The mbraceŽ Secure package
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Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 322
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From: Northern Virginia
E400
The mbraceŽ Secure package
In a month, I will have used up my mbrace Secure Package. I received a letter that it will be $200.00 to continue for a year. I have not used it in the six months it was free and not sure it is worth it. Has anyone here used it and/or renewed the subscription? Thanks
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2016
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From: Charlotte, NC
2024 E450 AT Wagon, 2024 EQS450+ / Had: 2021 E350, 2019 E300, 2021 + 20 GLE350, 2019 E450 Wagon(s)
I have never used it, but I keep it - seems like a pretty small price to pay for another communication channel in case of emergency. I still think it's funny to hear the scratchy voice coming out of some tiny speaker in the dash when you press the button, but I keep it nonetheless.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,695
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
I've occasionally wondered about the "optics" of this.
Let's say you don't subscribe and have an accident and need help. You push the button anyway, and mBrace will answer (cause it's still connected).
I have a difficult time believing they will not help you, because you are not a paid customer. Heaven forbid a seriously injured person dies resulting from refused service. Let's say you sell the car on and the next owner doesn't know how the system works, has an accident and pushes the button..........
I'm not suggesting that you be a piker and not pay for the service and expect it anyways. But eventually someone is bound to report failure to provide aid to a local TV station, which bounces the resulting story to one of the networks, the ambulance chasers form a line on the right, etc. I wouldn't want to be the spokesperson for an auto company so dedicated to auto safety, yet not there when you need it the most....
Discuss.
Let's say you don't subscribe and have an accident and need help. You push the button anyway, and mBrace will answer (cause it's still connected).
I have a difficult time believing they will not help you, because you are not a paid customer. Heaven forbid a seriously injured person dies resulting from refused service. Let's say you sell the car on and the next owner doesn't know how the system works, has an accident and pushes the button..........
I'm not suggesting that you be a piker and not pay for the service and expect it anyways. But eventually someone is bound to report failure to provide aid to a local TV station, which bounces the resulting story to one of the networks, the ambulance chasers form a line on the right, etc. I wouldn't want to be the spokesperson for an auto company so dedicated to auto safety, yet not there when you need it the most....
Discuss.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 641
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From: Charlotte, NC
2024 E450 AT Wagon, 2024 EQS450+ / Had: 2021 E350, 2019 E300, 2021 + 20 GLE350, 2019 E450 Wagon(s)
DFW, I think OnStar set precedents in this situation several years ago - they would dispatch and consider the call a reconection for service and send an invoice after the fact. Seems like a reasonable approach to me - not sure if they still handle it this way.
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Joined: Apr 2007
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From: San Diego, CA
2024 EQE 500
I pay for the service on both my wife's SLK and my E Class. I whole heartedly agree with the comment above, have it, hope not to use it. In the event an accident occurs and the driver loses consciousness, the car will call out automatically for help.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
That makes sense to me. Meanwhile, you've gone 4, maybe 5 years without the service, so you have well saved up for the usage.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Tampa, FL
2019 E450 4Matic & 2018 E400 4Matic
In a month, I will have used up my mbrace Secure Package. I received a letter that it will be $200.00 to continue for a year. I have not used it in the six months it was free and not sure it is worth it. Has anyone here used it and/or renewed the subscription? Thanks
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 38
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2008 Porsche Cayman S, 2018 E400 4-matic Coupe
Yes, it's insurance. I pay about $600 per year to insure my vehicle against a total loss, and lots of other things that will probably never happen. Charging $200 per year for the ability to automatically (almost certainly never) make a phone call is egregious. BMW provides this free for 4 years or more. If you pay it, you are voting for them to continue charging this ridiculous fee.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Tampa, FL
2019 E450 4Matic & 2018 E400 4Matic
Yes, it's insurance. I pay about $600 per year to insure my vehicle against a total loss, and lots of other things that will probably never happen. Charging $200 per year for the ability to automatically (almost certainly never) make a phone call is egregious. BMW provides this free for 4 years or more. If you pay it, you are voting for them to continue charging this ridiculous fee.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2017
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2008 Porsche Cayman S, 2018 E400 4-matic Coupe
Call it what you want, but I wouldn't be without it. A good friend of mine was in a bad accident in his Benz. He was knocked out in the woods on a rural road in a remote area. If it weren't for this service, emergency services would not have been dispatched to his precise location, saving his life. Whether BMW provides this for free is not the point. My life and the lives of my loved ones are well worth $200/year.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Tampa, FL
2019 E450 4Matic & 2018 E400 4Matic
I provided a response that I do pay for the service and "personally" think it's worth the expense. I honestly don't care if you feel it's a reasonable expense or not. At least use rational analogies if you don't feel it's a worthy cost.
