Voice control doesn't
 

Ever since the Beta ended, my "hey Mercedes" functionality ended. I changed the setting to allow Voice Control, but it can't seem to hear me, much less do a simple command like "turn passenger seat heater on" which has always worked in the past.

Any ideas? Any way to reset this?

What Beta are you referring to? "Hey Mercedes" like most modern AI based voice assistants needs an online connection to process your commands. Very little is processed locally. Google Assistant, Siri etc. all process most of the requests in the cloud on powerful servers that run the AI models. So w/o an online connection they become very limited in what they can do. If you don't have an active Mercedes me connect subscription anymore, I'm assuming it will affect the capabilities of "Hey Mercedes".

The connection to internet is active because I can pull up any destination in maps, I just can't get HeyMercedes to hear my command. For a new map, I have to type a destination. For seat warmers I have to press a button! Imagine!
The #Hey Mercedes smart search beta I had seems to have ended and left nothing in its place.

Ah, you are referring to the ChatGPT beta. Try opening up the Mercedes-Benz app and go to Beta Program. You may have to turn it off there to restore the previous functionality. My car doesn't support this, so I don't have personal experience with it. Worst case you may have to perform a factory reset of MBUX.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.mbw...d0ecf2e5a.jpeg

Might be chatgpt.

Edit: Already answered, I should had refreshed the page before replying

superswiss, thanks, but I did turn it off and that seems to have corresponded with an email from M-B saying the beta has ended. I have turned the beta back on in MMe and I can only wait and see.

It needs a hearing aid
 

Turns out the car can only hear me when I speak VERY loudly, in my "quarterdeck" voice. For you non-naval persons, the volume of voice amplified in one's chest without shouting. Think Pavarotti. The problem here is that I can't speak quickly enough to hold "Hey Mercedes's attention.
I find this behavior bizarre and can declare I didn't do anything to cause this sudden, and severe loss in aural sensitivity.

Any ideas will be most welcome.

Something is wrong with the in-car mics.

I had a similar issue in my C63 after I had the dealership fix a rattle in the headliner. After I got the car back, voice control didn't respond to my voice anymore. My first thought was that they disconnected the mics and forgot to reconnect them or damaged the mics while fixing the rattle. Took it back in, and turned out there were pieces of paper covering the microphones. Not sure where those pieces of paper came from, but if they were in there from the factory, they probably shifted while they were working on the headliner. They removed the mic covers and cut holes in the paper so it wouldn't block the voice anymore. It's been working ever since.

So, maybe something also shifted in your headliner covering the microphones or they came loose somehow.

I see, in the meantime, OP might need a megaphone or something.

Covered by extended warranty?
 

Car just passed 60,000 miles and warranty has switched over to the extended warranty. I can't imagine what the dealer would charge me to fix this. Isn't hearing the second thing to go?

That depends on the extended warranty. They all have certain exclusions. Many only cover the oily bits. As an example, my SA was trying to sell me an extended warranty and I currently have a software glitch in COMAND that started out of nowhere after 5 years of ownership and no more factory warranty. I asked him if the extended warranty would cover troubleshooting and fixing this and he flat out admitted that it wouldn't. The head unit would have to completely fail first before the extended warranty would cover a full replacement. Reinstalling software etc. to try to fix a glitch is not covered. Extended warranties are rarely worth the money. They are big business though, for the dealerships and whoever sells them.

Latest is despite MMe telling me my microphones don't work properly, I have estalished telephone conversations happen at normal speaking volumes. So the "Hey Mercedes" software can't hear me unless I shout but telephony is just fine. Doesn't make sense.