Traffic Function on Navigation Screen.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
2015 Iridium Silver Luxury Edition C300 4Matic
Traffic Function on Navigation Screen.
I've just noticed this new function on my Navigation screeen, probably an update made by the dealer. When I select it, it seems to search for info, then reports that there is no info. What should it do?
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 432
Likes: 2
From: Chicago
2018 E300 4MATIC Sedan
Do you have the Universal Media Interface ( UMI ) or the COMMAND navigation ?
( UMI is the 5 inch screen - COMMAND is the 7 inch screen )
I have UMI, and one of the options is TMC ( traffic message channel ). It will show me all traffic issues nearby to where I am traveling. Here in the Chicago suburbs, it only works when I am on the expressways ( otherwise no messages are displayed ). I was not aware this feature was available with the 7 inch COMMAND navigation.
Any questions, let me know...
Nick
( UMI is the 5 inch screen - COMMAND is the 7 inch screen )
I have UMI, and one of the options is TMC ( traffic message channel ). It will show me all traffic issues nearby to where I am traveling. Here in the Chicago suburbs, it only works when I am on the expressways ( otherwise no messages are displayed ). I was not aware this feature was available with the 7 inch COMMAND navigation.
Any questions, let me know...
Nick
Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 92
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
991 C2S, AP2 S2000, E400 Coupe
COMAND has always supported TMC in Europe. In the US, however, support was finally added in MY 2010. Some people have noted that MY 08 and 09 COMAND hardware is identical to the 2010 COMAND hardware, so it's possible that a software update could enable TMC for pre-2010 vehicles.
I have a 2009 C300 with COMAND, so I'd be really interested in more details.
I have a 2009 C300 with COMAND, so I'd be really interested in more details.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
2015 Iridium Silver Luxury Edition C300 4Matic
Comand.
Do you have the Universal Media Interface ( UMI ) or the COMMAND navigation ?
( UMI is the 5 inch screen - COMMAND is the 7 inch screen )
I have UMI, and one of the options is TMC ( traffic message channel ). It will show me all traffic issues nearby to where I am traveling. Here in the Chicago suburbs, it only works when I am on the expressways ( otherwise no messages are displayed ). I was not aware this feature was available with the 7 inch COMMAND navigation.
Any questions, let me know...
Nick
( UMI is the 5 inch screen - COMMAND is the 7 inch screen )
I have UMI, and one of the options is TMC ( traffic message channel ). It will show me all traffic issues nearby to where I am traveling. Here in the Chicago suburbs, it only works when I am on the expressways ( otherwise no messages are displayed ). I was not aware this feature was available with the 7 inch COMMAND navigation.
Any questions, let me know...
Nick
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
2015 Iridium Silver Luxury Edition C300 4Matic
Mine's a 2008, and it now has this function.
COMAND has always supported TMC in Europe. In the US, however, support was finally added in MY 2010. Some people have noted that MY 08 and 09 COMAND hardware is identical to the 2010 COMAND hardware, so it's possible that a software update could enable TMC for pre-2010 vehicles.
I have a 2009 C300 with COMAND, so I'd be really interested in more details.
I have a 2009 C300 with COMAND, so I'd be really interested in more details.
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Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 92
Likes: 1
From: Southern California
991 C2S, AP2 S2000, E400 Coupe
Awesome, thanks for the clarification. I'll call my service advisor and see if he can set me up with the same thing.
Were you eventually able to fix your issue with not receiving TMC data? I've been under the impression that TMC needs a current Sirius subscription to work.
Were you eventually able to fix your issue with not receiving TMC data? I've been under the impression that TMC needs a current Sirius subscription to work.
Newbie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Wheaton/Silver Spring, MD
2010 Palladium Silver C300 Sport 4Matic
I have the COMAND navigation as well, and traffic via Sirius... It took me a while to figure out that you need to go into the Traffic menu and make sure that it is set to overlay traffic info on the map, and that the traffic info only shows up for major interstates and routes.
It is sorta useful, but it doesn't update in realtime. I was stuck in traffic for quite a while after an accident happened up ahead, and it didn't update for the 20 minutes it took to get to my destination...
It is sorta useful, but it doesn't update in realtime. I was stuck in traffic for quite a while after an accident happened up ahead, and it didn't update for the 20 minutes it took to get to my destination...
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
2015 Iridium Silver Luxury Edition C300 4Matic
Would you tell us how to do that?
I have the COMAND navigation as well, and traffic via Sirius... It took me a while to figure out that you need to go into the Traffic menu and make sure that it is set to overlay traffic info on the map, and that the traffic info only shows up for major interstates and routes.
It is sorta useful, but it doesn't update in realtime. I was stuck in traffic for quite a while after an accident happened up ahead, and it didn't update for the 20 minutes it took to get to my destination...
It is sorta useful, but it doesn't update in realtime. I was stuck in traffic for quite a while after an accident happened up ahead, and it didn't update for the 20 minutes it took to get to my destination...
