Anker

In my 2009 CLK armrest there are two buttons that I can't find any information on in the owners manual. One has an "i" on it and another an image of a wrench. Below is a picture of them. The buttons are under a little hinged cover with a transparent window. I don't dare just press them.

TIA/Anker

Paulmurphy

Telaid buttons for phone

Paulmurphy

That should of read Teleaid

Anker

Thanks!

Rudeney

Teleaid (now called mBRACE) is MBZ's equivalent of the ubiquitous GM OnStar. Since your car is a MY2005 or later, you can subscribe (prior to MY2005, they used analog cellular which is now out of commission). They usually offer a basic lifetime package (i.e. for as long as you own the car) for around $300. It will automatically summons help in a bad accident, or you can do that as needed via the SOS button in the OCP, or call MB roadside via the wrench button in the console. It also includes remote emergency unlocking and theft tracking. For an extra fee, you can add concierge services with live, guided turn-by-turn directions, dining reservations, getting event tickets. etc.

merceBENZ

Is it really $300 for a life?

Anker

As far as I can gather it is $350 a year for the basic subscription. Too expensive for what you get, in my opinion.

merceBENZ

Screw that. $300 for life would be too good to be true

Rudeney

Look here:

https://www.mbusa.com/mercedes/mbrace

There are several packages. The basic is mBrace Connect which comes standard with new models free for 5 years. I don't believe these functions work with the W209 at all - they are only for the newest models with the latest infotainment systems.

mBrace Secure is $199/year. This is the "traditional" TeleAid service that you can subscribe to on your W209. It's the emergency call system I descried above.

mBrace Concirege is an extra $20/month on top of Secure. You can use that, too, in your W209. It just adds access to a live voice operator who assists you.

mBrace Entertain is not available on your W209 - it's for the latest models with updated infotainment systems that support those features.

Register your vehicle with MBUSA and you will receive various offers via emails and USPS. One of them is usually that "lifetime" mBrace Secure subscription. Maybe it's more like $399, but if you want the service and intend to keep the car for more than a couple of years, it's a decent value.

Anker

Thanks Rodney,

For under $400 life time is a decent deal. I have registered with MBUSA and am waiting for my VIN to be verified. Will look for the offer letter.

Anker

merceBENZ

Rodney, thank you very much for such informative post! This is great to know. I'm going to go ahead and register with them too.

Did you really meant to say USPS?

Timewarpone

I have AAA unlimited towing mileage for about $50 a year. (You can get their towing service without buying their car insurance) It is also good on any vehicle, even a friends car, as long as you have the card in your possession at the time of the tow/service. If your friend or wife breaks down he/she gives you a call and you arrive at the scene with the card before the tow truck.

Anker

Great value as long as you are prepared to wait a long time for the tow.:-(

merceBENZ

That is so true. I had to wait 1.5 hours every time. I ditched them. Over the time I paid more for membership than I would pay for the towing I used.
Good for old/junk cars, waste of money for new/low mileage ones.

MacVidMB-V8

Reminds me of a funny story. I had just bought my 500CLK in fall of 2012 and was driving it from Seattle back to LA.Somewhere in the long lonely regions of the 5 I got bored and saw that red "SOS" button on overhead console.

Having the instincts of a 5 year old of course I pushed it. Instantly the sound system was taken over, quickly it was replaced by a ringing phone. I tried to turn it off, now good. Then a concerned operator demanded to know what had happened. It was a voice from god, and she could hear me so must be a microphone in car.

Told her I was an idiot who hit button by accident, she hung up shortly after.

I'm curious if that button still works, but not curious enough to push it again.

eteller

We tried it the first day we had the car, could not turn it off, Luckily we were on the parkway and don't think we had a signal as it never connected, although my Verizon cell does in that area. Never tried it again.

Rudeney

If you don't have an active mBrace (TeleAid) subscription, the call should not go through.