Just wanted to know how long people have waited to get the Tele-aid and/or SRS warning to be fixed when they had to replace the gateway/module. If it was reset and not replaced, then please do not answer the poll question. If you are still waiting like me - then also please do not answer.

we waited about 2 weeks, and they fixed it in 2 days, but they also installed lojack in that time

In the shop at 10 am on a Tuesday, out at 4 pm on the next day. Gateway Control module, overnight parts deliver. Loaner provider automatically.

Waited 1 week for the part to come. Took 1 day to fix. Took another 30 minutes for the dealer to call in to TeleAid to report a new ID code for the new module.

You were very lucky to get your part overnight - very quick response. Most others have not been so lucky. Especially nowadays. It seems that only now is the demand for this part increasing tremendously as more and more people hit this problem.

Well, it seems that I am going to wait longer than 1 week. I will have to remember to ask them whether they re-registered new id code with Tele-aid.

bmms8 - just curious - why get lo-jack when Tele-aid can also track your car anywhere in the USA? What is the advantage of lo-jack over Tele-aid? Better insurance rates?

ashahashah: I agree, I was fortunate. Mine failed on October 7 with only 300 miles on the car, and when the alert came up I was on the way to the dealer, anyway, to catch their bus for the MB "On Track" day in Richmond. The general manager was on the bus, and took an interest since I was the first new E delivered with a "come back" issue. He made sure I had a MB loaner waiting when we got back.

I had not seen the failure mentioned here at that time, so I undoubtedly got one of the few, or the only, Gateway Control Modules in the depot. Since then, no problems at all.

I believe TeleAid can only report the vehicle's position when the motor is running. LoJack can be activated by the tracking system even when the vehicle is *off*.

Rumor: pro thieves grab a new car like this and park it somewhere remote and let it cool off for a few days. Lojacked or otherwise trackable vehicles get recovered by the cops in the first day or so, and those that don't the perps then ship off to wherever to make their money, inferring that they can't be 'followed'.

Interesting - I did not know this. I guess I have not read up on Tele-aid that much. What is the cost of installing Lo-Jack on this car (I assume that the dealer has to do this) and what is the yearly cost - does anyone know?

The teleaid comment is true. But you also have to remember, that like the above person said...cars are normally recovered in the first day. Unless the car is towed around town (very unlikely), the car is going to be on, and trackable. Teleaid will always report the last place the car was when shut off. I don't believe you need more than what teleaid gives...because just like what was said, in most cases the car is stolen, and driven (not towed) to a location, and left there. Teleaid would know the place it was left.

The primary difference in Lo Jack and Tele Aide is their transmission technology. Lo Jack can "see" underground (like several levels down in a parking garage) where Tele Aide cannot. I got an additional insurance discount over and above the regular anit-theft after installing Lo Jack. If you look at the Lo Jack site, you can see that the coverage area is stronger in some sections of the country than others. That might help you to decide. I have seen varying costs for installation, typically betweek $599 and $799.

all someone needs to do is put some foil of the antenna, or break it off i believe and it will become useless. if someone wee to jack a benz, i amsure they would know how to get around teleais, but lojack is a different story, there are 32 places lojack fits there systems, and it is very hard to get into them. so overall lojack isnt a bad buy, and plus, i doubt most ppl wont get tele aid after one year, so you cant get the service after the year is over

So, bmms8, what did it cost you to install Lo-jack? Is there a yearly cost for it and how much did you save on your insurance?

Just wanted everyone on this thread to also know (I posted this on the other SRS thread):

I finally got my car back after 13 days at the dealership. SRS problem fixed. I called them many times in that span, got pissed off, got a call back from a MB rep and after all this - THANKFULLY - they are giving me a wooded steering wheel at no cost. It took a lot of complaining, but they MB did give me something - this I appreciate.

So - for those that waited a long time, I would ask for something in return. If you leased the car, more than likely, you can get a portion of your monthly payment refunded (or discounted). Ask and you shall receive.