How to tell if my S55 has MB phone system?
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From: Alexandria, VA
S55 AMG '06
How to tell if my S55 has MB phone system?
Just bought an '06 S55...hasn't been delivered yet and it's used. The dealer didn't have a copy of the window sticker. How can I tell if it has the MB phone system installed? I know it doesn't have the VCS option. I want to get the bluetooth module, but I'm not sure if I also need to buy the phone system. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
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'19 E63S sedan
It's easiest just to lift the console door. If you see a sloped felt-covered divider, the phone system is not installed. If you see a cradle holder (MHI or Multi-Handset Interface), the phone electronics are installed.
You may see "No Phone" in either case.
You may see "No Phone" in either case.
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BTW, if it doesn't have the VCS, it doesn't have the phone electronics. The dealer can add this (VCS and MHI) for about $1,800. You then get the bluetooth adapter from AWS.
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From: Alexandria, VA
S55 AMG '06
I am fairly certain that VCS is not required in order for there to be a phone kit. I think both the phone kit and VCS were options on the car. I know that VCS includes the phone kit.
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Mercedes only installs the VCS/MHI as a single option. There are some third party solutions that can add phone electronics separately, but the OEM phone install is integrated with voice control. This is the dealer install bulletin:
http://phdwebsite.powerpulse.cc/Phon...s/2005%20S.pdf
$1,800 doesn't seem like such a rip when you read through this bulletin.
Even if there is a third-party (aftermarket) phone installed, there will be a cradle of some sort visible.
http://phdwebsite.powerpulse.cc/Phon...s/2005%20S.pdf
$1,800 doesn't seem like such a rip when you read through this bulletin.
Even if there is a third-party (aftermarket) phone installed, there will be a cradle of some sort visible.
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From: Alexandria, VA
S55 AMG '06
That's strange because I've been told by three MB dealers now that I do not need the VCS in order to install the phone kit. And that the phone kit was available as an option on the vehicle as a stand alone for those that did not want voice activation. Very confusing. Sounds like you know what you're talking about too. I'll investigate further.
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From: San Jose area
'19 E63S sedan
I'd be interested in your experience. It's possible those dealers are installing a third party system, or maybe there is a new kit. How much did the dealer say it cost? I'm having the VCS/MHI installed next week because I had it on my S55 and miss it on the new S65. I don't use it for changing radio stations, for instance, but it's great for operating the phone. Flicking one finger and speaking really is a lot less distracting than any alternative.
I probably wouldn't omit the VCS unless it saved a lot of the $1,800, but that would surprise me. If you read through the installation bulletin, you see that many of the VCS components are already in the car. For instance, they install the VCS control stalk on the steering column by popping off a cover and inserting the stalk. The switches and wiring are already there. The microphone and speaker integration are already there for Teleaid.
I probably wouldn't omit the VCS unless it saved a lot of the $1,800, but that would surprise me. If you read through the installation bulletin, you see that many of the VCS components are already in the car. For instance, they install the VCS control stalk on the steering column by popping off a cover and inserting the stalk. The switches and wiring are already there. The microphone and speaker integration are already there for Teleaid.
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VCS in NOT required in order to use a phone system. And the Phone System is NOT required in order to use VCS. They are independent systems. The VCS usually is 500 dollars. S55's usually came standard with the phone system. VCS is part of the completer kit. THe MHI PSE is part of the CORE kit.
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'19 E63S sedan
Assuming that the car didn't come with the phone (neither my S55 nor S65 did), isn't the completer kit needed to install the phone too? I thought that the completer kit includes all the model-dependent parts while the core kit was model-independent. And I thought that some of the cradle-mounting parts, for instance, are model-dependent.
Assuming I'm wrong, I still consider the VCS worth $500 for the quality of the hands-free experience. It's a "stupid car trick" for everything but phone dialing, but there's nothing like flicking a stalk with your pinkie and then dialing by voice. Trying to operate the audio by voice is pretty exasperating.
