PUZZ1

or is it a waste of money. $1500 for a V60 that's not even GSM seems expensive and I have concerns about the useful life for network compatability, obsolesence, etc. Anyone feel the same way???

Hudson

Don't do it - lot's of bugs. See other thread on same topic on this board.

rarenaro

PUZZ1:

Like you, I read many things about the integrated phone....but I had it installed anyway. Its definitely one of my favorite features of the car...with VCS. Having the integration and not being bothered with a bluetooth headset is definitely a great thing. The phonebook is more than adequate and the coverage and clarity - in my case verizon, is fantastic. Its expensive, but it adds a whole other useful feature to you vehicle. For me, its an absolutely must have.

-Rich

Barry45RPM

Live on L.I. in NY. I say exactly the same thing. Not a single problem with the phone, service, voice recognition. Flawless & it won't be outdated for a few years at least. I leave the MB V60 in the car at all times & carry my original, older V-60 on my person.(just a coincidence...it was the best phone on the market when it was introduced & I bought it 2 1/2 years ago).

For 20 bucks a month Family Share Plan, Verizon lets me share my regular plan minutes with the phone & new number in the car regardless of which phone placed/received the call. Need a color picture phone with all of todays "must have" features & doodads? Get one for your belt & leave the MB V-60 in the car all the time.

DavidNJ

We have an even older phone, a StarTac (an in a BMW). With Verizon, we are in a similar plan as Barry45rpm (suggested name update: BarryDVD-A).

I live on the car phone. With voice dialing it is very easy to make the calls you want. On the MB, with the niftly touchpad, it is much easier to navigate menus than the BMW.

That said, the Bluetooth system on the new BMW would allow your phone to send and receive via the car. My biggest problem is people calling on my pocket phone (oddly enough a 2 year-old V60 about to be upgrade to a V710) and being unable to talk because of the no handheld phone rule.

Using the same phone for both also saves $240/year, or about the cost of the nav and parktronic combined on a lease.

So, do I recommend getting the phone with VCS? YES. Do I think that the MB system is the best one available: no. And I recommend with VCS, which is the $2000MSRP one.

David

HELL ONA HARLEY

I'm sitting on the fence trying to decide if I also want this option.... I Didn't order it and now I wish I had. Have any of you guys have the phone with VCS installed by the dealer???? If so what was the labor cost? I called the dealer and have received costs for the phone and related hardware, but couldn't get a labor estimate. I couldn't talk to anyone there to find out exactly whats involved in the installation and I'm a little hesitant about the service drones tearing apart my car for the install....

B.T.W....... I was quoted $1704.00 for all the parts including the hardware of the VCS.

eddie

Don't worry about the tech's tearing apart your car... even if you order your car from the factory with the phone, it still gets torn apart in Baltimore to be put in. The install labor rate is not set in stone like a warranty repair, basically the cost is inversely proportional to the experience of the tech installing it. Should probably run about $200 to $400.

W210

I find the phone extremely useful. The system simply works.

The set up gives me the complete piece of mind. I do not need to worry about phone battery life, muting radio, reception, ear piece battery life, phone book integration, ear piece cord messing with the seltbelt, etc.

With my CDMA V60i connected to the DVD COMAND in my W211, I can even read SMS messages.

And being able to use the dash alpha numeric keypad is truly handy. I checked out the phone in the new 5 series and believe it or not it forces driver to dial using the iDrive knob! So twisting, turning and pushing the knob will be required to enter each digit in the BMW!! A shocking mistake which you don't read about in car magazines.

Bluetooth in general drains the phone battery rather quickly so if you are a heavy user, it is quite a hassle. I use Bluetooth for other purposes connecting my PDA to GPS receivers or for GPRS internet connectivity.

Sure the V60 is not the latest phone with no color or camera but for in car voice communication, it works better than any other fancy setup I have seen including those from Acura, Audi, BMW or Lexus.

RAD

Just picked up a 2004 E500 4MATIC with the hands-free option. I paid around $1800.

Puzzi, I wouldn't worry about "not even GSM." That being said, I would not go the TDMA route (i.e., AT&T Wireless). TDMA is a dying technology. But CDMA (i.e., Verizon in this case) is not going anywhere any time soon. As a technology, CDMA has a lot to offer, including higher data throughput speeds.

PUZZ1

Right now I have Cingular on a TDMA v60 that I bought from them. What should I do, change to Verizon??

HELL ONA HARLEY

Thanks for that info......I was under the impression that the phone was factory installed and not at the VDC ( Long beach in my case).....

Barry45RPM

I think changing cell service providers requires a new phone. I know it does on non MB-USA phones issued by the service providers for regular use.

W210

Definitely change to CDMA, tell them the dealership had a mix up? My CDMA experience in North America had been far superior compared to TDMA and GSM, especially indoor.

DavidNJ

Definitely VDC. And if you are getting a new dealer installed one...WAIT!!!

In 2 or so months you will be able to get a V600/V710.

I have to pay for our car around August 1, and expect to be able to add the new phone to the car's order then. It won't be at the VPC until October.

RAD

Puzz,

If it were me, yes, I'd go the CDMA route. Wouldn't do TDMA just because it's a dying technology and not sure how much longer it's going to be around--it's not like it going to be cut off next month or next year, of course, but it is dead. But as Barry aluded to, changing service providers (i.e. AT&T WIreless/Cingular to Verizon) would definitely require a new phone.

DavidNJ,

Where did you get the info about the new phone? I'd love to know more about it--

eddie

TDMA (IS-136) is a digital upgrade of the old analog (AMPS) protocol and has more coverage throughout the US. If you always stay in a city, it doesn't really matter but it really depends on where you are and how well your carrier has installed cellsites in your area. I personally prefer the sound quality of TDMA, since CDMA uses a lot of data compression to fit more channels over less frequencies.

DavidNJ

From MBUSA and the dealer. Basically here are the bullets:

• The C-class is already ordered with the kit less phone/cradle
• Last time they changed over, S-classes had no phone for 6 months.
• It is unclear if an MB purchased phone is required or if MB will include (require) phone purchase with the integration.
• In the same vein, it is unclear if MB phones will have special programming (however I can't believe Motorola or MBUSA would want to risk the software issues with customizing that complex a phone.
• Current scheduled date is August. It may slip. And the ordering date is uncertain.
• The C-class is using the same codes as the existing phone (from the website, may be an error.)

W210

When I ordered a V60 CDMA phone awhile back, they only had the TDMA version in stock and MB was kind enough to let me use it for a few months until the CDMA arrived.

Barry45RPM

How do you know which type is installed in the car? And, what is the difference?

W210

Can your antenna be extended?

Yes: CDMA
No: TDMA

I find CDMA having better reception, but I suppose it all depends on your local carrier.

DavidNJ

Sprint along with Verizon are CDMA, AT&T, Cingular, T-Moble are TDMA/GSM.

Net, net, net...coverage and line availablity is best with Verizon nearly everywhere (my wife is regular trying new phones and testing different carriers) however in is not the least expensive and it doesn't offer the most value added services.