My partner the BMW driver won't let me use my MB navigation because it sometimes routes us in strange ways. And I've checked and mine is usually set to shortest route or sometimes fastest route. I do find that usually my iPhone with Siri gives better directions but not always. I actually used the Nav today to go about 3 miles just to see how it would route. I would normally take city streets but MB wanted me to take the highway part of the way.

 

You wanna make sure it's on Fastest route and you don't have any of the avoid settings set. The shortest route is not always the fastest route. You have the same generation system as I have and I use it all the time. I find the routing is on par and sometimes better than Google Maps in my area. Live traffic is also very good around here. The thing to understand about built-in navigation systems is that they route top down, meaning they prefer major roads over minor roads, so they generally navigate via highway, then thoroughfare and finally local roads for the last mile, because major roads are designed to handle the traffic. Google Maps doesn't care and routes traffic even through residential neighborhoods, which is becoming a big issue as commuter traffic has moved into these residential neighborhoods. It's a very selfish way of routing.

I do use CarPlay and Google Maps if I need to go somewhere during busy times, but as I work from home and live in a highly walkable area, I have the choice not to drive if it's busy. I also use CarPlay when I travel as I don't wanna bother with the Infotainment systems of the rental cars. Just came back from Europe and had a Golf 8 as a rental, which has a horrible Infotainment system. Even wireless CarPlay started to crash after about 30 minutes, so I had to use wired CarPlay. At least that worked, but I have to say Google Maps' lane guidance is at times terrible. I never miss an exit or turn with the MB navigation, but I do with Google Maps. There's just something about all the information I can show with the MB system. I can have turn-by-turn and a small map in the instrument cluster and then an overview map in the center display, which switches to split screen and shows lane guidance and road signs so there's never a doubt where I need to go. Google Maps just doesn't show enough information and it's all crammed together on a single screen. We have all these screens in modern cars, but CarPlay can only use one of them. I think in newer models you can finally have turn-by-turn directions in the instrument cluster, but only with Apple Maps I believe.

Just can't beat this:

 

Much prefer Carplay...no desire to even try the Mercedes nav.

 

Quite fair but then you are not qualified to comment which one is actually better (me neither).

 

I've used it, I just don't see how its on the same level as GoogleMaps or Waze

 

''I think in newer models you can finally have turn-by-turn directions in the instrument cluster, but only with Apple Maps I believe''

True and this is what we are always using when traveling somewhere where we need directions, it is great !

 

Car manufacturers need to get out of the nav business and leave it to the web based apps to handle. They should focus on tighter integration with the apps like Waze. I would love to have Waze alerts pop up on my HU display as I like to know where my friendly Washington State Patrol officers are lying in wait.

 

I think that is going to happen for sure, already is happening with some carmakers

 

Most navigation apps don't work if there's no cell connection, so please no. As connected as we are, cellular service is not ubiquitous yet and won't be for a long time in remote areas. Not everybody always drives in metropolitan areas with good cell service.

 

Only if they are tied into your phone, eventually you will see these technologies brought into the car's infotainment natively vs through your phone. Some carmakers already do that.

I would recommend using the wireless hotspot in your car. The car has a powerful antenna, way more powerful than a phone and I have had basically zero issues with reception for navigation and music streaming when using the WiFi hotspot in the car even in rural areas with poor cell service.

 

If there is no cell reception, there's no cell reception. Here in California once you head away from the major highways into the canyons for example there's simply no coverage. Hotspot or integrated into the Infotainment system doesn't change that. All the car manufacturers that have gone this route have this problem. Tesla navigation doesn't work if you don't have cell coverage. Volvo also went with Google Maps and it doesn't work if you don't have cell coverage. Google Maps does have some offline functionality, but you can't easily download an entire state for example to make sure you always have map data even if you are driving in an area w/o cell coverage.

 

I bought a 20 GLS 450 in November and still have some time with Live Traffic. We are on a trip to FL and on the way down I used the MB navigation, and also had Waze on my phone. While both sent me on the same route, there were no traffic incidents on the way down to warrant a route alteration. Headed back in a few days and will report if there are any route differences. I do like the police reports on Waze.

 

I get it, but most people drive in areas where there is cell reception.

 

I use MB's navigation almost exclusively and generally it works very very well for me. A few times it has a bit of difficulty finding certain spots (such as the passanger boarding port in Ancona, Italy), but I've noticed that where that fails, Google doesn't always fare that better either. Biggest problem I've had with it is when it prompts you to "prepare to turn", which took some time getting used to.

I also find that Livetraffic as well as tailback time estimation are usually accurate as well.

 

I just find the built in navigation low on features. Google and Waze have better crowdsourced traffic data, they have better road alert data such as for stopped cars, cops, road debris, I love the look of the Google satellite map, etc. For route guidance I'm sure the MB nav works fine.

I also love that I can look up a destination on my phone, and click the address and it just routes me via Google Maps. Also in my calendar through CarPlay, I can select an address on a calendar appointment and it will just route me.

 

I use Android Auto via wifi a lot in my S560 and it integrates well with both the instrument cluster (main nav screen and driver's cluster) as well as the HUD. The main map screen is a bit more narrow compared to the MB as it has a large Android Auto logo that takes up about 1/3 of the left of the screen, but the Google map is still plenty large. I find the accuracy of routing about the same in MB as Google, but Google wins the battle in being much more current and detailed and responds to voice commands as well or better than the MB system. Sending maps/routes to my Google Pro 7 from my PC is seamless and is immediately reflected in the car.

