Hey guys...so I've had my 2012 550 for about a week or so and am having a blast. The original warranty is over in the middle of January 2016. So I naturally was able to buy a warranty that was milage based and not time based. The manual says my stearing wheel should move up and down and in and out, it only moves in and out. My heated seats when turned on don't stay on for more than 30 seconds....so when I called my closest MB dealer to book an apointment, I asked him about buying updated dvd maps for my nav....he told me it takes about 3 hours of labour, plus 165$ for some key to activate the disk plus the price of the dvds....I was like are you kidding me. Do you guys pay over 500$ just to update your disks? I not cheap...but wow that seems high, makes me understand while the previous owner didn't do it.

 

Always has been very expensive. It is a lengthy process. I had mine updated a couple of years ago and it did take the dealer about 4 hours. During that time the car has to be running. Now for sure the tech can be doing something else while the update is going on but it is a process. Fortunately I did not have to pay for the update.

 

Never had that problem my E550 only has 33 thousand miles on it and it's a 2010. And they feel like overcharging you because they feel like it, or because of who you are. I know the owner of the dealership so I get my car serviced for nothing.

 

In the US, the updates are $250 at the dealerships and this is a standard MBUSA price as the DVD's come from them. In fact, I receive an e-mail from MBUSA annually encouraging me to do it and quoting the price.
Had it done once on a very special deal, but not impressed with the results. Some graphics changes to interstate exits, but that was about it. Same road, restaurant, POI information from 2009 was still in (or not in) the system.
Incidentally, are they charging for the seat heaters and tilt/telescope repair? I had the easy exit/entry tilt/tele repaired on my 2010 a few years ago as it quit working. Tilt/tele would work, but easy exit/entry would not. Took them all day because of the computer issues. Ones in the car itself and having car communicate with their computer which communicates with MBUSA's.

 

The dealer service is giving you BS for the "key". There is no activation key.

Buy the update disk from their parts desk and do it yourself. It is pricey disk at close to $200.

It takes hours to do it and the car does not need to be running. The key needs to be in ON position though so when you go thru this process you may just want to run it thru the ~4 or so hours as you cannot start or stop the engine without disturbing the process. You could probably connect a battery charger to your battery not needing to run it (unless you take a chance of not draining your battery during it). This is how I think the dealer does it anyway.


My dealer offered to do the update work for free (after I buy the disk) while they service my car but I wanted to do it myself and it really took like 3 1/2 hours. It is two disks and made the navi a lot better albeit it is not like some internet based ones. They could do better job with the updates...

In the past it was also possible to buy the disk directly from the NAVTEC internet site (perhaps still is) but the price was the same as at the dealer.

 

You might be able to purchase it from the Canadian equivalent of MBUSA as I think MBUSA will sell it direct. One reason for getting it done at dealership is the four hours it has to be on and what that is doing to your battery if engine is not running. Also, if an electronic glitch occurs, they can fix it without charge.

 

Be sure you actually like the nav before you spend any time or money to upgrade. I used mine a few times and decided to use my phone exclusively. Occasionally I use the nav on long trips but it's not worth updating to me. And I've read posts like El Cid's above that are not impressed with the updates. Not worth it IMO. But if you really want it, then buy the disk from parts and use a coupon. Then after you update it, sell the disk to someone else.

 

Thanks.....I'm heading to buffalo in a few days....my first road trip with my car. I'll see about buying it at a benz dealer there.
Thanks again

 

The map updates don't cover the entire US each year. As a general rule, each area is updated every 5 years or so. If you dig through the NAVTEQ website, you'll find a link showing what areas were updated in the last revision.

 

Ahhh, this is why the car needs to be RUNNING or supported by some other external power source for 4 four hours. The battery alone won't do it.

The key is BS. This disks cost a couple hundred dollars and it takes them several hour to do the update. That's what you are paying for.

