What exactly does 'Bluetooth' mean in an ad. for an 07 or 08 Merc?

coylemj

This is not a noddy question, I know exactly what Bluetooth is for and have a Nokia CK-7W Bluetooth kit installed in my current car, I also own a BT headset.

I am looking at a Merc. C180 or E200, probably 07 or 08. Most of them are advertised with 'Bluetooth' or 'Phone System' in the list of specs. but I'm not exactly sure what you get. Someone has told me that there is some kind of a phone kit installed but that you need to buy either a Bluetooth adapter or a cradle specific to the model of phone you own if you want to physically hook it up and have the phone charged on the go.

All I want is a bog standard Bluetooth kit, did these come as standard on the C and E Classes in 07 and 08 vintage?

mickdw

I guess it means that the car has build in bluetooth connection which will hook up with most phones and generally without any cradle. The car manufacturers seem to h ave given up on keeping up with phone specific cradles in most cases so realistically you would be looking at just having the phone in your pocket while connected or alternatively use a simple charger for a power supply. The car will generally show phonebook and all call details on its screen.
Some of the higher end systems shut down your actual phone and virtually 'grab' your sim card meaning that phone battery is much less used while connected to the car. The phone connection then goes out through built in aerial in car also making reception much better and keeping the radiation to the outside of the car to a large degree.

coylemj

Thanks Mick, that's the theory but can you say for certain that basic Bluetooth functionality is included in the C and E class Mercs so that a bluetooth phone could be used after you pair it with the car?

mickdw

I dont know if btooth was standard on 07 / 08 models you mentioned. If as you say the car is advertised as having bluetooth, then its either an aftermarket kit or a factory kit. You would need to establish what is installed in any given car. If it has a factory or OE kit, it will connect to all phones (sometimes with varying levels of compatability re transfer of contacts to in car display etc) wirelessly via btooth. You would only need a cradle if you wanted the charging function.
I have factory bluetooth in my audi. I wouldnt ever fix a cradle to the dash tbh. The bluetooth is excellent, giving phonebook and call details on the car display, connected automatically on startup and allows voice dialling etc. I then have to connect charger if low of juice. There is a charge point in arm rest so its all pretty tidy.
The only thing I would say is to google for any info on connecting a particular phone to a particular car specially before buying a new phone as some models are fully supported and others are not (with audi anyway)

coylemj

Mick, once again thanks for your answers but you are giving me the situation regarding your Audi which includes address book transfer etc. which is great. I want a definitive reply as to the situation regarding C and E Mercs. of the 07 or 08 vintage. I was hoping that someone who actually owns an 07 or 08 Merc could answer my question.

A lot of Mercs are advertised with 'Bluetooth preparation' kit which to me means absolutely nothing and when you ask the salesman they give you the usual evasive answer.

Guy:Incognito

coylemj wrote: »

A lot of Mercs are advertised with 'Bluetooth preparation' kit which to me means absolutely nothing and when you ask the salesman they give you the usual evasive answer.

The C class comes with the wireing and buttons on the dash and steering wheel as standard in the W203 and after. Problem is the module itself that plugs in in the centre console isnt there as standard so any that say its preopd for it will be just the standard. I'm not sure exactly whats needed to get it functional. My uncle has a prep'd W203 and was looking to get ot sorted. Not sure how far down the road of information he got though.

Tinker13

If you're talking about the W204 model, which at 2007 and 2008 I presume you are, my experience has been that it is standard in all of the cars I've been in. Very simple and works well with the controller being down at your left hand on the central console.

There isn't a phone specific cradle and you do need a separate charger if you want one.

I bought a Brodit car cradle on the internet which clips on to the panel and works very well if you don't want your phone sliding all over the car.

The W204 also has an auxillary plug in the glovebox which most merc dealers I asked didn't seem to know about.

coylemj

Ok guys, I finally managed to find a Merc. salesman who understood the system, he explained what you get as standard and what you have to pay for.

The car (W211 E-Class I was looking at) is wired for a phone kit, the microphone is built in to the dash and there are buttons on the steering wheel and dash to control the phone.

However in order to use the phone kit you have to buy an MB phone unit which is either a cradle specific to your mobile phone model or a bluetooth adapter. Whichever unit you buy, it snaps into a slot in the armrest. If it's not the Bluetooth adapter you have to slot your phone into it, if it's the Bluetooth adapter then you can leave the phone in your pocket/handbag or even in the boot and it will connect to the unit after you've paired it.

This means that if someone advertises a Merc. and mentions 'Bluetooth' in the ad. that they have bought the BT unit so any BT-capable phone can be used in the car.