1996 SL500, I have the integrated phone. I am curious as to what company to subscribe to? Are these phones CDMA or GSM? How would I go about activating one if I wanted to?

Also, anyone know if its possible to adapt the hands free unit to an existing cell phone?

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2007 Corvette Convertible Torch Red
1996 MBz SL500
2008 Harley Davidson Night Rod Special

I realize its been several months since you posted your question - but since no one took a shot at it...

In '96 all phones were analog. Today, many of the service providers are ALL digital (like Sprint, Cingilar, etc.).

You'll have to do some work to get your MB phone to work in your city... and it may not even be possible anymore. And don't count on your dealer to be of much help... they're inthe car business, not the cell phone business.

First, you need to find the make and model number of the phone, which is easy if it's a 'transportable' (meaning, you can uplug it from the car and use it like a handheld cell phone. The you'll need to find the ESN (electronic serial number). If you don't see a sticker on the phone anywhere withthe ESN, you'll have to contact the manufacturer and ask them how to find it or retrieve it from the phone.

While you have them on the phone, ask them to FAX you the programming instructions for your phone. You'll need those to set your phone up (because its unlikely anyone in your area will be able to do it for you). Progrgamming the phone is just a matter of getting the phone in to program mode and entering the NAM (phone number), group ID, SID (system ID) et.c, all of which will be provided to you by the service provider...

Which bring you to your next problem... finding a service provider. In my area I was fortunate enough to find that ALLTEL would still write a saervice plan for an analog phone - and after placing the call to them to open an account and get my phone number (and other programming info) I had the phone up and operating in minutes.

The Mercedes phone in my '98 SL is an OKI model UM9057 (which for some reason, OKI says is really OKI 1465. It's a transportable... you set it in the cradle in the armrest and then opertate it from the in-dash panel... or, you can remove it from the cradle and just walk off with it.



Now, when I get in the SL I hit a button on my digital Sprint phone and forward the calls to the SL's phone for the convenience and saftey of hands-free calls. It's great! (not to mention, very cool)

Good luck... be sure to post the results of your efforts so that other new-used SL owners can take advantage of your hard research!

- michael

Thanx much for the reply!!!

I actually took out the phone system and am in the process of customizing my own system with a bluetooth ipaq PDA, a bluetooth phone and a bluetooth hands free car system. When its all done I will have a color screen to choose my contacts from or view call info, it will all run over a microphone and the auto speakers, and it will automatically detect and use my phone in my pocket whenever I am near my car. The best part of it is that it will be on a digital network.

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2007 Corvette Convertible Torch Red
1996 MBz SL500
2008 Harley Davidson Night Rod Special

Thats very cool. Where would I go about finding the integrated phone for my car (1991 500sl). I've been looking everywhere and cant seem to find it. Any help would be appreciated. If anyone has the phone and is willing to sell it please let me know.

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"In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends"

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/4...fad10000001610

I have a huge wiring harness for an old analog phone that was built in on delivery when new. It goes from the dash to the boot/trunk, and is no longer connected at either end. I wish I knew how to remove it all. Not alone does my simple hands-free set work well inside the car with my GSM phone, it also looks as though the Swiss authorities are on the way to totally banning mobile phone use while driving, irrespective of the installation.

Momo

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1990 500SL 65k km - until May 11 2004
2004 E320 4-Matic wagon
2004 CLK500 Cabrio from May 11 2004

spinedoc, how hard was it to remove your phone? I have been thinking about removing mine, the MB dealer is three hours away and they want $150 to remove. I only want to unplug, I do not want to cut any wires, but the space would be helpful for the alarm system I am going to have install, and how could you have to much storage space when your married? Thanks Dairel

dairel I actually left the harness in. The glove compartment has a "floor" which fits over the wiring of the phone, giving it the illusion of being empty once you take out the handset. It's also very easy to pop out the command unit off the dashboard, but you are left with a hole behind it. I dont think its worth digging around for the harness as it seems pretty well hidden,and might be worth something at resale if someone wants to replace the old analog system.

By the way I forgot to mention my setup will have GPS!! I'm still in the planning stages though so stay tuned.

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2007 Corvette Convertible Torch Red
1996 MBz SL500
2008 Harley Davidson Night Rod Special

I never thought of leaving the wiring, seems so simple. How did you pop put the command unit? What was the first step, I've glanced at it and I don't see what the first step would be. Thanks Dairel

It just pops out. I very carefully put a flat head under it and gently pulled it forward.

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2007 Corvette Convertible Torch Red
1996 MBz SL500
2008 Harley Davidson Night Rod Special

For reference purposes, here's a PDF of the instructions for programming the OKI hands-free transportable phone that came factory installed in my '98 SL500:

http://www.recommons.org/oki-phone.pdf

- michael