Are MB ripping us off - Traffic, Monitoring & Vehicle on 3+years old car

[JBell]

When you sat in that car in the show room, did the salesman/woman tell you that in three years you would have to pay a £100 or more / year to keep the same car that you purchased (i.e. you bought the car)?

It probably states you get 3 years access free, MB will use that as confirmation you have to pay after that

 

[rorywquin]

It probably states you get 3 years access free, MB will use that as confirmation you have to pay after that

Probably............. My main beef is having to pay for a bunch of features that I cannot use.

 

[rorywquin]

Yes they are, amount of miles you do I wouldn’t bother

I won't bother with traffic but I do like the other features.

 

[rorywquin]

I think it’s actually worse than that. There’s probably only three services I really value enough to want to pay for and they are spread across all three categories. So I would be paying £277 for just those three functions.

That is my problem. It all used to be in one package. They have also recently increased the prices and spread them over the 3 packages.

Can MB legitimately make us pay for stuff we cannot use or don't want?

 

[sonic]

If you have Apple Play then you can use Waze or Google maps on your screen.
Bought a SLC250d with sat nav about a month ago. Previously I use Waze if I am in my car, or TomTom Live in my wife's car.
Very disappointed with the MB sat nav very slow to calculate even short journeys, or when you get diverted. Tents to stick to main roads.
The best part of TomTom is the lane assist very useful. Its not quite as quick as Waze re-routing round traffic.
Waze Very quick to calculate including traffic, but no lane assist.

 

[Ricardo_e220]

Just had reminder that mine can be renewed, I’m not going to bother as I use waze mostly these days - the command traffic I found pretty poor compared to other systems..

 

[JBell]

Can MB legitimately make us pay for stuff we cannot use or don't want?

Yes, they do it every time you buy a car, all manufacturers do

 

[EmilysDad]

Yes, they do it every time you buy a car, all manufacturers do

they very often include the popular options within a package of other options

 

[JBell]

they very often include the popular options within a package of other options

Exactly

 

[rorywquin]

If you have Apple Play then you can use Waze or Google maps on your screen.
Bought a SLC250d with sat nav about a month ago. Previously I use Waze if I am in my car, or TomTom Live in my wife's car.
Very disappointed with the MB sat nav very slow to calculate even short journeys, or when you get diverted. Tents to stick to main roads.
The best part of TomTom is the lane assist very useful. Its not quite as quick as Waze re-routing round traffic.
Waze Very quick to calculate including traffic, but no lane assist.

I don't really need traffic and would use Waze if I did (I have Carplay). The car has all the lane keeping and lane assist built in.

I can live with paying £158-00 for what want as I have no choice but it is annoying to pay for 2 bundles full of stuff I cannot use.

 

[sonic]

I don't really need traffic and would use Waze if I did (I have Carplay). The car has all the lane keeping and lane assist built in.

I can live with paying £158-00 for what want as I have no choice but it is annoying to pay for 2 bundles full of stuff I cannot use.

MB have seen this as a money tree, purchase is quite cheap but the ongoing costs are not. I shall see my year out then rely on Waze. If my wife is onboard then we have her TomTom live as well with lane assist.
My 2011 E class still has the original sat nav disc, not changing that either.

 

[rorywquin]

MB have seen this as a money tree, purchase is quite cheap but the ongoing costs are not. I shall see my year out then rely on Waze. If my wife is onboard then we have her TomTom live as well with lane assist.
My 2011 E class still has the original sat nav disc, not changing that either.

Yep as stated I don't need the "traffic" either. I do like and want remote door unlocking & vehicle data and vehicle locator / geofencing.

 

[Champak]

Hi Guys,

I am about to put deposit on a used s213 later today that has the drive package (those cabins are a lovely place to sit). Am I to understand that if i wanted the car to use lane assist and other semi-autonomus driving functions then i'll have to get an ongoing paid-subscription. Not the end of the world at £100/year given that my annual mileage is likely to by 30k+ but will leave a bad taste in mouth. My previous Audi A6 and all the Skodas, Volvos that came with these functions as standard now keep the car in lane without any subscription.

Also I heard a Merc salesperson mention that the car will automatically slow down if there's a roundabout on the route etc, is that true or just an over-enthusiastic salesperon?

Regards,

 

[McDonald]

I'm new to Waze, only a couple of weeks in. It's terrific. It warns me about potholes. This morning it advised me that a vehicle was parked on the hard shoulder up ahead. It told me that police activity was reported in one mile. The mercedes offering doesn't interest me, even slightly. And Waze is free.

 

[Srdl]

Hi Guys,

I am about to put deposit on a used s213 later today that has the drive package (those cabins are a lovely place to sit). Am I to understand that if i wanted the car to use lane assist and other semi-autonomus driving functions then i'll have to get an ongoing paid-subscription. Not the end of the world at £100/year given that my annual mileage is likely to by 30k+ but will leave a bad taste in mouth. My previous Audi A6 and all the Skodas, Volvos that came with these functions as standard now keep the car in lane without any subscription.

Also I heard a Merc salesperson mention that the car will automatically slow down if there's a roundabout on the route etc, is that true or just an over-enthusiastic salesperon?

Regards,

I believe lane assist and the other such functions are part of the car and not subject to any subscription. It is feasible that the car will know about the roundabout from SatNav but I have no personal experience of using it so can’t comment.

