GLS Class (X167) Produced 2020 to present

Over-the-Air Updates and cellular subscription

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Old Jul 17, 2022 | 09:06 AM
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2010 GL450
Over-the-Air Updates and cellular subscription

Hi, just purchased a 2022 GLS and it comes with 1 year of cellular service (I think). Will OTA updates continue to work when the free cellular service expires or do I need to renew and pay for cellular for the car? I mostly use Airplay and so not really need it except I would like the car to keep getting update, especially if they are firmware updates for fixing issues with the car.

Thanks!
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Old Jul 17, 2022 | 11:24 AM
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The only OTA updates that are part of a subscription are map updates. Firmware updates are not currently specifically listed as part of any subscription, so not sure how they'll get handled moving forward. The Mercedes me connect store only went live recently in the USA, so nobody has been in this situation yet. Prior to 2022, MB included 3 years of service, so the first batch of cars is only now slowly becoming due for renewal.



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Old Jul 17, 2022 | 11:58 AM
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Thanks. If not part of a subscription, do you know if firmware updates are available and/or possible OTA?

I was excited/hoping Mercedes has the Tesla like ability to self update fixes as they become available. But maybe that’s not really the purpose of the Mercedes OTA.

Last edited by hammer88; Jul 17, 2022 at 12:00 PM.
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Old Jul 17, 2022 | 12:13 PM
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The OTAs should be covered un this service, which is free:



The only updates so far have bee related to recalls, and a few "infotainment updates" which had no noticeable changes.

Unfortunately I wouldn't expect anything else at this point. They've moved on to the new MBUX in the S-Class, EQS, etc.
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Old Jul 17, 2022 | 12:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Eaton
The OTAs should be covered un this service, which is free:



The only updates so far have bee related to recalls, and a few "infotainment updates" which had no noticeable changes.

