Dashcam
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 53
Likes: 13
GLE450
Dashcam
I dont see dashcam as an option on the online configurator but I see it being mentioned as a $200 option that people added to their car. Can anyone explain how it works and if its worth having? Is it integrated into the car or an external accessory that you plug in?
On that note, what other accessories are there that online configurator doesnt show yet you can add? I dont want to miss anything that I should add.
On that note, what other accessories are there that online configurator doesnt show yet you can add? I dont want to miss anything that I should add.
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Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3,391
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From: Boise
2024 GMC Canyon Denali..... 2018 Audi SQ5
I dont see dashcam as an option on the online configurator but I see it being mentioned as a $200 option that people added to their car. Can anyone explain how it works and if its worth having? Is it integrated into the car or an external accessory that you plug in?
On that note, what other accessories are there that online configurator doesnt show yet you can add? I dont want to miss anything that I should add.
On that note, what other accessories are there that online configurator doesnt show yet you can add? I dont want to miss anything that I should add.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2021
Posts: 53
Likes: 13
GLE450
The Configurator is only a marketing tool, the Dealer Netstar system is the only accurate order tool. The options listed for the online Configurator may not all be available at order. For instance the DAP. With the chip shortage some options might be pulled after order or not available to order. There are posts on how the camera functions available by search. As I recall you need to turn it on each time you want it active and then it records to a thumb drive. Not ideal…. The Dealer is the best source of up to date information.
I m assuming you mean DAP = Drivers Assistance Package. This isnt available to order?
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From: Boise
2024 GMC Canyon Denali..... 2018 Audi SQ5
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Member
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 112
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2021 GLS450
I dont see dashcam as an option on the online configurator but I see it being mentioned as a $200 option that people added to their car. Can anyone explain how it works and if its worth having? Is it integrated into the car or an external accessory that you plug in?
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Member
Joined: Jan 2016
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2021 GLS450
i literally just went out to my car and put the dashcam button in my favorites. now it's just 2 touches, favorite, then dashcam, instead of home, app, dashcam, start recording. hopefully i'll get into the habit of turning it on each time i get in the car.
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Super Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 554
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From: USA
2021 GLE450W4 SUV
It took me about a week to get the muscle memory going on it. The only bad thing is MBUX takes a couple minutes to boot up before you can activate the dash cam.
Member
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 218
Likes: 85
From: Florida
2021 GLE 450
Dashcam Issue Summary
For those of you who have not kept up or can't find the rest of the threads on the subject here is a summary.
PROBLEM
PROBLEM
- Mercedes-Benz sells and you probably purchase a factory-installed dashcam that will not Auto record. For the purpose of this post, we will only talk about vehicles purchased and operated inside the USA.
- There is no Mercedes-Benz notification on the window sticker or manual about the factory disabling automatic video recording.
- Furthermore, the onboard electronic manual shows how to activate the feature hence there is no way for you to know this feature is disabled before purchasing the vehicle.
- The missing auto-record feature is analogous to having a clock in the car that needs to have the time set every time you start the engine. Not what you would expect from a world-renowned "The best or nothing," automobile manufacturer.
- The dealer and Mercedes-Benz will attempt to convince you without any evidence that it's illegal for them to activate the auto recorder. This is not true. The dash camera does not record audio or video inside the passenger compartment. The aforementioned recording would be illegal in some states (CA surprised?).
- The Auto-record feature is not working because Mercedes-Benz has not aggressively pursued approval from the NHTSA. Approval is needed because it's a new feature.
- Here is one of many articles on the legality of dashcam recordings. https://www.azuga.com/blog/dashcam-l...ers-and-owners
- Vehicles with the Dashcam 2U1 package are supplied with a "Media Interface adapter cable" but no USB flash drive.
Workaround - You can register the dashcam to 'Favorite' on the center console (the button with a star symbol). Once done, it needs only two clicks without even touching the screen (you need to move the dashcam icon to the leftmost position so you don't need to scroll to the right). Keep in mind this will not resolve the disabled auto-recording feature but gives you a workaround albeit a lot of discipline required to remember to turn it on.
- Once you plug in a USB Flash Drive using the Mercedes-Benz supplied adapter the manual recording may or may not work. In most cases, it works for a while and then stops, becomes intermittent and eventually, the DashCam software in the Mercedes apps disappears. Don't waste your time with the dealer they do not know how to fix the issue. They will factory reset your MBUX software, you will lose all your settings and it will not fix the issue.
- Regardless if you use the workaround or not you might get the following error.
Function Unavailable -
FIX - The fix consists of installing a newer USB Type C aka "sub C" without any adapter. Once you start the engine within a minute the software will appear in your Mercedes apps and you can manually initiate recordings. The wait time will have to be repeated on each use. Here is a photo of the one that worked for me.
