Mercedes Benz Connect WORTH IT??
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From: Arizona
2020 AMG GTC
Mercedes Benz Connect WORTH IT??
I got an email to renew the MB Connect. I have had it in prior MB's but never saw its true value. Wondering if others thought its worth having? Especially in the GT's. I was thinking the main benefit would be the Vehicle Tracker/Locator in case it was stolen. Not sure how well that works in practice.
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I got an email to renew the MB Connect. I have had it in prior MB's but never saw its true value. Wondering if others thought its worth having? Especially in the GT's. I was thinking the main benefit would be the Vehicle Tracker/Locator in case it was stolen. Not sure how well that works in practice.
Geofencing. Vehicle Tracking. Theft Recovery.
Increased frequency of Car Theft even in very exclusive neighborhoods.
Super easy now, with Relay/Man-in-middle Attacks that amplify/capture key fob signal, then repeat it back to vehicle, gaining access.
Attacks have been rampant in UK/Europe for years, since 2010, maybe longer.
More recent up-tick in similar attacks in the States.
Faraday Pouch (can leak key fob's perpetual signal transmission), Fridge, or simply - take out key fob battery to stop fob transmission
The features of the MB Connect offer one part of what should be multi-layered theft deterrence.
And if key fob battery dies, a simple swipe to Unlock: i'm not tryna mess with the annoying/awkward AF door handle piece that needs to come off to expose physical key hole, etc.
Last edited by MBNRG; Nov 18, 2023 at 01:20 PM.
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From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
Not a good idea in general. Thieves now use Bluetooth scanners to determine which cars likely have hidden devices worth stealing and break into them. You don't want there to be a Bluetooth signal coming from your car. Below is just an example. It's happening across the nation.
https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/ne...r-electronics/
https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/ne...r-electronics/
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For the purposes of the GT x line up, the MB key fob does feature Deactivation option, which I believe was introduced in ?2016/2017 MYs.
Older MY fobs do not have this feature.
Unfortunately, however, via Deactivation option the "SmartKey will then use very little power, thereby conserving battery power". (excerpt from the Manual)
I haven't tested the newer fobs after Deactivation to sniff for any occult signal transmission, but I simply won't take the chance with my daily GT R.
Older MY fobs do not have this feature.
Unfortunately, however, via Deactivation option the "SmartKey will then use very little power, thereby conserving battery power". (excerpt from the Manual)
I haven't tested the newer fobs after Deactivation to sniff for any occult signal transmission, but I simply won't take the chance with my daily GT R.
Last edited by MBNRG; Nov 18, 2023 at 11:27 AM.
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 807
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Not a good idea in general. Thieves now use Bluetooth scanners to determine which cars likely have hidden devices worth stealing and break into them. You don't want there to be a Bluetooth signal coming from your car. Below is just an example. It's happening across the nation.
https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/ne...r-electronics/
https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/ne...r-electronics/
A consideration would be to remove the speakers of multiple Airtags, say 5-7 or more, and bury all of them in the car so well, that it would take great time and effort to search for all Airtags.
Downside is that Airtag can only be activated by proximal Apple Device and only then, can location be established. If vehicle is already en-route to a remote dock or other less populated space, tracking becomes difficult.
Theft rings also carry devices capable of blocking BT/RF/Cellular signals, so all this becomes moot, and hence the need for multi-layered approach if one is serious about theft deterrence.
Last edited by MBNRG; Nov 18, 2023 at 12:49 PM.
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Out Of Control!!
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 11,398
Likes: 5,323
From: San Francisco Bay Area
2019 C63CS
To answer the original question, as somebody who doesn't drive much these days, mostly on weekends, I have so far been renewing the services. There's enough there to be useful for what essentially amounts to about $10/month. Considering that my first three years were free, it's even less on average. Other solutions for tracking the vehicle location such as LoJack are not free nor cheap and AirTags don't really lend themselves for true real-time tracking, nor does law enforcement have access to the vehicle location as they do with the MB connect stolen vehicle tracking. Everything needed for MB connect is already installed securely in the vehicle, so no third-party modules have to be installed.
Last edited by superswiss; Nov 18, 2023 at 02:10 PM.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,005
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From: ATLANTA
R Nine T
To answer the original question, as somebody who doesn't drive much these days, mostly on weekends, I have so far been renewing the services. There's enough there to be useful for what essentially amounts to about $10/month. Considering that my first three years were free, it's even less on average. Other solutions for tracking the vehicle location such as LoJack are not free nor cheap and AirTags don't really lend themselves for true real-time tracking, nor does law enforcement have access to the vehicle location as they do with the MB connect stolen vehicle tracking. Everything needed for MB connect is already installed securely in the vehicle, so no third-party modules have to be installed.
All the teenage car stealing kids quake when they hear of MB connect …….
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From: Santa Monica Mountains
2025 Lucid Air Grand Touring, 2022 F-150, 1926 Rolls-Royce SSG roadster
It's only $150, so it's worth it. But the cars are so expensive Mercedes-Benz should have given us lifetime subscriptions upon purchase.
