When are we gonna get some over the air updates that add functionality to the EQE SUV and sadan:

1. Add or improve features like acceleration, range, Autopilot/Driver Assist, UI changes, and even entertainment features.2. Cabin camera views via OTA.

3. Frequently receive OTA improvements to voice commands (e.g., open glovebox, adjust seat heaters, tell a joke).

4. Streaming apps (Disney+ Hulu Netflix YouTube TV.)
5. Can tweak things like regenerative braking feel, suspension stiffness, and throttle tuning via OTA.

6. blindspot camera in the dash. This is found on cheaper vehicles and companies.

 

Unlikely on any of these. Unlike other brands, the car you buy is generally the car you will get. There are some improvements on the way with 2.6.1, but not for the things you've mentioned. Personally, I do not expect my car to play YouTube or Disney. I don't need that. Brake pedal feel is fine the way it is, it's a bit different but I'm used to it. I do not expect other changes to the car.

Seat heat and jokes are already working with voice command, it works well.

 

I've owned five EVs over the last eleven years. I previously owned four MBs and a wide assortment of other German cars. Grades for my 2024 EQE 4Matic:

Mechanical engineering: A
Fit and finish: A
Software UI/UX: D

Anything controlled by software: C
- Door handles
- Cruise control
- Steering assistance
- Navigation and maps
- Audio system
- Driver profiles
- Power control / regen
- the list goes on and on an on.

There is considerable room for OTA s/w updates to simply fix what is there without adding new functionality. If MB doesn't realize it needs fixing, then they have no chance of reversing their current decline. There is a reason that in the summer of 2024 the dealer took $23,500 off the sticker price before even proposing a lease cost.

My lease is up in August 2027 so I'll be ordering a new car in the first half of 2027 to ensure I receive the car I want from whatever mfg I choose. Right now it's not likely to be MB.

 

If not MB what will you get? I mean, in terms of electric vehicles, the demand itself is slowing hence why many manufacturers including MB and the other Germans are restarting ICE development. Need better battery tech and infrastructure and pricing structure and range for EV to really grow.

 

BMW EVs seem to be doing fine. And Audi finally has a sedan EV coming out (though it looks more like a lowered crossover to me).

 

I guess I was mainly talking tesla, porsche and mb.

 

It's not a matter of EV versus ICE, it's a matter of software development. MB's software is both poor quality (i.e., buggy, poor performance, etc.) and poorly designed (i.e., UI / UX). The first is quality control that does not match their quality standards for the mechanical aspects of the car and probably some poor architecture as well, though that is less visible to an owner. The second could generously be characterized as choice of style were it not for the expectations created by a wide range of other products which are primarily controlled or used through a software interface.

Here's an example from the cruise control software. Suppose I set the speed at 80 and the distance at "2 spaces"; the real distance is presumably adjusted dynamically based on speed. I'm following a car whose speed is in the range of 70-77. My car should continually adjust to match the speed of the car ahead while maintaining the 2 spaces. The MB lags the changes made by the car I'm following. The car ahead speeds up and the MB waits, allowing the gap to grow considerably, then accelerates to 80, overshoots closing the gap, then slows to 70 to allow the gap to grow, then speeds up, etc. The range of distances maintained behind the car ahead is too large and confuses the other cars following and/or beside me. By comparison, Tesla will maintain that distance within a very narrow range. Is this intentional by MB? Are they using the same s/w they use in an ICE car which has very different engine response characteristics? Is this behavior a concious decision to achieve better efficiency? I don't know, but as the driver, I prefer the accuracy and consistency of the Tesla.

WRT to EV "demand slowing", you are mistaken. YTD YoY EV sales in Europe rose 22% and 29% globally. VW EV sales grew by 59%. MB's "slowing" EV sales are a function of MB, not the market.

If I had to answer your question today, it would probably be BMW, maybe Porsche. Fortunately I don't have to make a choice today and I can let them all continue to develop their software skills before making a choice in early 2027.

Let me be clear that I think it is tragic that MB is struggling like this. I bought an MB because I had had good experience with their cars and there is no question it is a comfortable luxury car with far better suspension and handling than a Tesla while distinctly more "luxury sedan" than BMW or Porsche. But as of 2024, MB's software skills do not match their mechanical engineering skills and that is hurting them.

 

The behavior is intentional. It is hysteresis control, and can be modified. If you use Sport mode, or select a more aggressive response for Distronic in MBUX, you can have it maintain the gap aggressively. I prefer it lags because it makes the overall ride quality much nicer. I find that I dislike getting jolted forward when Distronic is set to its more aggressive mode.

