okbarnett

The 2016, 2017 and older cars have a radio with a 3G based system. Mercedes and MBrace is discontinuing service for everything in november. Is there any conversion or updated radio unit that can be used as a substitute?
They are offering verizon HUM but it wont make all the mercedes car features work.

kafklatsch

From a logic standpoint it appears that the decision is truly just a corporate decision.

The car is for the most part modular and there is a module that has the 3G reception and processing.... Even if there is secondary processing I would bet that it's another module of some type... As it wouldn't make sense for Mercedes to embed 3G into say something like the instrument motherboard. ... Also even if the 3G has a specific output there could be a converter within the module that translates the 4G information into a 3 G-type output although I don't think this would be necessary....

On the outside chance that it's a speed and bandwidth difference... once again the module can convert it to an equivalent 3G output...

Bottom line ...Mercedes could make a module in charge what $$$ they want and make this all functional...especially in a W222 which is only one generation old...

The best or nothing.... but sometimes FU

SilverArrow44

Just to clarify, the telematics systems in cars that are based on the 3G network will no longer work, but your audio entertainment system will function as normal. However, I too am disappointed that we'll lose all the great functions of the MercedesMe app like remote start, remote locking, and vehicle tracking. I assumed Mercedes would have an upgrade plan in place just as they did when the analog cellular network was phased out in favor of the digital network; but they didn't. I'll hold on to my 2016 S-Class for a few more years, so my current plan is to do a hidden install of a Bouncie. I looked into the Verizon Hum, but with it offering none of the features I missed most, yet costing over $30 per vehicle, I decided to look into other options for tracking. The Bouncie will allow me to track the car when I drop it off for service or in the event it's stolen and it's just $8 a month.

xxnite2632

I REALLY hope someone comes-up with a solution for this 3G loss of function. We need remote start and traffic updates. I just brought my C217 in July and walked head-first into this foolishness. Boooooo! LOL

CaliBenzDriver

the contract went to the lowest bidders... they delivered discount obsolete solution. Scheduled 3G Sunset was nothing but a surprise. It was touted as a way to renew sales opportunities ✌️

These days all the car needs is a Bluetooth connection to pipe data through an iphone or a cheap Android phone left in the car for remote starts.

Teamsabino

I’ve read conflicting info on this. Is the cut off with 2018 or 2019?

kafklatsch

4 million US cars could be affec5ed by this according to sales figures

So a corporate decision to NOT do a module upgrade will affect the following
1)car unlocking
2) No more automatic collision notification - no emergency or medical aid summouned via sensor deployment
3) No more stolen vehicle tracking ( A new plug in OBD2 module for this can just be tossed out the window - Literally an insult to suggest that this as a substitute)
4) no more Roadside assistance (cellphone will work, but pinpoint location is golden)
5) no more remote services thru MB
6) no more MB online in car services
7) no more in car OEM apps

Most of these are not really crucial however however collision notification and stolen vehicle Tracking are features we expect to have as part of The high end vehicle amenities...

I tried to rationalize this by estimating the amount of money Mercedes loses by not having the subscription and it comes to a few million dollars a month however when the company's profit is in the billions a quarter then a few million can be ignored if chosen... But the bean counters shouldn't give away millions of dollars of almost free money each quarter..

To upgrade that module is a small investment .. A profit with every sale of the module and with a huge upside For Mercedes... evidently It's just not enough to be critical to the bottom line right now...

So then it becomes A customer service decision.... And the result of that is a slap in the face
.... Something that has a 100% chance of being profitable to the tune of $$$millions and they won't even do it.... the best or nothing and sometimes FU

Nice Ride

Hopefully some 3rd party Co. will pick up the opportunity.

xxnite2632

Darned-Ridiculous

carlosinseattle

This is bad, no doubt. But not as bad as Hyundai. They haven't had any head unit or map updates for any of the 2014 - 2018 Equus/G90 models since April of 2019. Some problem between the software company and the hardware manufacturer. It also affected some of the Hyundai Genesis and other Genesis models too, based on the generation of the head unit.

Nice Ride

benzninja can allow linking to iphone or other hot spot for the car to have internet service.