BTW, the VCS in my 140 S500 was very entertaining. Unlike the 220 VCS, you had to confirm the number it was about to dial. If you said "No," it would give you the next closest match. One of my friends discovered the name "b*tch" first matched my wife's name, then my mother, then my sister, even though none of their names sounded anything like "b*tch." It also responded in that sequence when anyone said "b*tch," in other words, it was a voice-independent trick.
Luckily my wife has a good sense of humor and would demonstrate the trick to anyone in the car.
PS. Of all the words this forum chooses to censor, I can't believe it blanks out the female dog word but allows all manner of words I wouldn't put in print.
Assuming I'm wrong, I still consider the VCS worth $500 for the quality of the hands-free experience. It's a "stupid car trick" for everything but phone dialing, but there's nothing like flicking a stalk with your pinkie and then dialing by voice. Trying to operate the audio by voice is pretty exasperating.
BTW, the VCS in my 140 S500 was very entertaining. Unlike the 220 VCS, you had to confirm the number it was about to dial. If you said "No," it would give you the next closest match. One of my friends discovered the name "b*tch" first matched my wife's name, then my mother, then my sister, even though none of their names sounded anything like "b*tch." It also responded in that sequence when anyone said "b*tch," in other words, it was a voice-independent trick.
Luckily my wife has a good sense of humor and would demonstrate the trick to anyone in the car.
PS. Of all the words this forum chooses to censor, I can't believe it blanks out the female dog word but allows all manner of words I wouldn't put in print.
Last edited by whoover; Oct 9, 2006 at 01:50 AM.
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The completer kit contains the center console specific clip that the cradle mounts to. Depending on the model, it can also come with the vcs as part of the completer kit. However, if you want to save a little money, what you will required to do a MHI install is a PSE, Clip, and perhaps a short fiber piece depending on model.
I believe antenna compensators have been removed from the core kit now as they are useless. The cradles can be purchased from www.wireless4mb.com
The VCS is really a nice feature to have. Especially the phone features. The vocabulary has increased for VCS starting with the MOST cars and now includes a few other features. Although it can get confusing at times for the VCS due to the increased vocabulary.
I believe antenna compensators have been removed from the core kit now as they are useless. The cradles can be purchased from www.wireless4mb.com
The VCS is really a nice feature to have. Especially the phone features. The vocabulary has increased for VCS starting with the MOST cars and now includes a few other features. Although it can get confusing at times for the VCS due to the increased vocabulary.
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From: Long Island, New york
2004 S55 AMG
What should I tell the service adviser if I just wanted the VCS installed only. I have gone to the dealer many times and have asked this question but have be told I need to have both the VCS and phone system installed together.
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2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
The install included the VCS and the necessary parts to allow for the MHI module from AWS to be inserted into the clip in the center console compartment. It also included a "splitter" to allow the car phone to use the external antenna used for Telaide. As I remember the dealer install was about $1800. From my checking out the details, for the phone to be installed you must have the AVS kit. It is not necessary to purchase the phone or the module from the dealer. You can buy the module from AWS and the phone from any cell store if it is compatible with the AWS module.
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From: Alexandria, VA
S55 AMG '06
Okay, I spoke with the "expert" over at the dealer today. He was emphatic that I must puchase these three components in order for the phone to work:
1. Q-6-82-0965 $650
2. Q-6-82-0917 $850
3. 6-7-87-5839 Bluetooth Module $350
4. Installation $400 roughly
No cradle required since I'm using a Motorola KRZR. Only need the cradle if you have a V60 or V710 and want to be able to charge it in the cradle. He said the VCS is part of the deal...like it or not, and that I can't purchase separately...not on an '06 S55. There's a guy on Ebay selling a unit for $900, but it's only part 0917 from above, and doesn't list the other part #s. I know Argos is out there for much less, but I like the idea of OEM parts.
