Cao Black

Exactly the point. Your phone example proves how important user technology is to buyers. Once you have it and get used to it you don't want to give it up. Using the phone example again, you don't have to buy next week's new phone to still have a phone. For those who relied on it, losing live traffic without an alternative source would be like going back to a pager and change in the ash tray for a pay phone. By itself it might not be enough to move buyers to other cars, but where is the tipping point? Two instances, three, four? Mercedes shouldn't treat any of them cavalierly.

ua549

Not exactly. I had 2 cell phones made obsolete by AT&T when they shutdown their AMPS cellular system and moved to GSM. A Motorola DynaTAC and a Nokia P-30. I had to purchase new phones if I wanted to keep AT&T service. Back then phones were tied to providers. BTW cell service was $1 per minute.

IIRC Verizon did a similar thing when they eliminated CDMA systems.

DFWdude

I didn't make your point at all. MBUSA shortened the 5-year commitment to 3-years for a reason. They obviously anticipate changes in the service (sooner rather than later). That was my point.

Customer desires in the face of marching technology do not always mesh. Like ua549, I have 6 cellphones in a closet that are useless on todays cell network, not counting others that I've donated to charity for reburbishment. I can't even donate working tube-type TVs and computer monitors to charity. They don't want them, even for free.

I expect hardware/software to go extinct. I'm sure you've heard of "Designed Obsolescense" in virtually every product we use daily.

TomTom has already taken the heat (last year) for obsoleting its own GPS units (sold with "lifetime updates") when it became too costly to update them... a business choice for them that I'm sure rankled current customers with the old units. Did that give TomTom business heartburn? No.

Usually when service extensions are not offered, it is because of platform obsolescence in the face of a better solution to come.

wagonsrock

The difference is its much less than $1k to get a new phone. My E400S had an MSRP of $80k as optioned and I'm not in agreement with a 2-3 year planned obsolescence at that price point. Sure features will improve, but I'm not changing cars every 2-3 years just to get a working Sat Nav with live traffic. Yes Apple CarPlay allows google maps and others to be used, but the MB built in navigation is better in my opinion. That's what I payed for, and that's what I expect to work for the life of the car.

BMW went through a similar mess a few years ago, and reluctantly offered a hardware upgrade for navi/traffic.

rraisley

From the MB site for 2020 E-Class features:

whoover

Again, this is not a technical issue. It's a vendor relationship problem. Mercedes cut a deal with TomTom without agreeing on a renewal process. They probably give TomTom very little for the three-year license, with TomTom expecting to make their money on renewals. MB, for some reason, is not playing ball. The fact that cars sold in, say, December 2020 will have TomTom support through 2023 shows that there is no technical obsolescence involved. Mercedes is a part owner of Here (formerly Navteq), which could be complicating things.

I have to hope that, with so many cars about to have Live Traffic expiring, and with so may more entering the pool every say for at least three more years, MB and TomTom will get this sorted out and make renewals available.

tennis

A couple of weeks ago, we had to evacuate the Low Country because of Hurricane Dorian. Not having any Live Traffic information from my navigation system was a hinderance and not fun.
Sent many emails to MB and Daimler, with basically little or no responses, but just got the final word from Romee (spelling) with MB Executive Management Referral team today. He stated he took this issue to the highest levels he could and that there currently exists no solution and no way to purchase an extension of the Live Traffic, formerly provided by TomTom. So my 2017 E300 no longer has Live Traffic.

nchildressal21

I really hope Mercedes comes up with a solution. My subscription expires next month. It'll really bizarre to me, Mercedes didn't have a contingency plan in place. I hope, they aren't trying to wait, until majority of the factory warranties expire before they offer Hardware replacements. Its obvious their agreement with TomTom is still active...F%#K just let me pay for the subscription...living in a major city (Miami)...you need to see where the traffic is!! I shouldn't have to use CarPlay to have this feature. Talking to MBrace is useless as well...FML!!!

joshg1001

Im pretty sure MBrace is contracted out to companies that handle telematics for multiple automakers and so they just follow a script thats presented to them when a Mercedes owner calls. Of course they are going to be unhelpful. Anything that isn't on the manual in front of them gives you a response of, "let me bring that to a specialist's attention and someone will get back to you"