PUZZ1

OK, I really want the integrated phone and I know there is controversy surrounding the timing of when the latest and greatest will be available. Assuming that they will show up eventually, I'm still having trouble with the idea of spending upwards of $2 grand on a cell phone. At the same time, I would love to have it as I had it in a previous Audi and loved the convenience. I've always been one to pay for convenience (and in this case I guess safety), but where do you draw the line with MB?? How have others justified this cost??

Barry45RPM

Do what I did:
1. Take the cost for the phone that MB will charge you.
2. Divide it by the number of days you expect to keep the car.
3. It should come out to about a dollar a day. BS yourself that it is worth it.
4. For added help in BSing yourself, consider the fact that there is no alternative if you want a completely integrated phone.

miroj

Its not really a matter of cost. Its more like the other non-MB are heavily discounted because they are more of less useless systems.

Mercedes System
-----------------
Steering wheel control
Auto mute
UHI system for many phones
Voice control / voice dialling
Instrument cluster display
Works with radio or COMAND as integrated feature
better than average reception
uses cars sound system
can be fixed by any benz workshop

Non-Mercedes system
--------------------
visible cradle
no idea how its wired to the car
may or may not use the mute function on the radio
cheap microphone - not the $100 microphone in the MB
requires someone to install a speaker somewhere in the car
goes out of date really fast - no spares.

Miguk_Saram

My justification/considerations:

• Ability to speak hands free and without an earpiece/headset
• Ability to take notes w/out developing a cringe in my neck from holding the phone on my shoulder
• Time spent in traffic (stop and go)
• Number of calls received and/or amount of time spent on the phone while driving
• Ease of paying attention to everything else (road signs, switching lanes, signal lights) when driving and conversing
• Like yourself, I've always been one to pay for convenience.. and trust me, it's convenient!
• I'd be beating my head against a wall had I NOT gotten it.
• My girlfriend tried to talk me out of it: "$2000 for a phone! Why do you need a $2000 phone!?" -- she lost the battle.. now she loves the feature..
• It's soooooo cool (sweet!!)!
• It's a luxury car.. might as well get the "luxuries"..

cte430

Just like me, there seem to be lots of folks here good at rationalizing It is expensive, but I would not do without it.

W210

It's an excellent system. Sure, you get older phones but you also get a 4 year warranty, as well as total integration. I dislike Bluetooth solutions as the batteries get drained too quickly and you have to watch your battery level.

For the safety and convenience, it's worth it in my opinion. I use it a few times a day when driving, including quickly checking my various voice mail boxes (and even reading text messages), nothing beats it.

glojo

This seems 'slightly' expensive. In the UK we pay £495 to have the vehicle fitted out completely for the hands free telephone. If you want Mercedes-Benz to supply the Nokia 6310i then the total fee will be £735. (£495 + £240 for telephone).

I paid £495 and simply put my personal 6310i into the cradle. Does your $2000 include rental fee?

Regards,
John
A sunny afternoon in Torquay

PUZZ1

Barry45RPM

carrier as they use different technology & sometimes different frequencies even though the same model phone is used by different carriers) & then the monthly rate for whatever plan that you subscribe to with that carrier.

For example: I had a plan with Verizon for 39.95/mo. They added the phone in the car to my plan with an additional phone number, and both phones share the paid minutes/free minutes, "free time" in any manner for an additional $20/month, as long as I don't go over my alotted time, its included in the $39.95+$20= $59.95. Thats why I don't carry the MB V60 phone around with me. It stays in the car, built in. I carry my original "fancy" phone around with me.

I believe I paid $1100 for the phone plus $ 700 for the VCS voice comand option from the "factory" when I ordered the car. I tend to block that sort of stuff out as well as the car payments, so that I am free to enjoy the car!

levind

I noticed there is a new TSB (preliminary draft) regarding phone installation in '05 W211.065/070/076/082/083 (note not 026-CDI). It details the instructions for the installation of phones to the MHI cables and connectors.

The installation is very different from previous w211 model years. Also there is a new operations manual for phone/VCS. It shows the V60, V600, and V710 functionality.

Does MHI mean that we can use our own non-MB phones?

Baby Jocko

The total factory price of the phone options are now ridiculous, IMO:

$2148.00 = Hands-Free
$2673.00 = Hands-Free w/VCS

These prices include the factory feature that merely provides the ability and the v710 phone and cradle, which are sold by the dealer.

As I said, I think these prices are outrageous. But, what is even worse is the fact that MBUSA did not present the price of phone and cradle until recently. Those of us who ordered the vehicle with this option and have taken delivery are only now being told the price of these items that make this option complete. This, IMO, is beyond outrageous. I think it is illegal and I will fight MBUSA on this.

Yes, MBUSA has the right to change pricing and options. But, their history shows that they have increased prices annually by an average of 2 - 3%. The total price of the VCS option has increased 34% from 2004. If they had presented that total price at time of order or even delivery, that would be one thing. But, in this case, they only partially revealed the price, then after delivery presented a bomb.

scorchie

UHI is £551.

But our phone plans are cheap as dirt... most carriers have plans with 1000 minutes anytime for US $40.

-s-

glojo

Hi Scorchie,
What is UHI please? Your rental prices are excellent value.

Regards,
John

scorchie

Hi John, UHI is Universal Handy Interface. It is a controller in the boot and in the center armrest, a connector. This system is £420 when ordered with the car (the retrofit price is probably higher, if at all possible from the car-monger). The connector allows various cradles to be quickly fitted by the owner. These cradles support various handsets, such as Nokia (6310i and many others such as 6230), SonyEricsson, Siemens, or Motorola.

Once fitted with UHI, a vehicle owner can change to a supported phone in seconds by swapping the cradle. New phone support is being continually added.

The cradles are £131 each (€140 so it might cheaper to source it across the channel).

All UK prices quoted are VAT inc.

Hope that is informative! We're currently working on creating an UHI retrofit for our US W211 phone-challenged friends, and possibly for cars in the ECE as well.

-s-

glojo

Excellent, thanks very much,

Regards,
John