I see that I'll be losing "Remote Engine Start" from the app one year after purchase. However, will I lose the physical ability from the keyfob (I remember Remote Engine Start listed under Standard Features in the MY23 GLS Order Guide)?
I don't think I've ever tried enabling it from the keyfob!

 

Unfortunately, unless I've been misreading some of the other posts, I don't believe there is a way to remote start, outside of the app. Others have groused, justifiably, about remote start being listed as a "standard" feature, implying that it wouldn't cost extra, yet there isn't a way to remote start for free.

I hope I'm wrong. Good luck!

 

Appreciate the response!

 

Remote start only through the App

 

Went through the whole thread and it is obvious that only one member seems to support this greedy-based business model. Maybe he has stock in MB? At any rate. I'm moving to more convenient mode of transportation. MB is not the car it used to be. It is now catering for folks like the individual that has no issues with this marketing sheme.

 

Didn't see that post.
To MB, it's a safety/theft issue, not a scheme.
I'm okay with taking the extra 10 seconds to open the door and get in. I wouldn't sell the car even if it took 20 seconds.
And I won't start the car remotely if it's cold because it's harmful to the engine.

It's a matter of priorities.
I still don't see how this could be a "scheme."

 

Might be a related thread issue, might be this thread they meant: https://mbworld.org/forums/gls-class...ote-start.html

 

That was a fun thread!
Lotsa conspiracy theories with some humor sprinkled in.

 

I guess it was a slow day on the forums if that is the case.

 

Excluding remote start because of theft issues as the excuse, is bogus. It is a money scheme, similar to subscribing annually for heated seats (BMW). I’m in the same boat of thought as the poster looking for more convenient modes of transportation. I’m sorry but my Mercedes Benz days will be over with our current GLS over stuff like this. It’s the little nickle and dime crap that kills the experience. The noisy windshield wipers, the aggravating sleeping key fob delay to start it, the 25k miles on the rear tires, and so on. Been with them 10 years, down to our last one, and not returning.

I bought a Ford Bronco earlier this year, my first Ford ever and only my second American made vehicle ever (my 20th vehicle in my life, 51 years old). It has remote start on the fob, and the Ford Pass app (which is very good). It works perfectly, and has opened my eyes back to the American brands. Plus, it’s actually very easy to service and repair, without the insultingly STUPID costs to do so. You can’t drive the vehicle without the key fob being in the car. It remote starts, locks the car while it idles, and will not engage the transmission until you press the start button with the fob with you once you get in. It automatically shuts off after 15 minutes as well if you don’t get to the car by then (or you extend the idle time via the app). MB has no legitimate excuse to not offer this as standard on the “best or nothing at all”..

I love a German vehicle, don’t get me wrong. Had them for the last 15 years (have two now, and the Ford). But I have decided that going forward, I will be sticking to what has treated me the best of the three brands - VW/Audi.

Our 2020 GLS is approaching 80,000 miles soon, and it is turning into a rattle bucket. The engine is getting louder in the cabin (motor mounts I suspect), I hear the air suspension blowing off air while sitting in the heated garage the other day for no apparent reason for the first time. Our USB ports in the back keep breaking off into the panel, the windshield wipers have always sucked, leaves a streak right across your direct line of vision, and on and on. Sorry, but for $90k in 2020 dollars, I can’t justify returning to them anymore.

 

I think it is mostly about luck! Always had German cars, no issues that weren’t within the warranty timeframe. Great services, loaners etc etc.
I bought my first American car a on 2022. A 2022 Suburban High Country. $92k! I had so many issues with that SUV that I had to trade it in for a GLS450. It spent more time in the dealership Than on the road. It would literally turn off in the middle of the highway. I miss the space and the plus ride, but will never give them my hard earned dollars.

 

Yeah, I think the whole pay to play thing is tacky and rental car-ish.

On a less serious note, make sure you write back on how the Bronco rides after 80k miles I hope to retire out to a Lexus or Toyota.

 

It not even apples to oranges in comparing the two cars. Not even in the same hemisphere, the Mercedes is like a cloud limousine when compared to the Bronco. Totally different in every single way possible. But one thing I do enjoy about the Ford over the two MB’s I’ve had, is the beauty in its simplicity, making it much easier to maintain, repair, and live with. In seven bolts and 6 hose and electrical connections, the whole body can be removed from the frame. The amount of space underneath to do stuff is like tying your shoelace in an empty Walmart. It drives and rides like a mid-sized truck, how you would expect it to be. When you go into something like that with the proper expectations for what it is, and what it isn’t, it’s great.

