r_liebo

Since MB charges such outrageous prices for their phone, is it possible to just buy one of the used MB phones off ebay compatible with my new 2004 C-class? I see several phones for sale at various prices, but are they plug and play? Do I need a complete "kit" other than just the phone (Don't know what kind of hook-ups are in the car yet since I don't get it until next week)? I currently use Cingular wireless, and have seen a few MB phones for Cingular on Ebay, but I'd hate to buy it and find out it won't work in my car or I can't get it hooked up into Cigular's service network.
I'm leasing the car, so I really don't want to delve into mods involving various aftermarket phone kit installations.
Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

tifosiv122

You need the MB phone and the kit for your car...so yes, you would need to buy the kit as well.

Erik

tberry

run a search on 'audio and electronics' forum under username 'rgleason'. The keyword is "nokia kit". You'll find several nokia phones and European Nokia phone kits available for your car for a fraction of the MB stealer prices. Get an "unlocked" version of that Nokia phone and it will accept any carrier that uses a SIM card (granted the GSM ferquency matches the provider and the phone).

link: https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...ight=nokia+kit

Daveskee

Assuming you didn't order the car with the phone option, then you'd have to buy a kit. You could then buy a MZB phone on Ebay and it would work.

c230 sport

Why didn't they just go with Bluetooth technology?

r_liebo

Thanks for the info and link. Unfortunately I know absolutely nothing about phone technology other than I have the cheapest Nokia phone Cingular offers (6 months old). I have no idea what GSM means, what a SIM card is, or how to install any kind of kit.
Am I correct in interpreting your response to mean I can buy a Euro spec car kit that works with any nokia phone, have someone install the kit in the car, then plug in my nokia phone for operation through the MB system (as long as Cingular uses this "SIM card" thing)?

Daveskee

Cingular uses GSM technology. The Euro spec Nokia kit is for GSM phones but for only several Nokia models (most people have been upgrading using the 6310i). You'd have to purchase the kit, have somone install it and purchase a compatible model Nokia phone and it would work with your car's factory controls still using Cingular. If you purchased a phone from other than Cingular (ie. Ebay), then you'd have to make sure the phone was GSM compatible, was unlocked and you'd then use a Cingular Simm card in it so it would work on the Cingular network.

Steve (MBenzNL) sells these kits with installation. Does great work too!

tberry

No problem, everyone gotta start somewhere right? Here's a link to one of my post a few days ago with some pics. This will give you an idea I hope:

https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...threadid=53846

*Cingular recently started using Sim cards (sim cards are little plastic cards about size of stamp that store your phone info, phonebook, etc.....if your phone break you can take the sim card out, plug-in another one, and it works right away. Most phones are dedicated to a carrier (example: AT&T, Cingular, T-moblie) but if you get an "unlocked" phone then you can put most/any sim card in the phone and it will work. The reason most ppl. get Nokia 6310i is because its the latest phone avail for MB phone kits. I have one unlocked (6310i are only for AT&T in US but I have T-mobile and it work).

r_liebo

Ah, I've seen this SIM card when I got my phone!

Do you per chance know if the 6310i is the same as the Nokia 6340? That is the phone I have through Cingular, but I didn't see the 6310i available on Cingular's website. The 6340 is a GSM phone, so I think I'm OK with using the phone I have if I get the kit.

oggle

Is there a bluetooth solution out there?

bzzbenz

how much does Steve sell these kits for?

TXTiger

Is there a cradle available for a Nokia 3595?

tberry

remember this is from the company that doesnt believe in factory in-dash cd player/changer nor DVD based navigation system. Joking aside, the only car on the market i know of that has factory integrated bluetooth phone solution is the new Acura TL. there are aftkmkt bluetooth phone kits out there but nothing fully integrated with the mB MFD, stereo, etc

Daveskee

I believe the only Nokia kits MBZ makes that intergrates with it's system are for the 6310i, 6310, 6210, 6110, 5190, and 5110. Get ahold of Steve (MBenzNL) for pricing but I think the kit w/o the phone was in the $500 range (incl installation).

If you don't mind using the MBZ V60i, I upgraded my MBZ analog phone in my '99CLK for under $400. Easy diy job.