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Joined: Sep 2017
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2008 Porsche Cayman S, 2018 E400 4-matic Coupe
I promise this will be my last response to this thread. Unless rbrylaw says something else that annoys me.
It is a rational analogy. You stated your reason for paying for it was "My life and the lives of my loved ones are well worth $200/year", which kinda implies that the service is worth as much as your life, which it clearly is not.
Right. And I provided my rationale for not buying it, which you attempted to invalidate, provoking a response from me.
Also, is it not a bit immoral for a car that is fully capable of calling for help to not do it because I refuse to submit to Mercedes penny pinching? If the car comes with the ability, it should do so, period. What about the less fortunate guy that buys my car 15 years from now that can't afford to pay the $200? Should he bleed to death because Mercedes and Verizon didn't get their 200 bucks?
Any cell phone can be used to call 911, regardless of payment status. Because it's the right thing to do. Mercedes prices the service at this level because they have coldly calculated that an adequate percentage of buyers will not want to regret bleeding to death for not paying it.
Also, is it not a bit immoral for a car that is fully capable of calling for help to not do it because I refuse to submit to Mercedes penny pinching? If the car comes with the ability, it should do so, period. What about the less fortunate guy that buys my car 15 years from now that can't afford to pay the $200? Should he bleed to death because Mercedes and Verizon didn't get their 200 bucks?
Any cell phone can be used to call 911, regardless of payment status. Because it's the right thing to do. Mercedes prices the service at this level because they have coldly calculated that an adequate percentage of buyers will not want to regret bleeding to death for not paying it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 3,447
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From: Tampa, FL
2019 E450 4Matic & 2018 E400 4Matic
I promise this will be my last response to this thread. Unless rbrylaw says something else that annoys me.
It is a rational analogy. You stated your reason for paying for it was "My life and the lives of my loved ones are well worth $200/year", which kinda implies that the service is worth as much as your life, which it clearly is not.
Right. And I provided my rationale for not buying it, which you attempted to invalidate, provoking a response from me.
Also, is it not a bit immoral for a car that is fully capable of calling for help to not do it because I refuse to submit to Mercedes penny pinching? If the car comes with the ability, it should do so, period. What about the less fortunate guy that buys my car 15 years from now that can't afford to pay the $200? Should he bleed to death because Mercedes and Verizon didn't get their 200 bucks?
Any cell phone can be used to call 911, regardless of payment status. Because it's the right thing to do. Mercedes prices the service at this level because they have coldly calculated that an adequate percentage of buyers will not want to regret bleeding to death for not paying it.
It is a rational analogy. You stated your reason for paying for it was "My life and the lives of my loved ones are well worth $200/year", which kinda implies that the service is worth as much as your life, which it clearly is not.
Right. And I provided my rationale for not buying it, which you attempted to invalidate, provoking a response from me.
Also, is it not a bit immoral for a car that is fully capable of calling for help to not do it because I refuse to submit to Mercedes penny pinching? If the car comes with the ability, it should do so, period. What about the less fortunate guy that buys my car 15 years from now that can't afford to pay the $200? Should he bleed to death because Mercedes and Verizon didn't get their 200 bucks?
