HSESL500

I'm a two week old owner of my 1st MB and thoroughly enjoy the car as well as this forum. I've read the various threads on Bluetooth setup for the cell phone and thought I'd add my two cents. I just had a $500 puck installed by my local (NJ) dealer. It syncs very well with my T-Mobile BB 8820...except for the fact that it stops listing contacts on the screen at 500 which sounds like a lot but each work, home, cell, fax, etc., # counts as a separate contact even if one person has, say, five #'s.

SPIKES

i have also researched this but gave up...mine is a 05 also and it says that it is "wired" for telephone.
there is no connection for the bluetooth puck though....
could you please explain your procedure to get this installed...
thanks

HSESL500

Normally I'm a DIY, however, I punted on this one. The dealer removed the telephone handset in the top portion of the glove box and replaced it with a "puck" as he (and others here) referred to it. Actually, it doesn't resemble a puck at all (about 6" long by 2"). I'll check the invoice tonight and post further details like part #, etc.

HSESL500

The MB Bluetooth part # is "B 6 7 87 5878" and this unit plugs into the same connection as the old telephone handset.

metalica_23

The key being that you needed to have the telephone handset, correct? My '06 didn't have the telephone option installed. I have the button on the console, like everyone else, but no phone installed. I assumed this means I'm SOL.

HSESL500

Unfortunately, I cannot answer that one. Yes, I had the handset in the glove box when I bought the car a couple of weeks ago but I would think (probably wrong to do that) that the wiring is pre-installed at the factory in the event a customer wants to add it later on.

WordSmith

There is a puck (black, about 1-1/2" square) under the 6-inch module. To see it, you have to release the module. The puck accepts either the blue-tooth module or a dedicated MB approved cell phone. The only advantage to a dedicated cell phone is that the phone remains charged and it hooks in with the SL's outside antenna so you get better coverage. Either can be removed from the puck by pushing the release button and sliding the unit toward the back of the vehicle. This will reveal the black puck.

The first blue-tooth modules for the 2005 SL were black and only received and sent calls. Later blue-tooth modules were blue & silver and downloaded address books, most recent calls, and a few other features from the phone (depending on the phone). This is the same blue-tooth module MB is still using today on all it's vehicles. I have the same module on my 2008 GL550.

When I first got my SL, I bought the blue-tooth module and installed it. I had a Cingular 8125, and it would only send and receive calls. When I got the iPhone, it started picking up the address book and recent calls.

You can have numerous phones set to connect to the same blue-tooth module, but the module will only pick up the the first one it finds. For example, my wife has a small Crazor and I have an iPhone. If we get in the car at the same time, the module usually picks up my wife's Crazor, probably because it's a simpler phone. If I'm just a few seconds ahead of my wife, it will pick up mine.

The only problem I've had with the module is that it will pick up my phone even when the SL is locked and not running. If I get or make a call standing next to the car, I suddenly realize that the conversation is going on inside the vehicle and not on my phone. I have to make sure that I move away from the car before making a call.

WordSmith

By the way, if you're thinking of buying one of these units or any over-the counter-part, you can save a bundle if you join the Mercedes Benz Club of America (mbca.org). The annual fee is $45, but depending on your dealer, you can get some pretty good discounts on parts. Mine gives 25% on jackets & shirts, 20% on electronic parts (like the blue-tooth modules) and 10-15% on other parts. This doesn't work on service-installed parts, only OTC parts.

Other benefits are a MB bi-monthly magazine and club-member-only rebates on new MB cars. I got $1,500 back direct from MB over and above the great deal I got on my 2008 GL550. It was well worth the $45.

HSESL500

Good info Wordsmith.
Just so I'm clear, you got an additional discount of $1500 from MB when purchasing your GL550 just by being a MBCA member? Sweet.

WordSmith

Yes. You have to be a member of MBCA for a year, and can only apply for one rebate per year. The rebate info is on the website mbca.org. Also, I understand that the dealer here in Reno is generous on the parts discounts. Apparently the dealers are only required to give 10% off to club members, and I've heard that some are only doing that amount.

Nevada Jack

How are you WordSmith... sold the GL and now driving a SL550. Pictures posted on the pic thread. The old GL gang is planning a meet in Yosemite next June.

WordSmith

NJ

Doing Great! Glad to see you got an SL.

jsera

I Just bought a 2005 SL500 CPO. I have read countless threads about phone setup and I am so confused. My Sl does not have a phone under the armrest a puck you may call it. It has a coin holder with 2 buttons.

What do I need to do to find out how to integrate a phone?

Thanks,

Joe

WordSmith

If there is no little black puck under the first console lid, then your SL is not prewired for a bluetooth module. My 2005 SL was like that when I got it, took it to a MB dealer and one day later, it was setup with the wired puck, bluetooth module, and voice command. The bluetooth module by itself is about $300. I don't remember the total, but it wasn't cheap.

mikeinsf

I also just purchased an '05 CPO with just the coin holder in the center console.

Question: Once I do what you say and get the bluetooth kit installed by the dealer, will the car integrate with a phone on any network?

Also: I'm trying to get a handle on just what functionality the "phone bluetoothed to car" option affords vs. just buying something like the Parrot handsfree device.

Thanks!

WordSmith

As long as your phone is bluetooth compatible, yes, everything will work fine with any phone network. Your phone and car will synch with each other just like a phone and a bluetooth head-piece. The car's bluetooth system becomes an extension/accessory of your phone and network.

Mrsl500

Heres afew helpfull links with information on Bluetooth phone system pairing and downloading phone book.
http://mercedes-benzbluetooth.blogsp...h-pairing.html
http://mercedes-benzbluetooth.blogsp...2009/03/1.html
http://mercedes-benzbluetooth.blogsp...y-pairing.html
http://mercedes-benzbluetooth.blogsp...comand-or.html
http://mercedes-benzbluetooth.blogsp...ap-cradle.html


Hopefully this helps, as it helped me!

braden12

I have a 2005 SL500 - it does not have the puck and if you press the telephone button on the dash it says tel unavailable. However, if you press the 'i' button or the monkey wrench button in the console - the nav display screen will light up and it says "Connecting" - So my question is does this mean it is wired for telephone but all I need is the puck?

Also - does anyone have any experience with iTronic BT add on you can buy from cartronics.com that says you can install for 795.00 and will allow the phone system to work regardless of whether the car is wired or not?

I want the phone system to work - but I also want the most cost effective approach. I'd appreciate anyone's thoughts on this... thanks.