2023 GLS450 randomly throw 6 error codes listing multiple advanced systems as inoperative. The cruise control will not work either as seen in the attached pictures. Stopping the car will reset the code and buy about 30 minutes of driving before repeating the cycle. This error is also indicated by the yellow cars looking like they are about to hit on the dash.
The 360 camera system also goes inoperative at different and similar times. Picture attached. Any commonality between the 2 issues? Thinking the head unit.
Patience is starting to wear thin, not having cruise control at random times especially on recent roadtrips has been crazy.

 

The head unit just displays information, it has nothing to do with any of the advance safety features, the cameras nor the alerts. The camera is the nucleus around all of these issues. It could be defective, it could be dirty, your windshield could be dirty, your glass could have a chip/crack or other defect.

A physical piece of hardware on your car is seeing (or not seeing) something it doesn't like and is telling the software that it is not safe to use these features and displaying the errors to you, the end user.

 

Restarting MBUX usually fixes that red system error message. Hold TEL and 🌟 STAR buttons until the screen goes blank. It takes about 4s for reverse cameras to show again and 10s for entire system to work again. It's a pretty quick restart.

 

I hear what you’re saying but if the camera is faulty the system will refuse to show any image, including other cameras? And cruise control, a basic system that has been around for decades, shuts down and prefers the driver to use their foot?

These are the things that don’t make sense to me. I believe 1 control module was already replaced.

 

It's possible that all your sensors and cameras need to be calibrated but first I'd just wipe your camera lenses clean (and the outside windshield area where you see the camera hoods) and make sure the big distronic sensor at the front is clean (although I don't think dirt affects that like the cameras). It's also possible that the lenses directly on the front cameras behind the rearview mirror needs to be wiped clean, in previous model years a film builds up on the lenses from off-gassing of the heating element that prevents fogging. You're still under warranty so push for those things to be performed.

 

Just had this. It required a software update. No issues since.

 

An even easier solution. Thanks for chiming in. Yes and oftentimes a software update will fix the issue(s).

 

I miss my points and condensers.

 

Welcome to owning a German car. BMW, Mercedes, Audi, etc. all tie things to other things which seem to make no sense that American manufacturers do not do. It's one of the pleasures of owning cars like these.

The reality is, that all of these things are tied together whether you realize it or not. The cruise, the cameras, the emergency braking, etc. all work off of software and sensors and the windshield mounted camera is the conductor of that entire orchestra. Just because you still see a picture when you are backing up does not mean the camera system is working correctly.

So, it's simply a process of working backwards. If the software isn't throwing any errors and the sensors are all functioning and not covered by dirt or snow and there isn't a defect or bird **** on the glass, then the next obvious step is asking for the system to be re-calibrated from scratch or to ask for the camera to be replaced or both.

There are dozens of threads about issues like this across the forum, it's not isolated to the GLS.

You are ahead of the game in the fact that you are documenting this with photos but just like with healthcare, you need to be your own advocate. If your SA isn't listening to you, get another one, or speak to his boss, or take it to another dealer if that's an option.

Another thing you can do is use the forum and google as a resource and read all you can about these cars and the issue you are having so you can come armed with information that won't allow them to easily dismiss you. A service departments worst nightmare is an informed customer.

 

I totally disagree, both about forums making you an informed customer, and your statement that service departments worst nightmare is someone who's informed.

A bigger service department nightmare is somebody who thinks they're informed because they read a forum, AKA I saw it on the internet.

The best way to get good service is to describe your symptoms accurately. In a way that they can replicate your issue.
If you can't describe your symptom, they can't fix it.

Just like your analogy with the medical system. If you go to doctor and are unable to tell them what's wrong with you, don't expect to get it fixed.

Forums might give you a better ability to describe your symptoms. Which is key.

 

You are welcome to your opinion and I respect it, but the fact of the matter is, post pandemic service departments across all manufacturers are overwhelmed and understaffed. This has created a kick the can down the road mentality. You can go thread after thread in these forums and read stories about 3, 4, 5 service visits and having the same issue persisting.

If you have 6 technicians responsible for 600 cars and hook them up to Xentry, get no faults, drive them less than a mile down the road and cannot replicate the problem that is considered a solve and a clear in their book. Only for the customer to get their car back, drive it home and to the grocery store and to work and have the same thing pop back up and have to make another appointment that in some cases may be 3 or 4 or in some cases 6 weeks out or more.

So, if I can show up with my car and be able to articulate XYZ from my own research and also demonstrate I'm not ignorant to the systems in these cars, logic would suggest I should get better service than if I was to drop it off, grab a coffee and tell them something feels "weird".

You are foolish if you think that being a valued customer who can replicate a knocking sound with their mouth will get you the desired outcome. Unless your charm and handsomeness manages to establish a genuine connection with your dealer or SA you are nothing more than a VIN number with a complaint. As such, knowledge is your only weapon to prevent having to drive a car for 6 months with the same issue.

 

I can see why you get lousy service. Just read your post.

The patient's responsibility is to describe his problem and its symptoms. Charm and good looks has nothing to do with it.

If you're trying to impersonate a car with your mouth then you should be in some comedy club, not the dealership service department. They're probably already laughing at you.

One way around this, (many are clever enough to do this on their own) is to find a place near the dealership where you can replicate the situation or problem, and demonstrate it.

And treat the people like humans, not machines or dummies. Hey Mr. machine-dummy fix my car but I won't tell you the symptoms.
And then I'll complain that you didn't fix it, loud and wide over the Internet. (Well there's a big strategy for you.)

Using your phrase, the biggest fear of a dealership is some stupid Bozo who "read it on the internet." And that's what they'll call you behind your back, because, well....

