Hi all,

Looking to confirm whether this is a known MBUX software issue or something specific to my vehicle.

Vehicle: 2026 Mercedes-Benz (W214) (latest-gen MBUX)

When I first picked up the car, SiriusXM favourites worked correctly:

• XM channels could be saved as favourites
  
• SiriusXM favourites appeared in the main favourites list
  
• I could scroll only through my XM favourites using the steering wheel controls while in SiriusXM mode
  

After adding several FM radio stations to favourites, the behaviour changed:

Current behaviour:

• SiriusXM channels can still be added as favourites
  
• They appear correctly within the SiriusXM screen
  
• HOWEVER:
  
  • The ⭐ favourites list now only shows FM favourites
    
  • When tuned to SiriusXM, the steering wheel scrolls numerically by channel/time, not through saved XM favourites
    
  • XM favourites no longer appear in the global favourites list at all
    

Troubleshooting attempted:

• Deleted all FM favourites
  
• Re-added SiriusXM favourites
  
• Soft reset of the MBUX head unit
  
• Deleted driver profile and recreated it
  
• Removed and re-paired Mercedes me profile/app
  

Issue persists.

Dealer response so far has been inconclusive — they are questioning whether SiriusXM favourites are supposed to appear in the global favourites list or be scrollable via the steering wheel, but this functionality definitely worked on day one.

 

One of my many gripes about the dismal UI in these cars, and a major step backwards from the W213 (where there were no issues combining FM and SXM presets and scrolling thru all of them).

I started with FM presets so SXM presets never worked correctly for me.

 

I wouldn’t worry too much about ability to scroll from the steering wheel since the tiny 4-way touch thing on the steering wheel is nearly impossible to get to obey your commands - if the car is stopped and the wind is just right and you have clean hands and a laser alignment tool you miiiiight be able to get it to go “right” instead of “down”. It’s atrocious.

 

^ I do not use the steering wheel controls for that reason (never did on my 213 either), but the fixed L/R arrows at the bottom of the screen also only work for FM favorites, which is stupid.

There is no way to scroll thru SXM favorites; to do so requires a press to get to the favorite menu, then a press to select each time to change a channel. With 10,000 or whatever SXM channels, that is stupid.

And it takes multiple steps to go from SXM favorites to CarPlay maps. It's infuriating and dangerous.

 

This has been a long standing issue with the W214, FM favorites and Sirius favorites are not combined as they are in the W213. Many people have complained about this, so far MB has not addressed it.

 

E53DadWagon hit the nail on the head. The little upper middle scroll button on the right side of the steering wheel is worthless. The only way I can truly access my XM favorites (or iTunes library) is manually on the center screen, and that isn't easy too. Distracts from driving attention. The media controls in a Mercedes are the poorest design of any car I've owned. That's my only gripe about my '26 E350. No easy steering wheel scrolling or changing stations, and it's a BIG deal to me. But, I can't expect a car made on another continent to match American made way of doing business that I've been used to.

 

you can and should expect this car to do normal car stuff like a normal car.

 

^ ...and it worked great in the 2021 update of the W213, this car's immediate predecessor.

 

I'm a little confused. Are we saying you can't use the "OK" button to scroll XM favorites or just that it's a pain in the butt compared to W213?

 

You cannot scroll XM favorites in the 214 with the 'hard' screen arrows or the steering wheel controls. They can only be used to scroll backwards or forwards to the next XM channel.

You must go to the favorites screen, select a channel which takes you away from the favorites screen, then select the favorites screen again, select another channel, etc. Stupid, cumbersome, and unsafe.

 

You can scroll through XM favorites using the upper middle "ok" button (with the 4 arrow) on the right side of the steering wheel. First make your way to the XM screen. Using that ridiculous OK button, swipe down to the 3 horizontal lines next to the search box, to highlight the 3 lines. Press it, and your favorites come up. Using that same OK button, you can swipe up or down to select the channel you want and press OK to play it. You will notice when you play a channel, the 3 horizontal lines remain highlighted, so to change a channel hit OK again, and your favorites list comes back up. Scroll to the channel you want. This is horribly cumbersome and takes attention away from the road. I hate those swipe controls; I find the volume swipe isn't the best either.

 

^ That is not scrolling...it is the same routine I outlined in the post prior but using the steering wheel interface instead of the screen.

Scrolling is using one button push or swipe to reach the next favorite. It does not exist in the 214 for SXM, or FM/SXM combo (like it did with the 213)...only FM (I don't listen to AM).

 

Not trying to debate the semantics of scrolling, but your response is why I asked the "confused" question. You can move around your XM favorites with the OK button and arrows. Not saying it's convenient...it's not. Not saying it's an improvement...far from it. In fact, compared to W213...it sucks. But still...

 

But still what? With either steering wheel or ‘hard buttons’ on the screen you can scroll thru FM favorites or you can scroll thru XM channels, but you cannot scroll thru XM favorites (nor can you combine FM and XM favorites).

It’s terrible UI.

 

Memorize your favorite channels and say, 'Hey Mercedes, change the radio station to [Channel Name].

 

It is sort of fascinating that Mercedes, with all of its engineering wisdom, was able to produce an interface this awful. There is nobody here that suggests it is even OK. Does Mercedes even develop this software? Or is it outsourced? Regardless, they are responsible for this sort of quality control.

 

It's not necessarily quality control issue, it's a design issue and lack of design thinking. My bet is that the designers don't actually use many of these features and fail to build in things that a user would easily identify. This implies the lack of design thinking which is a common technique of product design that puts the user experience at the heart of the design to influence the final outcome. They appear to lack good product management who are ultimately responsible for this sort of thing. The fact that it's better on older models indicates the software engineering team for this version of MBUX is not the same team as before. They may have a high turnover or they put their lower performers on this team and their high performers on MB.OS. Hard to say, but bottom line is this and many of the shortcomings of this system are design issues IMO.

 

Charging, HVAC, and entertainment are all flawed. I like a lot about the W214, but honestly would not have let my W213 go had I spent time with the UI first. I knew I’d be giving up the touch pad and volume wheel, but I didn’t expect the screen and app logic to be non-existent.

 

That is a ridiculous workaround. I know within a beat or two if I want to continue scrolling or land on a channel; sometimes I’ll go thru two or three. If it’s FM I will change again at a commercial break. I should talk to my car for thirty seconds every 5-10 minutes for a task that should take 3-5 seconds?

 

Today made me think that there does seem to be a little disconnection between OTAing "graphic goodies" (the rose petals and Easter eggs for Easter Sunday), and the ability to make the XM and radio favorites function at least as effectively as they did in the previous version of MBUX. Not talking about the technical side so much as the effort made.

 

my takeaway is that they spend more time making stuff look pretty or what they think looks cool as opposed to making things pleasant to use on a day-to-day basis.

 

It is a little like eating at a restaurant with great atmosphere and impeccable service, but the steak is tough and the potatoes cold. 'Nuf said.

 

I would rate the service as merely good. But agree that the food is terrible; not a very good chance I will go back...

 

but the food is actually the main reason you went to the restaurant in the first place.

 

For sure...the food was good when I was there before they remodeled the place. I mistakenly assumed the food would still be good after the reopening...