 

Agreed, searching on a phone is quicker and easier than the clunky car interface. I only use built-in nav on rare long trips. Google also has the best live traffic data and re-routes automatically. To get traffic on the car nav you need Sirius traffic subscription and it still doesn't update as quickly as the phone.

Not worth an update these days unless you just insist on throwing money away.

 

Agreed...for that type of money, I'll use my phone. I know my maps have not been updated since the car was new, but the few times I have used it.....I can't really tell since it has taken me everywhere I have asked it to go....I suspect some new developments going up in my area or that went up in the past few years are not there...I'll use my phone.

Thanks

 

I don't know about you but I feel paying for map upgrade is pointless these days (unless your maps are like 7-10 years old). With the advent of cell phone and Google, the portable GPS makers were forced to offer lifetime free upgrades to stay relevant. Now it's the time of automakers. I believe Tesla already offers lifetime free map updates. With the advent of CarPlay and android auto, it's only a matter of time before all cars will begin offering free map upgrades. I'm hoping that by the time most of us here are ready to change cars, the offer will be there.
I mean you can still pay extra for outdated technology if you want.

 

^^^
Agreed!

 

How much do you think Sirius traffic cost? The last time I check, it was $4 a month.

 

Before the last iteration of Google Maps, some sort of stand alone GPS nav (be it in-car or portable) was necessary in those areas without good cell coverage because the phones relied on a data link to get mapping data dynamically.


While phones worked well in urban environments, your ability to get turn-by-turn info went away as soon as you lost signal.


The latest version of Google maps allows you to download map data to your phone.


Still, there are advantages to the built in nav - in dash navigation cues, the ability to listen to any source and still get nav information and so forth.

 

I believe ALL manufacturers should develop a system where they can use the onboard system to connect to Garmin, Google, whatever. Similar to connecting to BlueTooth. This way you can use the large screen on the vehicle, but have higher quality information.

 

MY 2016 has 3 years free updates with the new system I believe.

 

Maallen40,

I have a 2013 E350 and just this week I am having the same issue as you with the Steering Wheel adjustment - up & down adjustment stopped working while the in & out is fine. Have you gotten it resolved and what was the fix?

Thanks.

 

Here in Ottawa, Ontario they tell me 7 bucks a month extra

 

I took it to the dealer yesterday, They gave me an appointment for just after New Year....lol....I'll let you know....Im hoping it's a warranty fix since the original warranty concludes the middle of January

 

After I posted my last message I found several similar articles on what seems to be the same issue. You may want to look at them -

HOW TO: Fix power steering column that will not move up and down
Steering Wheels Height adjustment stopped working..!!

Sorry that I do not know how to post a clickable link. I too have a dealer appointment to have this looked at on the 30th.

 

Thanks for the info...but I searched...and searched and searched....I'm new here so maybe I'm not using the correct search string...I did run across a few posts where people were having problems and in the two or three cases....it was a steering motor. I suspect it is under the existing warranty but if it isn't, I won't pay to have it fixed...its not such a big deal...but I also read it may also be why my easy exit thingy doesnt work.

Thanks

 

Here are the links -

http://https://mbworld.org/forums/audio-electronics/201439-how-fix-power-steering-column-will-not-move-up-down.html#post2316091

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...d-working.html

 

This is exactly what is happening on 2016 vehicles. Google and Apple both in the mix. They realized this is a better path than integrated navigation and other features that are quickly outdated while phone hardware is upgraded every 1-2 years, and data is live.

Too bad on newer luxury cars the radio equipment is so integrated that it's impossible to upgrade with the latest Pioneer or similar unit that will do this like new cars for aobut $1000 or less. I have a 2000 car with a 2012 Pioneer unit that will do everything my 2012 car does in terms of tech. Navigation, backup camera, bluetooth calls and audio, DVD, SD, iPod, USB. It will even do direct Pandora app control from the screen via bluetooth, which beats the 2012 Mercedes system.