You're entirely wrong about your assumptions, from the number of cars, to the number of technician in a shop.

The service department does not get reimbursed for doing a bad job every time they do a bad job. Everybody loses money - the shop, the technician, and the customer.
So the incentive for service departments is to get it right the first time.

A comeback is a comeback, and the District Service Rep won't authorize reimbursement for multiple "tries."

If you go in with a problem and tell them "adjust this and replace that," they'll probably have you sign a disclaimer stating that the Customer's Diagnosis may not be the correct one, and the repair is not guaranteed.

We also see the results of your approach.

You go in, make it clear that you know more than they do about your car, tell them what they need to know and what they need to do.

Result: You don't get satisfaction.

I go in, describe the symptoms, make sure they can replicate them and that they are conveyed properly to the technician, and they fix it.
Result: One and done. Satisfaction.

Maybe try an approach that works.
Or not, and you can call me foolish.
Oh you already did. Never mind.

 

I don't see how suggesting that looking into something a little on your own was perceived by you to be such an egregious faux pas nor how that suggestion resulted in this rambling diatribe about how I may or may not treat people who provide me with services.

Knowledge is power dude. I'm not sure how reading up on something so you can have an intelligent discussion about it could be considered a bad thing by any reasonable person.

 

This is the first you said "intelligent discussion." Yes, it's good to be able to have one, but that didn't seem like that was anything you wanted, because you're um Smarter.

I just know how the system works, and how the attitude you posted will likely fail.
As you apparently have experienced, according to your post.Worse, I've seen a Service Advisor take a Know-It-All customer as a challenge, and bleed him dry. "Ok I'll do whatever you say, but if you're incorrect, you'll have to pay again. And again." I suspended him when I found out.

You're right that knowledge is useful but only as you use it to understand what's going on with your car.
If you're The Big Exspurt, you're unlikely to listen to those who know and can help you. There's only so much abuse a Service Advisor can take. Then they give up on you.

A SA is the most thankless and underpaid job at a Dealership. They're there Ding to Dong, and they deal with folks who just had a spat with their wife of some other irritating thing, and they become the target.
And they deal with an assortment of customers all day - some are nasty, some aren't.
It's a skill that I admire, because I don't have it.

They're your partner, not your adversary. The phrase "You get more flies with honey than vinegar" applies here.

Kinda depends on your goals.
Is it to get things fixed, or do you want to brag about your Smarts at the pub and complain?

Sorry if I was wordy, but there's just so much wrong with your approach, that I'm using you as a bad example, hoping to help others who might be mislead by your posts.

 

I had a couple similar, kind of random events, on consecutive days, then a week later another, and again in a week.
First, my cameras all went off and I got the display you showed. I drove for 30 minutes to an appointment and it seemed to correct itself. I came out from the appointment, my seat and steering wheel were way back and up, in the Exit position. Drove a quarter mile (no more because I didn't feel like I was safe). Waited a half hour and I had control of my seat again.

In both cases I did the "turn off the car, open and close door, restart" procedure but to no avail.
A week later I got the camera malfunction again.

Documented the incidents, wrote a succinct description for the shop and took it in.

I took it in in person because I wanted to converse with the SA and service manager, instead of having them pick up the car as they usually do - I'm a hundred miles away.

I also mentioned some concerns that others have had on the Forum, as a kind of "wonder if I have" statement. Rear clunk (no, I don't have) front suspension rattles (no, I didn't really have either).

They worked on the car for a day and a half.
For my "alleged" clunk, they:
Performed IPR test, performed check of VGS software, up to date.
flushed the torque converter and automatic transmission.
Performed a Standstill Adaptation, which failed and they performed another one which passed.
Performed adaptation of torque converter lockup clutch.

Backup camera: Park system signal missing. Removed passenger foot well and seat to access MBUX and parktronic ECU to access wiring. Check of wiring, continuity is okay. Performed MBUX special procedure for update of all ECU software.
Did battery load test,
checked okay.
Could not duplicate seat lockup. Possible remedy during MBUX update. (I agree.)
Updated control unit software.

Bonus:
Technician "found heat damaged wires in engine wiring harness.
R&R lower engine compartment paneling complete.
Replaced two coolant lines for automatic transmission oil cooler.
R&R hose for wide open throttle crankcase ventilation.

Double bonus: found thermal damage at engine wiring harness coil packs, cylinders 1, 2 and 3. Replaced Engine wiring harness.

They have been in communication with MB, Germany, about the software update; mine was the first car they performed it on.
They returned the car to me (actually returned, 100 miles away) because I was expecting to travel over the holidays (didn't), and they wanted a clarification from Germany about some specific questions the technician and Shop Foreman had.

Exchanged for our GLC for a B service, (kept the loaner) and I anticipate they will swap it again for the AMG, if their software concerns were valid/important.

The car feels better. I'm happy they took the time that they did. I'll respect their wishes if they want me to bring it back in for follow-up.
Stellar.

Edit: BTW my ILS coding by RJA survived all the dealership programming.
P.S. my car has 44,000 miles.

 

I don't think anywhere did I state directly or even imply that you should abuse someone or treat them poorly. That is NOT my advice.

I also do not think I ever stated directly nor imply that I either was or was attempting to be smarter than anyone else simply because I make it a point to look into things on my own. Trust but verify was (or I hoped would have been) my message.

And lastly, I don't think anything I offered was out of line nor do I feel there is any harm whatsoever in asking my SA to look at a YouTube video someone else may have posted with a similar issue with a car like mine or bringing up a forum thread for them to read through that has been posted discussing an issue similar to mine.

I would like to think that any additional information I can provide them even if it doesn't come directly from me would be helpful in solving the problem.

 

Good luck.