 

I pretty much do the same with the MB nav FWIW via the send to car feature. I can look up a destination on my phone then simply share it to Mercedes me and it pops up on the screen in the car, and I've created a shortcut on my iPhone that lets me select an upcoming calendar event, extracts the location and sends it to the car. I can do that in advance even and then by the time I get in the car it pops up and I can start the navigation from the steering wheel.

 

Just involves more steps and shortcuts where with CarPlay it’s all built in, and I still would have an interface I don’t like as much and wouldn’t have the cop/hazard warnings…

 

Nope it's actually quicker, because I don't have to fumble with the phone when I get to the car and plug it in. Even wireless CarPlay has its issues. You gonna have a tough time getting your point across against folks who regularly use both systems. As I said I use CarPlay and the MB system. I prefer the MB system, because it's often more convenient thanks to being able to send destinations to the car in advance and then I just need to tap a button on the steering wheel to start the route guidance once I'm in the car. I also pretty much have the map screen up at all times, so I can see traffic even if I'm not navigating. With CarPlay I have to plug in the phone or stuff it on the wireless charger so it doesn't drain half my battery on the way to where I need to go and yesterday with the S500 loaner I had to reset the wireless CarPlay connection, because somehow it didn't track my current position right away and the navigation was all off. All navigation systems have their advantages and disadvantages and the smart move is to use the one best suited for the current situation. This might be CarPlay for you in most situations, but you don't really know until you've actually used the MB system regularly. As for the crowdsourced alerts in Waze, they've been largely useless to me. The cops are usually no longer where it says they are, so I much rather trust my radar detector.

 

I'm glad it works for you, what I do works great for me and I have no interest in changing what I do. The only functionality I don't have is navigation directions in the instrument cluster, and that doesn't bother me. I have no interest in using the MB system, I see no reason to since all my needs are met using CarPlay.

All you have to do with Google Maps is put destinations in sitting on your couch, and when you get into the car, all the destinations you put in are there. Its the same thing. I can also put destinations in easily from my computer, if I look up a place I can put the address in Google Maps and then its right there when I pull GM up in the car. The other plus is I have two cars, and my process is exactly the same and my experience is exactly the same when I driver either car, or a rental car. I can put a destination in while inside my house, and walk into the garage and decide which car to take and the destination is ready either way. I don't want to have a radar detector on my dash...don't need one, never have even before Waze. I also leave the map up all the time, and the map I leave up is the Google satellite map which is way more attractive than the bare bones MB map IMO.

The point is manufacturers are getting away from native built in GPS systems, you see it all over the place where you actually have to subscribe to the OEM navigation if you want it, and since I will never use it thats fine with me.

 

Yeah, to each their own and I get the argument if you have multiple cars. As I said, when I drive other cars such as loaners and rentals, I don't wanna bother setting them up to my liking or familiarize myself with the Infotainment system, so I just connect my phone. BTW, as you can see from my photo I posted above, the MB system has satellite view, at least in my '19 C63S. Regarding a radar detector, the only speeding ticket I got in the last 10+ years was because mine was on the fritz and I used Waze instead. Waze alerted me about all kinds of cops that were nowhere to be seen, except it didn't alert me about the one that was actually there. The ticket got dismissed due to a procedural error, so it worked out, but I bought a new detector right after that and it saved me numerous times already. I just don't wanna rely on the crowd reporting or not reporting cops, but as they say YMMV.

 

No satellite maps in my car unless you are zoomed way out. The only cars I have ever seen that have GoogleMaps satellite maps built in are Audis.

I have never needed a radar detector. In my 25 years of driving I have gotten maybe 3 speeding tickets, one of which was a cop pacing me on the highway and was just a power trip. My dad taught me how to scan the road ahead of me and look for cops, how to identify what cars are likely cops, how to interact with traffic to protect me from being a target for cops, and I’m really good at it.

Plus, they are illegal in VA and much of my highway travel is done in VA.

 

Yes, you have to zoom out to 2 mi which I am, because that's how I get an overview of my area with traffic for the entire area and see far enough ahead, so it works out. I use the instrument cluster map for the detailed view as I showed above. Among other things, Google Maps gives me tunnel vision, because it zooms in too close. I can't see what's far up ahead and the MB system even announces upcoming congestion when I'm not navigating.

Yes, I'm very good at spotting cops, too. I've learned where to look over the years and recognize their hiding spots etc., but I'm only human. Sometimes I miss one. I keep my radar detector tucked away when I drive in familiar areas, because I pretty much know where they are hiding, but I mount it when I drive in unfamiliar areas. VA is another story.

 

I mainly use MB navigation to get from city to city (like 8 hours away)
I wish I could just tap on a city and not have to worry about an address or street.
I wish I couple use the wheel more like a mouse.

 

Not important for the discussion but are you sure about the Audi thing? Mercedes, BMW and Audi are owners of Here (the former Nokia, former Navteq). Since these companies bought the navigation maps company and after a transition period I believe they all use "their own" maps (the same data on all)?