my neighbor who’s family is in the interior design and supply business for the highest end European cars told me the other day that MB is about to reduce their US based repair/maintenance platform by nearly 40 % starting in 2025, meaning it’ll be even more expensive to repair, take longer, and otherwise just become a bigger PIA to own longer term. Said it’s in part due to Trump tariff threats, but also cost cutting to help absorb some of the losses in the heavy EV world. The fact that it took them months to secure our passenger side seat cover replacement (after waiting for 18 months since fillinng the warranty claim, I have to say that it’s time to reconsider the brand in general. I just heard from my trusted indi who specializes in MB that they too are seeing it becoming much harder to get the parts, and starting to cost more to get them. I was over there with the Ford recently to rotate the tires, and they mentioned how it was a good idea to have sold my old 212 when I did.

when the GLS starts acting up, I’m not going down the road of repair on it. Will just trade it in for something else. I like to get 7-10 years out of my cars, and went into the GLS wanting to see 200k out of it and 10 years. We’re in year 4 and no longer feeling that way. Don’t get me wrong, it’s been a great car for us and has treated us well, but certainly not on the same level as the x166 in certain areas.

 

Sounds like your neighbor is a standard anti-Trumper, still recovering from the election. Give us something substantive than that.

MB is making efforts to streamline their parts availably and delivery times, lowering shipping costs to dealers and timeliness Maybe that's what he saw.
Here's a link: https://www.cbtnews.com/mercedes-ben...ng-challenges/

Wasn't your seat a COVID thing? My not-in-stock major parts are usually next day, although a new head unit for our GLC is delayed for three days because of the holidays.

Does your indy use a dealer for parts?

 

I had to source used exhaust parts and a water pump outside of the dealer about 1yr ago because the dealer couldn't find those parts for my x166 anywhere on earth with no ETA.

 

ha! He may be! I really have no idea on what’s going on anymore with the car brands. I l’ve sort of hit the reset button mentally on it all. Our seat cover was last fall 2023, but filed the complaint (2nd time) in mid 2022 and was denied. MB said a new version was coming out shortly and would prefer to wait to fix it until then. It was a fiasco to get them repaired, that’s for sure. Hopefully the article you posted is indeed correct and will fix this issue with MB parts. My indi usually does dealer parts unless asked not to, By the end of my run with the 212, I was bringing them in from FCpEuro instead, and will likely be doing the same for the GLS when we get to that point.

 

I understand your post is a year old, but why is the remote start feature even of any value if the car just runs for 3 minutes?

Thanks

 

It's of value because it can run up to 10 minutes (not sure where you get 3 minutes).

This has been great when cooling down the car during summer or warming up the car on a cold winter's day (it was just about 25°F this morning)!

 

Mine's 10 minutes. Some people use it to warm up their car. I won't because it's not good for my engine.

BUT It gives you POWER!

 

Plus a cold engine doesn't warm the cabin as effectively as if it was warm, I guess unless it is an electrical vehicle so instant heat.

 

A cold engine might not warm the cabin as effectively in the morning, thankfully with MBUX 3.0, you can set routines to turn on the seat heaters as well but if I recalled correctly it is only the driver's seat.

 

I read the manual and I was mistaken. The car runs for 10 mins and it can be done twice.

 

I find it humorous that folks living in mild-temperature regions say things like "move if you don't like the cold." If remote start is not important to you just say, its not important to you and move on. My hope is that within this forum enough constructive comments will come out that MB may actually change their position and make some improvements. I don't need some idiot that has never used remote start and doesn't value it to be taking shots.

The point of remote start is to condition the car's cabin to a comfortable temperature before entering it. It was 13 degrees where I live this morning, and it would have been nice if my remote start feature worked in a manner that was consistent with the majority of the US auto market. The truth of the matter is MB is out of step with how a remote start feature should work. Hit the button, the car doors lock, the engine starts, the heater comes on, and the seat heater and steering wheel heater come on if selected and it does the opposite in the summer. The car does not shut off when I unlock and open the door.

Simple, follow the program that works. Keep the car running when I open the door, don't allow it to go into drive until I hit the start button when I enter the car with the Key Fob and I drive away. The key fob should work to start the car because it's easy and solves my problem 90% of time. If you are going to charge me every year for access to the remote start feature through an app you should take a few minutes to make sure that app works reliably (and not have to lock the doors separately to start the car).

I think the thing that bothers most people that value remote start is the crap that comes out of MB as to why they don't design it to work like other cars. Theft prevention, the environment, safety.....if you are living in a region where it is below zero ambient you will often make the truck out to the car, start it and go back inside until it's warmed up. It's not practical to get into a freezer and try to drive for 10 minutes before things warm up. The argument about safety, theft and the environment go right out the window when I start my car and let it warm up because now the car will run until I shut it off, it has little in the way of theft prevention and you can kiss any environmental concerns goodby.

MB, start making a remote start feature available that works like it should.

 

Pretty much sums it up.

 

Yeah, my X3's engine is still going even when I open the door and get in after a remote start!