Phones, cradles, bluetooth etc

[pugwash]

I have recently brought a second hand Mercedes with a the telephone module built in. The cradle was for a Nokia 6220, 6230,6230i none of these phones my wife or I have.

I then looked for a cradle for the phones we do have or a bluetooth module. I was shocked at the price, the bluetooth was the way to go but over £200 ! if I was a rep or always on the phone then yes that would be fine. All I wanted it for was occaisinal use and for emergencies.

In the end I brought a second hand Nokia 6230 for £14 on ebay and put a £10 pay and go sim in it. I then put call forwarding if not answered on both our phones to the number of the phone in the car. Most phones now have this feature. If you are in the car your phone rings then switches to the car and you answer, if you are not in the car you answer as normal. The only draw back is that it costs one phone call from my normal phone to forward it.

Probably everyone new this anyway, but if not its much cheaper than a bluetooth.

 

[charlfourie]

Must say it is a really great option if you have the kit in your car.
I noticed that my car has the wiring for the carkit, but the cradle has been taken out. Otherwise I would have done the same.
But a good call on your part.

 

[pugwash]

Well there are some cheap cradles for the not so popular phones, match it up with a cheap phone on ebay and you are sorted.

Not everything in a Mercedes has to be expensive

 

[charlfourie]

Think I'll keep mine nice and clean.
Later I might consider a new head unit with integrated bluetooth.

 

[postmastergeneral]

nicks got some good deals http://cart.euromercmercedesparts.co.uk/index.php?p=catalog&parent=43&pg=1

seen a bluetooth one there for £99.99

wonder if it will fit my new e280

Regards

G

 

[tsoomro]

Car Phone

Hi,
When I bought my E280, I was Given a Nokia phone cradle as a "GIFT".Only later I realized that none of the available model could fit.. I had to search 3 days to find a discontinued 6230i model. Anyway the hardwork paid off and I Am glad to see the phone work.

 

[jberks]

I bit the bullet and fitted a Viseeo bluetooth cradle. Seems to do the trick but at £200 its a touch more expensive that your options - but then I don't have to pay for every incoming call, switch divert on and off and maintain a pay as you go sim - which over the next couple of years probably works out the same. Then when I change cars, if its of no use, I can flog it on fleabay for probably half what I paid for it.
Swings and roundabouts really.

 

[The Crooner]

I bought a Clarion FB289RBT for around £100 delivered. It has built in Bluetooth and works fine with my Blackberry to receive calls, not as elegant as some to make them, but it wasn't an elegant price.