Mercedes Heads up display guide?

The Mercedes heads-up display (HUD) projects information such as your speed and navigation arrows onto the windshield, in the driver's line of sight. On cars with MBUX you switch it on in the infotainment settings under Quick Access > HUD; on older cars (for example with COMAND) there is a button or dial under the driver's side air vent. You adjust what it shows, its position and its brightness with the home button on the steering wheel.

Heads-up display technology was introduced in 1988 by General Motors (GM), but the early versions had poor graphics and durability. Mercedes reworked it with a sharper, more durable projected image placed right in the driver's line of sight. The projection area measures just 8 inches diagonally. The newest version, the AR-HUD, adds Augmented Reality, and the HUD is linked to the MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system.

TL;DR

• Turn on (MBUX): infotainment settings > Quick Access > HUD > 'Turn on'.
• Turn on (older cars such as COMAND): button or dial under the driver's side air vent.
• Customize: steering wheel home button, swipe twice, choose what to show.
• Position and brightness: swipe right to the gear icon, or on some AMG models home button > HUD settings.
• Standard HUD projection: about 8 inches diagonal. The S-Class AR-HUD floats a virtual image about 30 feet ahead at a perceived size of 77 inches.
• Retrofitting a HUD needs a new dashboard, parts and programming, so it is expensive.
• If this is not your case, read the complete MBUX guide.

Table of Content

1. How do I turn on the heads-up display in my Mercedes?
2. How do I use and adjust the Mercedes heads-up display?
3. Which Mercedes-Benz models feature HUD?
4. Can I retrofit a HUD in my Mercedes?
5. What is the difference between HUD and AR-HUD?
6. What are the pros and cons of the Mercedes HUD?

How Do I Turn On The Heads-Up Display In My Mercedes?

There are two ways to turn on the HUD, depending on the generation of your Mercedes.

1.1 Mercedes vehicle equipped with MBUX

In Mercedes vehicles with the MBUX infotainment system, open the infotainment settings and go to Quick Access > HUD. A dialog box asks whether to turn on the HUD; click 'Turn on'.

1.2 Mercedes vehicle equipped with previous infotainment systems (such as COMAND)

In cars without MBUX, the switch is under the driver's side air vent, either as a button or as a dial. If it is a button, press it once; it may light up to show the HUD is on. If it is a dial, turn it to 'on'.

How Do I Use And Adjust The Mercedes Heads-Up Display?

You can also reach the heads-up display from the steering wheel controls: press the home button, swipe up once and select 'Heads-up display'. The display then appears on the windshield. (Note: the heads-up display varies between models, but most features are the same as on the latest cars.)

Basic things you can do with the heads-up display:

2.1 Customizations

Press the home button on the steering wheel, swipe twice, and choose what you want to see on the windshield.

On some AMG models you can do this in the instrument cluster: press the home button and select the customizations you want.

2.2 Position and Brightness

Swipe right to the gear icon to change position and brightness. On some AMG models these options are in the instrument cluster, under home button > HUD settings.

This changes the angle at which you see the heads-up display and its brightness. For more steering wheel and screen shortcuts, see the MBUX tips and tricks.

Which Mercedes-Benz Models Feature HUD?

Not every Mercedes Benz model has a heads-up display, and availability varies by variant. These models offer a HUD globally:

1. A-Class
2. C-Class
3. CLA
4. CLS
5. E-Class
6. GLB
7. GLC
8. GLE
9. GLS
10. AMG® GT
11. S-Class
12. Others, depending on the country

Your owner's manual confirms whether your car has a HUD and where its controls are.

Can I Retrofit A HUD In My Mercedes?

Retrofitting a heads-up display is very expensive. It needs a new dashboard, new supporting components and, hardest of all, programming for your specific model. Done properly, all of this is carried out by a Mercedes authorized service center.

A local shop can make an aftermarket unit work for less, without removing the dashboard, but it is likely to give problems later. These aftermarket heads-up displays usually don't use the reflective layer, which causes a double image.

What Is The Difference Between HUD And AR-HUD?

Most Mercedes vehicles have a similar heads-up display, and it varies by country. The new Mercedes S-Class adds augmented reality: a camera at the top of the windshield, with its footage shown on the infotainment screen together with navigation guidance in the form of arrows. On the S-Class, Mercedes says the MBUX Augmented Reality Head-Up Display projects a virtual image that appears about 30 feet in front of the windshield at a perceived size of 77 inches, with moving arrows that seem to sit on the road.

The main difference is that guidance on a standard HUD is harder to follow because the projection area is very small. Augmented reality guidance is easier to follow, and it can also recognize road signs and show them in the virtual image.

What Are The Pros And Cons Of The Mercedes HUD?

6.1 Pros:

1. With the Mercedes heads-up display, the driver's eyes refocus much faster between the road and the projected display.
2. Some HUDs, such as the S-Class AR-HUD, have augmented reality built in, which makes navigation easier to follow without taking your eyes off the road.
3. Even without augmented reality, the normal navigation symbols are easy to follow. You don't need to look at the infotainment screen, which cuts the 'eyes off' time and the risk of an accident.

6.2 Cons:

1. Flashing notifications and unnecessary road signs in the HUD can take the driver's attention off the road and increase the risk of an accident.
2. The HUD can be hard or impossible to read in strong sunlight, when the sun is right above the windshield. Mercedes also notes the display may not be visible with polarized glasses.

Is The Mercedes Heads-Up Display Worth Having?

Yes. The heads-up display keeps the driver's eyes on the road instead of on the instrument cluster or the infotainment screen. But don't let it distract you, and don't change its settings while driving.