I have searched this site for an answer and I cannot seem to find it. Can anyone please tell me where I can find what phones will work with my system? It has a cradle in the armrest, other than that it will not plug into my Verizon Razor phone. The cradle plug is too wide.

Thank you!

Try www.wireless4mb.com.

I checked there Steve and it only indicated 3 phones. I remember reading somewhere a list of compatible phones. May be bad memory! Thanks!

If it's the orginal cradle, it was for a Motorola Timeport. If it was installed or updated after 2001 it could be for a v60i or v60s. The only phone that could even be activated today would be a v60s, which are still available. The Timeport and v60i don't support 911 and are no longer legal.

I still use my v60s. In fact, I got a cradle for it for my '06. It's pretty barebones, but it's indestructable and has the best-sounding speakerphone I've seen on any cell. If the cradle is for a v60s and you can find one cheap, I'd recommend it.

The other alternative is to get the Bluetooth puck from aws if they have one for that cradle. Call them and they'll help you identify the cradle and whether they have a puck for it. They will also give you the list of compatible Bluetooth phones for the puck.

Thank you whoover! I stopped by the Verizon store today and the sales rep gave me the rundown on the phones that MAY work, no one really seemed to know there. But your information is more of what I was looking for, real experience. Thank you! I'll check eBay for the phone. The used v60s phones are about $20, with the new ones bringing $285!

Do you know anything about the E815 motorola phone? The sales rep really liked that one as he used it and said it was still his favorite phone. He did not like the V710, which is one of the three suported phones on the wireless4mb.com website.

Also, any comments on Argos?

Thanks!

whoover, is there any way to tell if my cradle is for the Timeport or if it has been updated?

Thank you!

I'd call the 800 number for aws. They were very helpful in confirming that the cradle they sold would allow my v60i (from an '01 S55, BTW) to work in the '06 S65. I'm sure they can help you identify the cradle in your car.

I've never used the E815 but I've heard it works well. But you're going to be limited to the phones that aws tell you will work. Also keep in mind that a v60s (if that's the cradle you have) will work off the car's antenna, while any Bluetooth phone with the puck will not, of course. The antenna and amplifier (called a linear compensator) improve reception quite a bit. I assume your car had the factory phone unit installed. This would presumably have included VCS. Does yours have the voice control stalk installed?

Yes, mine has the voice stalk on the steering column and the rest appears to be factory installed. I agree with trying to use the factory antenna and the improved reception/signal strength. I will give aws a call and see what they tell me. I sincerely appreciate your patience with my questions, you've been a tremendous help through all this that I know nothing about. I know that was painfully obvious!

Thanks again!

I spoke with the wireless4mb.com people and they said it is either the Startac or Timeport phone...probably the Timeport phone based on the production date of the car. He said I could purchase the v60 cradle and use that phone and be good to go. There is one v60 cradle on eBay right now but do you have any idea what else needs to be replaced? I will call MB and see if they can confirm exactly what needs to be replaced to use the v60. I like the idea of the roof antenna as there are some dead spots around my house and that would greatly increase my reception.

Thanks again for your help whoover!

The cradle should be all you need, but I couldn't swear that the linear compensator (amplifier) wasn't updated in later years. Just be sure that the cradle is for the v60s. I'm pretty sure the v60i cradle was different. Also make sure that it's not a late-model cradle meant for the MHI (multi-handset interface) wiring. That kind of cradle just clips in, but the MHI stuff won't be part of what's in your car. It can't be installed in a pre-2004 car because it needs the later MOST fiber optic bus, whereas you have DB2. You want a v60s cradle for DB2 (2000-2003) car.

As long as the stuff is pretty cheap, you can just keep your fingers crossed.

The other approach is to try the dealer for the cradle. They did install v60s's in 2001s. I had one. Anyone who added the phone in 2004 or so (or upgraded the Timeport) would have it. In fact, before you get a new cradle, see if its pins match the configuration on my cradle:

http://herbach.dnsalias.com/v60s.jpg

If so, get a phone first and try it. If not, get the cradle too. The one in the picture is an MHI cradle so yours will look different, but the pin configuration will tell you if it's worth trying.

Great, thank you. I am waiting for the parts department to call me back for a price on converting my system to the v60, or anything compatible with my car. I've read where it will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,500-$1,800. If that is the case, I think I will continue to use my bluetooth phone with earpiece!

Thanks so much for your help whoover!

That's the cost of installing everything (VCS, phone, amplifier, cradle, antenna switch (for Teleaid) from scratch. You've got all that stuff and should just need a new cradle. Make sure they understand that. Good luck.

Yes, his quote came back at about $1,700, and that was including $799 for the phone! There is a v60 phone cradle on eBay and I'll see if my mechanic will try the install. Thanks for the heads up whoover! Why in the hell is MB so far behind other manufacturers in this area?

Evidently the only items that need to be replaced are the cradle and the PSE module. With a phone, from eBay, cradle and PSE total should run about $350 plus labor to install.

Sounds about right, and much better.