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I have a 2017 model and understand that in the car is a 3G sim to provide connectivity to Mercedes Me and also live Traffic etc. I understand that in next 2 years or so 3G will be switched off and this will impact functionality of the car, has anyone heard if Mercedes will provide any 4G upgrade to keep things running as normal?
A 4G/LTE modem was available as an option at least in Europe for a MY 2017 W213. Likely possible to retrofit but could be expensive.
3G has been partly refarmed for 4G (5G on new frequencies) at my place but luckily we still have perfect 2G coverage. Good enough for voice calls and low bitrate data like Mercedes Me needs. This would not help in the US, neither many other European countries.
Maybe it's different in Europe, but as far as I know all W213 already have 4G/LTE. Several of the 3G networks are going to be shutdown starting next year here in the USA, and there has been no communication that later MB models will be affected by the shutdown. It's all over the Audi boards, though for example, because Audi still uses some 3G services even in their cars equipped with LTE. So they will lose the emergency call feature for example, because models older than 2019 don't support VoLTE, which is required to make voice calls over LTE. Instead they use the 3G network to make voice calls and that will no longer be possible after the shutdown. Thankfully, Mercedes has been using a proper architecture for a while. All the communication is handled by the HERMES module, which is essentially a mobile broadband router for the car, so if cellular technology changes, all that would need to be done is replacing the HERMES module. Audi made the mistake of baking the communications module into the head unit, and only recently moved to a gateway architecture similar to Mercedes.
I wouldn't be surprised if MB did not provide a retrofit and/or an upgrade. After all they discontinued the web browser, traffic cameras and traffic information services on my 2018 E Class. They didn't offer an alternative. That is why after more than 50 years as a loyal MB owner I will not be buying another one.
I wouldn't be surprised if MB did not provide a retrofit and/or an upgrade. After all they discontinued the web browser, traffic cameras and traffic information services on my 2018 E Class. They didn't offer an alternative. That is why after more than 50 years as a loyal MB owner I will not be buying another one.
Yeah, the online services are all subject to availability and are not guaranteed. It's no different from technology in general. Vendors are constantly discontinuing technologies. No different with other car manufacturers, so not sure what you are planning on buying instead. Life traffic specifically got shutdown because TomTom no longer wanted to support it. So it was something that got forced on MB. They have replaced it with HERE Traffic for the newer models that use Mercedes me connect, and supposedly they are working on migrating the older cars that use the old mBrace platform. But again, technology moves on. It's frustrating for those who bought the last model year of a car before the tech was upgraded. The 2019 E Class was upgraded to the new Mercedes me connect platform as were pretty much all other models as of 2019.
MB could have offered/sold a navigation upgrade. MB updates much of its other, older technology in its vehicles (often at no cost). Traffic advisories still work on my 13 year old BMW! My next car will most likely be an Audi eTron or a BMW iX 50. The 2023 models will be orderable in just a few months. MB does not have any mid/full size bev SUV models in the USA. MB is very late to the bev competition.
MB could have offered/sold a navigation upgrade. MB updates much of its other, older technology in its vehicles (often at no cost). Traffic advisories still work on my 13 year old BMW! My next car will most likely be an Audi eTron or a BMW iX 50. The 2023 models will be orderable in just a few months. MB does not have any mid/full size bev SUV models in the USA. MB is very late to the bev competition.
Good luck with Audi. That's all I can say. Before doing that I'd spend some time on AudiWorld if I were you and read about all the issues they have with technology. The e-tron still has bugs that have gone unresolved since it was introduced. Audi and VAG in general are actually one of the worst with software and technology at the moment. They know it, too and are desperately trying to improve it. VW is trying to hire thousands of software developers, but they are not paying them enough, so what you get is a mediocre product. Mercedes on the other hand has recently partnered with Nvidia to develop and entire new digital platform for their cars. I'm much more confident that MB pulls it off with the help of an actual technology company.
Unfortunately or maybe not, MB does not have a product to offer. I am leaning toward BMW because I have owned many of them over the years. I've never owned an Audi.
My real issue is that MB not only moves to new technology but it abruptly cuts off older technology. Translating to cell phones, my 2010 4G phone still works on T-mobile and will continue to do so for at least 10 or more years. Yes, I also have a 5G phone, but at $1.500 a pop, I do not wish to discard fully functional technology simply because a newer version is available. In a MB world that would mean discarding a fully functional W213 because MB decided to discontinue some sort of embedded technology. There is no W214 available! I used to use those discontinued services on a daily basis. That is why I am not considering MB for my next vehicle.
