MBrace Capability Question 2007 E 550
In my 07 E 550 which was converted to MBrace from TeleAid Jan 5th: Is this vehicle's Hardware/Software supposed to be able to accept "Search and Send" NAV destination downloads from Google Maps and from the MBrace people also?
Google Maps says the destination has been sent by them to MBrace, and MBrace "I" telephone connection says I have a destination on file, please wait for the download to the car to complete, then nothing... no destination appears in the NAV, no pop up asking me to accept the destination or even "Press OK to accept the destination". Nothing.
MBrace people on the MBrace phone in the car can not choose a destination on their own and send it to my car either even tho their computer screen says "Download Successfull" to them.
Is my car supposed to be able to do this destination Search & Send function? Or is it too early a NAV/Telematics system?
Larry
MB seems to do a really poor job of marketing TeleAid AND MBrace. I was never notified of the change, or ability to convert from one to the other. If it weren't for a post here, I would never have known that if I subscribed to MBrace before Dec 31, 2009, I could pay once & be covered for life of the vehicle. (I think they call it the Legacy/Launch Pricing Deal).
...anyway, In looking at the MBrace sub site within MBUSA.com , it says that in order for the Search & Send to work, one must have NAV "embeded in the Head unit"... (The web site previously listed years & models needed for the feature to work, but the site was re-worded to this vague english... When it still had model & year info, I didn't have MBrace or know what it was so I just skimmed it over... I didn't jump on it 'till someone posted the one time fee plan.) as we all know, 211's thru the '08s have the NAV in the trunk... so I still have no official answer, but I'm inclined to believe it needs a '09 and later E Class.
Programming Note to MB... after the software "update" to convert to MBrace, all works well (except the Search & Send, if its supposed to). When on a MBrace call the head unit screen still says Tele-Aid on the blue band at screen bottom when on a MBrace call.
Calls to MBrace can be terminated by them or by pressing the "Hang Up" button on the steering wheel.
...anyway, In looking at the MBrace sub site within MBUSA.com , it says that in order for the Search & Send to work, one must have NAV "embeded in the Head unit"... (The web site previously listed years & models needed for the feature to work, but the site was re-worded to this vague english... When it still had model & year info, I didn't have MBrace or know what it was so I just skimmed it over... I didn't jump on it 'till someone posted the one time fee plan.) as we all know, 211's thru the '08s have the NAV in the trunk... so I still have no official answer, but I'm inclined to believe it needs a '09 and later E Class.
But the MBrace thing is something I've been trying to answers on, since I bought my car after Nov 2009 and can't yet switch to it. So, I have to wait until my sub is over and then switch to MBrace.
But to answer your question about Send and Search, I was told it'll work with MBrace provided one has a 2009 and later model. I have a 2009 with the new COMAND and Nav, so I'll be okay I guess. Although MBUSA killed the search in Teleaid now, so that's gone anyway.

I don't understand why those of you with earlier than 2009 models get the axe on Send and Search. It doesn't make sense. The system is a hard drive system now, but so what? It should still be able to work off of a DVD based system(?) It worked with TeleAid and the DVD systems(?)
But the MBrace thing is something I've been trying to answers on, since I bought my car after Nov 2009 and can't yet switch to it. So, I have to wait until my sub is over and then switch to MBrace.
But to answer your question about Send and Search, I was told it'll work with MBrace provided one has a 2009 and later model. I have a 2009 with the new COMAND and Nav, so I'll be okay I guess. Although MBUSA killed the search in Teleaid now, so that's gone anyway.

I don't understand why those of you with earlier than 2009 models get the axe on Send and Search. It doesn't make sense. The system is a hard drive system now, but so what? It should still be able to work off of a DVD based system(?) It worked with TeleAid and the DVD systems(?)

The reason you can't suscribe to MBrace is due to contract exclusivity arrangements between Teleaid's "concession" operating company who is operating the service for MB. MB isn't allowed to "poach" customers away from them while their current contract is in effect.
Again, I was not really impressed with TeleAid's capabilities or their speed.
Now there's really no need for 3 buttons on MBrace.. Just "SOS" and maybe an "Info" button...
...and MB, if you're listening... when MBrace answers and says How May I direct your call"... How about in the interim also have it say... "You can say Agent...Directions...Concierge" or whatever options are available, because I certainly don't know what to say. And why has no "Welcome Kit" been sent?
The question I haven't had answered yet by anybody is whether or not I can add MBrace after my TeleAid subscription is up (in May 2010) I've asked both MBrace and TeleAid and nobody knew the answer. It sounded like the contract between MBUSA and TeleAid means that nobody with TeleAid can get MBrace until November 2010. So does that leave some of us in the void until November 2010 or do we buy more TeleAid service to last us until Nov 2010?
I'd assume that the consumer could get MBrace once their TeleAid had expired but it's not clear if the consumer has to also wait until November 2010 to get MBrace(?)
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Since I have a longer contract with TeleAid, I won't be switching to Mbrace anytime soon, which does not bother me as long as TeleAid stays solvent. However, if you wanted the Smart Phone interaction capability then you need Mbrace.
I am also very upset that MBUSA did this and did it without any notification to subscribers. They hide behind the lawyers but this is not the kind of support I expect from a premium auto manufacturer.
Larry
Since I have a longer contract with TeleAid, I won't be switching to Mbrace anytime soon, which does not bother me as long as TeleAid stays solvent. However, if you wanted the Smart Phone interaction capability then you need Mbrace.
I am also very upset that MBUSA did this and did it without any notification to subscribers. They hide behind the lawyers but this is not the kind of support I expect from a premium auto manufacturer.
Larry
I'm assuming that the free one year TeleAid subscription is seen as a contract (even though I didn't actually buy it) which means I'll have to wait a year until I can get MBrace (May 2010 for me.)
Good to know about POI with TeleAid. That's actually better since the only time I've wanted to find something that the Nav couldn't find was when I was in my car.
Is live traffic on MBrace still through the Sirius/XM subscription? Or is it now a MBrace feature?
p.s., speaking of hiding behind lawyers, when MB went from analog to digital (of course they had to, it wasn't their choice), they left behind a lot of owners and charged big $$ for the transition. There is a class action lawsuit about that.
Last edited by 220S; Jan 20, 2010 at 03:21 PM.
It IS amazing how little is known about MBrace by any MB person you ask, including MBrace people.
I jumped on MBrace because of the one time fee deal they were running thru 12/09. I figured it would be at least as good as TeleAid & cheaper in the long run for me.
After November, when the flak dies down, I'm assuming they'll promote it more. In the meantime it's just another MB lame decision, and all about $$$ no doubt.
No problem... now I know that the conversion to MBrace is correctly updated & working properly.







