Brian_I.

Hey guys, it's almost my 1-year anniversary with the E and I got this package explaining my options for teleaid renewal. Anyway, I had heard about it costing ~$250 for 1 year which I thought was pretty reasonable but when I got the package I realized that is just the very basic subscription that only included the emergency features (like airbag deployment, breakdown service, etc).

If I wanted to continue the same level of service I have now (including concierge, unlimited digital conference calling, etc.) I would have to choose the next level which is closer to $500.

My question is is it really worth it? I use the concierge to book dinner reservations or to help me lookup addresses or movie showtimes or whatever about twice a month. That comes out to it costing me $20/call and I don't think it's worth it. Did you guys renew the subscription? Which plan did you go with?

Thanks.

MARK CUMMINS

(IF) You have a Comand and a cell phone one does NOT need the Tel Aid
I Never Used it on my W210 and Dont think I Will Use it on my W211
Also did NOT renew it ...

ATS

I never had it and can't imagine paying for it.

larryssf

I would not pay for the enhanced service, as all you need is a cell phone. The basic service is a worthwhile insurance policy to open the doors, call repair service, or track a stolen car. For $20 a month, I will likely renew. Other opinions are welcome as I have until March to decide.

Sun Breaking Through in San Francisco

Stricks

Expensive, and if you've got a cell phone that works in most places you're already covered.

Brian_I.

I do like the theft recovery part and I have used it for popping the trunk open when I locked the keys in there when I was travelling out of town (big time saver). I guess maybe I'll opt for that at least. I just thought it would be a good backup to my cell phone if I needed to make a call.

DWP

I just renewed TeleAid (or rather, allowed it to renew itself) for the second time. I wouldn't pay for it if the Benz was my daily ride, but it's my wife's ride. I also keep a cell phone in the car but if the car has trouble, my wife won't have to diagnose the problem and decide whether to call me or call the Mercedes dealer or call a tow truck or whatever. She just has to push a button. Typical male chauvinism on my part, I suppose, but it's one less thing to worry about. The car has been reliable so far but I don't entirely trust it, because it is so complex.

Our insurance company gives us a $15 annual discount on our comprehensive premium for having a stolen-car recovery system in operation, so that makes the annual TeleAid cost $225 net. Such a deal.

Double Eagle

I agree completely with Mark. I have a DVD NAv and cell phone in all my cars and never miss the Tel Aid or the GMC equivalent "On Star". Using the POI directory, you can find most places you want to go and then call them yourself using your cell phone.

Another reason I dropped the Tel Aid and On Star was their LOUSY coverage between here and Colorado where we go a lot. Had a major break down in our Yukon outside of Green River Utah (complete engine failure) on a cold and windy morning on I-70 in December 2003. The On Star didn't work but my Cell Phone did and we had a tow truck with us in 40 minutes. On another trip in my MB, I checked the Tel Aid system to see if it connected and it was unable to connect through most of Utah about 14 months ago. Perhaps they have improved by now but not sure. Most of the better cell phone systems today use the GSM or CDMA formats as opposed to digital and analog but I believe that Tel Aid and On-Star still use digital so this could be why their coverage was poor in some areas in the past.

CE750

I guess I'm the odd one here.. I have both Teleaid and the additional $250 for the Concierge.. I use the heck out of it, get them to run all kinds of BS arrands for me like "locate a place I can rent a portable A/C unit" or "where can I get a Specter NS-2 bass here in Phoenix?"

Also, I use them to connect me with phone numbers and it's like a free speaker phone cell phone service with out paying for the crazy MB phone.

MB Fanatic

I think Tele-Aid is a great service at a reasonable price, plus I get a discount on my Insurance premium cause of the vechile tracking. I have the complete package and find it as a great sense of security.

HELL ONA HARLEY

As you know DWP were in the same boat..... The e500 is also my wifes ride and with the ural roads she drives daily I would never be without it.... Is it expensive, yes.... But considering my wife is the driver and she is shlepping the kids to town daily I feel its cheap insurance. I may be wrong but I think you have a limited amount of the concierge service with the basic pkg. Doesn't matter anyway, we never use it.