- Complain to Mercedes-Benz in writing using this email address. mercedes_benz@mailac.custhelp.com
- When you received the canned response "Thank you for your email to Mercedes-Benz USA. However, we regret to inform you, the vehicle is designed to require manual activation of the dashcam within the US market, etc..." do not accept that as an answer. Request that they raise your request to the level to someone that can authorize enabling the option that was disabled without your knowledge or consent. This will result in a phone call (they don't want it writing) from the Executive Referral Management team. Explain to them your displeasure and frustration. They do not have an answer for "Why was this not disclosed before the purchase?". See if they will send you in writing what efforts have been undertaken to get approval from whatever agency is holding them. If we can get the department number and address we could flood them with letters.
- The more of us complaining the greater the chance of the issue getting fixed as these guys have access to the engineering and legal teams.
- the software is already written to provide the functionality. All they have to do is stop disabling the auto-record feature which can be done via an "over the air" software update.
- The problem you are experiencing was an undisclosed issue that would have changed your mind about the purchase.
- PLEASE Post any new revelations or updates to this thread.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,987
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From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
@kvelez I'm not interested in a low definition camera.
But I am interested in your statement:
I'd appreciate a reference because I may have some input here.
Thanks.
But I am interested in your statement:
- "The Auto-record feature is not working because Mercedes-Benz has not aggressively pursued approval from the NHTSA. Approval is needed because it's a new feature."
I'd appreciate a reference because I may have some input here.
Thanks.
Last edited by mikapen; Jul 13, 2021 at 05:56 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 264
Likes: 22
From: Northern VA
2021 GLE 450
kvelez: thank you for that detailed instructions and issues on the dashcam! I have my dashcam configured but have not got in the habit of turning it on whenever I drive. I was not aware of the intermittent failure and your solution to use the USB Type-C flash drive - which I will order right now.
I would add the issue that if you want to play music off USB, selecting USB picks the USB port near the wireless charger where I have the drive for recording and not the port in the armrest compartment where I have my MP3/flac files. Thanks again.
I would add the issue that if you want to play music off USB, selecting USB picks the USB port near the wireless charger where I have the drive for recording and not the port in the armrest compartment where I have my MP3/flac files. Thanks again.
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 554
Likes: 146
From: USA
2021 GLE450W4 SUV
For those of you who have not kept up or can't find the rest of the threads on the subject here is a summary.
PROBLEM
PROBLEM
- Mercedes-Benz sells and you probably purchase a factory-installed dashcam that will not Auto record. For the purpose of this post, we will only talk about vehicles purchased and operated inside the USA.
- There is no Mercedes-Benz notification on the window sticker or manual about the factory disabling automatic video recording.
- Furthermore, the onboard electronic manual shows how to activate the feature hence there is no way for you to know this feature is disabled before purchasing the vehicle.
- The missing auto-record feature is analogous to having a clock in the car that needs to have the time set every time you start the engine. Not what you would expect from a world-renowned "The best or nothing," automobile manufacturer.
- The dealer and Mercedes-Benz will attempt to convince you without any evidence that it's illegal for them to activate the auto recorder. This is not true. The dash camera does not record audio or video inside the passenger compartment. The aforementioned recording would be illegal in some states (CA surprised?).
- The Auto-record feature is not working because Mercedes-Benz has not aggressively pursued approval from the NHTSA. Approval is needed because it's a new feature.
- Here is one of many articles on the legality of dashcam recordings. https://www.azuga.com/blog/dashcam-l...ers-and-owners
- Vehicles with the Dashcam 2U1 package are supplied with a "Media Interface adapter cable" but no USB flash drive.
Workaround - You can register the dashcam to 'Favorite' on the center console (the button with a star symbol). Once done, it needs only two clicks without even touching the screen (you need to move the dashcam icon to the leftmost position so you don't need to scroll to the right). Keep in mind this will not resolve the disabled auto-recording feature but gives you a workaround albeit a lot of discipline required to remember to turn it on.
- Once you plug in a USB Flash Drive using the Mercedes-Benz supplied adapter the manual recording may or may not work. In most cases, it works for a while and then stops, becomes intermittent and eventually, the DashCam software in the Mercedes apps disappears. Don't waste your time with the dealer they do not know how to fix the issue. They will factory reset your MBUX software, you will lose all your settings and it will not fix the issue.
- Regardless if you use the workaround or not you might get the following error.
Function Unavailable -
FIX - The fix consists of installing a newer USB Type C aka "sub C" without any adapter. Once you start the engine within a minute the software will appear in your Mercedes apps and you can manually initiate recordings. The wait time will have to be repeated on each use. Here is a photo of the one that worked for me.
