2003 S55 AMG with NoPhone
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Joined: Jul 2012
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E320
2003 S55 AMG with NoPhone
Where would the phone be located?? It has a fin style antenna on the rear window. No phone in the console. It has what looks like a Microphone above the rear view mirror.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 443
Likes: 118
'03 S55 (79K miles)
Tomlite: You checking out a used car to buy?
The microphone and shark fin antenna were standard for the car in USA, even if it did not get outfitted for a phone. The microphone near the mirror is shared by the voice-commands, the standard TeleAid system*and the optional phone.
I have an '03 S55, but I'm sure this info would apply to all S-class W220 vehicles. I purchased the phone option from MB. So I know what it is supposed to look like.
The phone is mounted to the underside of the right half of the arm rest lid. So if you notice the arm rest lid is split in half, open the right side by flipping it up and sideways toward the passenger seat. There is rectangular plastic spring-clipped cradle that the phone adapter (another cradle) clips into. The phone adapter has the data connector and a tiny coaxial antenna extension connector in it, and there is a cable that snakes underneath the left side of the arm rest lid. The cable stretches enough to hand the phone to a passenger in the rear seat while still connected. If you don't find the cradles and cable in the right half of the arm rest lid, the car was probably not outfitted for it.
The phone adapter receives a Motorola V60 Flip Phone w/MB logo and firmware to work with MB Command head unit. Not what you would call a smart phone anymore, but at least it works on the digital phone networks like Verizon. You might find a clever AV tech that can retrofit to an iPhone to Command with a different connector and cradle, but I wouldn't bet on it.
That's the only phone I know of that works with this system, unless you have the "Bluetooth Adapter" puck. The puck sat in about the same place, I think, and allowed you to connect with other types of phones in hands-free mode. I'm not as familiar with what BT functions you can do if you have the puck. I assume you can play music through it too. There are others on this forum that have done the puck upgrade.
The left side of the arm rest lid has a small space for storing coins and pens/pencils, and also includes the "Wrench" button and "Info" button that initiate calls to TeleAid system.
*Check if the prior owner had paid to upgrade the TeleAid system to the Digital modem. When MB produced the 2003 model year, they used older Analog AMPS style solution. Bad idea. In the USA, AMPS analog service was discontinued and MB offered an upgrade (at a hefty price) to customers. MB were later sued in class action and they settled by writing $600 checks to whomever had paid for the upgrade.
So before you buy, press the wrench or info or SOS button on the car and see if you get a connection. If they only have the analog system, that might be a negotiation point for you to get a better deal on the car.
The microphone and shark fin antenna were standard for the car in USA, even if it did not get outfitted for a phone. The microphone near the mirror is shared by the voice-commands, the standard TeleAid system*and the optional phone.
I have an '03 S55, but I'm sure this info would apply to all S-class W220 vehicles. I purchased the phone option from MB. So I know what it is supposed to look like.
The phone is mounted to the underside of the right half of the arm rest lid. So if you notice the arm rest lid is split in half, open the right side by flipping it up and sideways toward the passenger seat. There is rectangular plastic spring-clipped cradle that the phone adapter (another cradle) clips into. The phone adapter has the data connector and a tiny coaxial antenna extension connector in it, and there is a cable that snakes underneath the left side of the arm rest lid. The cable stretches enough to hand the phone to a passenger in the rear seat while still connected. If you don't find the cradles and cable in the right half of the arm rest lid, the car was probably not outfitted for it.
The phone adapter receives a Motorola V60 Flip Phone w/MB logo and firmware to work with MB Command head unit. Not what you would call a smart phone anymore, but at least it works on the digital phone networks like Verizon. You might find a clever AV tech that can retrofit to an iPhone to Command with a different connector and cradle, but I wouldn't bet on it.
That's the only phone I know of that works with this system, unless you have the "Bluetooth Adapter" puck. The puck sat in about the same place, I think, and allowed you to connect with other types of phones in hands-free mode. I'm not as familiar with what BT functions you can do if you have the puck. I assume you can play music through it too. There are others on this forum that have done the puck upgrade.
The left side of the arm rest lid has a small space for storing coins and pens/pencils, and also includes the "Wrench" button and "Info" button that initiate calls to TeleAid system.
