I just got this email

1/12/05 3:32

Ref: CS-1-360854343

Dear Mr xxxxxxx

During a regular check of open issues we realized that you have not received a final answer to your request, yet - we apologise for that.

Our colleagues in the department for research and development advised us that the decision has definitively been taken that we will modify the software for future models. According to our technical department this change will be effective only in 2007.

We do not regard the system as it is as malfunctioning. E.g. European customers consider it to be more comfortable to search for the strongest station while traveling because they will lose their preset stations anyway after a few hundred kilometers. The situation in the US is different - we know that and will take action. Until then, you still can use the buttons in the radio unit or, if you don’t want to take your eyes off the road, the option LINGUATRONIC is available.

Regarding the other issues you have adressed we have also forwarded your suggestions to our department for research and development. Thank you very much for taking time to write to us about your experience with our product.

Sorry again for the late response!

Kind regards

Ursula van Eijden

(Diese Nachricht wurde elektronisch erstellt und ist ohne Unterschrift gültig)

DaimlerChrysler AG

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whats the background on this? :p

 

long story.. it's easier if you do a search. We even launched a petition to get them to add this feature of changing radio stations via the steering wheel.

 

you cant change stations via the steering wheel? I can change stations, but not my presets

 

sorry, that's what I meant, presets.

 

Yea, that would be awesome! It would be so much easier to if it changed the presets rather than a "scan" function.

 

btw.. anyone know what Linguatronic is? and if I can add it?

 

Voice activated radio/Nav/CD/Satellite.

 

Voice activated control: You can use it to dial phone, use Nav, and change presets, etc etc

 

I have it and I have been using it for this. I love it!

 

You just like saying LINGUATRONIC and URSULA in the same sentence really fast, don't you?


In my ancient 2002, you can change the presets with the left steering wheel button(s). You guys in your blinged out newer gens can't? That's not right.

 

I'm not breaking out the champagne and party hats just yet. My parsing of Ms. van Eijden's prose suggests that the change will be effective with MY 07 and will not be applicable to earlier MYs:

"Our colleagues in the department for research and development advised us that the decision has definitively been taken that we will modify the software for future models. According to our technical department this change will be effective only in 2007." [emphasis added]

Anyone read the language differently so far as application to MY 2003-2006 is concerned?

 

I have been point man on this campaign since its inception. It took a while but I have reached a Stuttgart VP who seems to be sympathetic however, the several excuses given thus far are unacceptable, at least to me. This is why all those who previously emailed should receive this reply.

I’ve also been in touch with Steve (MBenzNL) who believes it is a software glitch between the instrument cluster and audio gateway that DC/MB has been unable to solve.

Most importantly I’ve learned, courtesy of my shop foreman (and Steve), that all w211 & c219 instrument clusters (IC) can be activated to do presets or frequency searches with star diagnose. We just activated it in my CLS unfortunately as expected only frequencies can be scanned.

One excuse given was that Stuttgart removed the ability to scan presets because of a JDP survey that resulted in customers complaining about static and lost stations while traveling. This is the one I’m currently pursuing because I understand JDP is, at present, the Holy Grail to Stuttgart and Montvale combined with the fact that you’re given the choice to choose either frequencies or presets in the IC. Glad they mentioned the survey because this brings a well respected entity into our corner. I’ve touched base with the JDP Executive Director who, in turn, passed me on to the JDP DiamlerChrysler Account Director who promised to take this up with Stuttgart & Montvale for us.

I’ll keep you posted.

 

They act like this is something new just brought to their attention. Its been 3 freaking model years and you still have to parse that response and make a judgement as to wether it means our older w211 cars will be fixed or not.

Unreal.

Aceman

 

Ditto.

There really is no excuse. If you can select if your seat and steering wheel will move when you open the door, or change lighting settings on 5 levels, or customize your instrument cluster, you should by golly be able to select if you would like presets to be the default setting like every other car.

You can turn this selectable feature on with STAR (MBenzNL has tried) but it still wont work. In the menu, it shows manual or presets. This is funny, because when you see this its obvious they intended to have the ability to select betweent the 2. But it just doesnt work, as mentioned, glitch.

 

Agree that the 2007 issue had better be a miscommunication as I don't see what the software can't just be updated either for free, or for a small fee.

As for Linguatronics... I WANT.. how do I get?

 

Small fee, these are what TSBs are for.

 

I wonder if it’s feasible to activate LINGUATRONIC even if you do not have a phone but do have Teleaid. Isn’t Teleaid comparable to an onboard phone?

 

Linguatronic is quite neat and was installed along with my hands-free phone system. It is quite pricey and they install another lever on your steering column (much like the cruise control lever, but on the right side).

I don't know if it would be worth getting it if you don't also get the phone. I think that it was about $1,400 and I have the dealer do it. I am sure that it can be done cheaper, but I really did not want to shop around at the time.

Steve

 

This is what I never understood about the whole phone thing on these cars... The car already has a phone! What is teleaid if it's not?

The Linguatronics should be a simple addition. I'm going to call and check next week.

 

Tele Aid is a "phone" much like the burglar alarm is a phone in your home. It is a chip that is programmed to dial an 800 humber, with perhaps 1 or 2 fall back numbers in case of an outage in the main call center. It COULD be maded into a phone if MB wanted it to be one.

 

Linguatronic is a pretty easy upgrade. Someone was selling the units on here for like $250 or something a while back but I waited too long and didn't get it in time. There's a unit that goes in the back, a stick that plugs in on the steering column and I think one other thing. Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

Wow...Steve didnt try and sell you that ?...Email Wanda..
Its a MUST.. Hands free for the Radio/phone/CD changer/TV/DVD..
Have it on my Wagon and the Wifes 211 ...Keeps the eyes on the road..

 

I just added it last week by myself. It took 10 minutes. Neat!

 

sending him the email now! I'm mad at him for not telling me about it!