1. HOW-TO GUIDE FOR CELL PHONE UPGRADES, PLUG-IN AND BLUETOOTH

I had to remove the original TimePort phone and cradle and get a new Mercedes V60s phone, a V60s cradle and cradle holder and a new PSE module for the trunk. All this (including the brand new Motorola MB compatible V60s phone) was supplied in a single kit that I bought from a vendor that is currently selling them on ebay for $575. The Mercedes dealer was no help with this and said it would cost me $3000 to retrofit the car to get the cell phone working.
The system only works, however, with the Motorola V60s phone, which is pretty basic, and Verizon is the only provider that can activate it. But that's ok because Verizon has the best network in my area and I don't need a phone that takes pictures or has a color screen.
Here's the link to the ebay listing.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Mercedes-Motorol...d=p3286.c0.m14
The seller's name is Keith Valentine and he is awesome. He explained, in language I could understand, exactly what I had to do and how to do it before I even bought the kit. After I got it, he walked me through the installation and set up process over the phone. His phone number is on the ebay listing or you can call him with questions at 714-746-5930. He's a great guy and very knowledgable about our cars. With his help, this was a very easy project. As Keith says, "E class stands for 'easy to install'".
I also bought the voice recognition system which Keith is also selling as a complete kit on ebay for only $100 (slightly more if you want the E class stalk). The kit includes the VRM module, fiber optic cable, stalk, and photocopy of the user manual. This was super easy to install and is kind of fun to have in the car.
Keith also has the bluetooth upgrade kit for sale that will allow you to use any cell phone hands free with the car's integrated audio system. Check "Seller's other listings" on the above listing.
Anyway, my car is now fully functional with all the systems that were in the car when it first rolled out of the showroom! No more clunky, non functional TimePort phone taking up space in the arm rest. No more non functional buttons on the steering wheel and radio head. And, best of all, complete hands free dialing and talking all at the touch of a button. :-)
Thanks again Skylaw,
Fred

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mercedes-Benz-Ph...d=p3911.c0.m14
Or at least call the guy's number in the listing. He should be able to tell you if you can do what you are seeking to acomplish. I bought the non-bluetooth system from this guy and he is a super source of information and very willing to answer any questions that you may have.
Fred
I had to remove the original TimePort phone and cradle and get a new Mercedes V60s phone, a V60s cradle and cradle holder and a new PSE module for the trunk. All this (including the brand new Motorola MB compatible V60s phone) was supplied in a single kit that I bought from a vendor that is currently selling them on ebay for $575. The Mercedes dealer was no help with this and said it would cost me $3000 to retrofit the car to get the cell phone working.
The system only works, however, with the Motorola V60s phone, which is pretty basic, and Verizon is the only provider that can activate it. But that's ok because Verizon has the best network in my area and I don't need a phone that takes pictures or has a color screen.
Here's the link to the ebay listing.
http://cgi.ebay.com/Mercedes-Motorol...d=p3286.c0.m14
The seller's name is Keith Valentine and he is awesome. He explained, in language I could understand, exactly what I had to do and how to do it before I even bought the kit. After I got it, he walked me through the installation and set up process over the phone. His phone number is on the ebay listing or you can call him with questions at 714-746-5930. He's a great guy and very knowledgable about our cars. With his help, this was a very easy project. As Keith says, "E class stands for 'easy to install'".
I also bought the voice recognition system which Keith is also selling as a complete kit on ebay for only $100 (slightly more if you want the E class stalk). The kit includes the VRM module, fiber optic cable, stalk, and photocopy of the user manual. This was super easy to install and is kind of fun to have in the car.
Keith also has the bluetooth upgrade kit for sale that will allow you to use any cell phone hands free with the car's integrated audio system. Check "Seller's other listings" on the above listing.
