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[NSquirrel]

We took delivery, a couple of days ago, of our new 2015 model ForFour 999cc Passion Premium auto, so we are steadily finding our way around it.

A couple of points so far:
1. The front bonnet (service cover) has a lock on one side, but how it works has yet to be discovered despite a description in the manual; at least it is unlocked at present and may just be stuck open and in need of a drop of WD40.

2. The manual shows the fuse box behind the glovebox. That is for right left hand drive cars where the glovebox is on the left right; for a left right hand drive it is behind an airbag and I think only accessible by SMART. It does not appear simple to detach the vertically mounted box and drop it into view; pity it is not mounted horizontally. (I only had one fuse blow in 6 years in the ForTwo and that was for the 12v accessory socket.)

*The drive is very quiet compared to our 2009 forTwo and easy to drive.
*The auto gearbox is smoother; the premium model with the adjustable height of the drivers seat was well worthwhile.
*The battery is far easier to get to than the ForTwo; I replaced the battery (MHD model ForTwo) and dropping the new battery into the space was very awkward, to say the least.)
*The media system looks interesting; I'm sure we will have it worked out soon.
*Tomtom navigation with full Euro cover seems extensive and picks up traffic info without a phone connected, which I thought would be necessary. I am waiting for a new 8GB SD card to see if I can make and keep a backup copy of the Tomtom data.

After a long, long wait for delivery, we are very pleased with our new car.

[Problemchild]

hi - split your topic out from the other thread just to give people the opportunity to discuss

1. your bonnet stay should just unclip and drop down
2. you have a LHD? in the UK??

JJ

[mr singh]

2. you have a LHD? in the UK??

JJ

You seam surprised... My city coupe was a UK registeted LHD.

Im guessing he has a RHD, but is describing a design flaw on the LHD cars

[Problemchild]

Yes but there were a lot of 450 brought into the uk in the first instance.

The 454 was always available as a RHD

I doubt there are many LHD 451 in the uk

Not surprised - just clarifying really

JJ

[mr singh]

I think you may be surprised as to how many LHD cars there are in the UK that are available in RHD. When i worked at Volvo we had American customers who had LHD cars, iv even seen LHD Jaguars. There is a dealer where you can buy Jags, Land Rovers and Volvos straight from America here in the UK

[NSquirrel]

Don't know what happened there; I got left and right mixed up! : So I have edited the original post, but then I was having problems with editing point which kept jumping around. The new car is a right hand drive.

BTW, I have no problem opening and closing the bonnet/ service cover; it is the lock that is confusing me. (The ForTwo did not have a lock on the front service cover; just the two catches.)

[Problemchild]

haha - thats funny

right - and just realised you are talking about the new shape forfour and not the old one

i took the service hatch off a new forfour that was parked in the front of merc and my god i couldn't get it back on!! so i ran away - haha!!

couldn't tell you about the new model as we only have a few owners on here.

JJ

[NSquirrel]

>>couldn't tell you about the new model as we only have a few owners on here.

No problem. Apart from not knowing my left from my right  I was posting my early thoughts about the new model for prospective new owners to think about.

One thing I miss from the ForTwo and that is the storage compartment in the tailgate. OK, there is lots more space in the ForFour, but that was a useful spot to put things, e.g, red triangle; 1st aid kit....

Edit =====================
I took a thin blade to the car and sorted out the front service cover lock, so hopefully pictures posted below...


Service cover lever with lock cover in place.


Lock cover removed (dangling) and lock set to unlocked position.


Lock cover removed and lock set to locked position. (The picture in the latest car manual is incorrect in that it suggests that the lock slot will be in the vertical position when both locked and unlocked.)

Obviously the salesman should have demonstrated this, but while it was mentioned, he did not show it actually coming off. The cover was inserted quite firmly, hence I was not keen to break anything by levering it out the wrong way!

I hope this helps others.

[NSquirrel]

At last I have a solution to the fusebox query I mentioned at the start of this thread, with the help of SMART UK, as the fusebox is not in the location described in the User Manual, i.e. it is not behind the glove-box on right hand drive cars in the UK.

The fusebox is accessed to the right of the steering wheel, behind a panel of switches called the 'Control Panel for: Automatic start/Stop system, Lane Keeping Assist, ...' in the User Manual; the panel being directly above a knee-high airbag. Inside the drivers side door hinge area there is a large plastic screw which has to be turned so that the slot is horizontal, then said screw can be pulled out. The Control Panel then comes off giving access to the fuses behind.

Simple when you know how!

[Problemchild]

thats crappy that the manual doesn't cover the fuse box for RHD cars

JJ

[CrazyG]

NSquirrel...if you don't mind I'll use the info you have given
to compile the first 'HowTo' guide for the Gen2, ok ?

[NSquirrel]

CrazyG no problem, of course. Glad to contribute.

[NSquirrel]

A couple of puzzles/ problems turned up within 10 or so days. Resolving them via the dealership is becoming a nightmare!

1.Circumstances had me fill the car up when the fuel gauge was reading half empty and then when almost empty. To fill the tank took roughly 10 litres and 20 litres respectively, which seemed puzzling for a 35 litre tank, of which 5 litres is reserve.

2.Sometimes, and not always, when I stop on an incline at say traffic lights, the engine stops, as expected, but then on taking my foot off the brake pedal for it to restart, the car sometimes rolls back a foot or more while the engine starts. This is not supposed to happen with Hill Start Assist and I have no idea whether it is a 2015/6 ForFour problem of just mine..

I was told yesterday that Smart UK Technical say that the automatic does not have Hill Start Assist; only the manual. I assume they do not read the car User Manual or their Sales literature where under 'Standard equipment features.' is 'Hill start assist'

As you may gather, I am not a particularly happy Smart Car Customer!

(I am not naming the large dealership at present and I believe that my board location info may be incorrect.)

[Ocracoke]

I know a few more W453 owners are reporting being able to fill up way beyond the 35 litre fuel tank (one says they got 44 litres in from when the trip computer said 0.0) and the gauge isn't fantastic either so you aren't the only one on that front.

I was told yesterday that Smart UK Technical say that the automatic does not have Hill Start Assist; only the manual. I assume they do not read the car User Manual or their Sales literature where under 'Standard equipment features.' is 'Hill start assist'

Looking at the User Manual, yeah, it should be there. I guess the handbrake is fully off when this happens? When this happens, I guess your car is in Neutral?

[NSquirrel]

Thanks Ocracoke.

The fuel tank was tested yesterday and apparently will take 35 litres although I do have something that I was told to confirm on that test. Note the user manual tells you to insert the filler *fully*, stop on first click, i.e. when the fill stops automatically, and warns about over-filling, causing spillage and damaging the fuel system. I am unclear as to what could be damaged in the fuel system, but that is what they say.

>>I guess the handbrake is fully off when this happens?
Yes.

>> When this happens, I guess your car is in Neutral?
No. In drive. The User Manual states that the Hill Start Assist does not function in Neutral, which seems perfectly reasonable to me.