I recently got a 2001 CLK 55 with K2a option and the Timeport phone and was wondering if anyone has been able to upgrade it to the v.60. (cheaply). The car also had the COMAND system as well. Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance,
Ed

http://www.curtrich.com/june2002.html

THE V.60 PHONE

And General Car Phone Musings

Right now you can get the Motorola Time Port or the Motorola V.60 phone for your Mercedes. They're both extremely well integrated and offer state of the art capabilities. Every current car has a sound system with a telephone keypad on the console, allowing dialing from there, no picking up the handset to check your voice mail. Highly recommended is voice activation. With voice activation you touch a stalk, wait for a "click," and then say, "Dial name." The phone responds, "The name please." "Office." You will then hear, "Office" in your own voice from when you saved the name and number, and then "Dialing" in the phone's voice, and the number will show on the screen, sometimes in front of the driver on the information screen, always on the sound system's screen.

The phone snaps in and out so you can take it with you. On your belt/in your purse it's also voice activated for 10 numbers or so. For this it's only able to understand the person who programmed it while in the car it should be able to understand 99% of people (Don't yell, and wait for the beep.)

This makes it really convenient to use in situations where you can't see the screen or don't want to look at it. Just push the appropriate button and say the name: "Office." You will hear "Office," and the phone dials your office. It's okay to save your boss's number as "Jackass," just remember to call it from the screen memory when witnesses are around. No one else can use the voice feature, but they can pull up all of the voice numbers and hear them.

The V60c is state of the art now. Generally our phones have been state of the art for car-installed phones. But previously, through the 2000 model year, what you saw was what you got. The phone couldn't be upgraded. This is creating severely pissed off customers in 2000 and earlier cars. Those phones can't be upgraded, and Verizon, at least, won't take a new account with a 2000 spec. phone.

A 2001 car may be upgraded to a V60, but it's expensive, and, frankly, unnecessary, as the TimePort is awfully good.

The V.60 is better, not just for its extra features. The TimePort had features I never used. But you'll have fewer dropped calls with the V60, and reception is better.

A 2002 with a TimePort can be upgraded to a V.60 for a reasonable charge. Again, it's not necessary. But a year or three down the road when Verizon tells you to get a new phone or else, the good news is you'll be able to and keep all the neat integrated features, voice activation, etc.

This will make life much easier. A Motorola rep told me a while back the phone companies intended to obsolete all phones every 4 years. Thus you need to get the state of the art. Thus you won't have to upgrade very often.

And yes, if you only have a cell phone for emergencies and never make calls while moving, you can continue using your cheap pocket phone, the one Verizon gave you for signing a contract. They'll offer you a new one every couple of years to keep you signing contracts.

CINGULAR & AT&T Customers Note:

As of June 14th, due to a software change your phone may not work! This is an internal change and not the fault of Mercedes-Benz or your car. If that happens, and you have a new or late model Mercedes, phone talk to your service advisor.

I plan to do a Timeport to V60 conversion. Has anyone done this conversion personally? If so, please provide parts required, steps to do the conversion and any tips. The conversion appears to be price but easy to do.

Here's the parts I plan to purchase:
- Mercedes Motorola V60
- V60 PSE unit
- V60 PSE unit mounting bracket
- V60 Cradle
Please provide MB part numbers if it is know and revise the parts list if required.

Any tips on where to buy the items above, any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Derek

Derek, I haven't answered yet because I haven't had a chance to check for sure, but I think you do not need to upgrade your PSE. I think the 2001 Timeport PSE will work with the 2002 V60 phones. I didn't want to answer until I was sure, though, so don't take this as gospel.

So, you can try and get the cradle and the phone cable, and if it works then you're set. If not, then add the PSE. Other than that, that's all there is.

-s-

Scorchie,
Like you, I suspect the PSE is the same for the Timeport and V60. I talked to a MB technician and he said it was different. I asked him, based on what...he did this

Then I did this

If you find out for sure, please let me know. I've got my hands full with the other little projects for my car. The phone conversion is fourth on my list but coming up fast.

Thanks for the great suggestion. Not buying the PSE is a possible savings that can be banked for future mods.

DC

I spent some time at the local dealership. They said that the PSE for 2002 and 2001 is different. He says that the PSE for 2002 (Q6820845) is compatible with both Timeport and the V60. He says the 2001 PSE is only compatible with the Timeport. I'm still going to try your suggestion to find out if this is true. Now here's an unexpected twist. In addition to the V60 handset, V60 cradle and Installation kit (PSE, dual band linear compensator, misc hardware), he says the VRM (voice recognition module) needs to be updated as well. I thought the VRMs for 2001 and 2002 were the same.

I sadly, my confidence in depth of applicable knowledge possessed by the parts guy or technicians is low. If anyone has any additional insight and / or access to the part numbers between the years, please email or post.

Please check the following part numbers for a W208
2001 (Timeport)
- PSE
- PSE bracket
- VRM
2002 (V60)
- PSE
- PSE bracket
- VRM

Thanks,
Derek

derek.chang@verizon.net