Ugrading Tele Aid from Anolog to Digital ?
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Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 443
Likes: 118
'03 S55 (79K miles)
Ugrading Tele Aid from Anolog to Digital ?
Just received the letter from MBUSA offering the Analog-to-Digital upgrade for the TeleAid system. My '03 W220 used the analog cellular phone network to connect to the teleaid operator when you push the SOS or wrench button. (There's an anolog cellphone transceiver buried somewhere in the guts of the car.) The USA is phasing out analog service and converting to digital. So if I don't upgrade, there are no guarantees that my TeleAid will continue to work after 2007.
Has anybody else done this upgrade yet?
How much did it cost you for your vehicle? Did you negotiate a better deal with the dealership on the install?
Is this a DIY upgrade I can do myself if I buy the equip from MB?
TIA
Has anybody else done this upgrade yet?
How much did it cost you for your vehicle? Did you negotiate a better deal with the dealership on the install?
Is this a DIY upgrade I can do myself if I buy the equip from MB?
TIA
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,189
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From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
I downloaded the instructions for my W210 wagon from Alldata just before they took all that stuff off the air.
Its not too hard, but requires the STAR system to reprogram everything.
Since there's so little to it and you have to go to the dealer anyway, I'd just let them do it all.
Its not too hard, but requires the STAR system to reprogram everything.
Since there's so little to it and you have to go to the dealer anyway, I'd just let them do it all.
Newbie
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 6
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From: Fort Lee, NJ
'07 S550, '02 S500
RE: Ugrading Tele Aid from Analog to Digital ?
I just had the Teleaid upgrade done 2 weeks ago. Cost for the new Teleaid unit is $600; plus $294 for 1 year of service; or plus $548 for 2 years of service. These are MB MSRP, but the dealer is free to set their own price. Prices do not include labor.
My dealer in Bergen County, NJ wanted $1350 for parts, labor, and 1 year of service. But after I told them about MB MSRP, they agreed to do the job for $1150. Since I bought the car from them, they also agreed to a 10% discount from the $1150 price.
The Teleaid reps told me that there is a $100 rebate for upgrading (I'm supposed to receive a letter in the future for this rebate).
My old analog Teleaid took a long time to connect to the MB call center and mostly I got "call failed" (analog must be nonexistent in north NJ). The new Teleaid connects within 10 seconds and I'm content with the upgrade. Also, the digital Teleaid has unlimited minutes.
My dealer in Bergen County, NJ wanted $1350 for parts, labor, and 1 year of service. But after I told them about MB MSRP, they agreed to do the job for $1150. Since I bought the car from them, they also agreed to a 10% discount from the $1150 price.
The Teleaid reps told me that there is a $100 rebate for upgrading (I'm supposed to receive a letter in the future for this rebate).
My old analog Teleaid took a long time to connect to the MB call center and mostly I got "call failed" (analog must be nonexistent in north NJ). The new Teleaid connects within 10 seconds and I'm content with the upgrade. Also, the digital Teleaid has unlimited minutes.
Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 229
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From: So Cal
'09 E93 335i
I got the letter as well.
It seems like a big ripoff to me...my cousin has an '05 corvette and received the same type of letter from GM to convert from analog to digital and the total cost for the corvette is $30.00!
And MB is charging hundreds of dollars for this digital module?! Never used it once and probably never will. I'm not gonna waste the money on it. Isn't that what everyone has a cell phone for anyway?
It seems like a big ripoff to me...my cousin has an '05 corvette and received the same type of letter from GM to convert from analog to digital and the total cost for the corvette is $30.00!
And MB is charging hundreds of dollars for this digital module?! Never used it once and probably never will. I'm not gonna waste the money on it. Isn't that what everyone has a cell phone for anyway?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
Whenever something is changed in the DB2 ring, the system has to be reprogrammed to recognize the change.
MBWorld Fanatic!
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Posts: 6,189
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From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
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Member
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 229
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From: So Cal
'09 E93 335i
My point was that MB is charging way too much for basically nothing more than a digital cell phone.
