terp97

Anybody get the notice about upgrading to MBRace at not cost. Well the software upgrade doesn't cost but the service does. $280!!! Well, i subscribe to the Tele Aid which i have about 1-2 months left before renewal but they Tele Aid is still taking renewals and will continue to do business. I assume for the older models. So, it looks like Benz owners have a choice for similar service for newer models like my 08 GL450 but not has high tech as the MBRace which offers unlocking and locking from your BB or Iphone. Anybody done the upgrade and have the service?

Blk04cobra1

Its really a personal option. There quite a few things that MBRACE offers that Tele-aid does not. Mainly being MBRACE is connected with the Verizon network for greater recepetion and visiblity. The basic service is $40 more per year than Tele-aid, that's not a huge increase. Now if you get their plus package it's like $480/yr.

lkchris

If you'd changed to mBrace in December, the $280 would have been for a lifetime subscription.

mBrace has an iPhone app BTW.

Franman

I havent received anything. Only way I found out was when my Google "Search and Send" stopped working with my Nav and I started researching online. MB has no PR skills.

justthebest

+87

googv

When did you buy the vehicle?

MB did send out letters for the vehicle owners who bought prior to November 2009 sometime in January 2010.

I did receive the letter. I called the number and they say the upgrade is free anytime but if I upgrade now, I will get slightly less price than if I upgrade say sometime in July 2010 which is when my Tele Aid service will come up for renewal.

justthebest

I bought my 09 GL in May of last year, and I have not received anything.

43221B

Bought mine in July and this is the first I've heard of it.

googv

I read the letter again. It is sent to MB owners who bought vehicle prior to November 16, 2008.

All MB vehicles rolled out from November 16, 2009 are with mbrace. So looks like MB did not send any letter yet for MB owners who bought vehicles between Novermber 16, 2008 and November 16, 2009.

justthebest

I know you're just a messenger, as it were, but does this make any sense to anyone??

Franman

not to me. I bought mine in April 2009. Maybe because we are still "under contract" with TeleAid and they'll send something out near expiration? Based on the fact it interrupted what I found to be a useful service (I often bragged about the Search and Send and showed many people how easy it was - and used it OFTEN) - I am disappointed there was no communication.

Josey92

The whole mBrace thing is confusing. I bought my GL in 12/2009 and never received a letter. In fact I only knew about it cuz I am a gadget geek and saw an article about it before it's release in November 09. Since my TeleAid acct was coming up last Dec, I inquired about it and I was told I was not eligible for the new service. So, I said ok and and renewed my TeleAid account (wasn't that simple, I went through many avenues to clarify). Then in another thread, I found out that someone was in a similar situation and was able to convert to the mBrace service in the Midwest somewhere.

The services are not hugely different, but I hate that I can't do search and send any more. That was my favorite function of the whole thing. TeleAid offers the call-in (I think it's called "route assistance") function for free now, but it's a hit or miss service (at least it has been for me). They've told me numerous times that they are trying to enable it again but it has yet to come to fruition.

The other cool functions (lock/unlock from iPhone) I have through the Viper SmartStart and MidCity's remote start system. So I'm really not missing anything.

billybak

Traded my E Class shortly after upgrading to MBrace to a 2010 R350 Bluetec. Found the new vehicle was not wire for MBrace and immediately cancel the MBrace subscription. Be very careful to read the Terms and Conditions before you subscribe to this service. There is no way they will refund any portion of your money - even after only one month of service in my case. I lost $318.94 on this deal.
My service rep. told me privately that Mercedes is in trouble with MBrace. He reported that of the vehicles now being sold with the trial service, only ten percent of the owners were opting to continue the service with a purchase. Has anyone else heard rumors about the future of MBrace?

blittle

OK....I have a 2007 GL.....with TeleAid....what does this MBrace thing do to me? I have received nothing from MB.

Josey92

I wanted to switch to mBrace last November, but my GL did not fall into the "eligible" list. The reason I wanted to do it is for one, and only one, function: the ability to send my destination to my vehicle through Googlemaps. I was able to do it through Teleaid but only for the first year of ownership. When they intro'd mBrace, the function was taken away from Teleaid for mBrace to have. Teleaids reply to my questions on when they would have this functionality back was always vague. They do, however, offer route assistance via an actual operator. Unfortunately, they have only been successful at giving me the correct address once. I have used it at least a dozen times, and the other times have resulted in sending me to an incorrect location.

I am ready to switch. Let's see if I am able to in November.

Billy, what do you mean not wired for mBrace? I would assume that a 2010 would have the correct "wiring" if they are telling me my vehicle is eligible in November. Can you describe further what functionality is not working that renders your vehicle "not wired" for it? This way I can investigate further so I/we are not stuck in the same situation as you.

Thanks.

billybak

If your vehicle is now Tele-Aid operable then it is capable of using MBrace after MB Service changes the onboard software (new telephone numbers, Etc.) My 2010 vehicle was not wired at the factory for the use of either assistance systems. On my upper switch console there is only a dummy switch. In the center console there are no push buttons for calling for assistance. My maintenance rep. tells me that there is no way to later add the necessary wiring unless it was installed during construction. So, if you are buying a new vehicle open the center console and look for the switches. If they are not there forget about it. You will never be able to use either Tele-Aid or MBrace. My personal opinion is that MB should pay the money to buy the license to use OnStar and junk this MBrace.

Josey92

Didn't realize that late model MBs actually came without. I thought it was just a choice of the owner activating or not. Thanks for the insight.

billybak

One last thing that I failed to mention about my lack of MBrace facility. I bought my 2010 as a Pre-Owned vehicle. It is probable that it went down the assembly line prior to November 2009. Some others here have mentioned that all vehicles after that date were supposed to have the service wired in. New vehicles now might all have it. I can't answer that. Just clarifying why mine can never have MBrace.

marcw

As a long time Mercedes customer I recently received the solicitation from Mbrace for former Telaid customers. It seemed like a pretty good deal $299 for the life of my car for emergency notification services. This offer however is only aimed at taking business from Telaid and they are offering new car customers who have no choice, or so they think the same service for $280 per year with no discount.If you do the math all of the new customers are being ripped off big time. Mercedes Embrace is ignoring the fact that new customers deserve fair treatment and a value for the money that they pay for service and $280 per year is not a reasonable charge for this service..With comparable services like Onstar charging about $150 per year after a discount if you shop I wondered what motivated Mercedes Mbrace to be so aggressive. I called Telaid, now called Connected Vehicle Services at 1-800-756-9018 and found that they could very well service my 2010 450GL for a cost of $190 per year or $365 for 2 years. My Mercedes dealer can and will flash the unit back to them for service and I can set up an account. I now feel better knowing that I have a choice and will be using them for service. My fellow Mercedes owners should know about this choice and stand up for their rights as consumers. I did contact both Mercedes corporate and Mbrace to discuss my concerns with them. They were unresponsive and did not seem concerned about these way that Mbrace is taking advantage of it's exclusive position as the new vendor for the emergency aid units in the vehicles. That is wrong because it is not good business to gouge a mostly captive customer base for a service that provides the customer who paid for that unit with some peace of mind that they will get help if they need it. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.