Which Mercedes-Benz Features Do Owners Never Find?

Cool the cabin before you walk outside

In South Florida this is the one I would set up first. In the Mercedes-Benz app, Remote Engine Start lets you start the car from your phone, and Mercedes-Benz USA says you can cool down or heat the cabin so it is comfortable when you step inside.

Pre-Entry Climate Control goes further: set a cabin temperature, turn on heated or cooled seats, and save a daily departure time so the car is ready when you leave. Mercedes-Benz USA's mobile apps page lists Pre-Entry Climate Control as EV only. On a gas model, that leaves Remote Engine Start to handle the cooling.

The same app locks and unlocks the doors, shows fuel level, mileage and tire pressure, and finds the car on a map. In a big parking garage, use the horn and lights feature to spot it faster.

• Works with model year 2019 and newer vehicles, plus select 2018 GLE and C-Class models.
• Mercedes-Benz USA says most remote access services are complimentary for one year, and that remote access is standard for the first year starting with model year 2022.
• No credit card is needed to start. Renewing after the included period is done through the Mercedes-Benz Store; if you do not renew, most remote services stop working.
• The me button in the car connects you to call-center help for non-emergencies, such as Roadside Assistance.

Your phone or watch as the key

Digital Vehicle Key lets you lock, unlock and drive the car with a compatible iPhone, Android phone or Apple Watch. On the E-Class, Mercedes-Benz USA lists an iPhone 11 or newer with iOS 16.4 or newer for Apple devices.

The Apple Watch app can also find the car on a map, start climate control and lock the doors. Home-screen widgets on iOS and Android put quick status checks and actions one tap away.

Talk to it like a person

The voice assistant understands normal speech, so skip the menu-style commands. Mercedes-Benz USA's own GLA examples are "Hey, Mercedes, I'm cold" and "I need a coffee." On the GLC, Mercedes-Benz USA describes an AI-based virtual voice assistant, and for the 4th-gen MBUX in the GLS and CLA it says the assistant listens and converses much like a human personal assistant.

Some voice and navigation functions are offered as Digital Extras, which need a Mercedes me ID paired to the car. Mercedes-Benz USA says an initial period of some services is included with a new vehicle and most can be renewed for a fee after that.

Let the car learn your habits

MBUX Routines automate settings you use at a given time or place, based on location, conditions or other parameters. Mercedes-Benz USA lists Routines on the E-Class, C-Class and GLC.

Zero Layer is the reason the screen seems to know what you want. Mercedes-Benz USA says the central touchscreen surfaces the features you need at the moment, without digging through menus. It lists Zero Layer on the E-Class, S-Class, GLE, GLS and CLA.

If two people share the car, set up the fingerprint reader. On the C-Class, E-Class and GLC, Mercedes-Benz USA ties it to saved driver profiles, so the car loads your preferences when you touch the sensor.

Parking and camera features

Tight garages and narrow spaces are where these earn their keep. Availability varies by model, so check what your car has.

• Active Parking Assist: finds a parallel or perpendicular space and guides the car into it at the push of a button. Mercedes-Benz USA says it is standard on nearly every new Mercedes-Benz and optional on others.
• Surround View and 360 camera: a bird's-eye view built from several cameras. Standard on the 2027 GLC; on the GLE and GLS it is a standard Digital Extra that needs your Mercedes me account paired to the car before it works. It is available on the C-Class.
• Transparent Hood: on GLC 4MATIC models, the central display shows a virtual view of what is directly under the front of the car, in certain drive modes and speeds. Mercedes-Benz USA describes it on the GLE as well.
• E-Class cameras: Mercedes-Benz USA lists a standard dashcam, and says that when the car is parked its cameras can handle selfies, video conferencing and even recording if the car is bumped.

Comfort, light and the head-up display

Massage is worth trying on a long drive. On the S-Class, heating, ventilation and massage are standard in front and available in the rear, and Mercedes-Benz USA lists ten massage programs on the S 580 for the lower back and shoulders. Ventilation and massage are available on the E-Class, and the GLS Executive Rear Seat Package adds massaging rear seats.

Ambient lighting is more than decoration. The GLA and CLA offer available 64-color ambient lighting, and on the S-Class, active multicolor ambient lighting can also signal things like climate changes and warnings.

The S-Class augmented-reality Head-Up Display can float navigation arrows above the actual turn. One practical note for Florida drivers: Mercedes-Benz USA says the display may not be visible through polarized sunglasses.

Questions people ask

Can I start my Mercedes-Benz and cool it down from my phone?

Yes, on supported vehicles. Remote Engine Start in the Mercedes-Benz app can cool down or heat the cabin before you get in, and Pre-Entry Climate Control, listed as EV only on the mobile apps page, can also run the seat heating or cooling.

Do Mercedes-Benz remote features need a subscription?

Mercedes-Benz USA says most remote access services are complimentary for one year and can be renewed through the Mercedes-Benz Store after that. If you do not renew, most remote services stop, but the account stays open for non-expiring services.

Which Mercedes-Benz model years work with the Mercedes-Benz app?

Model year 2019 and newer, plus select 2018 GLE and 2018 C-Class vehicles, according to Mercedes-Benz USA.

Can I use my iPhone as my Mercedes-Benz key?

Digital Vehicle Key lets a compatible iPhone, Android phone or Apple Watch lock, unlock and drive the car. On the E-Class, Mercedes-Benz USA lists an iPhone 11 or newer with iOS 16.4 or newer.

Models in this guide

• Mercedes-Benz C-Class
• Mercedes-Benz E-Class
• Mercedes-Benz S-Class
• Mercedes-Benz GLC
• Mercedes-Benz GLE