Has anyone installed OnStar in their MB?</P>


I have basic service in my truck (came with it)and have used it twice. Once to unlock my doors after locking the keys inside at the grocery store and once to use the phone because I forgot my belt clip cell phone and needed to call my pa-in-law. </P>


It's very nice to have when you need it. I paid a locksmith $75 to unlock my door on a previous truck I owned. I waited 1.5 hours for him to show up.It took him two seconds flat to open the door. I wanted to punch that guy ... then myself.</P>


Anyway, I'm seriously considering installing OnStar in my SL600. Any negatory input out there on doing this?</P>

 

Well, nevermind. I called OnStar and was told it can't be installed as an aftermarket item. Ironic, since in a previous call some lugnut, err-I mean idiot, told me it could be. Of coursethey called me and were trying to sell me more services at the time.

 

We tried to get it in my MB cause I am always locking something
somewhere and loosing my keys - and also cause I drive alone at
nite and we did not want me to get stranded... but you got the same
answer as mine was - now I have AAA and my
insurance offers roadside and I never leave home without the cell
phone so it is just as good and cheaper per year...<img border="0" src=smileys/smiley2.gif border="0">

 

As long as I have my cell phone I feel okay. It's just annoying having to wait for help. </P>


I also use a GPS unit (Garmin 2610)because all I know about navigatingthis planet is that it'sthree rocks over from the sun. It's the kind of knowledge that's not much help on the highways and byways. Whenever I get lost, I put it on the dash and tell it to go home. I just follow it.</P>

 

I too never leave home without the cell phone <IMG src=smileys/smiley17.gif border="0"> as for the GPS - well I had that on my SO's PalmPilot and when that died so did the GPS capabilities - we really only used it on the lake when we were out on the boat, so I have to now rely on my femalememory to remember howto get to and from and ask for directions when I am not sure<IMG src=smileys/smiley2.gif border="0"></P>

 

I'm a widower, but my wife was my navigator, and a really good one, too. That's why I have to use the GPS now. I grew up in Northern Utah and played in the Mountain West. There was always a mountain in site and I instinctively used them to keep my bearings. I don't get lost there even today. WhenI moved east of the Mississippi, well, stuff changed big time (eh, a pun). No mountains. Constantly getting turned around and lost. </P>


I am, therefore where am I?</P>


I remember once we were driving from MD to GA. She fell asleep right away as I drove on. As soon as she awoke andopened her eyes, she said, "You missed the turn. You need to turn around." Now, how does someone do that? I can understand something like the turn is coming up shortly, don't miss it, but she recognized the unfamiliar rather than the familiar. Amazing. She was really sharp and aware all the time, even when she was half asleep.</P>

 

<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">Lugnut</FONT>, let me tell you a story trying to convince you why you need TeleAid:</P>
<P align=center><FONT face=Arial color=#000080 size=4>STOLEN MERCEDES<IMG src=smileys/smiley19.gif border="0"></P>


<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color=#000000 size=2>Oscar drove his brand new Mercedes to his favorite sporting goods store. He parked it outside and went in to do a little perusing with Jan, his regular sales woman.</FONT></P>


<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color=#000000 size=2>Jan was a pretty blonde, and as Oscar walked into the store, she happily greeted him. But he requested to look around alone today before he needed her help. She obliged and let him do his thing.</FONT></P>


<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color=#000000 size=2>Five minutes later, Jan came running up to him yelling, "Oscar! Oscar! I just saw someone driving off with your new Mercedes!"</FONT></P>


<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color=#000000 size=2>"Dear God! Did you try to stop him?"</FONT></P>


<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color=#000000 size=2>"No," the blonde said, "I did better than that! I got the license plate number!"<IMG src=smileys/smiley11.gif border="0"></FONT></P>


<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size=2></FONT></P></FONT>
<P align=center></P>

 

I think OnStar is way ahead of TeleAid. As I recall, Cadillac includes the base level OnStar with the car. The base level includes the emergency service (stolen car locator, dispatch of help with airbag deployment,roadside assistance).GM'son-board diagnostics are also integrated so that they can diagnose a problem viaOnStar before sending a tow. If youpay the annual feeto subscribe, you get the emergency services plus the concierge service. Is this correct?

 

The base level is free for one year. If you want the concierge service during the first year, you pay for just that.After the first year,you pay for base or base plus concierge.</P>


</P>

 

I have the MB system functional and get a discount on my auto Ins. from the location GPS function. The car has a back up battery and if the car is stolen MB can find and report the position to the authorities. Therefore recovery is at least possible. This gives me a discount. Not to mention the peace of mind in an accident of auto calling from the SOS function. vettdvr