DFWdude

The only remote connection services I use are "Send To Benz" and "Lock/Unlock". I've used "Find my car" just a couple times. In reading the Mercedes Benz website, it says that basic "Mercedes Me" services are free to all MB owners. I think, but am not sure that these services are part of the basic "Mercedes Me."

I've received a mail piece telling me that my "mBrace" service for my 2016 E350 is expiring (in Oct). With "Mercedes Me" and "Mercedes Me Connect" and "mBrace" in the mix, I find it difficult to sort out the features of each. I don't need "concierge" services and such. I know these are additional payment services.

For those with 2015 and older cars whose "mBrace" has expired, can you still lock/unlock your car and "send to benz" route guidance addresses to Comand?

I tried searching for this under "Mercedes Me," but the search engine doesn't recognize 2-character words, so yields every thread with Mercedes in the title... Yea, that helps alot.

LILBENZ230

I talked to them in car when I first bought my 2016 and going by what they told me, nothing will be free. No Send2Benz (useless now anyway as I run carplay), no lock/unlock, no automatic accident notification, no stolen vehicle recovery..

They wanted me to pay $699 over the phone to keep the features active for 3 additional years.

If this included remote start, I might subscribe to the connectivity part. Oddly, the remote start button does not show in the app on my phone but does show up on my apple watch - greyed out.

DFWdude

Well, I would prefer to use Send2Benz anyday over either Carplay or Android Auto. So simple to enter destination in the phone app that sends directly to Comand Navigation. No need to be in the car.

You're at a restaurant and get an invite to a party after. Just enter the address in the "Mercedes Me" phone app while at your table, and by the time you walk to the car, it's there and ready to navigate. It's never failed to work or direct me to a wrong destination.

It's not worth $699, though. MB-USA just loves to leave money on the table. For that price, I will learn to be an expert at Android Auto.

DFWdude

From the website... https://www.mbusa.com/en/mbrace#:~:t...Mercedes%20me.

"Mercedes me is free for everyone, regardless of your vehicle or mbrace® account status. However, customers with mbrace® Connect or mbrace® Concierge will have access to additional features within Mercedes me."

So, the question is... What service is offered with "Mercedes Me" if not the basic lock/unlock, Send2Benz, and Locate Vehicle that I currently have? Surely it doesn't mean that I have a pretty app home page to look at -- and nothing else -- for free?

I don't need anything else which I know is additional fees.

LILBENZ230

I believe that to mean just that - the app is free, but nothing will work. My 5 year trial doesn't end until 10/11/2021 so you'll find out much sooner so make sure to let us know. I could not believe my ears when she said $699, which caused me to ask her for an itemization on exactly what that would cover. Everything we've talked about so far was included in that price, which means none of it is free. She then tried to use a scare tactic on me about my car being stolen and them being able to remotely track it and I told her that if it was stolen, I would not want it back.

I haven't used COMAND interface for anything since unlocking carplay. It's just a habit now I plug my phone in each time. The other day I used Waze to navigate to a new independent shop I was trying out and it actually potentially saved me by announcing "debris in road ahead" - come to find out, it was a large tire tread in my lane, and many smaller bits across the other lanes. At her announcement, I slowed down and was able to navigate around while several other cars hit the stuff. So I highly recommend Waze, personally.

mtnman82

Just cancelled the premium services that were expiring and they wanted to automatically charge me for (yearly + monthly charges). What I read at the time was the basic services (lock/unlock, locate car, sned2benz, ...) were free for 5 years, then we get to start paying. Sure would be nice if those basic features were free. Don't other manufacturers provide these services free?

I'm frustrated too with no remote start. The option is installed on our cars according to the build sheet. I guess it's one of those 'hidden' features like CarPlay/AA.

LILBENZ230

Unless a remote start button is on the physical remote fob itself, then most likely it is by subscription. I picked up a 2018 Elantra Sport in mid-2017 (impressive little car, by the way) and it had their bluelink app that did what Mercedes does except also had remote start. It was free for 3 years, then it would require payment. But you could choose what you wanted to pay for. Remote start was $9.99 a month and included lock/unlock.

There's no card on file for me so I saw no reason to cancel the free services before they expired. Has your 2016 been in service 5 years now? My car's original in-service date was 10/11/2016, so I haven't even hit 4 yet.

As for it being hidden like CarPlay, I really questioned Vlad about being able to unlock it. He insists cannot be done. But I suspect it could be if there was enough interest. After all, he originally told me that full ILS couldn't be done. At the same time maybe he's right.. he would have no control over Mercedes mobile apps. But the start button does show up on my apple watch after a recent update, which is weird.

cadetdrivr

FWIW, we had Mbrace and Send2Benz was about he only function we routinely used prior to installing aftermarket CarPlay/Android Auto modules in our MBs (both are 2014s, so not OEM like 2016).

