I can say that all of these phones work properly when you try to use them in USA. But I don't know if that makes them a PDA phone.
And in the new S Class we can use our Nokias and my dad's Sony Ericsson without any problem. That infrared reflecting glass does no harm to these phones.
Dear CycloneRcr, could you be a bit more specific. Seems you have personal experience about the W221 and cell phones in it. Could you confirm that the car you are referring to has the option code “596�, not only standard tinted glasses? If yes, would be nice if you could test phones at 1800 MHz, could well be that 850/900 MHz does not get equally attenuated. At a place where coverage is poor outside, try 1800/1900 MHz inside the car, windows closed. In US, some operators only or mostly use 1900 MHz and it is not sufficient, not for MB at least, if 850/900 MHz works.
Secondly, do you claim that the phones listed in the German document work in a W221 through BT, without being attached on a specific cradle? At least the on-line manual does not indicate this being possible.
Which cell phone options are included in this W221 car? 386, 388 or none?
Basically I’m fine myself with 386, with a Nokia 6230i cradle or with the coming BT puck (or what ever it is) that supports SAP, but accurate first hand experience would be useful for many others in this forum (and I would be interested to know myself too for sure).
I checked my option list again and it says that only the windshield is infrared reflecting (J81). So, my first claim could not be reliable.
Both 386 and 388 are available for W221. And we have the exact same configuration as you with a Nokia 6230i and its cradle. I don't think W221 is different from E&CLS by phone configurations.
I read the bluetooth section of the manual right now and there is good news I think. You can synchronize car's bluetooth with mobile phones, notebooks and PDA (it just says PDA) by using the COMAND. This means if you want a cradle you are limited to those phones on the list (with code 386) but if you have anything capable of "bluetoothing" you can use it in W221 without any attachments.
1. You can use blue tooth phones without buying anything extra from MB. Does the phone work with voice command, and does your phone book show up on the screen ?
2. How long have you had tha car, and are you happy with it ?
3. Does the infrared windshield affect the use of a cell phone signal in the car?
1. Yes, you can use your phone through Bluetooth without buying anything extra. If you have the options LINGUATRONIC (813) and code 386 or 388 together your phone will work with voice command. If you have 386 car comes with the "preparation" and you have to buy a cradle compatible with your phone (from the list). If you have 388 your car comes ready with a phone from MB. I have never tried to use my phone with Bluetooth but I suppose the phone book will show up on the screen.
2. We got the new S at the beginning of November. We also had the W220 S and I can say this is a real improvement over the old one. New COMAND is great and both LCD screens have wonderful graphics. Ambient Lighting is something you really should get. And the car looks much much better and sportier on the road than the pictures. Compared to W220 driving this car is a real pleasure. Currently I am trying to find "excuses" to get out and drive it [:)]
3. I have only the windshield that reflecting the infrared. So, our phones work in the car. But this car does not have the option 596 which makes all the glass round the car infrared filtering. If you ask my opinion I don't think this glass blocks cell phones.
Thank you very much for your detailed reply. That was most helpful. don't know whether my car will have the 386 or 388. How do I find that out ? The dealers seem to think that bluetooth will be standard with the car, but they have no idea which phones or pda phones will work wit the car, or what parts will need to be purchased by the customer. MB is very hard to deal with here in the US. Nowhere as nice to deal with as Lexus or BMW
You can synchronize car's bluetooth with mobile phones, notebooks and PDA (it just says PDA) by using the COMAND. This means if you want a cradle you are limited to those phones on the list I had posted before (with code 386) but if you have anything capable of "bluetoothing" you can use it in W221 without any attachments.
As I said before you are not limited to any phone when you will use Bluetooth. Otherwise you have to buy a cradle. Part numbers are also given in that .pdf file on page 20.
Or you get option with code 388 and yor car will come ready with a phone.
386 and 388 are options which you have to pay extra to get them. So, check option list of your order and you will see which is included which is not.
Now I understand, I think? In other words, the car will work with any bluetooth phone, but only needs a cradle if you want to charge the phone battery in the car.Am I understanding this correctly ?The dealer I am speaking with is locating me a spec car rather than ordering one so I may not have the cradle option, but as long as I can use any pda phone with the car and the screen displays the phone book, then that would be fine. Am I understanding this correctly ? Thank you again for your help. You seem to know more about this than the MB dealers here.
I have a W221 S500 European Long Version. The car has bluetooth and recognizes my Nokia 6230i, however it is only for some kind of transfer that is completelly useless for phone conversation.
The manual clearly says that it does NOT work for phone conversation.
The car came with option 386 (prepared for phone) where I would have to purchase the Bluetooth Adapter that it is still not available.
are you saying that the car does NOT work with a blue tooth phone until you buy some typeof adapter?If so, why aren'tthese adapters available now when the car is being sold to people?It just amazes me that MB would focus on uselessthings likenight vision screens which will be dangerous to look at at night instead of looking at the road, but they can't get bluetooth working on a 100k $ car when the 30k $ acuras have hadbluetooth for years. Just amazing.
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