Storm Watch Warning Command: Get Rid OF
MBWorld God!
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What I've done in the past is threaten to cancel my subscription shortly before it came up for renewal, which then unlocked customer retention promotions, so if you keep doing that you can get their service fairly cheap. I think I paid less than $5/month so it wasn't that much. Static is essentially an artifact of the past before digital radio. Even terrestrial radio now has HD Radio, which is fully digital. This is actually part of why I ended up cancelling. The sound quality of SiriusXM isn't actually that great. It's highly compressed.
Yes, it's their satellites. Well, combined with the former XM satellites. Remember, Sirius and XM used to be two separate companies before Sirius acquired XM. Today's receivers support both satellite systems. I don't know if they unified the technology in the meantime, but Sirius and XM weren't compatible with each other, so after the merger, older cars which either had a Sirius or an XM receiver were stuck with only receiving a subset of the channels. They must still be supporting old receivers, so I'm guessing their are still sending out the old XM signals.
Yes, it's their satellites. Well, combined with the former XM satellites. Remember, Sirius and XM used to be two separate companies before Sirius acquired XM. Today's receivers support both satellite systems. I don't know if they unified the technology in the meantime, but Sirius and XM weren't compatible with each other, so after the merger, older cars which either had a Sirius or an XM receiver were stuck with only receiving a subset of the channels. They must still be supporting old receivers, so I'm guessing their are still sending out the old XM signals.
For some reason even though it says HD radio, not sure if it is the same thing but it shows "HD))" with the two ")" and I still hear static.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
MBWorld God!
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I'm not sure what those parenthesis are there, but if I remember correctly, HD Radio is turned off in the settings by default. You have to turn it on. But even if it's turned off, if you drive somewhere with poor HD Radio reception, it drops back to analog, so you could still get intermittent static.
I see, that explains the static.
Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,022
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From: Los Angeles, CA
2015 C400 Tenorite Gray
SiriusXM Travel Link Alert Limitations With NTG 5
MBrace is hardcoded so I'm was unable to use hotspot to see if it was a setting issue.
What I could find was this: It's a SiriusXM Travel Link alert.
Unfortunately, it seems due to the hardware limits of NTG 5, the info is truncated.
From what I gather, Mercedes me Connect is better for traffic (Dynamic Rerouting) and weather which is understandable.
Mercedes me Connect requires a 4G/LTE-capable TCU to work. Possible to retrofit but not sure Mercedes would activate
it on the backend.
Definitely need to upgrade the head unit.
I suppose I could buy an android system but that might degrade audio.
What I could find was this: It's a SiriusXM Travel Link alert.
Unfortunately, it seems due to the hardware limits of NTG 5, the info is truncated.
From what I gather, Mercedes me Connect is better for traffic (Dynamic Rerouting) and weather which is understandable.
Mercedes me Connect requires a 4G/LTE-capable TCU to work. Possible to retrofit but not sure Mercedes would activate
it on the backend.
Definitely need to upgrade the head unit.
I suppose I could buy an android system but that might degrade audio.
Last edited by Nicholi2007; May 28, 2025 at 12:51 AM.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 33,393
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MBrace is hardcoded so I'm was unable to use hotspot to see if it was a setting issue.
What I could find was this: It's a SiriusXM Travel Link alert.
Unfortunately, it seems due to the hardware limits of NTG 5, the info is truncated.
From what I gather, Mercedes me Connect is better for traffic (Dynamic Rerouting) and weather which is understandable.
Mercedes me Connect requires a 4G/LTE-capable TCU to work. Possible to retrofit but not sure Mercedes would activate
it on the backend.
Definitely need to upgrade the head unit.
I suppose I could buy an android system but that might degrade audio.
What I could find was this: It's a SiriusXM Travel Link alert.
Unfortunately, it seems due to the hardware limits of NTG 5, the info is truncated.
From what I gather, Mercedes me Connect is better for traffic (Dynamic Rerouting) and weather which is understandable.
Mercedes me Connect requires a 4G/LTE-capable TCU to work. Possible to retrofit but not sure Mercedes would activate
it on the backend.
Definitely need to upgrade the head unit.
I suppose I could buy an android system but that might degrade audio.
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,022
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From: Los Angeles, CA
2015 C400 Tenorite Gray
I will upgrade the head unit.
In case others are interested. The Telematics Control Unit (TCU) LTE 4 is fairly inexpensive used. Getting past Mercedes system checks isn't easy.
It requires finding a donor VIN that has not been registered with an MBrace account or a new one never installed flashed with a 2017 VIN or later.
As for the install it can be done although its moderate difficulty.
They just want to force people into newer cars.
In case others are interested. The Telematics Control Unit (TCU) LTE 4 is fairly inexpensive used. Getting past Mercedes system checks isn't easy.
