For every EV owner that got the EA charger "fixed" after calling the call center and having the charger rebooted, there are probably ten other drivers who were told "We know about the 350 kW charger only charging at 40 kW and we are sorry that's the way it is today."

 

Yeah, that's pretty much what happened to me last month in West Wendover, Nevada (near the Nevada-Utah state line), where I found that two of the four chargers were not working (and the other two were in use). I phoned EA support, and they told me that they already knew about one of the broken chargers (and that it would get fixed sometime in the distant future), but didn't know about the other one - but now they did (and it might get fixed some time in the distant future).

 

Between two vehicles, about 15-20k per year. What's the actual question? Ive lived in cities with tiny commutes and VERY long commutes as well as the backwoods of Maine miles down a dirt road with a long commute and with 8 months of the year freezing.

 

Reality is allowed to be dismal. The statement made was about a more efficient way to charge (and get credits from the government or manufacturer)than the charging system networks which are now and have always been broken. To assume humans will change their ability maintain infrastructure, or that infrastructure is becoming more maintenance free over the next few years is quite a nice way to look at things but history dictates otherwise. Systems have become less infra-structurally stable, construction and mechanical devices are built more throwaway than ever and human labor is disappearing from a workforce and society that separately needs maintenance on the entire foundational system, a system that can not be repaired by ai or robots. Politics also does not allow fast movement.

I love technology but when it gets in the way of good decisions for the masses and will create travel restrictions and owners will discontinue to be able to make choices, I believe that is not the way towards freedom and self sufficiency. Im a car guy, not an uber or cab passenger. Im sure these things work for the lazy work from home types, but for the rest of society that believes in face to face teamwork and success, its a big failure to mandate efficiencies in movement.

 

There I fixed it for you.

 

Haha. Love it. YMMV.

 

At Eastland. Texas yesterday........two off line......one putting out 35 kwh....... another 35 kwh......last chance one on the eastern end put out 115 kwh. I'd be nervous traveling as far as Sweetwater and finding most put out just 35 kwh.

I saw that in Ft Worth there is a Tesla site that has charger(s) that have the capability of charging a EQS. Have not visited that site yet because I charge at home, but it's nice to see that maybe, maybe the Tesla sites on the way to Corpus Christi in the next year 'might' have the capability to charge a EQS, and the one in Corpus actually having that capability.

Meanwhile, thinking of buying a GLE 450e which they say can travel 40 miles on a charge, and trading the EQS towards it. The GLE 450E has a battery pack in case you don't know, but sadly has just a four banger for an engine......hmmm, might be a bad idea for me.

 

All of the hybrids and plug in hybrids I have driven have really anemic ICE engines….

 

Perhaps, for me anyway, is just why someone paying over 100k bucks for a car, worried about the price of gasoline or put up with a vehicle that you can't travel in very far without sitting and charging up for a half hour (if the charger is working properly) then doing this multiple times on a drive from Ft Worth to Corpus Christi, Texas ? Unfortunately I know the answer......brain dead me.

 

V8 hybrid with 738 HP:
https://www.caranddriver.com/bmw/xm

The reviews aren't that great tho:

 

Would be curious on how the GLE450E compares.

 

I'm going to probably wait till Dec and order one with the items I want (MRD/RMD related from last year '22). I've looked at Pre Owned ones and they'll have ridiculous large rims and or no Distronic (cheapskates will pay for heated arm rests but no distronic uggh). But the local dealer said 'come on down and we'll let you keep the GLE overnight) so I should do that even though that car I will Never buy and told him so.

I drive Interstates a lot. I care not that the wheel wells don't look 'full' unless you have 20" or 22" wheels/tires.

And It seems, by looking at MBUSA Build, right now I can't get the acoustic glass. No acoustic package, no buy. And what happened to Lunar Blue (Lunitic Blue) for exterior color ?? I guess nobody bought that color or enough of it.

 

The EQS450+ lists charging stations "along the route", "in the vicinity", or "near the destination". The list shows 99 entries. There WAS a filter near the list that you could filter out level 1 and level 2 chargers. That filter is now gone. I was told by the EQS call center that it must be a software issue that it is no longer there, but the dealership told me it is a premium feature that will cost me $15/month. The car is in their shop now for this.

Is it Mercedes position that while you are driving down the freeway they would rather have you scroll through 99 entries rather the let you filter for maybe 5 or 6 level 3 charging stations?

I question where is said this was a trial feature when I bought the car. I only remember them saying EA charging was for 2 years and after that you have to pay. I was told explicitly that satellite radio was only a trial period. I was told the maps were good as long as I owned the car, but if I wanted to update them it would cost me. They can't show me where it says that filter is a paid extra feature trial period.

As it is, my car is only listing charging stations with 1 arrow or hash mark, and NO Electrify America stations. The 2023 loaner with 1000 miles on the odometer is also missing the filter??? The difference is the loaner also lists 99 entries, but some have 1 arrow and some have 2 arrows, but still no Electrify America.

