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Mercedes Benz E-Class Prices Paid and Buying Experience

1986 messages,  Last post on Jun 18, 2013 at 11:59 AM

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What is this discussion about? Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 155 of 200

#1535 of 1986 SOME INFO ON POSSIBLE CHANGES IN 2013 by abacomike

Jan 24, 2012 (6:59 pm)

From what my source tells me, Mercedes is considering removing the "star" hood ornament from the E Class Sport Models and changing the grille to resemble the C Class and CLS Class grilles. That would be a major departure from many, many years of having the star hood ornaments on the E Class vehicles. But from what they have done on the rest of the line with the ornents, it would seem logical.
 
There have always been complaints from owners of Mercedes Benz vehicles who have had their hood ornaments ripped off by so-called "collectors" of star ornaments, perhaps this is just a sign of the times. I must admit that when I lived in San Diego, my 1993 E class hood ornament was confiscated by at least 3 different "collectors"! They were a pain to replace at that time because when they got ripped off, damage was always done because they were not held in place by heavy wire like they are now.

#1536 of 1986 Re: SOME INFO ON POSSIBLE CHANGES IN 2013 [abacomike] by lawcar

Jan 25, 2012 (8:26 am)

Replying to: abacomike (Jan 24, 2012 6:59 pm)
Does that mean our E350's will be collector's items now?

#1537 of 1986 Re: SOME INFO ON POSSIBLE CHANGES IN 2013 [lawcar] by abacomike

Jan 25, 2012 (9:32 am)

Replying to: lawcar (Jan 25, 2012 8:26 am)
That would be highly doubtful!

#1538 of 1986 Re: Memory settings in E350 [damandamif] by abacomike

Jan 25, 2012 (12:32 pm)

Replying to: damandamif (Jan 17, 2012 5:10 pm)
Yes, that is correct! You must hold the setting button (1, 2, or 3) in until the seat, mirrors and/or steering wheel have stopped adjusting. This has been the case for as many year as I have owned E Class vehicles. Other cars I have owned have not required holding the memory button to access the desired setting. I guess this is just a quirk in the design and/or engineering.
 
But, as you mentioned, this is minor thing. I agree with the host in that it is probably a safety design to ensure that if you are driving, the memory setting does not inadvertently start moving if accidentally touched.

#1539 of 1986 Re: SOME INFO ON POSSIBLE CHANGES IN 2013 [lawcar] by kevinc5

Jan 25, 2012 (7:18 pm)

Replying to: lawcar (Jan 25, 2012 8:26 am)
No, but enterprising "collectors" will start stealing grilles.

#1540 of 1986 Re: SOME INFO ON POSSIBLE CHANGES IN 2013 [kevinc5] by lawcar

Jan 25, 2012 (9:59 pm)

Replying to: kevinc5 (Jan 25, 2012 7:18 pm)
HaHa

#1541 of 1986 Re: Hope I received a good deal [ghstudio] by abacomike

Jan 26, 2012 (10:37 am)

Replying to: ghstudio (Jan 11, 2012 7:45 pm)
GHSTUDIO! Responding to your post of January 11th regarding Mercedes Benz Mbrace stolen vehicle recovery assistance - I just got off the phone with Mbrace technical assistance. As of 2010, when Hughes took over this system and went digital as opposed to analog prior to 2010, if your Mercedes Benz is stolen and you have an existing paid account with Mbrace, they can locate your vehicle anywhere in the continental United States and parts of southern Canada, even if your are nowhere near a cell tower! They locate the car by Satellite Signals.
 
Here is how it works:
 
Your car is stolen and you contact the local police jurisdiction where the car was last seen. They issue a case number almost immediately. You then call Mbrace - and then put the police department on the phone. They verify the case number and Mbrace sends a signal to the car via satellite. The car then sends a signal back, via satellite to Mbrace. Mbrace then uses GPS satellite technology to locate the exact location of the car and assist the police or other governmental jurisdiction (State Highway Patrol, State Trooper, City or Village Police Department, etc., or whoever has jurisdiction over the area where the car is located) in the recovery of the vehicle.
 
I asked them if it was necessary for the car to have access to a cell tower or signal, and they said NO! The also told me they can lock or unlock the doors and/or trunk to the vehicle via satellite - not via cell communications. However, if you are traveling in an area that has no cell tower access via cell phone or via car transmission, you cannot communicate with Mbrace since they use roaming cell phone transmission to speak with the driver of the car. In other words, if you have a flat or an emergency, if you press one of the 3 Mbrace buttons on the overhead panel in the car, you will not be able to connect with Mbrace for that emergency. If your cell phone won't work because of lack of signal, your Mbrace communications system will not be able to be activated. BUT THE STOLEN VEHICLE RECOVERY SYSTEM WILL BE FUNCTIONAL WITH OR WITHOUT CELL TOWER OR CELL SIGNAL AVAILABILITY.
 
When you posted that it won't work without a cell signal, I was accepting of that fact, however, it bothered me because I didn't think my insurance company would give me a discount for the recovery system (same discount as they give Lojack customers) unless it operated independently of cell tower signal availability.
 
So, those of you who were considering Mbrace for stolen vehicle recovery services can now proceed with that decision since it operates via Satellite, not by cell.
 
I agree that the cost factor is a little steep (about $260 per year on a two year contract, a little less on a three year contact), it does provide other services.
 
I just felt I wanted to correct the possible misunderstanding about Mbrace stolen vehicle location services. If you should have any questions, you should contact Mbrace and they will explain everything for you.

#1542 of 1986 Re: SOME INFO ON POSSIBLE CHANGES IN 2013 [kevinc5] by abacomike

Jan 26, 2012 (12:52 pm)

Replying to: kevinc5 (Jan 25, 2012 7:18 pm)
Rather than steal my grille, I would prefer if they just took the whole car! That way, my insurance company would replace the car with a 1 year newer vehicle. LOL!!!

#1543 of 1986 Re: Hope I received a good deal [abacomike] by ghstudio

Jan 26, 2012 (6:13 pm)

Replying to: abacomike (Jan 26, 2012 10:37 am)
abacom...thanks for clarifying this. I assumed that communications with mbrace was all thru cell towers.....I can guarantee you that I am not alone in assuming this.
 
Mercedes obviously has no clue how to market this feature....they should have diagrams showing how mbrace works.....rather than "trust us" which is about all they show in their marketing (and manuals) today.
 
If only the emergency function operated the same way, mbrace might actually be worth what mercedes seems to think it's worth.
 
Even with the satellite capability, wouldn't it be logical to be able to immobilize the car thru the satellite....If you can lock/unlock the doors, it should be easy to do something that actually would help if the car is stolen. I am certainly less than impressed that they can open the trunk when they can't imobilize the car. Maybe the next version of mbrace will be able to turn on the radio to a nice rock station because the guy that stole the car doesn't know how to work the radio....as he drives to the chop shop.

#1544 of 1986 Re: Hope I received a good deal [ghstudio] by abacomike

Jan 26, 2012 (6:39 pm)

Replying to: ghstudio (Jan 26, 2012 6:13 pm)
I said "unlock", not open the trunk. It is up to Mercedes to produce a vehicle that can be immobilized, not Mbrace! Once immobilized, how is it remobilized? It can be very costly to engineer and design something like that. Not only that, immobilizing and remobilizing a vehicle has certain liabilities associated with those functions - but these issues have to be addressed by lawyers, not me.
 
All I was trying to do was correct some misinformation for those of us who want to use Mbrace for stolen vehicle services. We all have our opinions, and I respect yours.

Messages Page 155 of 200

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