Thanks for the all the feedback!
1. Q-6-82-0965 $650
2. Q-6-82-0917 $850
3. 6-7-87-5839 Bluetooth Module $350
4. Installation $400 roughly
No cradle required since I'm using a Motorola KRZR. Only need the cradle if you have a V60 or V710 and want to be able to charge it in the cradle. He said the VCS is part of the deal...like it or not, and that I can't purchase separately...not on an '06 S55. There's a guy on Ebay selling a unit for $900, but it's only part 0917 from above, and doesn't list the other part #s. I know Argos is out there for much less, but I like the idea of OEM parts.
Thanks for the all the feedback!
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
Okay, I spoke with the "expert" over at the dealer today. He was emphatic that I must puchase these three components in order for the phone to work:
1. Q-6-82-0965 $650
2. Q-6-82-0917 $850
3. 6-7-87-5839 Bluetooth Module $350
4. Installation $400 roughly
No cradle required since I'm using a Motorola KRZR. Only need the cradle if you have a V60 or V710 and want to be able to charge it in the cradle. He said the VCS is part of the deal...like it or not, and that I can't purchase separately...not on an '06 S55. There's a guy on Ebay selling a unit for $900, but it's only part 0917 from above, and doesn't list the other part #s. I know Argos is out there for much less, but I like the idea of OEM parts.
Thanks for the all the feedback!
1. Q-6-82-0965 $650
2. Q-6-82-0917 $850
3. 6-7-87-5839 Bluetooth Module $350
4. Installation $400 roughly
No cradle required since I'm using a Motorola KRZR. Only need the cradle if you have a V60 or V710 and want to be able to charge it in the cradle. He said the VCS is part of the deal...like it or not, and that I can't purchase separately...not on an '06 S55. There's a guy on Ebay selling a unit for $900, but it's only part 0917 from above, and doesn't list the other part #s. I know Argos is out there for much less, but I like the idea of OEM parts.
Thanks for the all the feedback!
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From: Alexandria, VA
S55 AMG '06
Yes, I meant to write bluetooth MHI interface module...that's the one that's $350 that I referenced. I've been told that all of the Motorola phones work well and the phonebook downloads to the nav screen well.
Last edited by peebs1; Oct 9, 2006 at 01:44 PM.
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From: Alexandria, VA
S55 AMG '06
And from what I understand, the MHI interface module does not charge the phone...for that you need a compatable MHI Cradle for your phone.
Last edited by peebs1; Oct 9, 2006 at 01:46 PM.
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'19 E63S sedan
I agree with Nevada Jack that a cradled solution is superior. I'm reusing the V60s from my last car as a cradled carphone. The antenna improves the performance and the phone stays charged. Forwarding to another phone on the plan is cheap. If you want to switch to a single Bluetooth phone in the future, the only thing you've wasted is the $220 cradle. Replace it with the Bluetooth adapter and you're good to go. It's a very flexible solution.
Thread Starter
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From: Alexandria, VA
S55 AMG '06
Isn't it a pain to forward your calls to your car phone every time you get in it? Or is there a simpler way that I'm missing? I'm anticipating the same hassle of having to switch my phone to bluetooth every time I get in the car. There must be an easier way.
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From: Las Vegas, NV
2011 E350 Cabriolet..White and Almond Mocha
BTW...I am not sure but if your phone BT is on, you only have to connect once to set up the connection with the module. After that when you get in the car it will connect with the car's BT system.
Last edited by Nevada Jack; Oct 9, 2006 at 08:16 PM.
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From: Alexandria, VA
S55 AMG '06
Thanks for that info Jack...much obliged. I hate the thought of giving up the cell # I've been using for years and years. Darn shame they can't come up with new cradles to match the newer phones out there. Or at least an adapter of some sort. You'd think Motorola would be able to come up with that.
Last edited by peebs1; Oct 9, 2006 at 10:15 PM.
