NOVAROSSI

Analog is gone as of Jan 08 as we know it. There is an digital option per Mb but didn't know the cost. Has any one done the upgrade in there late model Mercedes?

amdeutsch

There have been posts mentioning this, the approximate costs, terms, parts, etc.

Scambo

I was quoted on Friday approximately $1200 for the Tele-Aid hardware upgrade with a 2 year subscription. They also said they are all on back order and it may be 3 months before I could get it. Dealer is MB of Georgetown, TX.

NOVAROSSI

That seems way out of wack . Did they say what the process was as far as the install?

Scambo

I agree, it sounds very high. I even wrote the VP of Marketing late last year to see if they would extend some discounting or just cover the charge since I bought it as a key safety feature with my brand new car. Their legal department responded and basically told me too bad. They did not tell me anything about the process for the upgrade except that it was a hardware upgrade. My guess is that it is a new piece of satellite hardware and probably some updated GPS antenna or something. They said it could be here as early as 1-2 weeks if they can get some into their dealership, but they looked it up in Parts and it looked like a 3 month back order. I'll let you know when they call me back for the install.

NOVAROSSI

Wow im speechless Mercedes benz customer service suck's as far as there Legal Department goes Read my post about the airbag's in my E500 That Depolyed while my wife was driving. They dont care about there customer's. There all about how much money they can charge you. For an option or upgrade. My attorney and I Have been going round and round with there legal department since 12/26/07 They should just give me what ever i want due to the circumstances with my car.

rcltrh

As high as the yearly charge is they should give you the hardware for free. Of course you are right about them just wanting to make a buck, I just had my ML in the shop 2 weeks ago for simple stuff (belt, wheel alignment, and front brake pads) and it was $1500. Insane how they just keep going up and up on their after-the-sale prices. Sadly this was my last Mercedes. I'll keep driving it until it needs something major, then its craigslist. As much as I liked my 96 Mercedes which is still running fine with my daughter at 200K miles, the newer models are shoddy and service prices insane.

NOVAROSSI

My local shop rate is $129.99 per hour

konigstiger

Update consists of replacing the analog control module located in the trunk with a new digital control module (part # BQ4820124). Process, unplug and reconnect five cables and activation/coding with Star Diagnosis. You can purchase and install the module, then simply have your dealer perform the version coding.

I agree, the update should be covered by a service campaign at no cost https://mbworld.org/forums/e-class-w211/211977-teleaid-analog-vs-digital-q.html and the only way this may come to be is if MBUSA receives “high volume” requests.

Anyone interested in receiving a copy of the install instructions PM your email address.
P-I-82.95/536 sedans MY03-04, MY05 CDI
P-I-82.95/520 wagons MY03-04

SAguirre

I got the conversion done last October. I don't really remember how much it was exactly, but I think that after everything it was about $1350. It sounds like a lot, but now I have "lifetime" Tele-Aid. So I figure that after 6 years it is paid for. I think that the $240.00 seemed more expensive and more bothersome to me. I like having the door unlock feature (only used it once so far though).

When I bought the car, I also got SAT radio. I purchased the lifetime service for a total of $375 extra. I have had the car for 3.5 years and it has already paid for itself. I hate having bills monthly or yearly. If I can avoid it by paying a lump sum I tend to do that.

I also should mention that I tend to keep my Cars for at least ten years, so I figured that the Tele-Aid upgrade was worth it. I just have a thing about having buttons in the car that don't work, not to mention that I do think that if I were in an accident and the airbags deployed or something I might be covered by Tele-Aid.

I really don't think that it is that much money after all; I just wish that the US would have switched to GSM cellular technology much earlier. This is not an MB issue, it was an FCC issue. However, I do think that they could have made it cheaper. People with OnStar are really screwed though; most of the GM cars (I hear) are not upgradeable.

Steve

vettdvr

I wish you the best with Teleaid... We had an accident during Katrina evacuation (we were not at fault) and the teleaid service was so bad I cancelled it and refuse to activate even on a new car if I have to pay $.01. I won't go into all the detail of what the operator said to me, but basically "the air bags didn't go off so we didn't see it as a priority call".

So I fired them by cnx the service forever. Just my own experience, as your individual experience might vary and past performance is no predictor of present or future performance. It is MY MONEY and I DON'T have to give it to Teleaid for poor service, there are other companies I can give it to if I want poor service. Had Telaid apologized properly I might have not cancelled but they defended their poor service until the end of the last $.01

gaazmon

Well, for those of us that don't want to upgrade, can we just use the buttons for something else, like hook them up to something? Hadn't really thought of anything, but figured that left the Info, Wrench, and SOS buttons inoperable and those could be used for something else.

I've also heard horror stories about the Tele-Aid system and how they were so unhelpful in emergency situations and how long it took them to send someone out to the location.

Scambo

In my accident where I was T-boned on the driver's side, the side curtain and side body airbags deployed perfectly, and Tele-Aid (airbag deployment team) was on the line before my car even stopped moving asking if I was ok. They dispatched police to the scene and they arrived before I could even get out of the car. The only thing I do not like about Tele-Aid is the $5 charge per use. One time, I called them to ask about my bill, and they charged me $5. I complained and they took it off my card, but still... You are already paying a lot for the service, so they shouldn't nickel and dime you for each call.