A PREMIUM car lover has exposed a “hidden” feature which keeps cars secure, cool, and smelling fresh.
Full-time reviewer of tech-focused cars Nick O’Leary bet his online audience that they weren’t aware of a certain dashboard button’s secondary function.
TikTok/@npolearyCar reviewer Nick O’Leary revealed the hidden feature in his Mercedes-Benz[/caption]
TikTok/@npolearyDrivers will activate the hidden feature by holding down the recirculation button[/caption]
TikTok/@npolearyThe hidden feature will see all of the car’s windows go up at once, keeping out smells and securing the motor[/caption]
He asked his viewers on TikTok: “Did you know that your Mercedes is full of hidden features and switches? And one of them is this button right here.”
Nick pointed to a button called the “recirculation button” on his dashboard, which displayed an image of a car with a circular arrow inside it.
He explained: “Now if you didn’t know what that one does, when you press this one, it closes all the vents which pretty much all cars have.
“And basically it keeps all the air in the car, stops any smells coming in, and can keep the interior nice and cool.
“But there’s a hidden feature on that button in a Mercedes.”
The self-described “car tech enthusiast” revealed that holding the recirculation button in the Mercedes-Benz triggers all its windows to close at once, securing the car but also stopping air from coming in.
Nick demonstrated the manoeuvre, stating: “If I hold this button, all the windows will go up, just like this.
“And then when you’re done, if you hold the button again, they’ll all go back down again to the same position.
“I bet you didn’t know that one!”
Many of Nick’s followers confirmed they “didn’t know that”, but the concept was not new to others.
One person wrote: “Its the same on all cars btw.”
Another said: “Been around for decades. Does the sunroof at the same time too.”
With car crime on the rise, a number of online car enthusiasts are sharing their best tips and tricks to keep their motors secure.
In an interview with motoring YouTuber Shahzad Shiekh, former police officer Philip Swift urged drivers to use an “unusual” key trick.
He explained: “With vehicle theft the main claims we are seeing at the moment is key burglary. Keep the keys safe.
“Do something a little unusual, have a particular place that you keep them, in a particular vessel that is not obvious.
“You might find a biscuit tin and you want to put them in the cupboard.
“At the end of the day it’s an asset, it’s an item of property.”
And TikTok user @francescaca7 took to social media to show users where they can find a warning triangle hidden in their Audi A3s.
She opened the boot of her car to show her audience the essential safety tool and said: “I’ve had this car for four years and just realised it has this nifty little device in the boot.”
Drivers have also recently been warned about a major mistake with a useful safety feature that could see them fined £1,000.
Expert mechanic Craig, from Walsall Wood Tyre & Service in Walsall, West Midlands revealed that portable sat navs and mobile phone holders, while vital for making sure you aren’t using your phone behind the wheel, can still land you in trouble with the law.
Driving with your view obstructed is an offence as you could be deemed not to be “fully in control” of your motor, as required by the Highway Code at all times.
This could even see you prosecuted along the same lines as if you had been using a phone and, if the obstruction is found to be the cause of a crash, you could find yourself in the dock.
The crime carries a maximum penalty of a £1,000 fine (£2,500 for HGV drivers) and six points on your licence.
Even if you aren’t dragged to court, you could still be slapped with an on-the-spot £200 fine and three points.