TomBeverlyHills

I just bought a 2000 E320 Wagon with COMAND. I wanted to put the Mercedes integrated cellular phone system in it, but Mercedes has informed me that they don't have any more (the phone isn't being made anymore, and they're saving the ones they have left for warranty repairs). Does anyone know where/how I can get one?
Actually, my preference would be to somehow adapt the newer V60 phone to work with this car (which is supposed to use the StarTac, I think), but I don't know if that's possible or advisable.
Any ideas???

KennyTheGreat

I just bought an E320

It has a phone....that I will never use and want to sell.....


if you can teach me how to take it out ETC....i will gladly sell it to you... lol




Ken

TomBeverlyHills

Ken,
Thanks for the reply!
Is your E320 a 2000 model? Mercedes told me that they changed the system in 2001, and the newer system isn't compatible.
Do you know which cellular system your phone works on (TDMA, CDMA, GSM)? If not, maybe you know which cellular provider your phone will work with (AT&T, Verizon, Cingular)?
I think it'lll be easy enough to find out how to take the system out.
Tom

KennyTheGreat

mine is 97....umm i'll find out what it is tomorrow....

Ken

TomBeverlyHills

Ken,
Unfortunately, I think the phone from the '97 won't work. I had a '98 C280 with the factory phone, and it had the old analog "flip phone without the flip", rather than the StarTac (which is what the 2000 models had).
Thanks again for your reply!
Tom

kaneman

The 2000 model used the StarTac which is available on Ebay in both AT&T and Verizon variants. Does your car have a place for the phone with the connector or no phone kit at all? As far as getting a kit uninstalled, the dealer may be able to do it for fairly low cost.

scorchie

But the 2001 syhstem DOES work, as does the GSM system (using superior Nokia phones). You can get the whole GSM tamale from MBenzNL (s_krabbenborg@hotmail.com)

-s-

TomBeverlyHills

Kaneman,
I've got a search agent on eBay looking for a Mercedes StarTac, but no luck so far.
My car doesn't have the kit or the phone. I guess when the dealer told me that the phones are no longer available, I automatically assumed (maybe incorrectly) that they meant the whole system. But now you've given me another option to explore. If I can find just a phone on eBay, then maybe the dealer can still get me the kit. I'll check into it.
Thanks.

TomBeverlyHills

Scorchie,
Thanks. I'll try contacting MBenzNL.
Tom

bostonbob

Steve installed this phone in my 2000 E320 last week. Bought the phone from AT&T for 179.99 (with plan) less 50.00 rebate from Nokia. Works perfect.

TomBeverlyHills

Bob,
Thanks for the response!
Does the Nokia phone work just like the factory integrated cellular from Mercedes? With voice activation, controlled by the buttons on the steering wheel, muting the stereo when an incoming call is received?? May I ask how much it costs to have Steve install it?
Thanks.
Tom
tkphelps@earthlink.net

2000 E320 Wagon
1992 300CE

scorchie

It _IS_ the factory integrated cellular system from Mercedes.

That stuff we get in the USA, the Motorola garbage... that's not factory integrated. That's put in at the VPC here in the US.

-s-

bostonbob

I'm not totally familiar with all features of the phone yet but it is integrated with Comand system I had installed. I'd guess "scorchie" is the go-to guy for questions in Steve's absense. Steve is probably presently collapsed on a beach over in the Netherlands resting up for his next trip to the U.S.

Cost from Steve was 500 installed with all components included. The Nokia 6310i is the phone to get.

MBenzNL

Voice activation is a separate system that is/was available as an option in Europe...it has it's own control unit, wiring and stalk on the steering wheel column...if the car has factory voice activation it will integrate with the 6310 kit.

greetingz,

E430guy

I bought the phone kit from Steve (MBenzNL) and installed it myself with no probelm. The probelm is that all of the local AT&T providers are OUT of stock on the Nokia 6310i phone. So, I have the system ready to go and no phone as yet. What a bummer.

TomBeverlyHills

I finally gave up on the integrated phone. The Nokia 6310 was a good option, but my wife would have had to switch to AT&T and change her phone number and she didn't want to do that (although I tried to talk her into it), so I just installed a regular aftermarket hands-free kit with a V60.

rkwjr

Not that it is any help now, but starting in November cell phone numbers are suppose to be portable from carrier to carrier. Here’s an article from the latest Time magazine:

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/ar...458780,00.html

bostonbob

Steve, what does the voice activatin kit cost installed by you. You already did my phone.

Neicey59

I saw an answer to this question over at MBNZ, it appears they have found 2 other phones which are compatible, and are using them in the E classes.

kaneman

The BMW CPT8000 is also compatible if you have a kit installed already or can get a kit installed. I know this as I cross-tested the phones from a 2001 BMW X5 and an 01 CLK55, one on Sprint and one on US Cellular. All functions worked perfectly even when swapped. I believe BMW is still selling the CPT8000 so that's an alternative.