Update Audio 20 for Live Traffic

[Vulture]

I've seen some of the newer cars now support TomTom live traffic in the Audio 20 system. The one in my car currently has lifetime subscription for TMC traffic which is not that great.

Was wondering if there is an update for the Audio 20 system so that it can support live traffic?

 

[richard]

The live traffic is done by a separate module.

All the parts can be installed (with perhaps a new Audio 20, but not necessarily), but the problem is getting Mercedes to configure their systems to know the car has live traffic. This is pretty much impossible (although I managed it once when we put COMAND in a car without live traffic and the COMAND NTG5*2 Europe mapping has no TMC in UK even though the packet says it does), so Mercedes Germany helped sort it all out.

Richard

ps, it was about £1000 in parts

 

[markjay]

1. You can check if your car has the KOM Module (with the built-in Vodafone data-only simcard) and TomTom Live Traffic service by running the VIN in one of the MB VIN Decoder websites, e.g.:

Checking VIN for Mercedes-Benz | CARInfo

Then look for this option:

'B54 MBCONNECT - REAL-TIME TRAFFIC DATA'


2. You can check if this service is available for your car here:

Mercedes me connect United Kingdom

(Note that you will need to have the car registered to your Mercedes Me account first)

 

[markjay]

....this is to check if the service is already available for your car ex-factroy.

 

[Vulture]

Thanks, looks like my car doesn't have the B54 option. Was hoping it might be a simple firmware update as the car has Mercedes Me Connect so figured it would have an internet connection already.

 

[markjay]

Thanks, looks like my car doesn't have the B54 option. Was hoping it might be a simple firmware update as the car has Mercedes Me Connect so figured it would have an internet connection already.

From what I understand the issue is not so much in meeting the various hardware and firmware prerequisites... it's with 'retrofitting' the eligibility for this service.

I.e., option B54 cannot be officially added to your car's Datacard after the car left the factory, hence why the option to subscribe to the TomTom Live Traffic service will not show on your Mercedes Me service list - even if you have all the right hardware and firmware in place.

(I say 'officially' because Richard did mention above that he managed it but it as a one-off...)

I also tried raising this with TomTom support, but they said (not unexpectedly) that the subscription for Live Traffic data on Mercedes-Benz hardware (i.e. COMAND) is fully managed by the car's manufacturer and they have no control over it, so can't help.

I think the issue is that Mercedes-Benz did not envision a demand for retrofited TomTom Live data service, so never bothered to make arrangements to support it (unlike COMAND retrofit and other upgrades which are officially supported by MB).

 

[markjay]

Yes this is very frustrating....

When Comand UK retrofitted NTG4.7 to my W204, I checked with them if they could also retrofit the KOM module, and Richard told me upfront that even if the KOM Module was retrofitted the car won't have the TomTom Live Traffic subscription for the reasons detailed above.

At this point I had the choice between selling the car and buying a newer model with the TomTom Live Traffic subscription option ex-factory... or go ahead with the NTG4.7 retrofit and live without the TomTom Live Traffic.

I opted for the latter and I do not regret it - Comand UK did a stellar job retrofitting COMAND and other upgrades - but I do find it frustrating that MB do not provide a path for retrofitting the TomTom Live Traffic service.

 

[Vulture]

Yeap, really frustrating. At least TMC is better than nothing
Will probably just keep using the TomTom App on the phone. It does speed cameras and tells you how long the traffic will last. I've given up on having the speed cameras as POIs on the Audio20.

Thanks for all the info though!

 

[ordessa]

trust me... between MB, Merc Me... and Audio 20 unit and me commiting hari-kari there is a short fuse...
With command I understand it is easier..
but at the end of the day Waze is free and better at sorting out traffic. works on newer "Google " incar apps... and just on a phone..

My latest saga over my car is Mercedes H/O, Merc Me and myself (armed with he VIN print out) demonstrating my car has ALL the components to run LTI...
But the local dealer... shrug and say "we dont know how too"... quite quite pathetic
I've even suggested to the "STAR EXPERT" what happened if mine HAD worked and the subscription had run out...
No answer..
I then suggested the car must have a "commissioned" date that starts things like the service interval etc... so what happens day 1 at the garage.

No answer...

I'm starting to understand more than the dealer now... but then nothing suprises me anymore with them..even the Urgent recall for the current limiter fuse... car was in for 3 days but they couldnt get one....pah!

 

[NF710]

All the parts can be installed (with perhaps a new Audio 20, but not necessarily), but the problem is getting Mercedes to configure their systems to know the car has live traffic. This is pretty much impossible (although I managed it once when we put COMAND in a car without live traffic and the COMAND NTG5*2 Europe mapping has no TMC in UK even though the packet says it does), so Mercedes Germany helped sort it all out.

