Update or lack thereof on Live Traffic
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 740
Likes: 175
From: NorCal
2015 ML350+2025 E350
In an era when your new smart phone is obsolete the week after you buy it, I'm not surprised that MBUSA shortened the commitment from 5-years to 3-years. Other than that, I don't know the reason, and really don't care. Among the top 30 reasons why I bought the car, live traffic did not rank on the list.
If it meant that much to me, I would trade in the MB for some other vehicle, period.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 5,359
Likes: 1,097
.
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.
IIRC Verizon did a similar thing when they eliminated CDMA systems.
Last edited by ua549; Oct 2, 2019 at 09:43 AM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 4,694
Likes: 1,829
From: Dallas-Ft.Worth,TX
2016 E350 Sport
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.
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.
Last edited by DFWdude; Oct 2, 2019 at 07:38 PM.
Member
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 195
Likes: 53
From: US
2018 E400S
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.
I expect hardware/software to go extinct. I'm sure you've heard of "Designed Obsolescense" in virtually every product we use daily.
I expect hardware/software to go extinct. I'm sure you've heard of "Designed Obsolescense" in virtually every product we use daily.
BMW went through a similar mess a few years ago, and reluctantly offered a hardware upgrade for navi/traffic.
Super Member
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 677
Likes: 126
From: South Carolina
2020 MB E450 Estate, 2019 Kia Niro Touring
Thought I would start a clean thread on this. So to recap, my 3-year Live Traffic subscription expired in AUG, so I contacted Customer Service and was told that the provider, TomTom, no longer supported Live Traffic
and that there was no way to renew my subscription.
and that there was no way to renew my subscription.
3 years of Live Traffic service provided by TomTom
Integrated with the COMAND® navigation system, live traffic information provided by TomTom® keeps you up to date on accidents, traffic, construction and road closures, and even helps your vehicle's navigation system find the fastest route based on real-time traffic.
No longer provided or supported, huh?
Integrated with the COMAND® navigation system, live traffic information provided by TomTom® keeps you up to date on accidents, traffic, construction and road closures, and even helps your vehicle's navigation system find the fastest route based on real-time traffic.
No longer provided or supported, huh?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,278
Likes: 377
From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
From the MB site for 2020 E-Class features:
3 years of Live Traffic service provided by TomTom
Integrated with the COMAND® navigation system, live traffic information provided by TomTom® keeps you up to date on accidents, traffic, construction and road closures, and even helps your vehicle's navigation system find the fastest route based on real-time traffic.
No longer provided or supported, huh?
Integrated with the COMAND® navigation system, live traffic information provided by TomTom® keeps you up to date on accidents, traffic, construction and road closures, and even helps your vehicle's navigation system find the fastest route based on real-time traffic.
No longer provided or supported, huh?
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.
Newbie
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 5
Likes: 2
E300
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.
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.
Newbie
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 2
E Class
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.
BMW went through a similar mess a few years ago, and reluctantly offered a hardware upgrade for navi/traffic.
Last edited by nchildressal21; Oct 11, 2019 at 08:30 PM.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 85
From: San Francisco, CA
2017 E300
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"
