What to do about hands free. Please help!
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Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2006
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What to do about hands free. Please help!
Just bought a 2006 E 350 for my wife. Dealer wanted $2500.00 for Bluetooth (no way). Argos not out till September. A local shop (Greenwich Ct.) says
that Motorola car kits are Great ( about $800.00 ) but is not thur the car's sound.
What should I do, Wait for Argos or is Motorola realy that good? Or is there something else that is better?
Thanks In advance, John
that Motorola car kits are Great ( about $800.00 ) but is not thur the car's sound.
What should I do, Wait for Argos or is Motorola realy that good? Or is there something else that is better?
Thanks In advance, John
Senior Member
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 285
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Try calling a few MB dealers to get a better idea about pricing. If you check www.mbusa.com, you can see the actual price of the kit without installation.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 782
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From: Buffalo NY
3 Porsche rotation
I always buy my Mercedes with phone system installed and it is cheaper this way than having the dealer install it later. I preferred a factory, fully integrated system to maximize the design of the car. Argo maybe promising but not until later this year, and I don't think the Motorola option is integrated with the car. Voice recognition and BT is a "must-have" in our house, especially when the wife is juggling between kids and grocery. My advice is if you want full system integration(voice control, Comand, dash display, steering wheel control and phonebook download), suck it up and buy the Mercedes system. You have aleady spent $60K+ on a car, why skim on the phone.
John
John
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Originally Posted by JohnAMG
I always buy my Mercedes with phone system installed and it is cheaper this way than having the dealer install it later. I preferred a factory, fully integrated system to maximize the design of the car. Argo maybe promising but not until later this year, and I don't think the Motorola option is integrated with the car. Voice recognition and BT is a "must-have" in our house, especially when the wife is juggling between kids and grocery. My advice is if you want full system integration(voice control, Comand, dash display, steering wheel control and phonebook download), suck it up and buy the Mercedes system. You have aleady spent $60K+ on a car, why skim on the phone.
John
John
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From: MIAMI
MIATA
If you're not afraid to work on your own car. You can get the set up for about half the price. The MHI kit that comes with the linear compensator can be picked up for $450 bucks on ebay for the MOST vehicles. The completer kit that comes with the contact plate, the antenna splitter, mounting bracket and assortment of screws can be bought at the dealer for $165 bucks. The bluetooth puck from AWS goes for $350, I've heard the dealer actually sells it for slightly less. I have a RAZOR and it works great, some bluetooth phones have some compatibility problems. So with the above prices and a bluetooth phone, you do your own installing and then go back to the dealer for programing. The most they can screw you out of is an hour and a half worth of labor so $150 to $170 bucks. There are instructions at Paul's website. I have a C class. It wasn't hard to do. If you take the fear factor away I could do the whole installment in about an hour. You can find part numbers for the kits at Paul's website. I didn't take a real close look at the installation instructions on the E Class but it can't be much harder than doing it on a C class. If you have tel aid there is a couple more connections you need to make because you have to use the antenna splitter. Good luck to you. If you were in Miami I would do it for you for a small fee.
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Joined: May 2006
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From: Lake Worth, FL
2006 C280
I have an '06 C280 and desperately want bluetooth. I have decided to wait for the ARGOS kit to become available. I'll most likely do the install myself.
I think it is ridiculous that most other high-line vehicles (BMW, Acura, Audi) have had this from the factory for a couple of years now. I don't know why MBZ is so far behind on some of these things. I suppose it is the price we must pay for the 3-pointed star.
I think it is ridiculous that most other high-line vehicles (BMW, Acura, Audi) have had this from the factory for a couple of years now. I don't know why MBZ is so far behind on some of these things. I suppose it is the price we must pay for the 3-pointed star.
