Argos Bluetooth...
 

Has anyone heard or recieved any updates regarding the actual release date of the bluetooth box for our 211 E55's? It seems like their website always says coming soon!!

So everyone is in the dark as well?

I'm WAITING, too!

Just got off the phone with EuropeanCarPhone. Seems the W211 MOST system is proprietary and Mercedes only released necessary info a week or two ago. The are now in production and expect Argos units for our 2006 MB's in late August or September.

BAH! What about us '04's!?!

2003 and later will be available.

Eurocarphone - can you give us any idea of a timeframe until the bluetooth phone kit for our cars will be ready?

I spoke with them last week and they said that the module for all W211's 2003-present will be available in late August, early September.

FINALLY!! Is this integrated with COMMAND or is it an externally operating system?

Hmm Aug. or sept. I hate to wait! But I guess it's still worth it. I think the last time I mentioned installing a phone and bluetooth puck at my stealer, they quoted me thousands of dollars! I hope that time-frame is accurate, and yes from what I have read the system should be fully integrated with our steering wheel controls and command. I have also heard that it will download the phonebook and display the tag names of our caller ID. Any truth to this EUROCARPHONE?
thanks

i wonder if its still on schedule....

We're getting pretty well into August. Any news on this upgrade?

I called last week. Looks as though it's late Spetember now...

Hi Guys

Its strange if your dealer cant get it sooner because it came in july here in Europe.

best regards.

I got a bluetooth dongle for my E55 at the dealership last week. It's been available for the last 2 mos.

Works perfectly despite the phone never having worked right. All the functions, ie voice activation and voice mail work identically to the MB phone.

Cost is between 250 and 350 dollars. I still have not gotten my final bill.

Vetluver-
What kinds of functions does the setup you got from the dealership include? Can you upload your phonebook onto your COMMAND or dial using the keypad or is it strictly answer/hang up? You think it was worth it?

I talked the them again today. I was told availability in 60 days. I was also told that it will fully integrate except with Verizon Wireless phones. He said that it will not download the phonebook from Verizon phones. Apparently, Verizon disables this feature. 799.00

It does exactly what my standard MB phone does. Voice dial, recall voice ID'd numbers, everything. It uploads your phone book and all of the other functions.

Is is worth it? Yes. I don't have to have 2 phones now. I just have my personal phone which stays with me all the time, it just works thru the car now. So far it works flawlessly. If you sell your car, you just take out the dongle and put into your new Mercedes, no new phone needed.

My carrier is Alltel, if that matters. Motorola E815 and Razr work best.

Here's a picture of the dongle that is plugged into the handset plug in the console. The part number is B6 787 5839

I second that. I have BT in my 2006 E55 since april this year and I couldn't be happier. I have "Verizon" Motorola E815 phone and I can do everything a docked phone can do, and this includes phonebook download to comand and dash cluster. The only complaint is the sound on the recieving end is not as clear as the docked phone. But the convienence out weight the slight sound quality.

John

My 2006 CLS came without the factory phone/VCS option but I understand all CLS come pre-wired for phone. So do I just need to buy this part and install it in the console, then pair my phone ?

Or is there additional work that needs to be done by a dealer ? If so would it be better to wait for the Argos solution ?

My phone is a Verizon LG-VX8500 (Chocolate) and I don't think it will transfer phone book, but it's Bluetooth should have no problem pairing.

Thanks

Although your car is prewired I think you still have to buy the phone device for the car which is a dealer installed option. Check with your dealer to make sure tho.

So for an '05 that's prewired but didn't come with the phone package, I'd need something else (the cradle I'm guessing?) in addition to the new dongle you're talking about? Is that what the dongle plugs in to?

Edit: From looking at the website referenced on the dongle, it looks like my Treo won't work with it. Although the Treo works fine with the Bluetooth interface in my Jeep SRT-8 that cost less than half as much. MBZ still doesn't "get" audio/technology issues IMO; in many ways they seem to have the same mindset that gave us super expensive Blaupunkt stereos that were garbage back in the 80's. Anyway, if anyone knows a way to make a Treo compatible with bluetooth in an '05 E55 I'm all ears.

I think you're right. I looked in the console and there is nothing to plug this dongle device into. Anyone know if the dealer must retrofit the phone device in the console (if so, how much ?) or if it can be purchased as a kit and installed by the owner or a shop ?