I can understand charging for labor for installation, programming, etc. but $600.00 + is out of line for a digital cell phone transceiver, especially when other auto manufacturers are charging very little for the same type of equipment.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,189
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From: Albuquerque
'10 CL550, '12 GL550
Be surprised if there are DB2 fiber optic rings in Chevies.
You're of course complaining about what the supplier charges Mercedes.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 301
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, CA
2000 E320 2009 E550
I just had the Teleaid upgrade done 2 weeks ago. Cost for the new Teleaid unit is $600; plus $294 for 1 year of service; or plus $548 for 2 years of service. These are MB MSRP, but the dealer is free to set their own price. Prices do not include labor.
My dealer in Bergen County, NJ wanted $1350 for parts, labor, and 1 year of service. But after I told them about MB MSRP, they agreed to do the job for $1150. Since I bought the car from them, they also agreed to a 10% discount from the $1150 price.
The Teleaid reps told me that there is a $100 rebate for upgrading (I'm supposed to receive a letter in the future for this rebate).
My old analog Teleaid took a long time to connect to the MB call center and mostly I got "call failed" (analog must be nonexistent in north NJ). The new Teleaid connects within 10 seconds and I'm content with the upgrade. Also, the digital Teleaid has unlimited minutes.
My dealer in Bergen County, NJ wanted $1350 for parts, labor, and 1 year of service. But after I told them about MB MSRP, they agreed to do the job for $1150. Since I bought the car from them, they also agreed to a 10% discount from the $1150 price.
The Teleaid reps told me that there is a $100 rebate for upgrading (I'm supposed to receive a letter in the future for this rebate).
My old analog Teleaid took a long time to connect to the MB call center and mostly I got "call failed" (analog must be nonexistent in north NJ). The new Teleaid connects within 10 seconds and I'm content with the upgrade. Also, the digital Teleaid has unlimited minutes.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 301
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, CA
2000 E320 2009 E550
The rebate is $100.00 for a one year subscription and $200.00 for a two year subscription. The rebate letter came from Mercedes-Benz, Tele Aid Response Center, PO Box 167985, Irving, Texas 75016-7985. The booklet in the envelope shows Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, One Mercedes Drive, Montvale, NJ 07645, 1-800-for-FOR-MERCEDES.
I started in the parts department to make sure the dealer had installed the upgrade and it the upgrade was available. I read in other newsgroups that the quotes for the upgrade are all over the board. There are three parts to the upgrade the cost of the upgrade, the installation cost and the subscription cost.
I started in the parts department to make sure the dealer had installed the upgrade and it the upgrade was available. I read in other newsgroups that the quotes for the upgrade are all over the board. There are three parts to the upgrade the cost of the upgrade, the installation cost and the subscription cost.
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Joined: Oct 2006
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From: Caribbean/Florida/Colorado
E-ZGO 53hp., 1999 E 430 sport, 2004 E 55, 2008 Tahoe LTZ on 24"s
The rebate is $100.00 for a one year subscription and $200.00 for a two year subscription. The rebate letter came from Mercedes-Benz, Tele Aid Response Center, PO Box 167985, Irving, Texas 75016-7985. The booklet in the envelope shows Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, One Mercedes Drive, Montvale, NJ 07645, 1-800-for-FOR-MERCEDES.
I started in the parts department to make sure the dealer had installed the upgrade and it the upgrade was available. I read in other newsgroups that the quotes for the upgrade are all over the board. There are three parts to the upgrade the cost of the upgrade, the installation cost and the subscription cost.
I started in the parts department to make sure the dealer had installed the upgrade and it the upgrade was available. I read in other newsgroups that the quotes for the upgrade are all over the board. There are three parts to the upgrade the cost of the upgrade, the installation cost and the subscription cost.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 301
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles, CA
2000 E320 2009 E550
I used it once in the last four year when Interstate 15 was blocked due to a fire. The operator answered my call in less than one minute and asked me where I wanted to go. I told him to Las Vegas. He said just take I-15. I explained to him the road was closed due to a fire. I told him I wanted to be route over the mountains. He located my position and routed me around the fire. I did receive a bill for about $9.00 from Tele Aid about six months later for the cost of the call. There is also a slight reduction in the cost of the fire and theft insurance for having this service.