CaliBenzDriver

if that's a true fact, it's cause for great celebration! No reason @BenzNinja shouldn't retire millionaire fixing MB software stack with optimized settings.

Diesel Benz

Odd that this is not standard on a W222 as it is on later models. But have you checked if Mercedes Me services work via smart phone internet tethering? Also the main (or only useful) feature with Mercedes Me is remote services. One would need to leave a dedicated phone to the car for remote access but I doubt it works when MBUX/Comand is switched off?

Even if my car supports internet from a smart phone hotspot, I don't see real use for it. Browsing is clumsy from the car compared to the smart phone itself. Watching youtube videos perhaps from a bigger screen? Not for me but others must see some useful stuff?

Jet007

Let's go after the 'few' Millions, that may be negligible to Mercedes, in a class Action lawsuit. They really Blindsided us big time! No one warned me at the dealership of this impending doom. Otherwise I wouldn't have bought a car with less features than the previous generation (W221) which I also owned and thought I was making an upgrade to the W222 S600.

Nice Ride

Benz-Ninja What is your masterful solution.....

kafklatsch

NON-ninja view
The only way there can be a solution is either for MB to accept the AFTERMARKET interface and tie it into their current monitoring and service system which is by VIN ( NEVER), or to create a whole 'nuther parallel universe ( monitoring system and servIce) and then create and change the hardware module.. and have that NOT be rejected by the cars telematic systems.. intentionally??

Again, currently it is a 3g module with a specific data communication to the mb system. mercedes could have a 4g, 5g, 10g or anything, as the new wireless transceiver module, and inside that module, a converter to convert to exactly the same data communication as the current unit... this is a no brainer...aside from maybe new data safety protocols.. which must already exist...but they just refuse.. ..

dlafever

SO, I contacted MBUSA about this issue when it would not let me register my new (pre-owned) car with MBUSA without them being able to connect to the car to verify. The MBUSA rep told me that the telematics module can be updated to the 2018+ (non-3G) version, enabling all the missing stuff. I left it there thinking that this would be more costly than it is worth to me. Just food for thought.

kafklatsch

Interesting information
and this is a 2017 or older model w222?

dlafever

Yes, I called them in reference to my 2015 S550.

as.thompson

If this is true - updating the 3G to the 2018 and later system - that would be great news for all of us. Is there anyway to get more information from your contact at MBUSA?

dlafever

I just called this number from the MercedesMe app.

877-570-0367

Nice Ride

xxnite2632

Called... It was useless. Those M-Brace jokers weren't very helpful and said if there is any retrofitting, that I should contact a local MB Dealership to see what they say.
I KNOW our Brothers oversees are all over the solution for retrofitting a 5G system into a 3G car. Does anyone have any solid contacts with folks doing the research and development? or at least the speculation.

kafklatsch

I don't think it's possible to do it aftermarket... in fact, I can remove "think"... 99% it can't be done.

why??
Because the system works "through" MB, so the aftermarket system would have to be "accepted" into the MB cyber universe. and it will not be.
recall that they get your information and VIN to activate... they absolutely know which VINs have the proper equipment and will only activate that vehicle.

I imagine that we get an aftermarket Module, we call to become part of the MB network (activate it)... give them the VIN, and it rejects the activation because the car VIN shows "old system"... thusly, the VIN kills it...I don't see a way around it...MB would have to agree to accept it.... nope!

and....I do not think anyone would build a parallel monitoring and service universe for the aftermarket modules.

I must restate: MB can build a module that receives 5g (or what have you), and that module converts the data to output exactly the same as our current 3g unit to communicate with the vehicle... this is simple, and that is not an exaggeration... the converter is likely a 50-cent to 2-dollar chip max... they charge a nice comfy $$$mark-up/profit for the module and reap the monthly subscriber fees for thousands or even millions of vehicles...

they refuse.... Hey Mr. MB owner!, by a new car!!!!


I respond to this thread because MB personally rubs me the wrong way on this matter... it's stupid.. they make many millions (and CANNOT lose money on this) and keep many owners happy... wtf.