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Mercedes Benz E-Class Prices Paid and Buying Experience

1939 messages,  Last post on May 23, 2013 at 6:30 PM

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

Messages Page 155 of 194

#1541 of 1939 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 1939 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 1939 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 1939 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.

#1545 of 1939 Re: Hope I received a good deal [abacomike] by ghstudio

Jan 27, 2012 (9:11 am)

Replying to: abacomike (Jan 26, 2012 6:39 pm)
immobilization could be as simple as a relay cutting off the fuel pumps. Yes, there are liability issues, but I think there are alarms on the market that will cut off the engine after a couple of blocks. You are right, mbrace (hughes?) wouldn't design the car electronics, but if they can unlock the doors, it seems like it would be pretty simple to introduce some sort of remote "engine immobilization". At least it would stop drive off theft.
 
I wonder how many cars are stolen and driven off vs towed? Anyone know????

#1546 of 1939 Re: Hope I received a good deal [ghstudio] by abacomike

Jan 27, 2012 (9:32 am)

Replying to: ghstudio (Jan 27, 2012 9:11 am)
I don't know the answer to your question, however I have seen many, many cars "reposessed" by being simply towed from the rear! They lift up the rear of the car with long "tong-like" protusions, like those found on a fork lift, and merely pull the car right out of its parking space. If the car has a mercury switch, I would imagine the alarms would sound, but who listens to alarms on cars anymore?
 
As to which manner vehicles are stolen the most, I have no idea.

#1547 of 1939 Re: Hope I received a good deal [ghstudio] by abacomike

Jan 27, 2012 (10:35 am)

Replying to: ghstudio (Jan 27, 2012 9:11 am)
Hughes Telematics operates the Mbrace systems in all Mercedes vehicles equipped with digital technology capabilities. I don't know if they operate other systems such as Lexus Link, BMW Assist, On Star, etc. But I would not be surprised since the basic systems are similar, if not identical. They all seem to do the same things and operate the same way. I asked Hughes if they did, but was told that info was unavailable to me, as a consumer.
 
Wonder if anyone knows the answer to this?

#1548 of 1939 E350 Convertible lease by malbert2

Jan 28, 2012 (9:19 am)

Am new to this forum, was hoping some of you might be able to give me some advice/thoughts. I have about 9 months remaining on my CLK-350 cabrio lease and am already over milage so would like to move into an E350 cabrio lease. The build of the vehicle that i want seems to have an MSRP of apprx $64k (with P1 package). I understand that getting out of my lease early will likely add on to any potential payment, but can anyone give me an idea of what a good lease price would be on this car with everything rolled into the payment and/or whether on this vehicle, it might make sense to look at purchasing it? Thanks!

#1549 of 1939 Re: E350 Convertible lease [malbert2] by abacomike

Jan 28, 2012 (9:37 am)

Replying to: malbert2 (Jan 28, 2012 9:19 am)
I am not a lease officionado, but I can tell you that Mercedes did have a "pull ahead" program last month, but I do not know if it is still available. Assuming your lease is wih Mercedes Benz Financial, there are or were two incentives available:
 
If you purchase or lease car, you can get a $2000 cash incentive toward the financing or leasing of your vehicle with MB Financial.
 
To find out what the current incentives are, go to the top of the home page of Edmunds and click on NEW cars. Then click on incentives and rebates. Then click on Mercedes. Then click on E350 and then convertible. I believe there is a special lease rate right now with about 5,000 total out of pocket (not counting 2000 loyalty) for 699 per month on a $62,000+ vehicle)
  
Check with your Mercedes Benz Dealer to see if they still have a pull ahead program as well.
 
Where do you live? If you tell this forum where you reside, there may be someone who has leased/purchased a new convertible who can be of assistance in getting a better price.
 
Good Luck

#1550 of 1939 Re: E350 Convertible lease [abacomike] by malbert2

Jan 28, 2012 (9:42 am)

Replying to: abacomike (Jan 28, 2012 9:37 am)
Thanks very much for the info. I live in Long Island, NY, but would be willing to travel a little bit for the right deal. I know that MB had an 8 month pull ahead during december, but that they dropped it to 4 months for January.

Messages Page 155 of 194

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