3g shutdown

[eclassowner1]

If you have a 3g comms unit in your mercedes e class you may be aware that it has a vodafone sim card embedded in it and vodafone are shutting down the 3g network in the uk by end spring 2024.When this happens you will fall back to a 2g network which mercedes me says won’t affect your internet connectivity.You need this for live traffic info and emergency calls etc.I found this hard to believe and have upgraded my e class to 4g comms at my own expense as mercedes don’t offer this themselves.If you want to follow suit then contact Neil Braybrook at www.braybrooks.co.uk for an excellent while you wait service.Look at the forums in usa which shut down 3g earlier than uk to see what customers there think.
If you don’t know what comms unit you have then select System in the command menu then connectivity then internet and if you see 3g UMTS you have a 3 g unit embedded in your car.
My thinking was that the upgrade might preserve second hand value and i like the live traffic info system for the occasional long distance routes.

 

[kam09]

Must have a cost an arm and a leg getting it done at Braybrooks!

 

[eclassowner1]

I thought the labour price was reasonable and the mercedes hermes 4g comms module is a mercedes bespoke part so wherever you go it will be the same.The part was 72% of the cost.In any case my thought process was who will buy my car second hand eventually when the comms unit doesn’t work so it’s not the cost it’s the preservation of the car value you need to factor in here.

 

[richard]

Now its actually done, have Mercedes recognised you have the 4G module and allowed you to renew/extend the services ?

 

[eclassowner1]

The process involves logging the comms unit onto the mercedes system,it now shows as 4g Hermes LTE in the car itself and live traffic info works and the sos phone icon shows green ie ready to use.
That’s why you need a service provider who is also proficient in mercedes admin and has the ability to enter the update into their system.
If you want to talk to the expert give them a ring although I think they may not be open now until new year.

As far as extending the services my traffic info subscription lasts until july 2025 so I have not experienced this aspect but I cannot see why the offer would not be extendable as it’s just another 4g capable vehicle to them.

I don’t use the other mercedes me apps for remote controls etc so can’t comment on those.

 

[NJSS]

Welcome classowner 1.

What was the total cost of the upgrade please?

NJSS

 

[stompa]

The process involves logging the comms unit onto the mercedes system,it now shows as 4g Hermes LTE in the car itself and live traffic info works and the sos phone icon shows green ie ready to use.
That’s why you need a service provider who is also proficient in mercedes admin and has the ability to enter the update into their system.
If you want to talk to the expert give them a ring although I think they may not be open now until new year.

As far as extending the services my traffic info subscription lasts until july 2025 so I have not experienced this aspect but I cannot see why the offer would not be extendable as it’s just another 4g capable vehicle to them.

I don’t use the other mercedes me apps for remote controls etc so can’t comment on those.

How did you get live traffic till July 2025? I didn’t think they did 18 month extensions

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

How did you get live traffic till July 2025? I didn’t think they did 18 month extensions

Perhaps started a three year subscription in July 2022

 

[markjay]

The obvious issue is the MB do not offer extensions to the Mercedes me services for cars originally equipped with 3g, on the premise that it won't without the 3g anyway.

I suppose that with SCN coding you can get the Datacard updated to show that the car has 4g and this in turn will allow future purchase of service extensions.

However this will probably only work with those models of cars where the transition from 3g to 4g modem occurred within the same model's lifespan, e.g. it will probably not be possible to SCN code a 4g modem to a W204, because the W204 never had a 4g modem - i.e. you can't SCN code the retrofit of a feature that wasn't originally available for that model.

 

[Skd884]

Live traffic on google maps £0.00

 

[stompa]

Live traffic on google maps £0.00

Google maps won’t display on the behind wheel dashboard, just the main display in the centre console via CarPlay.

I use Amigo which has great rerouting and uses the same voice as the built in navigation system as both are by the same people which Mercedes has a stake in, but still only uses that central screen not the one behind the steering wheel.

 

[NJSS]

I agree that TomTom AmiGO is a decent no cost, ad-free navigation app.

Overall I prefer Waze, but TomTom AmiGO is certainly worth trying as an alternative. Do read the reviews before installing either.

NJSS

 

[richard]

We can upgrade cars with Hermes 3G now, see Mercedes me – 3G to 4G upgrade – Unique Car Sound & Security done quite a few suddenly which given Vodafone is rapidly chopping 3G isn't surprising ... surprised how many people want Live Traffic and remote status stuff.

 

[kam09]

We can upgrade cars with Hermes 3G now, see Mercedes me – 3G to 4G upgrade – Unique Car Sound & Security done quite a few suddenly which given Vodafone is rapidly chopping 3G isn't surprising ... surprised how many people want Live Traffic and remote status stuff.

Is it true MB uk have shut down this 4G upgrade?!

 

[kam09]

The process involves logging the comms unit onto the mercedes system,it now shows as 4g Hermes LTE in the car itself and live traffic info works and the sos phone icon shows green ie ready to use.
That’s why you need a service provider who is also proficient in mercedes admin and has the ability to enter the update into their system.
If you want to talk to the expert give them a ring although I think they may not be open now until new year.

As far as extending the services my traffic info subscription lasts until july 2025 so I have not experienced this aspect but I cannot see why the offer would not be extendable as it’s just another 4g capable vehicle to them.

I don’t use the other mercedes me apps for remote controls etc so can’t comment on those.

Is your 4G upgrade still working?

 

[richard]

At the moment they have stopped subscriptions to services (except a couple) on cars older than a certain date - even if the data card says it has 4G module. I think whoever decided the "logic" to describe cars has not considered it properly ....

 

[TheAbbot]

KAM09 see my reply in 3g to 4g