CE750

You do, such as directions to a place that's not in your nav. However if you want to use the conc with out full payment, I think they do a pay as you use it billing too. IN CASE you had that moment when you absolutely needed to find the nearest Harley Dealer

HELL ONA HARLEY

WHAAAAAT!!!!! Show-up to the Harley dealer in my Mercedes??????
I would never live it down with the other biker trash.

CE750

Brian_I.

I wonder if they'll do digital conference calls on the basic package?

CALBenzo

I wasn't planning on renewing the teleaid when the one year date was up. About two months ago, however, I was changing my rear tire, and I my keys were on the front seat. Somehow the door locked without my knowledge, and my daughter was in her car seat. I was about to break the window, but then remembered I had the teleaid. Luckily I had my cell phone on me, and they opened the door.

Pretty cool. Needless to say, I renewed the basic service.

CE750

I checked, they don't. You need to concierge service for that... but it's pretty damn cool... I don't see the need for the MB phone when you can just use this.

LAZARU5

Can you explain the process you go thru to make a call? I assume this works only for outbound calls.

CE750

Yes.. outbound..

I press the i button (which needs to be on the Comand IMHO) and when the stupid automatic voice things comes on, I argue with it for 5 minutes to get it to connect me to the concierge then I ask them to look up XYZ Corp, or Such and Such and connect me... and that's it... when I want to end the call, I hit END!

avb777

Hello,

I just picked up 05 E500 yesterday and they activated my Teleaid.
Starting at 2006 for teleaid you do not get a conceirge service for free for the first year.
You only get the basic one... Sucks!

CE750

that's news to me, I have a 2005, and my concierge wasn't free either. I paid $250 extra for that, and the basic Teleaid was free.... next year it's $450 renewal for both.

zanshin

I had occasion to use TeleAid a couple months ago. A truck full of scrap metal lost its load on the interstate around 1 am. I was one of 26 cars to "find" some of the metal. Anyway, I realize I have more than a flat tire and I'll need a police report for the insurance company, plus get the police to have the highway cleaned up. Teleaid operator tells me to use my cellphone to call the police. Nice of him to assume I have a mobile with me. I suggest since he has the GPS coordinates it would be easier for him to relay the info. Besides, I have a tire to change. Teleaid guy tells me he can't get a GPS reading on me. This is on a clear night on open road. I had the impression he didn't want to do any work that night. So I know what service I'm not renewing.

On a similar note, since Teleaid is essentially a mobile phone, I've heard it falls under the same requirements that even without a service plan, you can still use the SOS button to call 911. Can anyone confirm this?

pa28pilot

Wow, zanshin's story is certainly food for thought. I have found them to be pretty responsive. I'd complain if I were him.

I had a problem recently, and they fixed it within 2 days. It appears that the "commutes" for the traffic service (that one defines on the Owners Online website) can become corrupted. I had one with a name that was a bunch of gibberish characters. Apparently this throws the traffic service out of whack. It kept telling me that the system was unavailable.

I have used the "route assistance" folks to route me around highway traffic jams in unfamiliar territory. They were pretty helpful. I don't use it anywhere near as much as the traffic service.

For you folks who just want concierge service (or directory assistance for that matter), my current favorite (other than AmEx) is something called Infone.

Anyone can use this service, and it's cheap. They provide directory assistance (cheaper than Verizon Wireless), call completion, and concierge services for US$0.85 a call with the first 15 minutes free. They also have some thing that will read your email to you. It seems no one wants to read you the number anymore, but these guys will send you the number they look up via SMS or email. I can let them complete the call and still have a record of the number without having to write anything down.

I don't have any relationship to it other than as a satisfied user. You can read about it at www.infone.com.

Along the same lines, has anyone else had Sirius become confused about your account, due to the fact that MBUSA pays the first year? I have had the service since January and still haven't received the welcome kit. They also had to re-create my online account because the Mercedes-Benz accounts are different somehow.

CE750

I have the Amex Platinum w/ concierge, and I find it not as helpful as the MB, but the advantage of the AMEX is that it's outside the car as well..

konigstiger

I am also interested in any and all SIRIUS details.