Translating to cell phones, my 2010 4G phone still works on T-mobile and will continue to do so for at least 10 or more years
That is likely not the case. The initial 4G/LTE networks had no support for voice service. Phones of that era dropped to 3G during a voice call. 4G/LTE only handled data traffic. It was not until carriers added support for VoLTE (Voice over LTE), and phone vendors added support for it to their devices was it possible for those phones to make phone calls w/o relying on the 3G network. Many of these older phones unless they received an update and now support VoLTE will lose voice service once the carriers shut down their 3G network.
That is likely not the case. The initial 4G/LTE networks had no support for voice service. Phones of that era dropped to 3G during a voice call. 4G/LTE only handled data traffic. It was not until carriers added support for VoLTE (Voice over LTE), and phone vendors added support for it to their devices was it possible for those phones to make phone calls w/o relying on the 3G network. Many of these older phones unless they received an update and now support VoLTE will lose voice service once the carriers shut down their 3G network.
Perhaps or perhaps not. Voice is only half of the cell phone equation. I rarely use voice, but get at least 75 text messages per day. T-mobile announced 4g availability for another decade. That is certainly longer than the 3 years of life I got from Mercedes navigation or internet connectivity.
This is not limited to Mercedes. I have a 2015 BMW X5 that is losing communication capability due to the demise of 3G. It was sold as being Airplay compatible until BMW said "oops, we forgot to install the correct equipment and it can't be fixed."
If one only considers smart phones and such, 3G can go without any problems. My (LTE) smart phone is from 2016 and I bet it is the oldest phone at this forum. If however you consider machine type applications, remote meters, home alarm systems or anything like that, those devices are expected to work untouched not for years but more like for a couple of decades at least. 2G (GSM) turned 30 years this year in Europe and luckily saves us purchasing a lot of new gear just because of later generations are shut down. The modem in my home alarm is not expensive but I would need to replace the whole alarm system if I had to go for LTE or 5G. My RTK GNSS receiver (US made Topcon) from 2013 has a 2G only modem and has no LTE upgrade (a new receiver would cost some 7000 Euros).
Someone mentioned all W213 cars had LTE, probably so in the US but not in Europe. It still was an option for pre-facelift W213 but here even those cars keep going with Mercedes Me services just fine when 3G in my area is already gone and soon gone throughout the country. On-line maps updates I would do with a USB stick though, it is slow anyway over LTE too (not because of LTE capability but the service agreement Daimler has).
My wife has a 2016 BMW 435i and BMW also dropped the communications service. However, BMW replacedthe module for free at the local BMW dealer. MB does nothing for customers. On my third E class since 1996.
Last edited by Modeldad; 06-11-2022 at 03:05 PM.
Reason: Spelling
The Mercedes Me adapter is offering hardly any features that the real Mercedes Me service does. The adapter is intended for cars built before they started to support Mercedes Me. The adapter has no remote connectivity, just local connectivity with the driver's phone.
A warning before purchase would have helped! I have been nothing but disappointed so far with my purchase. 2016 GLE 350 4 Matic purchased 1/1/22. I’m coming from a Honda. Honda had better customer service than Mercedes. I think it’s time to trade it in!
MB could have offered/sold a navigation upgrade. MB updates much of its other, older technology in its vehicles (often at no cost). Traffic advisories still work on my 13 year old BMW! My next car will most likely be an Audi eTron or a BMW iX 50. The 2023 models will be orderable in just a few months. MB does not have any mid/full size bev SUV models in the USA. MB is very late to the bev competition.
I don’t even know where to begin with this one….correct me if I’m wrong, but this is a message board for MB owners pertaining to Wi-Fi issues in our vehicles, correct?! IF BMW (BIG WASTE of MONEY)…and I can speak from experience, my 2017 BMW 7 Series that had 3 miles on it when I purchased it was the BIGGEST piece of crap! I don’t know what made me get a POS BMW when I’ve owned several, quality built Mercedes! Audi’s require a bumper to bumper warranty because they are worse than BMW! Mercedes is the only luxury manufacturer that seems to care!!
MBUSA have shifted it to a Verizon product called HUM, I believe. Mixed reviews. They should have replaced the module and cut the crap
I have a 2014 E550 and installed the hum device only to find out that it rapidly drains my battery when the vehicle is parked for more than 12 hours. Needless to say, I return the device to Verizon only to be told that my particular vehicle is not compatible with that device.
The most concerning part is the loss of stolen vehicle detection services with the sunset.
12-14-2021 | 10:21 AM
WHAT?!
