Phones in 7 series, analog vs digital

[bmw7and3]

Hi,

Am new to this board.

I have a 4 year old 7 series which has a cellular (yes, analog) phone in it. I paid alot of $$ to get the integrated phone and it is really nice, not to mention safe.

Now cellular plans are few and expensive with few included minutes compared to their digital rivals. I'd like the new digital BMW integrated phone (and no, I don't want a new BMW just now).

Does anyone on this board know if I can convert from analog to digital without a whole major and expensive install? I'd like to keep the integrated options if possible.

Thank you

[itsaV12world]

I have the same problem with my 2000 750iL. Local cell phone provider tells me that they are no longer offering analog service. BMW dealer tells me that switching the phone unit, amplifier and integrating electronics is not doable. If you have found a solution, please tell me. Meanwhile my phone sits there in the armrest looking pretty....

[Moppie]

There are plenty of mid-late 90s 7 and 5 series BMW's imported here from Japan, most arraive with Anologe phones in them, which are also on thier way out here.

What most ppl that I know of do is simply rip out the existing BMW phone, and install a car kit for thier Digital phone in the same place.
Most modern car kits are designed to be as stealth as possible, and it dosn't take a genius to fit the new phone cradle and charger into the old BMW phones space.

[bmw7and3]

Hi.

We are still limping by with Verizon cellular service. They don't advertise it but if you call them it is available. It's not cheap with tons of minutes like the digital service but it works.

Yes, you can rip out the phone and put another one in its place but I'm <still> looking for an elegant solution that leverages the integrated features of the BMW analog phone.

These days with all the drivers holding phones to their ears or tangled up in headphone wires while trying to steer the value of an integrated dashboard solution with voice activation is pretty obvious.

So, we continue to pay. We're on the East Coast and thankfully Verizon is still an (expensive) option.

Good Luck!