Richard

ps, it was about £1000 in parts

 

[NF710]

To Richard , you mention you retrofitted “command” , parts £1000. Can you tell me the total cost of comand retrofit parts & labour ? Where did you get this done?
I assume you now have full comand online live traffic. Is that correct?

 

[Dekka]

I have owned my A200d for just over a year now and notice that Live Traffic Info wasn't working and thought that I haven't paid for subscription so no problem, but back in January "Mercedes Me" sent me free access to Live Traffic Info for 36 Months.
I tried to set it up, but the Garmin on the Audio 20 stated no valid TomTom Live Traffic subscription.
I contacted my local MB dealer and they stated that I already have access to the Live Traffic Info until end of December 2018 and that it should be working and said they would look into it. The answer they came back with after about a month wait was very disappointing, stating that the A-Class with Audio 20 and Garmin Sat Nat does not support Live Traffic Info because it wasn't set up before it left the factory.
I then showed them a print out of the VIN Build Spec which states 'B54 MBCONNECT - REAL-TIME TRAFFIC DATA' to which they said they would again look into it, three weeks later they came back with the same answer as before stating the answer came from their HQ's and closed the complaint.

• Has anyone had this issue resolved.
• Why would MB Dealership state that I already have Live Traffic Info subscription.
  
• Why would MB HQ send out free subscriptions to members with cars that do not support Live Traffic Info.

Confused and frustrated, yes I am. Has anyone found any work arounds

 

[ordessa]

I have owned my A200d for just over a year now and notice that Live Traffic Info wasn't working and thought that I haven't paid for subscription so no problem, but back in January "Mercedes Me" sent me free access to Live Traffic Info for 36 Months.
I tried to set it up, but the Garmin on the Audio 20 stated no valid TomTom Live Traffic subscription.
I contacted my local MB dealer and they stated that I already have access to the Live Traffic Info until end of December 2018 and that it should be working and said they would look into it. The answer they came back with after about a month wait was very disappointing, stating that the A-Class with Audio 20 and Garmin Sat Nat does not support Live Traffic Info because it wasn't set up before it left the factory.
I then showed them a print out of the VIN Build Spec which states 'B54 MBCONNECT - REAL-TIME TRAFFIC DATA' to which they said they would again look into it, three weeks later they came back with the same answer as before stating the answer came from their HQ's and closed the complaint.

• Has anyone had this issue resolved.
• Why would MB Dealership state that I already have Live Traffic Info subscription.
  
• Why would MB HQ send out free subscriptions to members with cars that do not support Live Traffic Info.

Confused and frustrated, yes I am. Has anyone found any work arounds

Be honest here... the SD card u have?? is it an Amazon/Ebay for under £100 (LIKE BOTH OF MINE!)... or a genuine MB purchase...
as it seems the problem is the cheaper cards.... (as recommended by my previous dealer!)
Reaso I say is that it seems the cheaper ones Dont have the 1st time license info..and it screws up everything..

If you have the B54 stuff... YES you should have it.. but Mercedes and MercMe just walk away..

The best part was I asked them if I had it...how would I renew it...and both referred to each other...

I personnally think If my dealer would sell me a genuine card for £100... with AT LEAST 3 years of map updates not 6 weeks...AND then allow me to add maps and traffic updates I'd buy it...
I WILL NOT buy the genuine for £400 only to find its out of date in 6 months...
the LTI would be lovely...and to be honest... easy to fix...if I could work out the license xml to enable it to show out of date and allow us to update it..

But Mercedes dont care.... saddens me... and whilst someones going to jump to their defense... you can buy a TomTom with map updates for same price.. ...in the early £100's

We should all club together and put a class action on Mercedes to sort their bl**dy act out!


However - deeply intrigued by MercMe sending out an update to you when they say to me no!

 

[Dekka]

Hi Odessa,
Thanks for the reply and yes, my SD Card is a cheaper one.

I did ask my local dealership if the problem could be with the SD Card, but they dismissed it.
I showed them a few articles on the issue from a couple of forums and they said that they would look into it with MB HQ. They also requested that I sent them the serial number form my SD Card which I did. When my dealership replied they did not mention the SD Card and just said that "Unfortunately your vehicle does not have live traffic, we have explored many avenues and Mercedes are telling me that this vehicle doesn’t have it".

Mercedes Me have since removed LTI from their website as a purchase option for my car spec although I have the B54 stuff.

At least I only spent £50+ and not £400 that the dealer wanted to charge me to find out that the LTI does not work with Audio 20.