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Last week my Live Traffic expired on my '17 E300, so I contacted MB and they told me that TOMTOM was no longer supporting it and there would be no way to renew it.
Now I use Google Maps on my phone, mounted next to the screen, so not the end of the world but still MB, no backup plan. And please don't say, Android Auto, which is like watching a 720p movie on a 4K screen.
I also called Sirius XM and they told me the E series does not support NAV traffic which really surprised me.
I too own a 2017 e300 (USA) and my live traffic expires this December. I am planning to renew it...use it extensively. I can’t believe that Mercedes would leave customers high and dry as the op states by canceling its relationship with Tomtom and not providing any alternative. I’m hoping the op was misinformed by MB. I realize that there’s still Apple connect but I really prefer live traffic (when it works). Does anyone else have information on this?
The current MBUSA web site states that TomTom Live Traffic updates are available for three years without cost on current E-Class vehicles. While the MBUSA web site is not a model for timely updates, I find it unlikely they would discontinue this service while still advertising it.
My two emails to the business manager remain unanswered, he could be on vacation this week,
Hope he responds. As mentioned, my Livetraffic subscription expires in December. I’ve looked everywhere I can think of online but can’t find any information about how to renew it. I may call Mercedes Mbrace but too often they are clueless. You would think they would make it easy. I’m still in denial about the possibility of Livetraffic being discontinued.
Just bit the bullet and called mbrace. They said what I didn’t want to hear. There is currently no way to renew. They’re working on it but no promises. I asked if customers would be notified and she said they will be notified if they call. I suggested a letter might be nice. Her response: we wouldn’t have a way to determine who to write. Guess they don’t have computerised records at Mercedes. This is my seventh Mercedes and my last unless they fix the live traffic issue.
I may have no choice but I prefer the Mercedes app— when it works. I just tried Apple CarPlay and couldn’t get it to work. I plugged my iPhone into the proper usb, got the CarPlay screen in my car but when I pressed the voice command button and gave a navigation command it reverted to the Mercedes navigation screen. Any suggestions about what’s going on?
I am dealing with this right now. Mbrace does not offer live traffic at this time. Tuesday I will be calling TomTom as they provided the 3 yr. trail (mine ended two weeks ago. I tried Sirius, they were happy to sell me, they attempted to update my radio/sirius multiple times. nothing.
Good luck and let us know what happens. It’s hard to believe that Mercedes would promote this feature and then just take it away when the subscription expires. Based on past experience with Mercedes, I’m not optimistic that they will support their customers. Another example of “the best or nothing” in their ads. Once again, it’s nothing.
Ya, MB does that a lot, they promoted Car to X communication for a long time and it was not even available, I think it is now but it really does nothing from what I can see. Then they promoted the remote parking pilot assist and that may never be available in the united states. Theres been a lot of things like that. Does not really surprise me. But you should be able to get your apple car play up and running I'm sure and use google maps or Waze. Google maps has a very cool looking layout and I'd think you'd be happy with that.
I have gotten pop up messages about accidents that are nearby on my direction of travel. I have no idea of the source. It could be car to X because I did not have a route in the navigation system. Is there a way to tell if car to X is working?
I just received a message on my Navigation screen that Live Traffic Subscription for my 2017 E300 expired.
I contacted MB (said to call MBrace); contacted MBrace said to contact MB; contacted local dealer; contacted MB Customer Service; contacted MB Executive Referral Management Team (working issue); contacted VP, Customer Service several times (no response).
I agree with other posters, that this is total lack of consideration for customers.
The VP previously wrote to me "strive to provide you with the finest in luxury experiences"
Per Announcement from 360Here.com: "Mercedes-Benz vehicles arriving in 2019 will be equipped with a new set of innovative features for their drivers: HERE Real-Time Traffic. Audi and Mercedes-Benz have selected HERE to provide live traffic data to their vehicles in North America, starting in 2019."
Mercedes apparently cancelled the previous provider TomTom.
Ya, MB does that a lot, they promoted Car to X communication for a long time and it was not even available, I think it is now but it really does nothing from what I can see. Then they promoted the remote parking pilot assist and that may never be available in the united states. Theres been a lot of things like that. Does not really surprise me. But you should be able to get your apple car play up and running I'm sure and use google maps or Waze. Google maps has a very cool looking layout and I'd think you'd be happy with that.