This is an interesting report:
https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-n...i-autonomous-driving-assistance-plus-package/

 

[barian]

Hi Guys,

I am about to put deposit on a used s213 later today that has the drive package (those cabins are a lovely place to sit). Am I to understand that if i wanted the car to use lane assist and other semi-autonomus driving functions then i'll have to get an ongoing paid-subscription. Not the end of the world at £100/year given that my annual mileage is likely to by 30k+ but will leave a bad taste in mouth. My previous Audi A6 and all the Skodas, Volvos that came with these functions as standard now keep the car in lane without any subscription.

Also I heard a Merc salesperson mention that the car will automatically slow down if there's a roundabout on the route etc, is that true or just an over-enthusiastic salesperon?

Regards,

You will like the drive assistance package, I am sure. I think the answer to your question is that the adaptive speed control and lane assistance functions will work independently of the navigation update status. The only thing that might potentially be affected is the route based speed adaptation which will, as you have been told, slow the car down when using distronic plus (adaptive speed control) approaching roundabouts, on bends etc. To do this it must use the navigation database and, if this is not up to date, it is possible that it will fail to make a speed adjustment or make the wrong one. However, roads don't change that often, and I am sure it will continue to work otherwise. While it can be helpful, I find the route based speed adaptation the second least useful function of the package, and I often find I want to slow earlier than it would or drive a bit faster round motorway junctions (all easily done). The least useful function, by the way, is the automatic speed limit observance function. This has an unnerving tendency to pick up lower speed limit signs on slip roads etc and brake the car unnecessarily, and potentially dangerously in my view. I don't use it. But, overall, I think the package is brilliant and it is remarkable how much more relaxing it makes long journeys. If you do like it, you might be advised to keep quiet as there will be people on here who will tell you that anybody who uses such systems is a danger to themselves and others and should give up driving!

 

[rorywquin]

Hi Guys,

I am about to put deposit on a used s213 later today that has the drive package (those cabins are a lovely place to sit). Am I to understand that if i wanted the car to use lane assist and other semi-autonomus driving functions then i'll have to get an ongoing paid-subscription. ......

Regards,

That is not part of the subscription - it works with the cameras in the car etc.

Other than Traffic, you'd be paying for features that you can use from your phone.

 

[Champak]

You will like the drive assistance package, I am sure. I think the answer to your question is that the adaptive speed control and lane assistance functions will work independently of the navigation update status. The only thing that might potentially be affected is the route based speed adaptation which will, as you have been told, slow the car down when using distronic plus (adaptive speed control) approaching roundabouts, on bends etc. To do this it must use the navigation database and, if this is not up to date, it is possible that it will fail to make a speed adjustment or make the wrong one. However, roads don't change that often, and I am sure it will continue to work otherwise. While it can be helpful, I find the route based speed adaptation the second least useful function of the package, and I often find I want to slow earlier than it would or drive a bit faster round motorway junctions (all easily done). The least useful function, by the way, is the automatic speed limit observance function. This has an unnerving tendency to pick up lower speed limit signs on slip roads etc and brake the car unnecessarily, and potentially dangerously in my view. I don't use it. But, overall, I think the package is brilliant and it is remarkable how much more relaxing it makes long journeys. If you do like it, you might be advised to keep quiet as there will be people on here who will tell you that anybody who uses such systems is a danger to themselves and others and should give up driving!

Thanks for all the info Barian. I loved the adaptive cruise and lane keep in Audi and frankly wouldn't be without it. It helped me avoid atleast 2 collisions on M25 at peak hour driving in the last 12 months or so.

I also picked up posts on other forums about Merc slowing down abruptly to no longer in force lower speed limits so will watch out for that. I'm looking forward to try the Merc adaptive cruise and everything that comes with it, so will pay up for the subscription if there isn't any left on the car.

I am not sure if Merc has this function or not but I came across this on a Volvo in Scandinavia, the car could sense oncoming traffic around the bends on single lane carriageways and slow down in anticipation... I was and still am totally surprised by it, I couldn't see the oncoming traffic because view would be blocked by whatever but car would start to slow down and you know there's something around the corner so be prepared.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

 

[rorywquin]

Thanks for all the info Barian. I loved the adaptive cruise and lane keep in Audi and frankly wouldn't be without it. It helped me avoid atleast 2 collisions on M25 at peak hour driving in the last 12 months or so.

I also picked up posts on other forums about Merc slowing down abruptly to no longer in force lower speed limits so will watch out for that. I'm looking forward to try the Merc adaptive cruise and everything that comes with it, so will pay up for the subscription if there isn't any left on the car.

I am not sure if Merc has this function or not but I came across this on a Volvo in Scandinavia, the car could sense oncoming traffic around the bends on single lane carriageways and slow down in anticipation... I was and still am totally surprised by it, I couldn't see the oncoming traffic because view would be blocked by whatever but car would start to slow down and you know there's something around the corner so be prepared.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

My son has a Q7 and AMG E53 coupe (both 2019) and he much prefers the adapative cruise control and lane keeping in the Audi. However, he gets way more compliments on his MB .

 

[BillyBoy]

Hi Guys,

I am about to put deposit on a used s213 later today that has the drive package (those cabins are a lovely place to sit). Am I to understand that if i wanted the car to use lane assist and other semi-autonomus driving functions then i'll have to get an ongoing paid-subscription. Not the end of the world at £100/year given that my annual mileage is likely to by 30k+ but will leave a bad taste in mouth. My previous Audi A6 and all the Skodas, Volvos that came with these functions as standard now keep the car in lane without any subscription.

Also I heard a Merc salesperson mention that the car will automatically slow down if there's a roundabout on the route etc, is that true or just an over-enthusiastic salesperon?

Regards,

Be warned, the first time the car starts to steer for you is a little un-nerving . The Drivers assistance package is definitely the dogs private parts though. Don't think I could go back to a car without it now.