Frenetic

Does anyone know what exactly these features do? Can Mercedes remotely see any created fault codes, including check engine lights? The info button next to these two features doesn’t have any info.

Personally I think that’s great, assuming that info also gets back to the servicing dealer. And if it is true, they shouldn’t be able to plead ignorance on any intermittent issues I would presume since it gets transmitted back to Mercedes the moment it happens.

Frenetic

I found this: https://developer.mercedes-benz.com/...nostic_support

It seems my assumptions are correct. In fact, MB has an API to make this data available to third parties?

So, someone, I assume MB HQ, can see a lot of car data remotely. What would be even better if this data was made available to the dealer and us, the actual owner of the data. Maybe that is what the API is for? Anyone know anything else about this?

W205C43PFL

Yes to the bolded part of your original post, the rest not sure
Here is an example: https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-c63s-...ml#post8607131

Frenetic

They can also remotely wipe codes, which is kind of scary. Also, according to that thread, the data is queried upon request versus a constant stream, at least to the dealers. It wouldn’t surprise me if everything is logged back at MB, though.

W205C43PFL

I do think all our cars have "blackboxes" for decades that logs a lot of parameters and data even prior to all the connecting services that got introduced recently. Just the difference is that the vehicle needs to be at MB for them to extract the data and they will also do so if law authorities require them to. the remote diagnostics can be done anytime.

So for that reason I think this logging is nothing new (except...), I guess now it is more like the settings on smartphones "Track.... location/usage data/etc." "Send analysis data" "Unique advertising ID" "Unique identifier" but in the case of MB you can't "opt out" via something like "Do not track"

Well, I very least hope whatever data they collect will help improve the products and build stuff that consumers want, not what MB wants or that MB thinks customers want.

Diesel Benz

My car had a hiccup (starter issue) and I called my dealer service guy, he could see all current and stored fault codes remotely just like explained on the linked thread.

W205C43PFL

Definitely makes it easier for diagnosing the car and so if it is not a serious or safety issue perhaps the customer doesn't have to bring it in just yet and perhaps if for those customers that have stored codes indicating a safety issue it would alert the dealership automatically and so a higher priority appointment is therefore available?