Cell phone
 

Newly purchased 2000 S430 has a factory installed Mercedes/Motorola cell phone in it that works but is not currently active. Verizon is the service provider. I'd like to upgrade the phone and change the service to Cingular, and, if possible, use my Motorola Bluetooth capable phone. Any help on possibilities and how to get started would be most appreciated.

Seems like a PIA for a car phone.... why not just use your bluetooth phone with its accessories for car use ?

Verizon and Bluetooth DON'T mix btw, Verizon blocks most of the bluetooth functions so you either HAVE to pay for them or just doesn't make it available to its clients, unlike the other cell providers....

Yes, we had that problem with Verizon and the new v700 phone no bluetooth capabilities. Also I would not use blue tooth in an MB. I don't think it will work well, I don't know why, but anyone I have heard using a bluetooth kit in their MB it doesn't work well, MB phones are always docked in a hard wired cradle. With out hard wired connection there is no charging. See if you can replace the phone with the service provider you wish, most Motorola phones have the same connectors on the bottom, like my V60 works in the MB, and the BMW, the V700 works in both cars too, the connector is the same, but the cradle is different. See this product, and at the bottom you select the cradle for your phone.
http://www.cellphonemall.net/wireless/store/accessorydetail.asp?id=13711&phoneid=355

You can wire this kit into your car and it works great. Motorola products work best with MB. If you need details on install let me know.

Good luck!
Brian