Mercedes me connect (USA‪)‬ 17+

App is great but can have a few improvements.

Overall I enjoy the app. It’s very responsive and the best thing about it is that it lets you remote start the vehicle without extra payment like some other automakers do. DO NOT GIVE INTO THIS MERCEDES-BENZ!

The other day my vehicle was parked outside and at 2:25am my phone went off that my vehicle sustained a “severe collision.” Of course I ran outside and was able to catch the drunk driver who hit my car. The damage was done but at least I was able to get a license plate before the driver took off.

As far as improvements, the UI of the app is a bit cumbersome and should be customizable with shortcuts. I shouldn’t have to tap 3-4 times just to remote start my car or check the location of the vehicle if needed. Also, it would be a huge plus if the car was also able to communicate not only via Wi-Fi with the phone but also via Bluetooth. This would allow for much faster operation when near the car. Sometimes the functions can take a long time if the Wi-Fi is slow.

Underwhelming

The app itself works ok, but the overall functionality is entirely and utterly underwhelming. Prior to purchasing my 2021 mercedes, I owned a 2017 Ford Explorer. We also have a 2018 Ford F-150. With our Fords, we have an app on our phones that allow us to start the car, but we also have the flexibility to use our key fobs to remote start our vehicles. With the Fords, when it is cold outside, the heated seats and steering wheel automatically come on while the car is warming up. When it is hot, the cooled seats do the same. I could also unlock the car with a keypad so that I didn’t have to carry any key or phone with me if I so chose.

With my fancy pants Mercedes, I must fish out my phone, open the app, click the engine button, enter a PIN and wait for my request to be processed before the car will start (I also receive an annoying email that clutters my inbox every time the car starts, stops, locks and unlocks through the app - maybe there is a setting to turn this off). How is it that this app does not provide the functionality to activate the heated seats and steering wheel? To activate the cooled seats? To adjust the climate settings in the car? Why can’t i just use the key fob to quickly press a button and start the car? I never in my wildest dreams thought that when I purchased an almost $90K car that I would miss the “luxury” of my $50K Ford.

Very limited use

13 days into owning my brand new GLS 450, I got an alert that my coolant was low (this is just after it stalled while I was still moving). Yep, coolant is low. It’s next to impossible to find what coolant to put in bouncing from the manual, to this reference over to that one all telling you that you can’t put non-spec coolant in, but none telling you the right coolant. Find the coolant and go 20 miles from my home and the check engine light comes on. I tried to find any information about the alert on the app or online log in and NOTHING! I can see my tire pressure and on EVERY screen that my car is unlocked, but ABSOLUTELY nothing about the check engine alert I’m getting. Never thought I’d say this... I’d like my GMC back. The information your car sends is invaluable. This app is only good to lock and unlock your car. Otherwise it’s a web with 3 basic points of information. Tire pressure, lock status and if any window or door is open. Useless, useless.

And we did contact the dealer. Service was closed - they don’t work Saturday- and 7 hours later the sales person sent a pic of the Mercedes log I’d coolant you can only get by ordering online and having 2-4 day delivery.

Look forward to the update on the in- car software. Would be helpful to not be notified everytime someone opens the door that our third row or second row seat is folded down. YES, I know. I put it down on purpose.

Developer Response ,

Hi dstaffor,

Thank you for your feedback! If you ever have vehicle specific questions like what coolant to use, please contact your local Mercedes-Benz dealer. For the check engine light, this is a limitation with the in-vehicle software that we are currently trying to improve.

Thank you,

Mercedes me connect team