Anyway, my car is now fully functional with all the systems that were in the car when it first rolled out of the showroom! No more clunky, non functional TimePort phone taking up space in the arm rest. No more non functional buttons on the steering wheel and radio head. And, best of all, complete hands free dialing and talking all at the touch of a button. :-)
Thanks again Skylaw,
Fred
Thanks again Skylaw,
Fred
so if someone could let me know what I would need to purchase (with prices if possible) besides the puck to acquire bluetooth capability, that would be great! thanks
Posts 1 and 5 above tell you what you need to know. Slow down, and read them. As for cost (and equipment sources), I provided links in post 1. Specific equipment is covered by a link in post 5. You could also search for "C 230 MHI phone system" on e-bay, and come up with lower prices.
I don't know about older ones. The ones currently sold by AWS are unlocked GSM phones - which, of course, cannot be used on a CDMA network (like Verizon and smaller regional networks that lease capability from them) - but should be usable on GSM networks (just about everyone else). Check with your service provider to see what kind of network they use.
The Best of Mercedes & AMG
Thanks!
Because you have prewiring, you need to check to see if you have the second stage of the equipment (you have already said you lack the third).
Perhaps the best and fastest way is to check for the presence of an MHI contact plate (see Fig. 45 at http://phdwebsite.powerpulse.cc/Phon...LK%20Coupe.pdf for what the contact plate itself looks like). If you do have it, you have a handsfree system and only need to add the Bluetooth puck and a compatible phone (check the AWS site - http://www.wireless4mb.com/ - use the "connectivity options" tab) to complete the system. If you do not have the contact plate, you do not have the "handsfree option" and will need to add equipment mentioned above.
Alternatively, check your options list on the window sticker - if it says you have the "handsfree communications" (or something that indicates you have more than the prewiring that is part of the "Premium 1 package") - all you would need is the MB Bluetooth puck and a compatible phone.
If all you have is prewiring, you will need to add the rest of the handsfree equipment. Ask your dealer to consult the phone bulletin for your car and tell you what additional parts are necessary (basically, an MHI controller and brackets and the MHI contact plate in the console; then, you need to add a Bluetooth puck and a compatible phone as discussed above).
Last edited by Skylaw; Jan 4, 2009 at 09:22 AM.
Thanks!
I just changed to a BlackBerry a couple of weeks ago it took a little while to pair the phone up. I load all the phone number from the BlackBerry to the phone system in the vehicle. The system pickup all enteries from the BlackBerry. I had to delete all the additional information. I charge the BlackBerry on my home charger or a USB on my computer. The phone is paired up soon as the audio is turned on in the vehicle.
Because you have prewiring, you need to check to see if you have the second stage of the equipment (you have already said you lack the third).
Perhaps the best and fastest way is to check for the presence of an MHI contact plate (see Fig. 45 at http://phdwebsite.powerpulse.cc/Phon...LK%20Coupe.pdf for what the contact plate itself looks like). If you do have it, you have a handsfree system and only need to add the Bluetooth puck and a compatible phone (check the AWS site - http://www.wireless4mb.com/ - use the "connectivity options" tab) to complete the system. If you do not have the contact plate, you do not have the "handsfree option" and will need to add equipment mentioned above.
Alternatively, check your options list on the window sticker - if it says you have the "handsfree communications" (or something that indicates you have more than the prewiring that is part of the "Premium 1 package") - all you would need is the MB Bluetooth puck and a compatible phone.
If all you have is prewiring, you will need to add the rest of the handsfree equipment. Ask your dealer to consult the phone bulletin for your car and tell you what additional parts are necessary (basically, an MHI controller and brackets and the MHI contact plate in the console; then, you need to add a Bluetooth puck and a compatible phone as discussed above).

Fred
The phone is NOT on the approved list... so I call
on that list: an HTC TouchPro, from Sprint... so therefore CDMA, running Windows 6.1. It works quite slick however and for the most part I am able to transition fairly easily as well between my bluetooth headset and the bluetooth car when coming and going from the car.The car also downloads the phone book automatically each time I enter the car (about a 30 second process I would guess). I have about 1300 contacts in my phone and the only frustration is that it seems that the individuals that I call the MOST are NOT downloading... I haven't figured out why yet but will go through the list in the car and compare it to the list in the phone (and my PC) and try to figure out what the common issue is that would cause this. It is also a minor annoyance that although my phone sorts by last name the car has all the names listed alphabetically by first name....