- Complain to Mercedes-Benz in writing using this email address. mercedes_benz@mailac.custhelp.com
- When you received the canned response "Thank you for your email to Mercedes-Benz USA. However, we regret to inform you, the vehicle is designed to require manual activation of the dashcam within the US market, etc..." do not accept that as an answer. Request that they raise your request to the level to someone that can authorize enabling the option that was disabled without your knowledge or consent. This will result in a phone call (they don't want it writing) from the Executive Referral Management team. Explain to them your displeasure and frustration. They do not have an answer for "Why was this not disclosed before the purchase?". See if they will send you in writing what efforts have been undertaken to get approval from whatever agency is holding them. If we can get the department number and address we could flood them with letters.
- The more of us complaining the greater the chance of the issue getting fixed as these guys have access to the engineering and legal teams.
- the software is already written to provide the functionality. All they have to do is stop disabling the auto-record feature which can be done via an "over the air" software update.
- The problem you are experiencing was an undisclosed issue that would have changed your mind about the purchase.
- PLEASE Post any new revelations or updates to this thread.
Member
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 218
Likes: 85
From: Florida
2021 GLE 450
Executive Referral Management team's story
@kvelez I'm not interested in a low definition camera.
But I am interested in your statement:
I'd appreciate a reference because I may have some input here.
Thanks.
But I am interested in your statement:
- "The Auto-record feature is not working because Mercedes-Benz has not aggressively pursued approval from the NHTSA. Approval is needed because it's a new feature."
I'd appreciate a reference because I may have some input here.
Thanks.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,987
Likes: 2,187
From: Colorado
'21 AMG53 wDPP & ARC, 19 GLC300 - Former-03 C240,2 ML BlueTecs,20 GLE450 E-ABC,15 Cayenne D,17 Macan
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 52
Likes: 6
From: Upper Midwest
2021 AMG GLC63S Coupe, 2020 GLE 450
This may have been covered before but I have an early model 2020 GLE450 with the correct options to "have" the dash cam but its not included in my build. (DAP, Augmented Video for Navigation)
Assuming we are stuck without it but wondered if anyone has heard/seen of a way to make it work?
Assuming we are stuck without it but wondered if anyone has heard/seen of a way to make it work?
Super Member
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 791
Likes: 412
From: Fredericksburg, VA
2020 Mercedes GLE350 4Matic; 2023 Tesla Model Y
This may have been covered before but I have an early model 2020 GLE450 with the correct options to "have" the dash cam but its not included in my build. (DAP, Augmented Video for Navigation)
Assuming we are stuck without it but wondered if anyone has heard/seen of a way to make it work?
Assuming we are stuck without it but wondered if anyone has heard/seen of a way to make it work?
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 554
Likes: 146
From: USA
2021 GLE450W4 SUV
Same here. I had a dashcam icon/button that was “grayed out”. Wonder if it would become “functional” after a min or two; after plugging in a USB drive? Tried using the drive I use for manual maps updates, but the icon stayed grayed out. Only gave it 15-20 seconds or so, and gave up figuring it was disabled.
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 72
Likes: 11
From: Vancouver
2021 GLE53 SUV
I am in Canada, and have the dashcam option as well. Like you, I must activate it every time which is frustrating. I do not believe we have any laws preventing an auto-enable feature like Tesla’s, etc..
Member
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 218
Likes: 85
From: Florida
2021 GLE 450
Your experience invalidates the answer I was given that it was all a USA regulation issue. I know from another forum the auto-record works in other countries.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3,391
Likes: 1,040
From: Boise
2024 GMC Canyon Denali..... 2018 Audi SQ5
We had a similar issue with LKA at the V167 launch. You had to turn it off each on/off engine cycle. After complaints and about 6 months a fix came out to leave it as set. I think the only thing they can’t change in MBUX programming are things like the start/stop since it changes emissions/EPA certification & the Headlights with outdated rules.
Member
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 218
Likes: 85
From: Florida
2021 GLE 450
We had a similar issue with LKA at the V167 launch. You had to turn it off each on/off engine cycle. After complaints and about 6 months a fix came out to leave it as set. I think the only thing they can’t change in MBUX programming are things like the start/stop since it changes emissions/EPA certification & the Headlights with outdated rules.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 68
Likes: 22
From: SW Florida
2024 AMG EQE SUV / 2024 GLE 450e hybrid
Dashcam available for 2020 GLE
Any info on MB activating the dash cam for my 2020 GLE 450 (built 08/20). I have all the required options for it to work (according to my dealer) but MBUX software status says "deactivated"
Member
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 218
Likes: 85
From: Florida
2021 GLE 450
If your car came with the 21U package ($200) it should work once you insert the USB stick as I described above.