A sad commentary about a company that tries to maintain an elite status and give the impression that it’s “the best.” If anyone from Mercedes reads this board, I would like to know what’s being done about the Tomtom live traffic issue. How can Mercedes leave customers dangling on this and other issues and still make those exaggerated marketing claims? I say this as a long time Mercedes customer (now on my 7th one) who is totally disappointed today.
This may not be a popular statement, but sometimes the provision of a service boils down to business decisions/negotiations. If Continental tire were to raise its wholesale prices to Mercedes-Benz, and MB decided to buy from another supplier instead, would that disqualify MB from ownership? Why is Tom Tom any different?
There are several factors in business deals linking companies together. We probably will not learn the behind-the-scenes of this Tom Tom termination. But my guess is that one party (or both) have chosen to move along to something else yet to be seen, but anticipated to be better.
Business partnerships and alliances seldom last forever.
This may not be a popular statement, but sometimes the provision of a service boils down to business decisions/negotiations. If Continental tire were to raise its wholesale prices to Mercedes-Benz, and MB decided to buy from another supplier instead, would that disqualify MB from ownership? Why is Tom Tom any different?
There are several factors in business deals linking companies together. We probably will not learn the behind-the-scenes of this Tom Tom termination. But my guess is that one party (or both) have chosen to move along to something else yet to be seen, but anticipated to be better.
Business partnerships and alliances seldom last forever.
This is more like not doing anything for your customers when tires made in your size are no longer produced. Mercedes is still delivering cars reliant on this technology. To not mention that it is no longer supported is not a business decision. It's fraud.
This is more like not doing anything for your customers when tires made in your size are no longer produced. Mercedes is still delivering cars reliant on this technology. To not mention that it is no longer supported is not a business decision. It's fraud.
Best I can tell, Mercedes-Benz is honoring its provision of this service for 3 years to new customers. That is all that is required of them. Perhaps Mercedes is working on a partnership that comes after which will be 10-times better.
I can't count the number of times I've been told by Microsoft that my MS Office Suite is no longer supported. I still sleep fine at night.
I agree with Whoover. Mercedes hasn’t even communicated to its customers about the Tomtom navigation issue. They have left us to guess and speculate (which is what DFW is doing). If there is in fact a disagreement with Tomtom, then Mercedes should find an alternative solution and should notify customers what’s happening and what they’re doing about it. . I called and asked Mercedes “customer service” if they were going to notify customers about the Tomtom issue. Their response: “we notify customers when they call us to ask.” I said that a letter or email would be much better and they responded that they had no way to identify the affected customers. Really?
Best I can tell, Mercedes-Benz is honoring its provision of this service for 3 years to new customers. That is all that is required of them. Perhaps Mercedes is working on a partnership that comes after which will be 10-times better.
I can't count the number of times I've been told by Microsoft that my MS Office Suite is no longer supported. I still sleep fine at night.
If any Microsoft product went out of service three years after it was sold, there would be holy hell to pay. Any business plans for product life cycles to insure customers are not disrupted. MB has done a remarkably poor job of that.
Mercedes may or may not be doing the minimum that is required of them, but I think most customers expect more than the bare minimum when they buy a Mercedes . Certainly, Mercedes tries to market itself as better than this. Perhaps Mercedes is working on a better partnership? Perhaps diamonds will fall from the sky. There are no facts to back up such wild speculation. If Mercedes is doing something about the issue, then they have the facts and the ability to communicate them, which they have not done. DFW, I’m suspecting that you work for Mercedes.
If any Microsoft product went out of service three years after it was sold, there would be holy hell to pay. Any business plans for product life cycles to insure customers are not disrupted. MB has done a remarkably poor job of that.
Car navigation is an evolving market with several key players competing for business with products that have short product life cycles. The cash cow is to have a partnership with one or more auto manufacturers.
Perhaps TomTom has negotiated an EXCLUSIVE deal, starting in 2021, with KIA motors, to provide Tom Tom solely to Kia motors, and have told MB that their contract will not be renewed. For legal reasons, neither Kia nor Tom Tom will pre-announce it, and MB can't disclose it, either. If so, those who love Tom Tom so much can simply buy a new KIA.
To reiterate, we don't know the reason behind this situation, and we will not be told, most likely for legal reasons.
08-18-2019, 09:57 AM
