Will live traffic work with an SD card bought on the internet?

[DougWadsworth]

I would like to update the maps in my 2017 C Class and also get the live traffic back since it stopped working after 3 years.
it seems that Mercedes has changed the way maps can use live traffic recently and I have been told by Mercedes that I need to buy a new SD card for about £110 as well as to subscibe to the navigation package for £107. The navigation package has 7 services but my car can only use one the Live traffic, so I am not very happy to pay for 6 items I can’t use.
Does anyone know how best to update my nav maps and get live traffic?
I understand that I might have to subscribe to the Mercedes navigation package but if I buy a maps SD card on the internet will it work with the live traffic?
2021/2022 Mercedes Garmin Map Pilot GPS Satellite Navigation Full Install SD Card STAR2 v17 Europe - A2139062610

 

[Srdl]

I doubt it but why not ask the vendor?

 

[DougWadsworth]

The vendor says...
In order to get a [very expensive] Live Traffic annual subscription setup you need to purchase the card directly from MB so they can register the card and VIN

 

[BPD07]

Strikes me, your trying to use a built in function of the car, that requires a rolling licence from Mercedes to activate. With multiple systems it’s fraught with risk - just buy the service from Mercedes. Or see if you can get Waze working from your phone to the screen.

 

[DougWadsworth]

Yes, I need to buy the Mercedes services. It took some time to get to this conclusion as Mercedes give different answers depending which dealer I spoke to.
The head office was not clear about what I needed to to do either.
But it confirms my basic instinct not to buy cheaper options.

But what does annoy me is having to subscribe to a navigation package for £107.10 when I can only use one out of the seven.

 

[Srdl]

Yes, I need to buy the Mercedes services. It took some time to get to this conclusion as Mercedes give different answers depending which dealer I spoke to.
The head office was not clear about what I needed to to do either.
But it confirms my basic instinct not to buy cheaper options.

But what does annoy me is having to subscribe to a navigation package for £107.10 when I can only use one out of the seven.

It does imply that the price has been adjusted to take account of the 1/7 availability. Just checked mine and it would be £119 (£279 three years) for two services (Live Traffic and Parking for Navigation)

 

[DougWadsworth]

If the full I year package is £119.00 then each package pro rata is £17.00 not £107.10. Maybe they have slipped a 0 in between the 1and 7

 

[rorywquin]

Strikes me, your trying to use a built in function of the car, that requires a rolling licence from Mercedes to activate. With multiple systems it’s fraught with risk - just buy the service from Mercedes. Or see if you can get Waze working from your phone to the screen.

Waze works with CarPlay.

 

[rorywquin]

Yes, I need to buy the Mercedes services. It took some time to get to this conclusion as Mercedes give different answers depending which dealer I spoke to.
The head office was not clear about what I needed to to do either.
But it confirms my basic instinct not to buy cheaper options.

But what does annoy me is having to subscribe to a navigation package for £107.10 when I can only use one out of the seven.

I went through the same issues with mine. I use the last update of maps (done in 2020) and if I’m going to be hitting traffic I switch to Waze if I feel I’ll need it. Personally, I’ve never seen the need for the most uptodate maps on a SatNav. I used a 2008 TomTom in 2015 to tour parts of NewZealand, USA & Iceland and never got lost with 2008 maps.

 

[Srdl]

If the full I year package is £119.00 then each package pro rata is £17.00 not £107.10. Maybe they have slipped a 0 in between the 1and 7

No mine is £119 for two products out of seven