Nevada Jack

Have any of you who received your S550's without the phone/voice kit installed (Code 077) heard when the kit will be available for install? The latest I heard from MBUSA was early spring to early summer.

Thanks...

akburton

I could not even tell you if my phone/voice kit was installed. I do not have a phone that is approved to be used with the S-class.

Nevada Jack

Do you have voice control of any features in COMAND? If you can control the NAVI or other feature using voice then you have the kit installed. If there is a MHI connection in the console to plug in a phone then you have the kit installed. If you don't have the kit installed then you should contact your dealer.

X-Ricer

i've been told early may to june....

kinda pisses me off.....can't delay the payments!

akburton

Yup I can do all of that Jack. Glad to hear you had a great trip. I am loving my car. As soon as my gf finds her charger for her camera I'll post some pics.

MBTech21

We got a message today that the kits will start showing up any day to the retailing dealer. My understanding was you didn't have to accept the car without it, hence the no delaying payments!!

jsloan01

you back from your cross-country trip Jack? how did she handle?

what's the mileage these days? hope the beast is driving well!

Nevada Jack

See my post at https://mbworld.org/forums/s-class-w221/149018-he-s-baaaack.html

Here is the stats of the trip from the dash screen...I'd say the mileage is great!

Nevada Jack

That's good news. I know Glauser had not been told about how the kits would be sent to their buyers who would have them installed by their local dealer and not Glauser. I sent Greg a note today asking about it. Thanks

jmrdmd

Hi Jack,
I called the owner of my dealership and was told the first week of June.
Jan

silberrosa

The phone/vr install will likely be handled like a warranty claim. Therefore, it should not be a problem for a non-selling dealer to handle. Whomever does the install makes the warranty claim and gets the labor paid by MB.

Nevada Jack

Great news Jan...thanks

Nevada Jack

Thanks...my understanding early on was that the kits would be sent to the dealers according to VIN # and Glauser was not sure at the time of delivery how that designated kit would be sent to other dealers. I'm sure it will work out fine once they are available. Thanks

KuRuPTioN

MBUSA ran out of the kits and didn't want to delay the shipment of the vehicles. From my understanding is the salesman is suppose to make you sign a form stating you will accept your phone kits to be installed at later date.

MBZFAN55

The same problem occured on my 2004 S500 and the car sat in the Baltimore VPC for weeks, until my dealer had the car shipped without the "phone package". A month later the kit became available and it was satisfactorly installed at the dealership.

It strikes me odd that you never seem to hear these kinds of problems with other manufacturers. No "voice/phone package", no P2-P3 option package, and now delayed introduction of the W216 CL550, also due to option unavailability. You would think a company of Mercedes's prestige and ability would perform better in this arena

Nevada Jack

I agree 100%.

I do think some of the delays are due to management policies and the change in leadership at MB. Quality demands have risen and contract conflicts with suppliers are in a state of flux. I do hope the on demand inventory system gets it's act together quickly and you can order a car and take delivery as you want it in 6 weeks or so.

MagicO309D

V221 sales have been through the roof each month since launch. I'll bet it has more to do with pulling car production forward ahead of what the suppliers can deliver. Wait a minute... ...that's a policy too!

i7iceguy

Has anyone called their dealership recently? I called in two weeks ago and they told me they are shipping them by bulk in the beginning of June.

Nevada Jack

I was just going to post some new info and saw this thread. Here is the latest from MBUSA:

"The Phone System retrofit kit # is BQ6820963.They began shipment to dealers on 5/30/06 and will continue weekly until the backlog is eliminated."

Greg Weiler indicates the kits are being distributed to dealers by VIN # and in order of purchase date. They will be installed as a warranty item.

However, my dealer (one of the largest S 550 sellers) only received two kits so far...so the supply is hardly available in great numbers and will not be shipped "in bulk." Hopefully the numbers will increase as production gets more routine. If you purchased your car from one dealer and now are having it serviced by another one (like me), the designated kit will be "sold" to the installing dealer and shipped to them by the receiving dealer. Greg at Glauser in Denver is following up closely and will contact my SA in LV when my VIN kit arrives. I also I talked with my SA this morning while having my car washed and he made a note of the situation and is ready to deal with the install when he gets the kit.

i7iceguy

I spoke with the parts department at the laguna niguel, ca dealership and they told me they have received small amounts so far but starting next week, they will be receiving them in bulk.

MB Fanatic

Yup, like i7iceguy said Laguna Niguel has some, but not many. Starting next week they are expected to recieve many more. I have an appointment for next week to have it installed in the S600. Our S550 was one of the few S550's to have it installed at the factory.