weinschela

If you go to "build your own" on the MB website and look for phone options, you will find completely screwed up listings. In the "Options" section, the integrated phone is listed as $925 and handsfree at $1425 (plus the cost of the handset). In the "Accessories" section, the integrated phone is listed at $1595 and the handsfree at $480! So the range for the "normal" phone is from $925 to $1595 and for voice control from $480 to $1450. The person I spoke to at MB on this (via the 800 number) was completely unhelpful, telling me the difference was preordered or after-installed, which is so obviously wrong, it is laughable. Common sense says someone at MB goofed up somewhere here, but they just can't admit it -- or tell you the correct information. They further said that Moto v600s were being tested but might not be available until the end of the year -- and that a unique handset (not an off the shelf ATT or Cingular or TMobile v600) would be required. My dealer, of course, knows nothing (remember Sergeant Klink on Hogan's heros? 'I know nothing" has become the mantra). Anyone out there have any better information on what the phone story is for 05's in terms of usability of non MB handsets and prices. Someone here posted that MB was getting out of the handset business, but this info is inconsistent.

The lack of any ability to provide a straight answer on a $60,000 purchase is utterly astounding.

Ormond2004

I agree. I am confused too. I looked at an SL with factory VCS for $1450. You would think it would include the portable phone!

FloridaE55

Hi weinschela, I don't know if this might help you, but my dealer explained it to me that way. I ordered my car last week (2005 E55) and selected the option "051 Hands Free Communication Sys w/VCS". This option was still avaliable although the car I ordered was a 2005 (long delivery times on AMG). The dealer told me that all cars are delivered without phone and that the phones are attached at the dealer. What model of phone that will be - I have no idea. The configurator on the website is confusing. you could even select several options twice ??!!

I also had the impression that I knew more about the car than my dealer, and that's a bad sign... (he couldn't even tell me what happened to the solar panel (discontinued or he suggested it could be standard now. Standard? For the same price? I big laugh!!!
I also wanted to know what car I would get for 100K after waiting 9 months..

Barry45RPM

The website may contain inaccuracies because it was not re-written to display the new models in all their glory, but rather the things MB-USA wanted to get out or emphasize quickly were "pasted in"... there is a lot of confusing info circulating about MB right now, & getting what they can OUT as quickly as they can takes precedence. They will go back & patch the patches almost on a daily basis now. Usually, when there are sufficient new models the whole site is updated error free by the advertising department, not the "brand mangers".

lyrixmajor

i wonder if i can add this to my 2004 e500

HotWheels500

The rumor mill and an MB rep at the 800 # say the new handsets will be the V600 (TDMA & GSM) and V710 (CDMA eg Verizon). Verizon just announced availability of the new V710 for August. V600s are in distribution. MB rep said these phones will be available for order from dealer when 05s come in. No clue about the MB part of the story. I have an 05 due for delivery any day, so I guess I'll find out when the car arrives.

My dealer know nothing as well.

Others say they have started customer deliveries of 05 E500s. Anyone have more reliable info?

Barry45RPM

V 600 info from Motorola: http://commerce.motorola.com/consume...ml/m_v600.html

v710 info from Motorola:
http://www.motorola.com/mdirect/hell...l_specs.shtml?

...What's all the excitement about? The V-60 is a perfect "car phone". I never remove mine from the cradle. The one I carry can be any (Verizon) phone I choose, but for the car, simpler is better. Outsde of the cost for the MB phone, I changed my Verizon cell plan to "family share" for $20 a month & the 2 phones share 1 account. Since even I can't be on 2 phones at once, it seems like a good solution... I dunno...

weinschela

Reasons to care about the phones: First, there's no real point in having two phones if you don't need to; second, I need to have a GSM phone because I travel to Europe; third, isn't it time Mercedes stopped limiting us to proprietary phones and allowed plug-in of off the shelf phones -- as in the UHI introduced in Europe. Finally, having had a v600 for some time and having seen the v60s (both my son and daughter have them), the v600 has many more nice features, including better Internet browsing -- and it is quad band, usable almost anywhere except Japan.

tntmcj

being a well informed benz salesman, you guys are now feeling our pain, some say we have a totally new phone system that will allow users to use there own phone, and just buy the craddle for that phone through parts, but limited to certain manufacturers, others say same old phone system, this is what i do know, we have had 15 cars at the vpc, on vpc delay because of a missing phone part, and benz will not release them until they have the part, i have noticed that every day 1-2 cars throughout the region get released, but not 1 person will give me a straight answer, so as all of you who have dealt with me know i will make it my goal to provide you with a straight answer as soon as possible. as far as me saying benz wants to get out of the phone business, thats what we are told, but lets clarify, they want users to be able to put there own phones in their cars, 1 reason no more headaches in service because of bad phones, benz will still have the phone systems in cars just not provide handset. do i sense blue tooth?

weinschela

Do you have any further information on what they're doing on the handsets? No straight answers can be gotten from the 800 number people. As far as I am concerned they should rename the 800 line "customer disservice". I think they are trained to be clueless.

tendons

when I was going through the fear of not getting a spare tire with the e55 the help person suggested that if I needed a spare tire perhaps I should consider getting a different car.