Any cell phone can be used to call 911, regardless of payment status. Because it's the right thing to do. Mercedes prices the service at this level because they have coldly calculated that an adequate percentage of buyers will not want to regret bleeding to death for not paying it.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,695
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From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
My 2001 Mercedes is now 18 years old. I did not renew the Teleaid (as called at that time) "insurance." That's $3400 I saved, which more than covered the Tax, Title and License I paid for the new E350.
Should I have an injury accident and can't get to my cellphone, I will push the call button and gladly pay the $200 renewal. If they refuse to help, I'll ask my attorney to discover why not.
If MB-USA had any marketing sense, they would price this at $50 a year, and have 800% more takers, doubling their revenue. But fast nickels vs slow dimes is not the Mercedes way.
Should I have an injury accident and can't get to my cellphone, I will push the call button and gladly pay the $200 renewal. If they refuse to help, I'll ask my attorney to discover why not.
If MB-USA had any marketing sense, they would price this at $50 a year, and have 800% more takers, doubling their revenue. But fast nickels vs slow dimes is not the Mercedes way.
Last edited by DFWdude; Jul 9, 2019 at 02:24 PM.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 49
Likes: 9
2018 E300 4Matic
Just called to not renew after my 1 year free service. They offered to up the renewal to 18 months for same $200 cost. I take one long trip a year to snow bird country and will renew for $20 a month for the 2 months that I feel will be my need for this service.
Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 202
Likes: 7
My 2001 Mercedes is now 18 years old. I did not renew the Teleaid (as called at that time) "insurance." That's $3400 I saved, which more than covered the Tax, Title and License I paid for the new E350.
Should I have an injury accident and can't get to my cellphone, I will push the call button and gladly pay the $200 renewal. If they refuse to help, I'll ask my attorney to discover why not.
If MB-USA had any marketing sense, they would price this at $50 a year, and have 800% more takers, doubling their revenue. But fast nickels vs slow dimes is not the Mercedes way.
Should I have an injury accident and can't get to my cellphone, I will push the call button and gladly pay the $200 renewal. If they refuse to help, I'll ask my attorney to discover why not.
If MB-USA had any marketing sense, they would price this at $50 a year, and have 800% more takers, doubling their revenue. But fast nickels vs slow dimes is not the Mercedes way.
It's 10 years for emergency calls now
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 743
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From: NorCal
2015 ML350+2025 E350
Same here...paid for service on both cars for years and have never used it.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 299
Likes: 23
2019 E450 sedan
Wait. Did you say you called to not renew? Does this imply an automatic renewal? Do they have your cc on file?
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 49
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2018 E300 4Matic
The letter I received says "the payment method we have on file will be used". I do not remember if I gave my CC to them it was the free trial period of 6 months. I think I refused to give CC as I was not paying at that time and the letter I received looks like a stock letter.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 257
Likes: 14
2023 E450 ALL-TERRAIN WAGON
I look at it as any insurance -hope you never need it - but good to have if you do. Never signed up before but we are getting older and my husband was hit by a dump truck with a trailer a few years back in his GLK at an off hour time and in retrospect would have appreciated having this. I got a discount for a multi-year plan and if I decide we dont want or need will cancel and its prorated refund.
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 772
Likes: 81
From: Bayarea, California
2003 C320 coupe/c450 in Feb 2016
what is the multi-year plan costs?
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 558
Likes: 152
From: New York City
2021 e All Terrain, 2001 e55
I have a 2015 S Class and I forget what I pay or what it is called (I think it is called Embrace) but I can press a button and ask MB to send directions to may car. I know I can do it using my phone but I like the convenience of calling MB. This is the same button I call in a emergency. Also I think this service also helps in the event my car is stolen and I can call for Roadside. I agree with Lanzz it is worth the money.
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2021
Posts: 3
Likes: 4
GLC300
Did you figure out the renewal price yet? I am in the same boat and am not able to find how much it would cost to renew for the basic package.
