Warranty & Analog Phones
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From: houston
Warranty & Analog Phones
I need some advice here. I recently bought an early 2000 model S500 that originally came with a Motorola Analog phone that is covered by the warranty. The problem is that I can't get the phone activated because the different cell phone companies are phasing out analog service and won't activate any new accounts with analog phones. I called the dealer and was told that the upgrade costs $1500. My question is, shouldn't this be covered by the warranty? I bought the car under the understanding that everything in it would be working. Has anyone here had a similar problem?
Al
Al
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From: Miami,FL
BMW 528i
A few months ago, I was going to buy 2000 S430 with only 3200 miles, it was perfect, fully loaded, never driven, at a great deal. After I took it to the MB dealership for a car check up and it passed, I asked about installing a new phone, which I expected to pay $1500 - $2100.00. They told me it is not possible. That the 2000 cars are not pre-wired for the todays phones, they need to be fiber-optic. It is simply not possible what so ever to get any phone company to give you a line or a phone number. The 2001 cars are all wired with the new fiber optic cables. I called AT&T and many MB dealerships in the nation. They may sell you a phone, but will not get you a line. I was frustrated and did not buy the car. Especially here in FLA, in a few months it will be against the law to speak on a handheld cell while driving. Now I am 3rd on line waiting for my 2003 E500 (with phone). I could not understand how a car that was only 1 year old, in brand new condition costing over $69K (I had it at $58K) was so antiquated so quickly.
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From: Southern California, USA
2003 CL55 AMG
The 2000 model year S class was phone compatible and did come with an optional analog phone in early 2000. The later models in 2000 came with digital units as an option. Your dealer in Flordia is mistaken !!!
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From: Southern California, USA
2003 CL55 AMG
Re: Warranty & Analog Phones
Originally posted by alfchi
I need some advice here. I recently bought an early 2000 model S500 that originally came with a Motorola Analog phone that is covered by the warranty. The problem is that I can't get the phone activated because the different cell phone companies are phasing out analog service and won't activate any new accounts with analog phones. I called the dealer and was told that the upgrade costs $1500. My question is, shouldn't this be covered by the warranty? I bought the car under the understanding that everything in it would be working. Has anyone here had a similar problem?
Al
I need some advice here. I recently bought an early 2000 model S500 that originally came with a Motorola Analog phone that is covered by the warranty. The problem is that I can't get the phone activated because the different cell phone companies are phasing out analog service and won't activate any new accounts with analog phones. I called the dealer and was told that the upgrade costs $1500. My question is, shouldn't this be covered by the warranty? I bought the car under the understanding that everything in it would be working. Has anyone here had a similar problem?
Al
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Same boat
Been told by my dealer that it cannot be done. Have S500 '00 w/Motorola analog (crap) been replaced twice. Still bad. I have activation, but need digital to stop all the bad noise/static/dropped calls.
Dealer says it cannot be retrofitted due to software issues. I might just bag the Benz phone and put a V60c in myself. Lose steering wheel controls but at least the calls will go through.
If anyone has successfully changed to the newer Benz unit, please post.
Dealer says it cannot be retrofitted due to software issues. I might just bag the Benz phone and put a V60c in myself. Lose steering wheel controls but at least the calls will go through.
If anyone has successfully changed to the newer Benz unit, please post.
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From: Southern California, USA
2003 CL55 AMG
Eric, long time no talk. Hope everything is well with you.
There is a retrofit kit available to those clients who wish to upgrade to the Digital StarTAC from their existing analog phone. Order PN BQ682 0447. Because certain components of the analog and digital installation kits are common, the MY00 S-Class Retrofit Kit is priced significantly below the regular installation kit.
At this time, there is no upgrade path to anything newer than the Digital dual band Star Tac for the 2000 model year. It is rumored however that Mercedes will be releasing a newer PSE (Phone Support Electronics) for the 2000 model year that will be compatible with the Mercedes branded Motorola Timeport and the Mercedes branded Motorola v60.
There is a retrofit kit available to those clients who wish to upgrade to the Digital StarTAC from their existing analog phone. Order PN BQ682 0447. Because certain components of the analog and digital installation kits are common, the MY00 S-Class Retrofit Kit is priced significantly below the regular installation kit.
At this time, there is no upgrade path to anything newer than the Digital dual band Star Tac for the 2000 model year. It is rumored however that Mercedes will be releasing a newer PSE (Phone Support Electronics) for the 2000 model year that will be compatible with the Mercedes branded Motorola Timeport and the Mercedes branded Motorola v60.
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From: houston
I did upgrade the phone on my 2000 S500 to a digital dual band Motorola StarTAC. The dealer was asking over $1500 to do the upgrade but I was lucky enough to find a used kit on ebay for $500. I did the work myself. It's not hard at all. No rewiring necessary. I am still mad at Grenway mercedes in Houston for selling me a car with an analog phone that I couldn't get activated. I think I will try the other dealer in Houston for my next purchase.
Al
Al
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I just got off the phone with the district service/opns rep for my area. Had a long talk about the crappy motorola analog phone. He was right in line with AWiner's notes on the retrofit kit for the dual band startac, but after we talked about it, sounds like throwing good money after bad.
The issues with the newest digital tri-mode phones is that the 2000 year S500 is not certified for RMI/EFI signals, and they do not know at this time what effect that would have on the control units in the car. The newer V60 units use different control units, different antenna connections, etc. There is also an issue with the command center/telematics platform. The two are not (apparently) interchangeable to the point of taking the old '00 analog equipt out and plugging new '03 equipment in.
They are going to look into the options for me for now. Without this board's help I'd never have gotten to step one with these guys - they were the ones who told me there was nothing else to do but exchange the bad phone for another bad phone.
Guess I'll be getting digital on my own without Mercedes help, but if they should come up with a decent response I'll post.
Thanks!
The issues with the newest digital tri-mode phones is that the 2000 year S500 is not certified for RMI/EFI signals, and they do not know at this time what effect that would have on the control units in the car. The newer V60 units use different control units, different antenna connections, etc. There is also an issue with the command center/telematics platform. The two are not (apparently) interchangeable to the point of taking the old '00 analog equipt out and plugging new '03 equipment in.
They are going to look into the options for me for now. Without this board's help I'd never have gotten to step one with these guys - they were the ones who told me there was nothing else to do but exchange the bad phone for another bad phone.
Guess I'll be getting digital on my own without Mercedes help, but if they should come up with a decent response I'll post.
Thanks!
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From: Indiana
S550V4 - 2009 Black on Black Loaded ! 06-M5-Silver/black ! 08-LX570 (Silver - Best SUV ever !)
I made the blunder myself. Went ahead and bought a 2000 S500 -- It was loaded with all options and had only 3200 miles (from a dealer - with StarMark warranty) -- It has the startac phone in it but is the TDMA digital network handset. I called the Mercedes general number and was told - that this is an analog 800 mhz only set (although it says digital on the handset)- She also was 100% sure that there is no way we can change it to the digital or the tri-mode system. I would like to know how true this person was ! -- In any case what a rip-off !! -- I am willing to spend around $2K if I can upgrade to the V60c - Help Please !
many thanks
Mat
many thanks
Mat
