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Phone Cradle- worth it?

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Old 04-21-2005, 08:23 AM
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The cradle is worth every penny!

I haven't charged mine in the house since I got it. Its very convenient.
As far as boosting the signal I don't know whether it does. All I know is it works much better in my 05 car than the last one.
Old 04-21-2005, 08:36 AM
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My Fellow BMW luvaz,
why waist bux on bluetooth I prefer to put some more stuff in there... but yes it is matter of taste

I wear a bluetooth headset sony ercisson or jabra (have p910i so se) and it is safe

normally I drive and do not care much if I cannot listen to somebody, secondly the wife does not hear with whom and what do I speak
Old 04-21-2005, 08:52 AM
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The cradle held no particular advantage for me so I'm not getting it. My reception is fine without it as long as I take the phone out of my pocket. Charging the phone's not an issue for me.
Old 04-21-2005, 09:05 AM
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This is what I normally do:
- when I have just a small trip I do not use the cradle (tipically in town when you have several stops);
- when I have a longer travel I always use the cradle since it improves the signal.
Old 04-21-2005, 09:06 AM
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This is what I normally do:
- when I have just a small trip I do not use the cradle (tipically in town when you have several stops);
- when I have a longer travel I always use the cradle since it improves the signal (moreover consider that with cradle you use the shark fin antenna which is much more safer!!)
Old 04-21-2005, 09:17 AM
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I have the V600 and I had the cradle installed. It works flawlessly and I definitely notice an improvement in reception. Not that it was so bad before but known dead spots just don't exist any longer. My only issue, is that when i turn the car off, it still charges the phone and the phone stays on. The power they tap into stays on whether the car is on or off. If you're parked for the night and you don't take you're phone in the house with you, the phone will stay on and continue to charge. Not only do I have to shut the phone but I also have to remove it from the cradle when I get home since I leave my cell in the car. Minor issue but I'll deal considering all of the positives.
Old 04-21-2005, 09:19 AM
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Sorry, that was me....


I have the V600 and I had the cradle installed. It works flawlessly and I definitely notice an improvement in reception. Not that it was so bad before but known dead spots just don't exist any longer. My only issue, is that when i turn the car off, it still charges the phone and the phone stays on. The power they tap into stays on whether the car is on or off. If you're parked for the night and you don't take you're phone in the house with you, the phone will stay on and continue to charge. Not only do I have to shut the phone but I also have to remove it from the cradle when I get home since I leave my cell in the car. Minor issue but I'll deal considering all of the positives.
Old 04-21-2005, 09:55 AM
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For me it is worth it as I go in and out of fringe area coverage in everyday driving. There is definitely a boost in reception and it borders on 1 to 2 bars for me on Cingular/ATT network. Cost for all the parts and pieces including snap in adapter, eject box, support bracket, trim pieces (keeps wiring hidden in what is left of storage compartment), screws etc. was $239.00 for a 6er. Install was $89, for a total of $328 before tax. It also me from hanging the charging device from the passenger foot well or glove box adapter, also good for me. I lost some precious storage space, but that is what the back seat is for in my case anyway. I too, am finding I do not have to bring in the phone to recharge overnight as long as I have driven during the day. Since I opted for Motorola, I am hopeful that any upgrades in phones (not including RAZR format) will retain fit and form of the v6xx and v5xx series. On the chance they do not, Motorola should be wise enough to not go too far afield and make it so difficult that Auto MFRs such as BMW cannot make a workable adapter, since that would be the only part of the ?system? required to be updated with a phone update.
Old 04-21-2005, 09:59 AM
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Originally Posted by poleposition' date='Apr 21 2005, 11:19 AM
Sorry, that was me....


I have the V600 and I had the cradle installed.? It works flawlessly and I definitely notice an improvement in reception.? Not that it was so bad before but known dead spots just don't exist any longer.? My only issue, is that when i turn the car off, it still charges the phone and the phone stays on.? The power they tap into stays on whether the car is on or off.? If you're parked for the night and you don't take you're phone in the house with you, the phone will stay on and continue to charge.? Not only do I have to shut the phone but I also have to remove it from the cradle when I get home since I leave my cell in the car.? Minor issue but I'll deal considering all of the positives.
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Idon't think this is entirly true. I believe all power in the e60 is switched, meaning it doe not stay on after key is removed or car goes to sleep.

I did some testing with a multi-meter on the connection the cradel plugs into behind the rear seat power sockets and could not find any power unless the key was on. If what you said was correct It might be worth it for me to get a cradle as I can not keep the phone charged just with the time the car is running (90% of time the car is only drive 30 total for the day)
Old 04-21-2005, 10:23 AM
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Originally Posted by poleposition' date='Apr 21 2005, 11:19 AM
Sorry, that was me....


I have the V600 and I had the cradle installed.? It works flawlessly and I definitely notice an improvement in reception.? Not that it was so bad before but known dead spots just don't exist any longer.? My only issue, is that when i turn the car off, it still charges the phone and the phone stays on.? The power they tap into stays on whether the car is on or off.? If you're parked for the night and you don't take you're phone in the house with you, the phone will stay on and continue to charge.? Not only do I have to shut the phone but I also have to remove it from the cradle when I get home since I leave my cell in the car.? Minor issue but I'll deal considering all of the positives.
[snapback]118132[/snapback]
E63 is switched off with key removed. It may also be off in position 1, I just have not checked that yet. Same adapter that u use, but could be different implementation based on BMW model or build date, my details in signature.


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