Newbie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Wheaton/Silver Spring, MD
2010 Palladium Silver C300 Sport 4Matic
Sure,
(Caveats -I have the MM package with Sirius Traffic information, a 3.99/month addon to the subscription, and the latest software)
Go to the Navi screen, click on Navi to bring up the dropdown menu, select Traffic Information on Map, and make sure all three boxes are selected. Then zoom out of the map all the way, you should see at least a couple of yellow and red cars. Traffic flow shows up as green lines on the side of each road with the occasional arrow pointing in the direction of travel, yellow cars on either side for some slowdowns, and red cars for the areas where you are going to be spending some quality time listening to music
.
On the bottom, the Traffic option will bring up any traffic messages for nearby highways/routes, useful to check right before you get on the road.
(Caveats -I have the MM package with Sirius Traffic information, a 3.99/month addon to the subscription, and the latest software)
Go to the Navi screen, click on Navi to bring up the dropdown menu, select Traffic Information on Map, and make sure all three boxes are selected. Then zoom out of the map all the way, you should see at least a couple of yellow and red cars. Traffic flow shows up as green lines on the side of each road with the occasional arrow pointing in the direction of travel, yellow cars on either side for some slowdowns, and red cars for the areas where you are going to be spending some quality time listening to music
.On the bottom, the Traffic option will bring up any traffic messages for nearby highways/routes, useful to check right before you get on the road.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: SEATTLE WASHINGTON USA
'08 C300 Lux Barolo Red Beige Leather P2 MM 18" wheels '84 944
Newbie
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
From: Wheaton/Silver Spring, MD
2010 Palladium Silver C300 Sport 4Matic
It isn't the price, it is the quality of the service. I'm still on the free 6 months that came with the car.
The obsessive-compulsive completionist in me wants to have that feature so there won't be features in the menu that don't work, but the practical side is unimpressed. I have yet to see an alert that actually saved me time, and I live in traffic hell, no exaggeration.
The obsessive-compulsive completionist in me wants to have that feature so there won't be features in the menu that don't work, but the practical side is unimpressed. I have yet to see an alert that actually saved me time, and I live in traffic hell, no exaggeration.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 432
Likes: 2
From: Chicago
2018 E300 4MATIC Sedan
So, in order to get traffic with COMMAND you need to pay for this service through Sirius after you go to the dealer to turn on the feature ?
With the UMI, I receive the traffic updates free ( no subscription to Sirius required ).
Just trying to clarify...
Thanks,
Nick
With the UMI, I receive the traffic updates free ( no subscription to Sirius required ).
Just trying to clarify...
Thanks,
Nick
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 964
Likes: 2
\
COMAND has always supported TMC in Europe. In the US, however, support was finally added in MY 2010. Some people have noted that MY 08 and 09 COMAND hardware is identical to the 2010 COMAND hardware, so it's possible that a software update could enable TMC for pre-2010 vehicles.
I have a 2009 C300 with COMAND, so I'd be really interested in more details.
I have a 2009 C300 with COMAND, so I'd be really interested in more details.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 451
Likes: 1
From: S.F. Bay Area
2008 C300 Sport, 2010 RX350 AWD
for MY08 and MY09 command/mm/audio 50, TMC will only work in europe..even if you enable TMC in the engineering menu, it still won't work in the State..
for MY10 command/mm/audio 50 ,TMC will only work in europe, however, you can pay and have live traffic update via Sirius satellite radio..
the only way to get TMC for free is to install UMI or Nav+4..
for MY10 command/mm/audio 50 ,TMC will only work in europe, however, you can pay and have live traffic update via Sirius satellite radio..
the only way to get TMC for free is to install UMI or Nav+4..
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 518
Likes: 2
From: Orange County, CA
E350
FYI, if you're in the U.S., it IS POSSIBLE to subscribe to Sirius Traffic Link ($3.99/mo subscription) WITHOUT subscribing to any satellite radio portion (regardless of what the website says)! Just call Sirius at 1-888-GET-SIRIUS and tell them you want to subscribe to TRAFFIC LINK ONLY.
Approximately 50% of the CSR's will tell you that you need to subscribe to a satellite radio package as well, and approximately 50% of the CSR's will know what they are doing and will do it for you. If you get a CSR that denies you, then hang up and call again.
I got one on my first call which added the package, but transferred me to tech support to activate the unit (since my Sirius radio still only received channel 184 "Sirius Preview" and nothing else). After getting a few more clueless reps, on my 5th try I got someone who knew what they were doing and said that with the $3.99/mo package I would NOT get audio traffic reports, but would only get the DATA sent to my GPS unit in my MB, hence I would not notice any change on the Sirius screen... only the GPS Navi screen. Sure enough, when I switched over to my Navi screen, there were the yellow and red cars on the map (2009 E-Classes don't display green ones for some reason) and visual Traffic Status News/Reports under the "TRAFFIC" sub-menu.
IMHO, living in CA, I think that such a feature COULD be useful (and worth $3.99/mo). The main reason I want this feature is to know where the traffic starts and ends on the freeways so I can take side streets to bypass the red portion (if it's worth the effort). So far the map has been pretty accurate and updates fairly often (but I have not needed to bypass traffic on side streets yet since every time there's traffic I'm either in the HOV lane, or I'm already pretty close to my exit that it's not worth bypassing). I personally haven't made up my mind or not whether to keep this feature or not (I would like it if TRAVEL LINK worked with MB, but it doesn't which is a shame
)Unfortunately I don't know if this feature can be added a la carte outside of the U.S. (like in Canada), but it never hurts to ask!