Anyway. I've had rave reviews from those on the other end of a call
FYI. The dealership had no idea what this thing did, nor did they have installation instructions to share with me. Thanks to all on this thread for making me brave enough (after reading A LOT!) to try this myself. After having been quoted >$2000 by one dealership to get my phone working and an independant ~$1000 is was pretty sweet to do it myself for <$400!
Cheers!
Glad you got your equipment set up so easily.
I have to point out, however, that the phone book problems you are experiencing may be the reason your phone isn't on the AWS "approved" list. Most Bluetooth phones will make and receive calls. Phones that do not perform all features available in the MB system, do not make the approved list. Phones that do, make the list. Therefore, it's not a B.S. list at all.
Plus, there is a limit on the number of entries the MB Bluetooth will handle - 900 sticks in my memory, but I can't swear to that. Your 1300 entries may be too many for the system. If you search enough, I believe you will find a post by one contributor who compartmentalized his most vital contacts, somehow, and got them to download - but I don't have that bookmarked.
Also, the testing process AWS uses takes 90 days. Contributors have often reported fully successful integration of their newly-released phones (for specific examples, iPod, Blackberry Storm/Lightning) long before the end of the testing period. A few have reported initial success, but then an increasing number of problems.
Some folks reported massive problems with an early version of phones with Windows operating systems - but a Windows upgrade fixed the problem.
Last edited by Skylaw; Jan 28, 2009 at 08:45 PM.
Strangely, this is not always the case with later systems (the '07 and '08 S-Class, at least; the iPhone must be disconnected from the OE MB iPod cable to use the telephony feature).
Thanks...
Unfortunately I don't know whether the MB iPod kit works with the iPhone the same way the Gateway 500 does. You may want to cover the point with your dealer before the installation is done - or scan the forum for other posts on using the iPhone with the MB iPod kit and the OE phone system.
It came as a surprise to me that the iPhone had to be disconnected from the cable in order to function as a phone in the '07 and '08 S-Class - but my dealer's chief tech swears this is true (I believe the '09 does not have this limitation). However, the iPod kits for S-Class are different between the '06 and '07 model years, so the kit for your '06 E-Class may not have the problem.
I do know that you could use a Gateway 500 with your car; so it is a good fallback if your dealer (or other contributors) indicate a problem.
Will my yet to be purchased 3G iphone (awaiting your advice) be fully compatible with my '05 E55 AMG that has the second gen BT puck in place? That setup worked perfectly with my previous phone, KRZR with BT bought from AWS.
They no longer sell phones although.
Again-thanks in advance Joker
P.S. I was resisting this whole iphone thing but they really have anice, user friendly interface product.
Please note that to be able to use the music function of your iPhone, you will still need an iPod integration of some sort (personally, I like the Dension Gateway 500; see post #67 above) - but if music play isn't one of your objectives, the 2d generation MHI puck that you have will do fine.
I have an 04 s430 with a v60 cradle. I use to have an old mercedes v60 phone that worked fine but was outdated. I was an early adopter of the bluetooth puck when it first came out. Audio quality has always been an issue with a razr back then and especially my lg muziq and now LG lotus. in the car, the other caller sounds great but other people say my voice sounds garbled (i agree, i have heard it myself on the other end). tried turning off ac, etc. and nothing helped. Pairing was fine though.
I havent looked at this forum in a while but happened to look the other day and noticed this very informative thread by skylaw, especially with the Version 2 puck. Went to AWS website and noticed no mention of a version 2 puck per say but noticed that the part number was the same as my early production v60 puck. Went to my dealer and tried it out: same part number (B67875856) but voice quality was far different. Caller on the other end says quality is great, couldn't tell I was on hands free at all.
So my conclusion is that Version 2 of the v60 puck may have the same part number, B67875856, as the original version 1 puck, but it may behave differently espcially for newer phone.
BTW, i also checked to see if anything else is different with these 2 v60 pucks. The h/w and s/w numbers are even the same (i presume they stand for hardware and software number). The only thing different is that on the old one, there is a motorola emblem on the face while on the new one, there is a circle of where the motorola emblem use to be but it is empty.
hope this info helps others




