RWDvelocity

I have an '01 500 with the analog phone system, which obviously doesn't work anymore. My dealership said it was upgradable to digital, but quoted me about $3k and change and was very unmotivated to do anything claiming a cell phone is just fine. I, however, would like to use SOS and whatnot.

Has anyone else made this upgrade? If so what was charged? I had heard that it was an easy fix, something about a "puck" that needed to be changed. Can anyone elaborate? I would appreciate any help, thank you!

nilop

I am racking my brain but can't remember the name of the company but there is a product that is specifically made for an '01 SL500 that will change the analog to digital and work exactly as it was supposed to right out of the factory. It connects with your phone via bluetooth and works through the car radio, etc. It's uses the fiber optics connection to the DVD player so you'll lose the DVD player. Hopefully somebody else out there knows what i am referring to and can let you know what its called. It sold for around $700.

lkchris

They'll basically replace the current tele aide "box" with a new one.

You can probably find the procedure (with part numbers) by subscribing for a day here: http://www.startekinfo.com

nilop

Found it. It's called Argos and sells for $700. Good Luck!

http://www.cartronics.com/MBD2B.html?IntelliTop=1

RWDvelocity

Wow, look at all those goodies at cartronics. Thank you for your help, Ikchris and nilop. I like the bluetooth idea, but correct me if I'm wrong, the integrated phone would be signal boosted? vs the bluetooth which would just rely on my handheld's antenna?

In the mean time (before my next service appt) I'll look through those parts websites. I'm not sure why my service manager was so unwilling to look into the digital conversion.

nilop

yes, the bluetooth would just rely on your cell phone's antenna. Are the car antenna's really that much stronger where it would make a noticable difference? I'm asking becuase i thought that most cars didn't come with cell phone antenna's anymore. I would have thought that the one on our car is analog only but i'm no mechanic. Good luck.

RWDvelocity

nilop- that's a good point about our antennas being analog. I'll have to ask my dealership (if they're willing to divulge such top secret info). In the good ol' days, car phones had a 3watt amplifier and the external antennas could grab service in places handhelds could only dream. I'm assuming that a digial CDMA system on our cars would still be more powerful than Motorola Razr because of all the importance of the Teleaid (SOS, car tracking, etc).

nilop

Let me know what you find out because i was under the impression that the Tele-Aid system was dead and that they had a new system in place and the two were not compatible.

RWDvelocity

Will do. I have a vacuum tank replacement next week and I'll force the Teleaid issue on them. It doesn't seem to be dead, but MB did hold out on the analog bandwagon until 2006 or '07, far too long, so they had to offer a digital upgrade for the poor saps who bought a $120k R230 SL 600 with an analogue telephone.

RWDvelocity

Update: Dealership says they can update the box to digital and give me all the TeleAid or "MBrace"functions again. I was quoted $600 and change plus the length of service I want. They are researching the phone connection but I have found in archived posts here and over at Benzworld a man who has the parts to enable the traditional hardwired phone, bluetooth, and OEM option voice control. I can post more when that process goes forward.