I have resently purchased a 2000 S430 that contains a cell phone option minus a cell phone. I an trying to determine which cell phone I can purchase to use with the car. On the MB site it shoas a V60 in the add. I have called the dealership and received conflicting answers. Has anyone out there used say a V60c from Verzon or a V60 t or i from AT&T? Will they work with the Voice Recognation system / hands free options. Has anyone upgraded from their original phone to a newer one.
TIA
ONLY a real Mercedes phone will work. It is a proprietary service.
NO, you have to use the MB specific handset for the features to work.
2000 was a horrible year for S class phones. The early ones used Motorola analog only systems. Mid year, they got StarTac analog/digital 1. Around mid 2001, the StarTac was replaced by the Timeport. Timeport is analog/digital 1/ digital 2. This was then replaced by the V60. Now the V60 is the V60i. The StarTac is a big problem: If you have a TDMA [i.e. ATT] and you have an existing service plan, then you can have a working phone. If you get a TDMA phone and are NOT a current subscriber, then you have a fishing weight..... CDMA [i.e. Verizon] is a different story, you can still get them turned on and working. The Timeport was a better phone, but only because it was tri-band/dual mode. With its two digital bands, all the phone companies offer a service plan. This phone system requires a different car antenna. Its downfall is the plug connection in the base where the coil cord connects. We see a better than 90% failure rate.... The V60 is (appearing to be) a better phone. But to back-install it in a 2000 requires you to remove the rear bumper and replace the antenna assembly and install the V60 kit, like you never had a phone previously. The linear compensator is different along with the antenna. You will be in the $2500 price range.....OK thanks Karl for all the knowledge. I was hoping...
analog only systems.
analog/digital 1/ digital 2.
existing service plan,
current subscriber, then
can still get them
With its two digital
a different car
connects. We see a
requires you to remove
you never had a phone
will be in the $2500
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