[Mkultra40]

Yes sounds a bit mad but wife just asked to warm the car up on the M-Me app and joked can we not ask Alexa?

But it's not such a daft question in a way. I'm guessing as MB have their 'Hey Mercedes' system then the answer is likely no. But I thought I'd ask anyway .... it would be nice to go "Alexa warm the car for me please"

 

[Mkultra40]

Yes sounds a bit mad but wife just asked to warm the car up on the M-Me app and joked can we not ask Alexa?

But it's not such a daft question in a way. I'm guessing as MB have their 'Hey Mercedes' system then the answer is likely no. But I thought I'd ask anyway .... it would be nice to go "Alexa warm the car for me please"

Turns out you can do this very easily. Just installed the Alexa skill for Mercedes Me and works rather well.

Mercedes me

Mercedes me

www.amazon.co.uk

So I just turned on the pre heating, checked the miles it can do and where the car is. Very simple in fact. Worth to do.

Bit surprised this wasn't mentioned at car hand over, it works very nicely with no down side I can see just now.

 

[Dar]

I haven't tried it so maybe there is a secondary step to prevent this but one downside is if someone shout from outside window or through bad housing party wall, asking to open car or something. Mercedes drivers maybe more likely to have triple glazing and detached or superior walls I guess though but still something to be aware of if you are left house in your "other car" and robber brings a megaphone instead of the usual radio

 

[Parkwood]

Having seen the excellent BBC documentary on how Alexa works and the multiple microphones they use this does not surprise me at all.
I would never ever have one as I think they are far too ripe for abuse and their offer does not interest me that much, I am happy to have to move to switch on lights or grab my phone/tablet to search for some info etc.
The car will still of course be looking for a key to move off and a determined thief can still just tow one away with or without it being open if they are so inclined but I would not take the chance personally.
I do not use hey Mercedes’ as I use my car in French mode but it struggles with my accent on the navigation especially but I have also not bothered to learn the french instructions for some of the actions (it is bonjour mercedes not hey mercedes for example!) and my translations are not always in the idiom the french use. I do not know therefore what actions you can tell the car to make so if someone got inside it would that be enough to drive off, as said above it is always looking for the key so one would assume not.
Interesting though and I have to say as far as voice recognition systems go I am still in the dark ages not using Siri either apart from with my iwatch where when off out on a walk or cycling without my phone I dictate my messages back to base, just easier than writing on the little screen!

 

[Dar]

I installed the Alexa skill and discovered the advertised "start my car" doesn't work with EQC, and presumably same for EQS , and presumably so only with other cars with engines so that climate control will function. Neither is there an unlock command, only lock. A robber or other person could still ask "Alexa, ask Mercedes where is my car?" through the owner's house's window pane and be told that the owner is (on holidays) near Disneyland or still working late at the office or something though. Or "Alexa, ask Mercedes to remind me to <insert blackmail message>”. These scenarios have probably never happened though I guess

 

[Dar]