Does my car have Bluetooth?

[48SS]

Help – I’m confused!

I have an E320i from 2004. It has a COMAND system, and I currently connect my mobile phone to the system by plugging it into a cradle under the arm-rest between the front seats. I had to buy a special cradle (ref B6-787-5835) in order to plug in my Nokia 6100 – it works fine, and I can make and receive calls directly from the buttons on the steering wheel. I don’t have another phone wired into the car, just my normal mobile which I take with me when I’m not driving.

I now want to change my phone, but I don’t want to have to buy another cradle each time I change my phone. So I want to know if I can connect a phone to the COMAND system using Bluetooth, rather than buying another cradle. The COMAND system has an option called “B’tooth”, so before buying another phone I tried it out using my Blackberry (the only other thing I’ve got with Bluetooth).

I was able to pick up the Bluetooth signal from my Blackberry on the COMAND screen, and I was even able to pair the devices – the Blackberry showed it was paired with a device called “UHI-SN0832”. However, whatever I then tried, I couldn’t get the COMAND to connect to the Blackberry. I tried typing in a code in both devices, the COMAND screen would say “connected” for a second, but then flick straight back to “not connected”.

I’ve spoken to Mercedes, who tried to help, but didn’t really seem to understand what they were talking about. Their response was that I had to buy a special Bluetooth cradle (for £350!). But that seems illogical – I (think) I already have the hardware required to pick up the Bluetooth signal, so I can’t see why adding another bit of hardware is necessary. Seems more like a software issue to me.

So does my car have Bluetooth or not? Do I have to spend £350 on another cradle, or is there a simpler way to hook up my phone to the COMAND system? Would appreciate any advice.

 

[jberks]

There was a thread on this some time ago. I can't remember the details but baiscally from memory, the whilst command does have a bluetooth component, it isn't linked to the phone kit. Assuming you have the interchangeable UHI cradle, then yes, as I understand it, the only way to go bluetooth is to replace the cradle with a bluetooth one.

 

[EvilEd]

Try a real phone....

Blackberry's only have limited Bluetooth Capability. ie you can connect a BT headset to a blackberry, but you cannot "Sync" it with your PC or transfer files too and from it. I am fairly certain, you can only answer and hang up, not pass through dial details to the blackberry.

EE

 

[48SS]

I know, I know - time for a real phone, which is why I'm trying to figure this out. Only using the Blackberry to experiment 'cos my other phone doesn't have Bluetooth ...!

Thanks for the posts - sounds like the answer to my question is "yes, my car does have Bluetooth, but it isn't connected to anything". Now, would anyone from Mercedes like to tell us why that's a clever piece of design?!

 

[EvilEd]

okay, try connecting the BB via BT and then make a call driect from the blackberry and see if you can hear the call through the speakers. If so, then try ending the call on the Steering wheel buttons (If there) and see if that works.

I assume that if it connects, then something must be setup.

Maybe if you post where you are roughly, someone with BT may be able to help. (That's how we sort things on the Jeep forums )

 

[jberks]

Found one of the threads
http://www.forums.mercedesclub.org.uk/showthread.php?t=7796&highlight=command+bluetooth
Basically, IF you have the phone kit, the command will allow you to use a bluetooth headset for 'privacy' mode. The fact that you can pair them, is irrelevant. I suspect you could pair it with a bluetooth enabled PC mouse too, but unless there are compatible functions, it won't actually do anything (as you are finding with your blackberry).

 

[124coupe]

I have been through this. The built-in bluetooth does not work to allow a mobile to use Comand to place calls as it doesn't support the headset profile - it does allow a very clunky one-by-one transfer of contacts between Comand and (some) phones - its quicker to type them in!

Proper Bluetooth is ONLY available via the new adaptors that replace the custom cradle in the armrest - £350ish (B6 787 5840) or £400ish (B6 787 5838) with a tethered pivacy handset.

BUT thse ONLY support phones with SAP (SIM Access Profile) which allows the Comand to read the SIM contents and then make calls using its hardware but the SIMs identity (hope that's clear!).

Merc have only tested a handful of Nokias so far - best to call them (at MK) to see what the latest is (as there is a lot of trouble around SAP-compliant phones not working....). Blackberry doesn't do SAP (yet).

Incidentally, the ----40 part number is 350Euros in Germany - I'm in the middle of trying to get a dealer over there to sell and ship me one..

 

[piestore]

blue tooth

Hi

no you don't have blue tooth it is only for a personal headset although you can now get a uhi bluetooth cradle but it only works for phones for which MB already have cradles for, whats the point??????

 

[Sanny]

Further to 124Coupes comments, it might be worth noting that in Europe (and I believe the USA) these kits will only work with phones that are Bluetooth SIM Access Profile compliant.

This rules out all current Motorola phones and currently only Nokia confirm that their phones are SAP compliant.

I'm not convinced that MB have got it right yet....

 

[Cavvie]

I had a peugeot in 2006, I got in, my phone paired with the car,happy days.
I had a Ford in 2010, I got in, my phone paired with the car,happy days.
I now have a £33k Mercedes and it needs a retrofit to provide the same

Get your act together MB

 

[jberks]

I had a peugeot in 2006, I got in, my phone paired with the car,happy days.
I had a Ford in 2010, I got in, my phone paired with the car,happy days.
I now have a £33k Mercedes and it needs a retrofit to provide the same

Get your act together MB

At 33k its a newish one I assume. I thought all mercs for the last 2-3 years anyway had bluetooth as standard..? I can't think ofr a modern merc I've driven over the last few years that didn't.

 

[npuk]

CLK never got the MY09> NTG2.5 based Audio or Comand units which is when they came with full built in bluetooth. So you need to have the optional phone pre-wire which allows you to connect a bluetooth adapter.

 

[466829]

Same joke with my Cls!!! This is ridiculous!

Help – I’m confused!

I have an E320i from 2004. It has a COMAND system, and I currently connect my mobile phone to the system by plugging it into a cradle under the arm-rest between the front seats. I had to buy a special cradle (ref B6-787-5835) in order to plug in my Nokia 6100 – it works fine, and I can make and receive calls directly from the buttons on the steering wheel. I don’t have another phone wired into the car, just my normal mobile which I take with me when I’m not driving.

I now want to change my phone, but I don’t want to have to buy another cradle each time I change my phone. So I want to know if I can connect a phone to the COMAND system using Bluetooth, rather than buying another cradle. The COMAND system has an option called “B’tooth”, so before buying another phone I tried it out using my Blackberry (the only other thing I’ve got with Bluetooth).

I was able to pick up the Bluetooth signal from my Blackberry on the COMAND screen, and I was even able to pair the devices – the Blackberry showed it was paired with a device called “UHI-SN0832”. However, whatever I then tried, I couldn’t get the COMAND to connect to the Blackberry. I tried typing in a code in both devices, the COMAND screen would say “connected” for a second, but then flick straight back to “not connected”.

I’ve spoken to Mercedes, who tried to help, but didn’t really seem to understand what they were talking about. Their response was that I had to buy a special Bluetooth cradle (for £350!). But that seems illogical – I (think) I already have the hardware required to pick up the Bluetooth signal, so I can’t see why adding another bit of hardware is necessary. Seems more like a software issue to me.

So does my car have Bluetooth or not? Do I have to spend £350 on another cradle, or is there a simpler way to hook up my phone to the COMAND system? Would appreciate any advice.