Mercedes Me turned off for pre 2020 vehicles

[Ditch999]

My GLC had Mercedes Me full funcionality. It was great, being able to lock/open doors etc. Then it was up for renewal after the 3 year period.
I tried to go to the store to renew but it had 'disappeared' and it was on the same day my car was in getting a new NoX sensor fitted so I though the MB garage had done something.
I rang them and the service guy said that no, they did nothing but he looked in to it and it was pure coincidence that the 3 years was up on the same day as I got the sensor. He said it will be in the MB Store App and to purchase a new 3 year subscription there.
I went to the Store App and it was still missing so I contacted MB Me customer service and here is their reply:

"As you might have heard all of the "Big Four" network providers decided that they are going to slowly phase out and shut down their 3G networks around the entirety of the UK, to free up capacity for the latest 5G technologies.

The first operator to take the step is Vodafone who started shutting down 3G from February 2023. Nearly all Mercedes-Benz vehicles manufactured before 2020 have communication modules sending data on Vodafone's network via the 3G wavelength. Considering this fact Mercedes-Benz have decided to not let customers purchase remote services for vehicles that are effected by the sundown.

Please be advised that retrofitting is not an available workaround in this scenario.

I apologize for any inconveniences this may cause you.

Looking forward for your feedback and I wish you a pleasant day."

So they have killed off any Mercedes Me functionality for any cars manufactured before 2020!! Ain't that just wonderful!

 

[grahamcol]

Not very good. Presumably the car was purchased based on a certain functionality and now it's being removed isn't acceptable in my opinion. That said, it does seem to be down to the 3g thing. However, l feel Mercedes should be offering a solution, especially with cars which are not that old !

 

[Ron240]

Presumably the car was purchased based on a certain functionality and now it's being removed isn't acceptable in my opinion.

First of all I do sympathise with the OP.
The decision to purchase a particular vehicle can have many factors, but I doubt very much the existence of a mobile phone app would be one of them.
When I bought my first Mercedes in June 2020 I was not even aware of Mercedes me, but when I started using it I thought it was great.

 

[s5tuart]

If 3G is being phased out I don't see that MB have any other choice other than to update the comms modules to 5G when it's finally got nationwide coverage.

 

[Srdl]

Just out of interest, have been doing a bit of digging. There are some discussions on US fora, where 3G is also being switched off, and it depends whether you have the Hermes LTE module, or not. LTE is another term for 4G. Just checked my VIN decode (2018 car) and I have code 362 HERMES - COMMUNICATION MODULE LTE

 

[BillyBoy]

I'm racking my brains. I had a 2016 W213 whic had 3g, and now have 2020 model that is 4g. Thing is, one of them went from 3g to 4g following a software update, but for the life of me, I can't be sure which it was. I have a vague feeling it was the 2016 one afte they did a full update of the COMAND software platform so solve various audio issues. I know for sure that's when the display layout changed to different icons, but I THINK it also changed to 4g at that point but couldn't swear to it. I did have the LTE module replaced on the 2020 car when the LIVE TRAFFIC kept faili g, but I'm pretty sure it was already 4g. If it wasn't, however, presumably that indicates that change to 4g just requires a new module.

 

[brandwooddixon]

I'm racking my brains. I had a 2016 W213 whic had 3g, and now have 2020 model that is 4g. Thing is, one of them went from 3g to 4g following a software update, but for the life of me, I can't be sure which it was. I have a vague feeling it was the 2016 one afte they did a full update of the COMAND software platform so solve various audio issues. I know for sure that's when the display layout changed to different icons, but I THINK it also changed to 4g at that point but couldn't swear to it. I did have the LTE module replaced on the 2020 car when the LIVE TRAFFIC kept faili g, but I'm pretty sure it was already 4g. If it wasn't, however, presumably that indicates that change to 4g just requires a new module.

This won't work for all installations as the hardware needs to support the new standard.
A switch from 4G to 5G will require another step change in hardware as it works on a totally different frequency and principle.
Luckily, chip manufacturers usually produce modules that support multiple standards, thus mobile phones now supporting 5G will also support 4G and will switch between antennas as required (5G being higher frequency, shorter range than 4G). By producing modules that meet multiple standards they are able to sell them in multiple regions worldwide where one of the standards may not have been rolled out.

 

[Ranjen617]

If Dodge can come up with a free kit to add to a 2017 Viper to eliminate this issue so can MB in my eyes.

 

[richlumb]

Just out of interest, have been doing a bit of digging. There are some discussions on US fora, where 3G is also being switched off, and it depends whether you have the Hermes LTE module, or not. LTE is another term for 4G. Just checked my VIN decode (2018 car) and I have code 362 HERMES - COMMUNICATION MODULE LTE

Same with my 2018
11U MBCONNECT - REMOTE ONLINE (HERMES)
360 HERMES - COMMUNICATION MODULE UMTS

 

[Srdl]

Same with my 2018
11U MBCONNECT - REMOTE ONLINE (HERMES)
360 HERMES - COMMUNICATION MODULE UMTS

UMTS is “Universal Mobile Telecommunications System” which is essentially 3G

 

[SJMaxwell]

I'm hitting the same issue now in both my 2016 GLC and SL, in that the options have disappeared in Mercedes Me. How is the traffic information going to work if they've taken the purchasing option away and what happens if, like me, I purchased a three year extension!?