Randy B

Talked with the parts manager about the phones. He showed me a release they just got last week, with a V600 full kit available for all W211's. It will be available in four to five weeks. The same literature said the cradle kits would be available no later than January 05' for those W211's that already had a V60 kit installed in the W211. The papers stated all W211's are GSM capabale so no PSE type unit to change out in the trunk, just a cradle up front. You will also not need to buy a MB phone. All V600's will work. He said the delay has been because of a voltage spike with the GSM phones and they have been shorting out when installed in the cradles. As soon as I know more I wil pass it on.

Randy

HotWheels500

Did you learn anything about the v710? Any info will be appreciated.

Randy B

Sorry self centered on the V600 and did not ask. I will back there on Friday to have a driver's door handle replaced for the Keyless Go and will ask for you, Will post as soon as I know.

Randy

weinschela

Here is an email I got from MB Customer Svc today. It is inconsistent with the above as they say only MB Motorola phones. If you have copy of what the service department was given that suggests personal v600s can beused, could you please post. Thanks. I trust nothing from customer service but I keep trying.

"Thank you for your recent internet inquiry.

We appreciate you taking the time to inform us of the inconsistencies
in
the "Build Your Own" section of our website, and apologize for any
confusion this may have caused. To clarify, a 2005 E500 sedan with the
Hands-free communication option price is $925. The Hands-free
communication system with voice control option is $1,450.

In regards to your second question, the only cellular phone that can be
used in the Hands-free option is the Mercedes-Benz Motorola telephone.

If we can be of any further assistance, please feel free to e-mail us
again
or call us at
1-800-FOR-MERCedes (1-800-367-6372)."

freakinfreak

If that is the case, I would just need to reflash the v600s for everyone with the correct Mercedes firmware. This is a LOT more feasible than the previous attempts with the v60.

weinschela

Yeah, I would too, if I knew where to get the MB flash (or is it a flex?) Having flashed and flexed my v600 several times, its really easy if you have access to the files.

SUNILP

AS far as I know, there is no Mercedes Specific Firmware of Flash Update for the v600 at the moment. Still debatable weather mercedes will use a MB Specific v600 or a generic v600. Both rumors are in the air.

HotWheels500

According to MB Parts in Fairfield, CT, the v710 phone (Verizon) will have MB special software to make it compatible with Command. An off-the-shelf v710 from Verizon store "wont work." His latest memo from MB says availability mid-late Sept, but he wont be surprised to actually see it by mid October. Cradles are due sooner. No price yet, but he's expecting the handset to be approx. $600. Not sure if that includes the cradle or not.

weinschela

Do you have number for MB parts? Trying to figure out what they're doing on the v600's. Thanks.

HotWheels500

MB of Fairfield (CT) parts depatment is 203-367-7030. Sorry I didn't inquire about the v600. Ask for Jim.

weinschela

My dealer (MB of Southampton (NY)) says they now have no phones at all to install. No v710s. No v600's, and not even any v60s. Everything is on order and they have not been promised a delivery date. They also say the v710's and v600's will, like the v60's, have proprietary software for interfacing with Comand, meaning no off the shelf handsets. Since the Mikbox cannot yet address W211s, we are stuck again with the handsets MB decides we need. Of course they will say we now have a choice between v710 and v600 and the latter adds GSM to the lineup, but your choice is to take an overpriced handset whichever choice you make if you want an integrated phone. Anyone heard anything different?

DavidNJ

What happens when you plug a regular v60i into the previous W211 phone system?

I am still skeptical that anyone would put custom programming in a phone as complex as the V710.

HotWheels500

David, not sure what you mean by "previous W211 phone system" but I have what I'm told is referred to as a "straight v60 or v60c" in the phone system of my car. It was used in an earlier '02 ML500. Seems to be working mostly okay. Issues include (1) my voice is muffled when in hands-free as reported by the guy on the other end, and (2) I'm not sure the phone is powering down when I turn off the ignition. I have the in-car settings for charging and remaining on both set to off. Plan to ask dealer about this at the 1-3K check-up.

Randy B

I've used a V60 of several different versions (c, i, s, x) in my factory kit and all work with full features. I Have never used a MB phone.