348SStb

Hi All,

I searched for an answer to this but couldn’t find it.

I have two 2017 SLs which have connectivity with the Mercedes Me app as a standard feature from the factory, but Mercedes Me is very limiting in features compared with the Mercedes Me Connect app, which not only allows for remote start but also provides way more information.

For models on same generation that later had Mercedes Me Connect standard from the factory (I had a 2019 SL which had it), is it possible to upgrade/swap out some hardware on the car and make it a Mercedes Me Connect fully functional car?

I imagine this should be possible on a 2017 SL since no facelift intervened between 2017 and 2019 for this model (2017 was facelift year).

If yes, please share specific details if available.

Thanks,
David

348SStb

Circling back here. Hoping for some feedback. Thank you.

mercedesmax

Can't be done sorry. Different version of COMAND.

348SStb

Thanks for your reply.

Can you explain further please? My ownership experience of both 2017 and 2019 R231 tell me they are the exact same car, except for MB Connect.

Are you saying the two cars have a different version of COMAND infotainment? If yes, can the COMAND version be upgraded or retrofitted?

By the way - how is the COMAND system playing a role in this situation?

superswiss

Can you elaborate on that 2019 SL having Mercedes me connect? This would surprise me, because the old COMAND NTG 5 didn't get Mercedes me connect. The models that got Mercedes me connect starting in 2019, either had NTG 5.5 or MBUX (NTG 6.0). NTG 5.5 is very different from the old NTG 5. For starters it has an ultra widescreen which you won't be able fit in the old SL interior. Even if you could retrofit newer hardware - some outfits such as MB HOUSE in Canada do offer such retrofits for certain models - you'd be stuck trying to activate the Mercedes me connect services, because your VIN according to MB doesn't support it, so it won't let you activate the services.

For reference, here's the NTG 5.5 hardware with Mercedes me connect and digital instrument cluster in my 2019 C63S. As said, the center display is ultrawide 21:9, so they are not integrated in the dash like the smaller screen in your SL. Models like the W213 E Class etc. have a side-by-side two screen setup stuck on the dash to accommodate the wider screens.



And the side-by-side setup in a 2019 E63:

348SStb

Don’t know how to answer besides saying my 2019 SL had remote start.

I also owned 2019 C63S and 2019 E450 with remote start. I also currently own 2019 S65 with remote start.

superswiss

Remote start does not mean the car has Mercedes me connect. Remote start was a feature even before 2019 with the old Mercedes me mBrace app. Mercedes me connect is the newer platform that MB released in 2019 and among other things has an entirely new app as well. Are you saying your 2017 has no online services at all?

This is the Mercedes me connect app:



For comparison here's the old mBrace Mercedes me app.

348SStb

My 2017 cars use the old Mercedes Me app shown in your last picture — not the newer Me Connect app — and they feature lock and unlock (I stopped paying for that), but never remote start.

348SStb

Would you kindly show us the full photo of the remote start page on the old Mercedes Me app, which appears on the second photo in your post?

superswiss

That's odd. The old app has Remote Start. Here's what it looks like. Having said that, mBrace is end of life, and MB has started to terminate some of the services. Remote Start may have been discontinued.

mercedesmax

Mercedes updated the Comand system to accept me connect starting in 2019. 2018 and older used the older app