 

[alcmackew]

Got a notification on the app that Mercedes Me will end in AUG downunder and to download any info you want before it goes offline. Got a free Bluetooth transponder fitted about 12 months ago too (rare to have something free from Benz!) Pity I used to like getting the diagnostics off the app - theres a Service App still so will just use that I suppose. Being an older Benz it was pretty limited for my 204. Does this mean I no longer need the transponder unit plugged into the OBDII socket?

 

[mrbobrob4066]

Same problem in Italy for my E220 W213 2017 and C200 W205 2017, is there a solution??????

 

[S500 Pete]

We have/ had the units plugged into the OBD. These shouldn't be affected as they just use bluetooth to whatever your phone is.

My module was actually returned because I kept kicking the ****** thing.

 

[mioba]

If Dodge can come up with a free kit to add to a 2017 Viper to eliminate this issue so can MB in my eyes.

nahhh MB rather just buy a new car

 

[brandwooddixon]

This is one reason why I wouldn't buy a car that relied upon an internet connection in order to access certain functions. The technology used has a finite life span.
People forget or don't realise that standards change over time and certainly in a far swifter timescale than the life expectancy of a car.
On it's simplest terms the same issue is hitting the second hand EV market.
They're reliant on a technology that has a finite life span and it's the second hand car market that takes the hit (or rather the unsuspecting new owner).

Car companies only want people to buy new cars, they're production lines and livelihood depend on it.

 

[SJMaxwell]

This is one reason why I wouldn't buy a car that relied upon an internet connection in order to access certain functions. The technology used has a finite life span.
People forget or don't realise that standards change over time and certainly in a far swifter timescale than the life expectancy of a car.
On it's simplest terms the same issue is hitting the second hand EV market.
They're reliant on a technology that has a finite life span and it's the second hand car market that takes the hit (or rather the unsuspecting new owner).

Car companies only want people to buy new cars, they're production lines and livelihood depend on it.

Absolutely true, and buying a new EV is the most un-green thing we can do. No government is going to restrict the sale of new cars, but the green brigade needs to understand what is used to produce that car and, what happens when the old one is destroyed! Mercedes is in the business of selling cars but my experience with software on Mercedes is that I won't be buying an EV made by Mercedes for a long time, the reliance on third party shoddy, badly tested and implemented programming means it isn't worth the hassle in a developing market!

 

[rorywquin]

My GLC had Mercedes Me full funcionality. It was great, being able to lock/open doors etc. Then it was up for renewal after the 3 year period.
I tried to go to the store to renew but it had 'disappeared' and it was on the same day my car was in getting a new NoX sensor fitted so I though the MB garage had done something.
I rang them and the service guy said that no, they did nothing but he looked in to it and it was pure coincidence that the 3 years was up on the same day as I got the sensor. He said it will be in the MB Store App and to purchase a new 3 year subscription there.
I went to the Store App and it was still missing so I contacted MB Me customer service and here is their reply:

"As you might have heard all of the "Big Four" network providers decided that they are going to slowly phase out and shut down their 3G networks around the entirety of the UK, to free up capacity for the latest 5G technologies.

The first operator to take the step is Vodafone who started shutting down 3G from February 2023. Nearly all Mercedes-Benz vehicles manufactured before 2020 have communication modules sending data on Vodafone's network via the 3G wavelength. Considering this fact Mercedes-Benz have decided to not let customers purchase remote services for vehicles that are effected by the sundown.

Please be advised that retrofitting is not an available workaround in this scenario.

I apologize for any inconveniences this may cause you.

Looking forward for your feedback and I wish you a pleasant day."

So they have killed off any Mercedes Me functionality for any cars manufactured before 2020!! Ain't that just wonderful!

I’d be seriously ****ed off. Now even happier that I sold my 2016 SL this year.

 

[BillyBoy]

Another strange one, I wanted to activate the "In Car Office" on my car, but it says it's incompatible with the vehicle. The thing is, when I bought the car, it had an inclusive period of the feature and it worked fine, so I emailed MB, and after first being told how to install it, I pointed out for the second time that the issue wasn't I didn't know HOW to install it, but that I COULDN'T install it. I finally got a reply that they were sunsetting the app for some vehicles including mine, so basically they can decide not to support features in the future even if the vehicle does.

Puts me off MB in the future, but having said that, I suspect most manufacturers won't be much different as they chase the new car dollar...

 

[rorywquin]

Puts me off MB in the future, but having said that, I suspect most manufacturers won't be much different as they chase the new car dollar...

Yes, it seems that future cars will need subscriptions for all sorts of features that should be free and that manufacturers can turn off as they please.

It could be argued that part of your buying decision was the fact that it had “in Car Office” and that you are entitled to a refund for this deletion.

I wonder how long it will be before we start seeing legal cases popping up like they have for the DPF lies on diesel cars.