Have a '26 GLC43AMG with the MBUX Comfort option and all the digital features are working great.

 

Unfortunately, it looks liked models with a construction day before 03/2025 do not support digital key at all, even though they're model year 2025.

https://moba.i.mercedes-benz.com/bai...US/index.html#

 

Good work. Great that you found this information. Puts an end to all the speculation and guessing about this subject.

 

Mine was built on March 10th. I suppose it'll worrk, but I'm not interested in it.

 

If that's the case why would an option to set it up be present in MBUX?

 

I'm not sure. I also am a little confused since our 2025 GLC350e was built 01/2025 however it has pre-wiring for digital key on the VIN equipment code sheet. Just got the MBUX 3.3 OTA update and still no digital key in the car or app.

I'm just going off the info from the official MB link.

 

Do you have any updated info on the availability of the digital vehicle key for 2025 GLC models? I called Mercedes Me again and the rep told me that my car does to support it as it doesn't have the "required hardware", even though it has 896 option. Also, what they told me this time was very different than what the other rep told me a few months ago, which was that my car does support it, but the Mercedes engineers are still working on this feature for the 2025 GLC 350e. I asked the rep this time why the option to setup the digital vehicle key is in my MBUX if the car does not support it and they said that the MBUX SW that is pushed to all cars is the same and will show the option even if the car does not support it, which I find very strange. I'm a software engineer and work with consumer electronics SW and the way features are handle in such cases is that the SW checks whether the hardware support is available and if not, the option/feature is not displayed in the UI.

 

The digital key for 2025 MB GLC300 needs codes 896 AND 849 to be installed in vehicle. For me 896 was installed and not 849 and it cannot be installed now. Only the factory can install 849 at the time of build.

 

You are out of luck like me. Your car needs codes 896 and 849 to get the digital key. When our cars were built the left out 849 and it cannot be added now.

 

What is the full name of the option codes? I understand one is called "Preparation for digital key" what is the other?

 

I was told my 2025 GLC300 Coupe needs codes 896 and 849. When it was built they left out 849 and it cannot be added after the build. Shame on them! I also have a 2025 BMW X4 and it came already installed and works perfectly.

 

I've been told many things for the last 10 months that I've had this car. First I was told, when I picked up the car, that the digital key would not be available now but would be made available starting in July 2026 by an over the air update and to check with digital extras every month to see exactly when. Your car has the necessary equipment to receive this update when made available. I did exactly that. Then I was told via an email that the digital key is now available and my car is not compatible to receive it because I do not have code 849 installed. The codes 896 and 849 are usually installed, at the factory, as a pair since both are needed for this feature to work. For some reason my car and probably many others were made without these two codes and 849 cannot be installed now after the build and I would have to live without it. Another agent actually told me if you want this feature trade your car in for another model that is compatible. I was given the same run around with another feature I wanted called the augmented reality in the navigation system. This is my first and last Mercedes. I've had four BMWs and never had these kinds of problems. The Mercedes help agents are very cordial and completely useless. I was strung along for ten months and I am still at square one where I started. They cannot get their act together. 👎🏿

 

you need code 849 also to go with 896

 

If you look at the official MB 2025 GLC SUV Order Guide (06/21/2024 13:03:03) it does list "Preinstallation for Digital Vehicle Key" as standard equipment for all 2025 GLC models.

sigolfer, what is 849 code?

 

I was told that code 849 is the code that allows the smart phone to pair the digital key and store it in the Apple wallet. Code 896 only allows the app to be downloaded to the Mercedes Me app on a smart phone. It's a two step process. First step download it to a smart phone code 896, second step activate it by pairing it to the phone code 849 and putting the app in the Apple wallet. Sounds crazy but that was how it was explained to me. The worst part of this whole process is code 849 cannot be added to MBUX as a software update. To me it sounds like it's only a software update.The whole thing should have been included in code 896. Why two codes---who knows!

 

I have the same problem. When I picked up my 2025 GLC300 I was told the digital key in not ready for installation yet and will be made available starting in July 2026 through an over the air update and your vehicle has the right equipment already installed to receive it. After a few months of checking I was told the feature is ready to be installed and your vehicle is not compatible to receive it. I was told that the vehicle needs codes 896 and 849 and my model only has code 896 and not 849 when both are needed and there is no way to get 849 now because it had to be done at the time of build at the factory. They originally lied to me or they are not up to date on what's happening. This is my first and last Mercedes for this and other issues and I am going back to BMW asap.

 

It's a good example for when you buy any product, buy it for the features it has at the time and not for a promise of a feature that may or may not get added later. Things change. The digital key was clearly not ready and they probably realized later on what the issue was, hence the requirement for 849.

 

Thanks for the info. I am shocked that a supposed world class organized seems to be run by clowns. Almost every time I questioned the availability of the Digital Key for a 2025 GLC300 I got a completely different response from the help at Digital Extras. I learned my lesson. Stay clear of MB.