Maybe when it doesn't matter any more.

 

I had a similar experience with the app. I have a MidCity kit in my CLS63s and it works great, I "lost" a key but it works EVERY SINGLE TIME.

 

My Me app has been probably 75%/25% pass/fail for remote start.

Not enough fuel in the car, can't verify doors locked, odd smell nearby, all sorts of weird excuses.

Often takes quite a while from request to actually starting. Will leave a restaurant and try to start the car to cool it off (rarely needed in San Diego) and half the time we get to the car before it's started.

 

We are so glad to hear this! Thank you for the shoutout. We do have a couple of new SKUs and expanded compatibility (and a few more models coming soon). Both of these kits are 100% plug and play:

SKSNG213 (requires extra key)

o E Class 2017-2023, Note: ‘22+ requires USB programmer to change settings
o CLS 2020-2023, Note: ‘22+ requires USB programmer to change settings
o G Wagon 2019-2024
o GLC 2020-2022
o C Class 2019-2021
o S Class 2018-2020

SKSNG167 (requires extra key)

o A Class 2020-2023
o B Class 2020+ coming soon
o CLA 2020-2024
o GLE 2020-2024, NON 48V systems only
o GLA 2020-2024
o GLS, 2020+ coming soon

New product pages for these SKUs will be online sometime next week, but we are shipping now. Call us at 312-421-1114 or email sales@midcityengineering.com for questions or to buy a kit.

 

What does it mean by "requires extra key"?

 

in the past when installed DEI/viper/compustae products it meant one key was sacrificed to stay in the car to deliver the RF signal to defeat the theft deterrent ignition disabling system, it was stored in a small hidden box and a wire harness went to the steering column or RF receiver

 

That sounds like a formula for a late night/early morning startup and by the time you got to the window to see what was going on all you would see is your baby taking off forever.

 

I imagine the Keyfob needs to be in a faraday cage based box inside the car to prevent digital theft/replication and also to not interfere with lock/unlock permissions as the keyfob is inside and the car needs to be unlocked to defeat the alarm (in order to start the engine) but also the owner has to unlock it from the outside with another separate keyfob. but I'll wait @midcityeng response to this interesting question.

this was the early way of defeating the theft/immobilization system when installing auto start systems back in the day when I was installing them. However, technology evolved, where we could replicate the radio frequency signal into a separate module that remained in the vehicle that was summoned when the car needed to be started automatically by the automatic starter (the module communicated with the immobilizer to defeat it), this got rid of the need for a separate key in the vehicle itself. Additionally, keeping a separate key in the vehicle was challenging during the winter because the radio frequency signal decreased from the extreme cold temperatures and sometimes the car would not start.