Have you heard what the factory hands free phone sounds like on the other end?
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Honolulu, Hawaii
CLS-500, SL-500, BOXSTER-S
Have you heard what the factory hands free phone sounds like on the other end?
I have never been on the recieving side of a factory Benz phone, until recently. The MB sales rep called me from a new S-class to try and drum up some business. I was shocked how poor the quality was 
It sounded so muffled and unclear that I must have asked him 2-3 times to repeat what he said. What's your opinion??
It sounded so muffled and unclear that I must have asked him 2-3 times to repeat what he said. What's your opinion??
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Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Tampa, FL
2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
No experience with the Benz Bluetooth mod, but it is made by Peiker; my wife has a Peiker system in her '05 Lincoln, and it is awful. I have asked her repeatedly to take the car in to see if there is a problem with her system - it is that bad. Muffled, static, and dropouts. If that is the quality level we could expect with the MB Bluetooth, I'd never spend the money. Her phone has pretty good sound quality when used alone, outside of the car.
In addition, the U.S. MB MHI Bluetooth implementation uses the phone's internal antenna to send and receive. Range is far less than a system that uses the car's external antenna (which the plug-in systems and the European UHI Bluetooth setups do). That setup virtually invites noise and dropouts, since the phone is enclosed in a metal cage (the car).
I hope other contributors have had better experience with the MB Bluetooth system than my wife has had with her Peiker unit.
On the other hand, I have a plug-in system (MB branded Motorola/Verizon V710) in my '05 S500, and the sound quality and range is superb. Because I usually forget to remove the handset, I leave it the car at all times, and carry a separate phone (RAZR V3c) - and set the car phone up for no-answer call forwarding to the second phone (for when I am out of the car). All of the features of the phone download into COMAND (not always the case with Bluetooth). Works well, the cost for the additional number is $10 per month, and the sound quality of forwarded calls is excellent. Despite the outrageous price of the MB branded V710 phone, it has been the best option for me.
In addition, the U.S. MB MHI Bluetooth implementation uses the phone's internal antenna to send and receive. Range is far less than a system that uses the car's external antenna (which the plug-in systems and the European UHI Bluetooth setups do). That setup virtually invites noise and dropouts, since the phone is enclosed in a metal cage (the car).
I hope other contributors have had better experience with the MB Bluetooth system than my wife has had with her Peiker unit.
On the other hand, I have a plug-in system (MB branded Motorola/Verizon V710) in my '05 S500, and the sound quality and range is superb. Because I usually forget to remove the handset, I leave it the car at all times, and carry a separate phone (RAZR V3c) - and set the car phone up for no-answer call forwarding to the second phone (for when I am out of the car). All of the features of the phone download into COMAND (not always the case with Bluetooth). Works well, the cost for the additional number is $10 per month, and the sound quality of forwarded calls is excellent. Despite the outrageous price of the MB branded V710 phone, it has been the best option for me.
Last edited by Skylaw; Jul 8, 2006 at 08:46 AM.
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From: Houston, TX
2015 E250D
I was talking to a person in a 2003 S class with a bluetooth puck. It was extremely difficult to hear the other party and I had to have him repeat what he was saying several times.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 3,063
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From: Tampa, FL
2005 S500 4-Matic, 1978 450SL
Guess we're breathing some life into a long-dormant thread.
The thread at http://www.benzworld.org/forums/show...26#post2222126 addresses many of the voice quality issues.
The thread at http://www.benzworld.org/forums/show...26#post2222126 addresses many of the voice quality issues.