It requires finding a donor VIN that has not been registered with an MBrace account or a new one never installed flashed with a 2017 VIN or later.
As for the install it can be done although its moderate difficulty.
They just want to force people into newer cars.
MBWorld God!
Joined: Dec 2019
Posts: 33,393
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I will upgrade the head unit.
In case others are interested. The Telematics Control Unit (TCU) LTE 4 is fairly inexpensive used. Getting past Mercedes system checks isn't easy.
It requires finding a donor VIN that has not been registered with an MBrace account or a new one never installed flashed with a 2017 VIN or later.
As for the install it can be done although its moderate difficulty.
They just want to force people into newer cars.
In case others are interested. The Telematics Control Unit (TCU) LTE 4 is fairly inexpensive used. Getting past Mercedes system checks isn't easy.
It requires finding a donor VIN that has not been registered with an MBrace account or a new one never installed flashed with a 2017 VIN or later.
As for the install it can be done although its moderate difficulty.
They just want to force people into newer cars.
Ok : ) all good, so what are you considering?
MBWorld God!
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Here is something to look at: https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...ml#post9159289
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,022
Likes: 44
From: Los Angeles, CA
2015 C400 Tenorite Gray
On second thought, tough to beat $200
at roadtop. A good droid one is 5-600 last time I checked. That's a great suggestion. Thanks. Not sure what to do. I wonder how good that is?
MBWorld God!
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I did like your suggestion. I meant upgrading to NTG 5.5 or MBUX assuming I can source parts inexpensively and then use MBTools to code it.
On second thought, tough to beat $200 at roadtop. A good droid one is 5-600 last time I checked. That's a great suggestion. Thanks. Not sure what to do. I wonder how good that is?
On second thought, tough to beat $200
at roadtop. A good droid one is 5-600 last time I checked. That's a great suggestion. Thanks. Not sure what to do. I wonder how good that is?
As for that screen, the forum member from the linked thread seems to be enjoying it.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Los Angeles, CA
2015 C400 Tenorite Gray
The screen won't be quite as good but for $200 I might do it until I can get all the parts...
I'm already up to 48,000 miles from 43,300 and the low pressure fuel hose is shaking and vibration in cabin increasing.
I was hoping not to have engine mounts so soon...
MBWorld God!
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I interpreted that as a stock upgrade.
The screen won't be quite as good but for $200 I might do it until I can get all the parts...
I'm already up to 48,000 miles from 43,300 and the low pressure fuel hose is shaking and vibration in cabin increasing.
I was hoping not to have engine mounts so soon...
The screen won't be quite as good but for $200 I might do it until I can get all the parts...
I'm already up to 48,000 miles from 43,300 and the low pressure fuel hose is shaking and vibration in cabin increasing.
I was hoping not to have engine mounts so soon...
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Los Angeles, CA
2015 C400 Tenorite Gray
Hmmm, anyways... Drive the vehicle into a large area (plaza parking lot for example), free from people and other living things, pop the hood. Foot on the brake, put vehicle in drive and rev the engine, check for engine movement, do the same for reverse. That is the easiest way to check engine mounts.
MBWorld God!
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Thanks. I created separate thread for my maintenance journey since I'm off topic here. It could be start of mounts failing but only a little lift driver side.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Los Angeles, CA
2015 C400 Tenorite Gray
Yes, that's the part of the concern as the car is over 10 years old. Age is always a concern not just mileage. My instinct says something else
which the new thread references but maybe there's oil in the vaccum line.
which the new thread references but maybe there's oil in the vaccum line.
MBWorld God!
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Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,022
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From: Los Angeles, CA
2015 C400 Tenorite Gray
Meanwhile Sirius is offering a free listening event thru June 2nd. Whoever mentioned this is correct.
Too bad the audio quality isn't better...
MBWorld God!
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That is the thing about "free" inspections, they will find excuses to replace things that might not even needed to be replaced or replaced yet, my experience really back then.
MBWorld God!
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Forum member superswiss mentioned that. Basically, the free trial sirusxm happens very random times of the year, I know when the trial starts because I either get an email telling me the radio is on or I notice the traffic icon showing up in COMAND.
Another way to get a free trial is service at MB dealerships that are participating and giving out free sirusxm trials for like 7 days. The email you then will receive will be like "Your servicing dealership wants to thank you for servicing through a free trial, Radio on"
Another way to get a free trial is service at MB dealerships that are participating and giving out free sirusxm trials for like 7 days. The email you then will receive will be like "Your servicing dealership wants to thank you for servicing through a free trial, Radio on"
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Los Angeles, CA
2015 C400 Tenorite Gray
SAs get a cut of everything they sell. So YES I'm aware they are salespeople not techs.
Dealer's markup is criminal but sometimes I can get oil changes around $120.
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Pretty good price for oil change, I still will DIY, that way I know it is done and done right.