If you think Send2Benz is easy, you'll love CarPlay or Android Auto. Instead of entering the address into the MB app for Send2Benz, simply enter it instead in your desired map app and it's there when you hit the road. And it will be a better map with current data and traffic conditions that's presented with far more clarity than the Comand map.

I just laugh now when I switch back over to Comand and use the NAV system...it looks and feels totally obsolete mostly because it is.

LILBENZ230

I haven't even seen the COMAND interface or NAV system in mine since unlocking CarPlay.

DFWdude

My 5-year subscription to mBrace expires October 23. Pretty much on queue, I started receiving correspondence from MBUSA 90 days out, telling me I should renew. Two letters since late July, and now I've received two emails in the last two days. Boy are they wasting money...

In contrast, I've yet to receive a letter telling me about the Steering Gear Bolt replacement recall. It's clear MBUSA is more concerned about making money than alerting customers to safety issues.

Why does MBUSA treat us like children with more money in our pockets than brains? I understand an appropriate, dignified reminder from Mercedes-Benz. But if they intend to impose themselves on me like they are my newest best friend, then it will not create the correct impression with me. I don't want to be nagged.

LILBENZ230

You probably haven't received the steering gear bolt correspondence because of where your car came from in FL and now lives in TX. My car is from NC and now in GA and I didn't get anything on it either, and my dealer said that mine were fine.

manishjain24

Interesting, my CPO was from NY, migrated to NH, I received the Steering Gear Bolt Replacement from MBUSA early this year, the task was executed at the dealership pre-COVID

LILBENZ230

Makes sense given your car has lived in the NE where you guys have serious winters. A FL/TX or NC/GA car is going have been significantly less exposed. My car has probably never seen snow at all. I know Dallas, TX sees more winter weather than where I am.

DFWdude

LOL, we had 3-1/2" of snow in March, 2015. Of course it was all melted by noon, before the salt trucks had much chance to rub the rust off their brakes.

My E350 sat in the garage, of course.

hyperion667

The words 'free' and 'Mercedes Benz' would never be in the same sentence.

DFWdude

^^^^^^^^^^ True that!

rey_winslow

Was there any conclusion to which services are "needed"? I'm getting "ACT NOW | Keep your Mercedes-Benz connected" email and letters. The only thing that seems worthwhile, according to the wife, might be the Accident Notification but that is mbrace Secure for $200/year. I don't use any of the apps right now and navigation is by CarPlay.

DFWdude

What is "needed" is a matter of personal opinion and choice.

The only features I came to like and use were the ability to lock/unlock the car, and the "Send-To-Benz" feature, whereby one can send complete and formatted Navigation addresses to the car from one's smartphone. (No manual data entry in the car) For new addresses, I came to use Send-to-Benz alot. Once stored in Comand memory, you can then recall the addresses using the "Last Destinations" voice command.

MB-USA was amazingly prompt at cancelling the "Mercedes Me/mbrace" service on the 5th anniversay of the car (last Oct.15). I haven't needed the two services since, and I intend to experiment with Android Auto for future Navigation address entry when needed. Otherwise, I have more than 150 addresses in "Last Destinations" memory to pull up in Comand when needed.

Can't see spending $200 a year just for these two functions. So I will do without. If MB-USA were smart (they aren't) they would charge a nominal fee for what other car brands give away free. But they just don't understand the concept of "collecting fast nickels instead of slow quarters." It's just not in Mercedes DNA, I guess.

rey_winslow

Since I have not used any services since I got the car I don't think I'm going to miss anything.

bsandyk44

Has anyone let their Mercedes Me subscription expire? We’re you still able to lock and unlock your car with your phone?

CaliBenzDriver

nop, anything OTA: $$

Left Coast Geek

with android auto, just enter the dest into google maps before getting in the car, hit start, then when you get int he car and plug in, you're already navigating there

Roysup

Couldn't help but revive this thread. I recently bought a 2018 C63S AMG in February, 2024. I wanted to see about activating remote start and they wanted $600 for 3 years of service.... Not worth it since this is a "weekend vehicle" and will never be driven in the snow (or cold)...so what do I need remote start for??... Especially at that cost?. I bough a 2021 Ford F150 in July, 2024 and it comes not only with remote start on the key fob, but also a totally free "FordPass" app where I can remote start from my phone also. No extra cost or fees from Ford. I really like that Ford did this as kind of a nod to their customers that they want to take care of them. I understand that Ford makes WAY more vehicles than MB and can probably afford to absorb the costs associated with offering the free app. But it detracts from the ownership experience of the MB to be nickel and dimed. FWIW... I also have a 2017 Jaguar F-Pace S and it's the same way with there being a cost for the remote start app... I think it's about $130 / year. And there is no option for remote start from the key fob either. Jaguar's app is very temperamental too, only working about 60% of the time. When it comes up for renewal I don't think I'm continuing with it.
​​​​