Enabling Dashcam on mercedes GLB - resolved

[Uky]

Regarding dash-cams, I remember hearing something about integrity issues/regulation that differs
between countries. Specifically Tesla that makes use of cameras to register movements
of people moving in close proximity to a parked vehicle is affected by this...

 

[SCCMOG]

Hi,
I thought it would help to share my experience and solution to this.
Got a 2020 GLB, with augmenter reality mbux and all the required hardware to get the dashcam activated.

Going to the car and looking at licenses activated, the dashcam would say "not activated"

Going to the mercedes store, the option to purchase the dashcam would not be presented.

I went to several mercedes authorized dealers and many told me it was impossible to get this extra service and this is why it was not presented on the store as an option to purchase.
One dealer went the extra mile and told me I could install a dashcam for 1800 pounds.

I did not give up as all this did not make sense as with all the hardware needed, there was simply no good explanation to justify this.

Called the mercedes me line and they confirmed that the car should have this option and that it would cost 200 pounds to purchase it and that I should go to a dealer to install some extra software to enable it.

Went to a dealer who first told me that this would not be possible again, I explained again the whole situation and upon them calling Germany, they were told that the car was missing codes in the installed software in the car and that the software needed a complete.re install.

It took few days at the dealer to have all the software uploaded as it seems super slow to do but miracle.... The dashcam purchase option then appeared in my me store.
Purchase it for the 200 pounds and I now have a dashcam fully operational, without adding any new hardware.
I heard I was the first one having this request in the UK and that it was now documented for the next cars who will ask for this.

Hope it helps some of you,
Patrick

Hi Patrick,
Firstly, thank you for this write-up. It is great.
I own a 2021 AMG GLS 63 that was built in December 2020 and then shipped to the original owner in early 2021 in Jersey Channel Islands.
You're probably thinking ok, thanks for that.. why is that important?
Well, I just spoke with MB West London about your car (they took over the client list as MB Chelsea is not closed).
They were incredibly helpful, by the way, and they explained to me why this was not enabled on my car at the time of original shipping.
Mercedes quite simply did not have a license to record in the UK before late 2021, and therefore, the augmented reality would only show traffic lights and directions and would not allow you to enable the dashboard.
Since then, if you need this to be enabled on your car, you must ask the Techs to create, and I quote, "A Tips case to allow Augmented Reality to record, and the car will then be given a patch to download for the system."
I'm going to chase this tomorrow, but again, thank you for the help.
Richie

 

[shirin]

Hi Shirin,
Have the service centre got the dashcam working now? I'm wondering if I need to go down the same route as I supposedly have an integrated dashcam in my new E class but am now being told by the dealership that they are only activated in the new C class.

It was tedious, I had to leave the car for two days at the service center. They did a massive software update and eventually the camera started working. I'm not happy with the camera quality though, its lacks clarity and colour and impossible to read other car's number plates even in broad sunny day. After couple of email exchange with the mercedes customer support and a service center visit, they confirmed this is the expected quality from the integrated dash camera. I feel cheated !

I could have spent that money to buy a better quality dash camera rather than buying this half baked thing.

Few things I observed :

1. Dash camera recordings will not start automatically, every time you need to open the application and click dash camera and start recording manually. And it will take considerable time to load the dash camera app once you start the engine. I guess, everytime the system do a validation of license via profile syncing with mercedes me store and enables the option, it is really frustrating to wait till it loads and start manual recording.

2. Footage quality is pathetic. It reminds me those 3GP videos from 2000's smart phone. I was using a Halo dash camera worth 60GBP before, it had way superior image quality compared to this one. The footage from Mercedes Benz integrated dash cam lacks colour and details and it can not be changed by any means !