

Regards:
Oldengineer

 

Did you find anything out yet?

 

Below freezing, ice & snow on the ground, and no snow tyres so not been out to the car!

 

Ewwww... Yea, we have the same thing going on here, but that is normal for us.. Lake Effect Snow is common in NE Ohio from December on....

I was going to look for some information... You know how much I love to read silly stuff....

 

Jon,

Maybe if you could swing one of the houses in this article you might win that battle. A bit pricey at a starting price of $8M though.

http://realestate.yahoo.com/promo/10...-for-sale.html