Since today was the first official day of the cell ban, I wish I had the hands free communication. Anyway to get it done?

Sure, dealer installed. However, wait a month for the new system. Less expensive. MB doesn't provide the phone.

I would call different dealers to find out who will give you the lowest price on the parts and install.

Sorry about the cell ban... I hope they don't ban cells down here.

Florida is still a fairly conservative state, they might not enact the ban, although haven't certain locales banned hands-on cell phones, like Boca?

NY has had it for a long time, those headsets work well.

Hi DavidNJ

I must have fallen asleep somewhere ... what is the new and less expensive handsfree system are you referring to? Do you have a link for me to refer to?

TIA

Look at the C-class docs, it is already there. Otherwise it is not really online. However, the dealers here should be able to elaborate better than me. I know it has already been presented in the dealer network.

Basically, it is UHI with a more limited phone choice. The cradle is dealer installed. You provide the phone. The system will be factory installed later this year, or it can be dealer installed. I don't know if it will continue to be VPN installed also.

On the C-class, which doesn't have voice response, the it is $745 without the cradle and obviously the phone.

you could try this

mikbox

The Problem

For quite a few years now, all Mercedes Benz vehicles that are equipped with the phone option, can only be used with a Motorola phone. Only three choices are available in the US market:

-StarTac

-Timeport

-V60

Only the handsets that were purchased from the dealership can fully integrate with the car, since their firmware is different from their of the shelve counterparts. Those phones, especially the V60, are sold for several hundred dollars, even on E-Bay.



The Solution

The Mik-Box is an ongoing project that has set the goal to fully integrate any phone with Mercedes Benz vehicles. This is not another aftermarket solution that makes use of just the built in microphone and loudspeakers. Full integration also means, using the COMAND, radio or steering wheel controls to dial, accept/reject calls, toggle call waiting, read SMS messages, browse the cell phone's directory, etc... in other words, everything that the original MB phone can do.

Since cellular phones have a shorter planned life span than automobiles, you will most likely switch phones one or more times while owning your vehicle. The Mik-Box comes with a programming port, so that its software can be updated via the internet. Therefore new cell-phone generations can easily be integrated without buying expensive new parts (like a new PSE) every time.

it is good to ban using cell (one hand hold it) while driving.

the solution is

1. get a voice recognition and bluetooth support cell (most of them are free in nj with a contract)
2. get a bluetooth earphone (cost around 100 bucks)

3. set up voice recognition in cell and leave cell anywhere in your car, e.g. your briefcase.
4. wear a bluetooth earphone and talk

this way you can talk inside or outside your car and you can use them in the office or home. (mb only provides you to use it inside the car, by the way, putting the cell near your brain is NOT good for your health -- if microware can cook food, cell can "cook" your brain, too -- it is only a time issue. the latest research showing that wearing cell near waist can reduce 30% of sperm. my sugguestion is using cell as fewer as possible.)

Putting the cell near your head is unsafe, but putting a Bluetooth transmitter/receiver is ok?

Cell phone use was no worse than eating in the car, adjusting the audio system or climate controls (especially with iDrive!!!), and personal grooming (more women than men--women seem to think the car is their dressing room and makeup counter!).

In fact, on the cell phone at least you have to stay alert, and it doesn't use your eyes. All of the other vices take your eyes off the road.

Here's why the "Cell Phone Ban" is stupid legislation. Under the new laws, it IS LEGAL while driving to: Look down & look thru your pocketbook/pull your phone out of your pocket/unhook your phone from your belt, (sometimes having to unbuckle your seat belt) to find your cell phone. Drive, look down & watch yourself flip open your phone at the same time. Drive & look down at the phone to press all the buttons correctly, then press send. ONLY after you have spent all this distracting time looking down for/fumbling with your phone, does it become illegal to simply hold it up to your ear & talk & listen.

The talking & listening part is THE ONLY part that should be considered "distracting" by these so called legal eagles. That's the LONGEST part, with the most daydreaming of any phone useage. All the rest of the looking & pressing remains the same whether or not you use a headset to talk, so they haven't legislated out any of the "dangerous" part!!! The dangerous part of cell phone useage is the looking/flipping/pressing part! They just enacted more stupid, useless, self important legislation.

The Problem

mikbox doesn't work with W211, not in prototype form... since production for the prototypes that DO work hasn't been completed, who can say when production for non-prototypes will be?

-s-

Well, we wish we had mandatory fuel attendant service stations. I'll trade you.

-s-

If you have Verizon as your carrier, your choices are limited in the Bluetooth arena right now. You will have to wait for the Motorola v710, coming out *soon* (in Verizon speak, that means any amount of time). If you are one of the first to buy this phone, you will be able to get a free Bluetooth headset. You can still use a Bluetooth headset, but you will need to buy a converter for your phone if you don't have a Bluetooth capable phone.

Let's hope they can work out the problems with the Mikbox. Seems like a solution that is workable, and probably would not be too cost prohibitive on the E. From what I can tell, all you would need would be the Linear compensator completion kit, the Mikbox, and a Motorola phone, someone to program the the Star diagnosis settings, and you will be set.

And as a New Jerseyan, I would never trade the mandatory fuel filling laws .

Because people keep MBs around forever (count how many 10-15 year old MBs are still running around, in good condition), the Mikbox has a potentially large market for maybe 5-10 years. As people want integrated phones in their older cars, the Mikbox would be the only way to get integration with a new phone.

I have a Sony Erricson T616 through Cingular. It has BT and I am using it with the Sony Erricson HB200 BT Earpiece. With this earpiece and small cliip on control I can dial with the stored numbers or voice dial with the Voice Dial option on the phone or throught Cingular. No integration and fully portable.



Here is the URL describing the headset

http://www.sonyericsson.com/spg.jsp?...p4_1&pid=10107

Here are two shots of the setup of the T616 and HB200 Headset