*Check if the prior owner had paid to upgrade the TeleAid system to the Digital modem. When MB produced the 2003 model year, they used older Analog AMPS style solution. Bad idea. In the USA, AMPS analog service was discontinued and MB offered an upgrade (at a hefty price) to customers. MB were later sued in class action and they settled by writing $600 checks to whomever had paid for the upgrade.
So before you buy, press the wrench or info or SOS button on the car and see if you get a connection. If they only have the analog system, that might be a negotiation point for you to get a better deal on the car.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 443
Likes: 118
'03 S55 (79K miles)
Use the W220 forum sticky
Check this out in the W220 forum...It's in the Sticky section at top...
There is also a forum for electronics on MBWorld.
(I just tried clicking on these links below and most are broken, so maybe not very informative. )
HANDSFREE PHONE (Cell Phone) – Bluetooth and Plug-in
How-To Guide for Cell Phone Upgrades and Equipping Your Car for First Time - http://mbca.cartama.net/showthread.php?t=33872 - Downloadable version at http://mbca.cartama.net/showthread.php?t=33863 - They’re all you need.
Also posted at https://mbworld.org/forums/audio-...bluetooth.html
Other kits: http://www.incartronics.com/, http://www.mobridgeinc.com/products/bluetooth, and http://www.eiskits.com/argoslaunch4.html
IPOD INTEGRATION
How to integrate an iPod in cars that cannot use the MB iPod kit - http://mbca.cartama.net/showthread.php?p=189073 - post189073
Also posted at https://mbworld.org/forums/aud...mentation.html with a discussion of menus at https://mbworld.org/forums/aud...ml#post2471051
Other kits: http://www.incartronics.com/, http://www.mobridgeinc.com/products/audio - proddetail-3
There is also a forum for electronics on MBWorld.
(I just tried clicking on these links below and most are broken, so maybe not very informative. )
HANDSFREE PHONE (Cell Phone) – Bluetooth and Plug-in
How-To Guide for Cell Phone Upgrades and Equipping Your Car for First Time - http://mbca.cartama.net/showthread.php?t=33872 - Downloadable version at http://mbca.cartama.net/showthread.php?t=33863 - They’re all you need.
Also posted at https://mbworld.org/forums/audio-...bluetooth.html
Other kits: http://www.incartronics.com/, http://www.mobridgeinc.com/products/bluetooth, and http://www.eiskits.com/argoslaunch4.html
IPOD INTEGRATION
How to integrate an iPod in cars that cannot use the MB iPod kit - http://mbca.cartama.net/showthread.php?p=189073 - post189073
Also posted at https://mbworld.org/forums/aud...mentation.html with a discussion of menus at https://mbworld.org/forums/aud...ml#post2471051
Other kits: http://www.incartronics.com/, http://www.mobridgeinc.com/products/audio - proddetail-3
Last edited by GrepAwk; Oct 30, 2014 at 12:32 PM. Reason: Broken Links...
Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 165
Likes: 1
From: Westbury New York
2004 S 55 AMG
some car's they don't have any phone wiring like mine 04 S55 So after research I end up with this
http://www.gromaudio.com/store/most_...pto_fiber.html
very easy to install The only think is you will loose the cd changer because this adapter connect under the OE radio on the changer wiring
http://www.gromaudio.com/store/most_...pto_fiber.html
very easy to install The only think is you will loose the cd changer because this adapter connect under the OE radio on the changer wiring
Super Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 810
Likes: 182
From: Laguna Niguel
'94 SL600,'05 SL600,'06 S65,'07 E63,'14 E63S,'09SL600 all sold, ‘15 S65,‘18 E63S,'17 SL65, '17S65Cab
The 2003 and 2004 S class have different systems. Wireless4MB made a Bluetooth adapter that plugged onto the armrest cradle of the 2003 S. The cradle in the 2003 was designed for the V60 phone. I am not sure if they still sell this adapter. If the cradle is not present in the armrest it will cost around $2k to have the dealer retrofit one. An aftermarket retrofit should be less than half that amount. A lot of money but it results in a fully integrated new phone system that pairs with current phones. There are far cheaper aftermarket solutions but probably not fully controllable through the COMAND system and steering wheel controls.