As I am writing this the dealer called to say, yea, the filter is a paid item, and without paying, you can list charging stations, but not Electrify America.

Mercedes sold these cars with 2 years of included Electrify America charging, but for the 2nd year you have to pay $15/month to see where they are at (but will list other chargers)?

That doesn't seem right. The List Charging Stations button is part of the car and "should" list the chargers that Mercedes partnered with.

The dealer initially told me I could pick up my car, but when I told him that the loaner also did not have the filter but that it listed level 1 and 2 chargers, he said they will investigate some more with other EQSs. I am not interested using a phone app while driving on the freeway, but the List and Filter method found Level 3 EA stations before and I can't believe they are going to remove that feature and include it in a paid subscription.

 

Interesting thread. My EQS 450+ shows EA level 3 charging stations on the map. I'm at 19 months of ownership, and almost 19K miles. But, I have had the recall updates, but am still using the E316 version of the MBUX software.

 

Just to be clear, you had the 2 recall updates that had to be done at the dealer, but not the MBUX update? Do you still have the filter?
Thanks for replying

 

While getting the 20K mile maintenance service for my EQS SUV this week some control unit updates were applied to clear a few fault codes. MBUX remained as version E316.505. I entered a destination in the GPS that was more than 300 miles away and specified a 50% SoC upon arrival. The resulting route included one EA stop and one EVgo stop. I also confirmed that the charging capacity filter was available. My SUV is just under 10 months old.

Have you concluded that the issues with EA chargers being ignored and the absence of the capacity filter are related to the E330 MBUX version? Or is this only an issue after the first year the car is on the road?

 

I'm still trying to get this sorted out. I think you are on the right track though. My list of chargers is broken. I think it might be due to the software update. I am not on 316.xxx, as I had the MBUX software updated a few months ago. I think I am on like E330 from I think 250.

After the MBUX update, several users including myself said that their USB thumb drive was no longer recognized (some worked, but not all types), something else broken. While getting the update, the loaner was pretty much like my car, but today the loaner is also messed up with the charging station filter, and this car does not mute the music when the car is in reverse (which I like). Are there check boxes that the technician arbitrarily chooses when loading the software?

Nowhere on the Mercedes site says the filter is a subscription feature. It does say you need Mercedes me Charge. I don't think having the app in itself is what they charge for as I am still getting notifications if my car is unlocked.
https://www.mbusa.com/en/charge/mercedes-me

can you confirm....
1. You had your car more then 1 year?
2. You still see the filter (to filter out level one and two chargers)? you already wrote that.
3. You do not pay for the MercedesMe subscription?
Thanks!

 

In ~2 months, after the one year anniversary, I will check whether or not the charging capacity filter is still available and that the EA stations are still selected for charging stops. I will do this before extending any software subscriptions. We do a fair number of road trips requiring DC charging so I will probably renew the Mercedes me subscription to facilitate using the second year of free EA charging. In the first 10 months of ownership we have charged the equivalent of well over $1000 (probably closer to $2000) at EA. So it makes sense for us to renew the subscription service.

 

I really appreciate you taking the time. Just to be clear, I am talking about the List of charging stations.
Is the filter still there?
Do you see different level charger stations L1, L2, L2?
Do you still see Electrify America stations?

Paying the $150/year doesn't get you more charging, just to be able to view from your car's screen (and other services that I am not interested in). That is of course if this a subscription item and not a software issue. I have been on the phone with Mercedes and they say it might be a subscription item, but can not sent me a website or other documentation that it is.
Thanks again!

 

I had 3 recall updates, but am still running the E316.xxx MBUX version, have not asked for the E330.xx update. I have the EA stations on the map, and I still have the filters for the L3, etc stations in the area. Just now checked to make sure. Sounds like, maybe, I don't want the E330.xx udate to MBUX?

 

You answered my questions PERFECTLY! Yes, it sounds like a software issue, but the dealership and some of MercedesMe phone support say it is a paid feature that expired after a year unless you pay the $150/year. Others here like you say they still have the filter and it lists Electrify America.

The loaner, 2023 EQS450+ also does not have the filter, but it has not been setup with a MercedesMe account. It DOES list Level 1 and Level 2 chargers, but I did not see any Level 3 on the list or Electrify America (mine just lists Level).

While I wrote the previous post, I was on a long hold with "Shanna" from MercedesMe. She came back and confirmed it was not a "expiring" feature. You do have to signup MercedesMe and Mercedes Connect. I do have MercedesMe and Connect. I do not subscribe to any paid features and I DO get notifications and other stuff that is not charged for like that your car is unlocked, so I know the MercedesME is active.

Thanks again your verifying. I will update this when I have a definite answer or resolution.

 

FYI, many(all?) of my MercedesMe services have expired, to my knowledge, as I have had my car for 20 months. I did renew most of them (not all) and paid the $150 to do so. Not sure if this impacts the facts in this thread, or if it is the software. Will be actively following what you find out. Thanks for your persistence.