MB is now developing its own full-stack OS. Different from MBUX. It's called MB.OS, and will be present in new models after our current generation. Much faster responses to customer issues, as it won't requires submitting tickets to the OE developer, going through the entire validation process, and then being pushed. It should greatly change how features and software updates are made available.

 

I understand hysteresis. What you describe in Sport mode is exemplary of their problems. Unless the car in front of us is "jolting" faster/slower, then our MBs following should not either.

 

Yes: https://mbworld.org/forums/gle-class...llo-mb-os.html

It first appeared in the new generation CLA revealed this year.

 

Do you observe the same behaviour with other MB's DISTRONIC or just the EQE?

With data to prove, perhaps I was mistaken as you mentioned.

 

All of my MB cars with Distornic, whether combustion or electric, have behaved this way. Most of them could also adjust to the vehicle dynamics settings as well to be more responsive. And in MBUX-based cars, you can statically pick the response independently of dynamics setting as well.

 

I see, thanks for confirming so it is how MB designed it.

 

I most definitely agree with the cruise control aspect and it does feel very unsafe when the car feels confused on if it should stop or go but I just feel that with the technology and build quality of the MB EVs, there’s so much more potential that the EQE and EQS lineup can achieve.

 

I mean this out of love but just because it was designed that way doesn’t mean it can’t be improved. This being my 2nd MB I have seen some great updates to the system that improved the drive and user friendliness. Other EVs have adapted and given the customer what they asked for or submitted a statement about improvements they are working on.

 

not sure, I personally don't have DISTRONIC as I don't need it but I wonder if MB did market research and decided the way they designed makes sense for the customer base? I mean, they do care, right...

 

Is this normal? https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w...ol-issues.html

 

Just disable speed limit adaptation. It's known to misread speed limit signs. Other cars have the same issue.

 

Sounds like that is the problem. Can you do the honours and comment on that thread and let them know?

 

Done!

 

 

Somebody at MB probably cares, but the absence of any active or viable paths for customer feedback makes that moot.

Apple sells over 300M devices a year, and has a number of software products and delivers those in a number of different languages and virtually every country in the world. Apple has a customer feedback page which links to almost 100 sub pages for various devices and software products. They make a major software release of each major s/w platform once a year, and 5-10 minor releases during the year. They are very actively seeking feedback on each release, major and minor. Additionally, they host a customer forum site where they can monitor additional feedback.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/

Mercedes sells about 2.5M vehicles a year. The dealers are totally transaction oriented. The service departments have a feedback path but it's about fixing things and reducing MB's warranty expense. Buried three layers below the Contact Us found at the bottom of the MBUSA website is an email form for MBUSA. When I've used that I've either received no reply, or a "thank you for sharing" sort of reply. I'm quite skeptical that feedback makes it back to the engineers in Germany.

MB apparently tested an in car feedback app, but the beta ended last October and to my knowledge has never been released.

https://www.beta.mercedes-benz.com

If Mercedes actually did "care", they would emulate a successful company like Apple, have multiple channels for customer feedback, and make incremental OTA updates to fix annoyances.

So while it would be too harsh to say they "don't care", they are not effectively listening.

 

I guess customer service is not MB's strong suit, I keep hearing such complaint with the brand. Yes there are also some quality issues with these vehicles lately but the fact the dealership or MBUSA customer support doesn't seem to want to help (as reported by other forum members) is just sad, like very sad.

 

I received an OTA update notification a few days ago. As this is such an infrequent experience I did not remember the requirements and procedures. Initially, it seemed that the update would be performed while driving, but it is the downloading of the update that is performed while driving. Seems this could just as easily be done when the car is parked.

The steps to actually perform the update are not automatic. It has to be selected in the car by selecting Settings >> System >> .... Continue and these conditions must be met:
- parking engaged
- vehicle switched off
- all windows and roof closed
- manually activating the parking brake
Finally selecting Install, and holding a Confirm bar for 3 seconds. Then exit and lock the vehicle. Estimated time of install was 15 minutes.

This update was for improvement to the Apple iPhone 14 wireless charging system. This first appeared on 2024-03-14 but for some unknown reason was not completed and was only made available again 15 months later!!!

It may be a coincidence but while this update was waiting to be installed (car parked and turned off) I could not send departure updates to the car. Was able to do this when the car was turned on. Will watch and see if this changes.

The OTA process would be so much slicker if it were done without any user involvement. If the process was interrupted then it should be put on hold or canceled, then tried again later. The car already knows so much about me and my driving habits that it could easily determine an appropriate time window for the update. I am allowed to dream.

 

For example having the update install overnight like on a windows computer (active hours) that sort of thing?