wanderfalke

What are the most useful features?

noka

Sending destination to Comand with either Google Maps or "SendToBenz" using MBrace smartphone app.

Munich77

Totally agree - the send to benz feature makes it a breeze.

listerone

Lots of useful features.To me the most useful was demonstrated when I had my accident early this year.Crash,middle of nowhere,-25F (I kid you not),airbag,stunned and confused (but not seriously hurt as it turns out).About 20 seconds after the crash I hear a voice "Mr Listerone,are you hurt?" I didn't answer at first,still a bit confused.Again "Mr Listerone,are you hurt?" Long story short they knew exactly where I was and sent an ambulance.The car was totaled by the insurance company and I replaced it with a BMW partially because they offer 10 free years of "BMW Assist" which is their version of "mBrace".

ddeliber

This post confuses me. You do an outstanding job of extolling the virtues of MBrace and the safety features of the E350 (albeit indirectly). I'll bet that the car itself had a LOT to do with the minimal injuries that you suffered. Then you say you tossed it because of money? A pretty insignificant amount of money at that.

Strange.

Johnny Rad

...no crash specifics were given outside of knowing it was totaled.

petee1997

It is obsolete now that the new cars have an internet browser with apps and Google. If you have a data plan your phone is the hot point.

ddeliber

I know, that's why I said I'll bet.

noka

If I want address sent to Comand from Google Maps or Smartphone app for use by integrated Nav, I need basic MBrace account (but MB apps is not required).

listerone

In short,the details of the accident,and its aftermath,are long and boring.However,it was pointed out to me that the car was clearly fixable but the insurance company "totaled" it nevertheless...for purely economic reasons which,it's my understanding,is usually the case.The settlement they gave me covered a new 3 Series diesel but didn't come close to covering a new Bluetec (I'm a diesel fanatic).My decision was a simple case of dollars and cents...a matter of fiscal priorities.

And to specifically address " I'll bet that the car itself had a LOT to do with the minimal injuries that you suffered"...I rear ended a car stopped at a light (a pickup truck,actually) at about 7mph.

listerone

Just FYI...this is the extent of the damage.Clearly not a major accident

schorert1

Glad you're ok, but wow...a 7mph crash totals a $50k car?

MB has giant ***** charging what they do for connectivity. If the "apps" were implemented in any kind of reasonable fashion, or had a robust feature set, it might be worth it. As they exist, they have a level of functionality that I wouldn't pay $3 for on my phone yet they'd cost my wife and I $1k a year?
They continue to solicit us with discounted prices...so why not discount it to begin with? (FWIW the Toyota system is equally bad and while slightly less...a comparatively bad value moneywise).


**Edit*** I take back what I said about Toyota Entune, it's now FREE.

noka

Have to agree. BMW isn't much different.

wanderfalke

I am having a hard time understanding the value in Mbrace . I thought maybe I was missing something feature wise.