Unfortunately I wouldn't expect anything else at this point. They've moved on to the new MBUX in the S-Class, EQS, etc.
Thanks…do you know if I need the cellular subscription to get these updates?
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Old Jul 17, 2022 | 12:22 PM
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Originally Posted by hammer88
Thanks…do you know if I need the cellular subscription to get these updates?
You get OTAs even if you do not pay for the extra cellular data. That just unlocks the in-car browser, and adds a mobile hotspot you can connect to with a laptop, etc.
Map updates work without paying for data too.
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Old Jul 17, 2022 | 12:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Eaton
You get OTAs even if you do not pay for the extra cellular data. That just unlocks the in-car browser, and adds a mobile hotspot you can connect to with a laptop, etc.
Map updates work without paying for data too.
Thats great to know. Thank you!
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Old Jul 19, 2022 | 04:53 AM
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What updates do you actually get via OTA ? Sounds like FUP needs to be done by the dealer, and Maps via USB ? Is the OTA function much use in real terms ?
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Old Jul 19, 2022 | 10:54 AM
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C450, GLS 63 and a few other things
It will update one map region OTA. Additionally, I think I've had 2 "recalls" done by OTA update as well, so it does happen.
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Old Jul 21, 2022 | 12:08 PM
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Originally Posted by PhilipHanser
What updates do you actually get via OTA ? Sounds like FUP needs to be done by the dealer, and Maps via USB ? Is the OTA function much use in real terms ?
As said firmware and map updates can be pushed out via OTA. MB addressed the e-call recall via an OTA update for example, and MBUX has gotten several firmware updates. Map updates as said only happen for the home region. If you want to update the whole map and also the voice recognition then you have to manually download the full update from the portal. It's now over 30GB. I just had to order a larger SD card to do the full map update for my C63. Used to fit on a 32GB SD card, but no more.
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Old Jul 22, 2022 | 08:02 AM
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Did the fup3 update get delivered OTA to anyone - or is that dealer installation only ?
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Old Jul 22, 2022 | 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by PhilipHanser
Did the fup3 update get delivered OTA to anyone - or is that dealer installation only ?
It got pushed OTA as part of recalls.
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Old Jul 24, 2022 | 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Eaton
It got pushed OTA as part of recalls.
what’s the fup3 update? Eg., what does it fix and/or do…how does one check if it’s installed?
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Old Jul 24, 2022 | 10:46 PM
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Originally Posted by hammer88
what’s the fup3 update? Eg., what does it fix and/or do…how does one check if it’s installed?
It's version 080 and 081. Some say it improves the Burmester base. It also fixes issues with Android Auto/Apple Car Play, fixes an issue where custom map POIs did not work, adds "Connected Traffic Light" for MY21+ cars, etc.. Nothing really big, but still good to get done.
There is a system information menu in the MBUX settings. If you do not have it, you are on a very old MBUX version.
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Old Jul 24, 2022 | 11:10 PM
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I'm also told it stops "Mrs Mercedes" dropping in when you least expect it ! - By that I mean she properly responds to "Hey Mercedes" rather than a whole range of words that sound close to Mercedes.
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Old Jul 24, 2022 | 11:21 PM
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Originally Posted by hammer88
what’s the fup3 update? Eg., what does it fix and/or do…how does one check if it’s installed?
In MBUX, goto "Settings" then right to the bottom to "System Info", you'll see "software version" - if you see something like fup2/063 you know you're on the older fup 2.
I believe for fup3 they just display the 080 or 081 on the end and not the "fup3" designation.
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Old Dec 8, 2022 | 11:30 AM
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Originally Posted by superswiss
As said firmware and map updates can be pushed out via OTA. MB addressed the e-call recall via an OTA update for example, and MBUX has gotten several firmware updates. Map updates as said only happen for the home region. If you want to update the whole map and also the voice recognition then you have to manually download the full update from the portal. It's now over 30GB. I just had to order a larger SD card to do the full map update for my C63. Used to fit on a 32GB SD card, but no more.
Just want to clarify the above post.....on my just purchased 2020 GLS I allegedly get map updates through February 2023. I see on my app that in May 2022 there was a North America update and says Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee (I'm in TN). So you're saying that all I received was an update for these three states, and that when we go to FL in January the maps of the states thru which we travel will still be the 2019 maps? Just updating a small region may explain my question in my post about purchasing the vehicle that 2019 V11.1 is shown as the "Currently Installed" map version.
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Old Dec 8, 2022 | 12:38 PM
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Originally Posted by TNS550
Just want to clarify the above post.....on my just purchased 2020 GLS I allegedly get map updates through February 2023. I see on my app that in May 2022 there was a North America update and says Kentucky, Ohio, Tennessee (I'm in TN). So you're saying that all I received was an update for these three states, and that when we go to FL in January the maps of the states thru which we travel will still be the 2019 maps? Just updating a small region may explain my question in my post about purchasing the vehicle that 2019 V11.1 is shown as the "Currently Installed" map version.
That's correct. Only the three states that make up your home region were updated. The rest of the maps are still on whatever version they were. To update them as well you have to do a manual update from the portal.

The portal tells you which regions are up-to-date and which ones have an available update:


Last edited by superswiss; Dec 8, 2022 at 12:41 PM.
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Old Dec 12, 2022 | 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by superswiss
That's correct. Only the three states that make up your home region were updated. The rest of the maps are still on whatever version they were. To update them as well you have to do a manual update from the portal.

The portal tells you which regions are up-to-date and which ones have an available update:
superswiss, thanks for your help with this. I downloaded the entire North America map (had I selected specific regions I would not have downloaded Canada/Alaska and Mexico) to a USB flash drive. Download took about 45 minutes (just under 30gb). Then plugged in the flash drive as I was going to a meeting about 30 minutes away. Update was 85% complete when I got there, and when I left, download was completed in about another 10 minutes. Very easy, and to my surprise, nothing went wrong!
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