Not sure I understand MB phone system.....

[farghenbenzer]

I recently purhased a beautiful 2002 E320 4matic from a dealer. Low miles. hardly used. Anyway, it has a cell phone connector and cradle in the center console. The connector does not fit my phone, a LG VX4650. Can I get a new connector to fit the phone? Or, do I need a Mercedes phone that I have to activate through MB, as I've been reading in other posts.

Or am I doomed to fail in getting this to work? and it's a now useless and defunct piece of hardware?
Thank you in advance for all helpful answers.

[Peter Guenther]

Here goes to the best of my knowledge, if you have a cradle in the armrest you need to know what phone it was for. My 01 had the option of a Motorola Timeport and it required a specific phone for each carrier (ATT,Sprint, Verizon ,etc) and they are not reprogramable. The next generation was the V60 with similar problems. To make things worse the Timeport and V60 are both discontinued, and (are/were) only available from MB at a horrible price $300 or more. There was a kit available fom MB to change the Timeport to V60. There are also various components in the trunk (next to your CD player) to support these phones, the antenna splitter, the voice activated module (extra stalk on the steering collum) and the portable support module.
Analog is pretty well dead, you need to know what phone was in there. Pauls web page goes thru it, and Mik box gives you some alternative solutions
http://mikbox.com/
http://home.earthlink.net/~phdwebsite/index.htm

I was going to install, but MB gave me a Verizon Timeport phone, and I was on Sprint, and nowT-Mob, the cost of the extra stuff was not worth it

[farghenbenzer]

The cradle and the connector fits the timeport. I have an old sprint timeport that no longer has service. I have the antenna on the roof (it's a little one same color as the car) and the extra stalk for voice activation. I guess I need a new cradle and the phone connector that fits my phone. I'm going to MB today anyway. I'll ask if they can fit my phone.

[Matt L]

Originally Posted by Peter Guenther

To make things worse the Timeport and V60 are both discontinued, and (are/were) only available from MB at a horrible price $300 or more.

When discussing the price of a handset, remember that the prices you see advertised at the stores are not the true price of the unit. These prices tend to require a service contract, and are greatly discounted. $300 full-price on one of these sounds about right.

[ILUVMILS]

If you convert your Timeport system to a V60, you can buy the Bluetooth adaptor from MB and use a variety of BT capable phones. The Bluetooth adaptor as well as several BT capable phones are offered here, http://www.wireless4mb.com/. The price for the adaptor is $325, but your dealer should sell it for less. You'll need to replace the PSE (phone interface), and cradle for BT to work. I'm guessing for about $600-800, you'll have yourself a nice, fully integrated, hands-free, voice activated, Bluetooth phone system. The final price depends largely on which BT capable phone you choose.

[mark cummins]

Contact Steve @www.mbenznl.com re the Phone cradle/pse
Several options for you! All OE Mercedes

[farghenbenzer]

My phone, the LG VX4650 is not a bluetooth phone, so getting the adapter for it won't work. The Mikbox will not work with my current phone either. Nothing, it seems is compatible with LG.
OK. I thought, so I'll just get a phone for the car only. Even if I had the Benz phone, no provider will give it service, as it's not E911 compliant. Other solutions don't offer a totally integrated system, Unless I want MB to rip out the whole system and install something current. ($$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$)

I'm not going to let it ruin my day

On the plus side of all this, The car is beautiful. Not a scratch or mark on it anywhere. I think all the previous owner did was look at it

Thanks to all who provided some insight and info for this issue