How to: move the Bluetooth microphone - Page 4

Finner · #76 02-24-2009, 10:59 PM

I took the easy way for switching the MIC to the driver's side. My daughter picked up her Mini Tuesday morning. So on Sunday I emailed my MA and send him a cut and paste of the instructions and asked that he have the Service Dept make the switch during pre-delivery preperation.

I also suggested that the dealership should make this a part of their delivery routine until Mini decides to put the MIC on the driver's side.

My MA had it done. He also told me he plans to have it done on every car he delivers in the future.

**Dr Obnxs** · #77 02-25-2009, 12:10 PM

it does make a difference for sure. Not earthshattering, but noticable.

And Finner, good job for getting the dealer to make the change! Kudos!

Matt

COOP310 · #78 02-25-2009, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schatzy62

Some other people in ohter threads have wondered how easy this really is to do. So i have added a You Tube video to show how easy it is to do.

This video is only for cars with out the Alarm System. For car with the alarm system there are a few extra steps to get the wire moved. I will hopefully make a video of that tomorrow.

Schatzy, I added the video to the first post (along with your name) to make it a bit easier on everyone. Thanks for making it!

Finner · #79 02-25-2009, 02:57 PM

Thanks Matt!

I figured why not let the MA take care of it and now he can score points when selling cars..telling customers he will have that done for them automatically when the Mini is prepped for delivery. So future customers who don't even know about NAM, and would never know...will benefit.
Good for all.

Finner · #80 02-25-2009, 03:01 PM

I thought I had a different bluetooth problem. Outgoing volume is fine. Incoming is very low. Turning radio volume up didn't help. Found out blackberry curve is set to "low" on bluetooth volume even if you have regular volume set to high on the Blackberry. And bluetooth volume is not adjustable. Can't fix this one it seems.

MINIspud · #81 02-25-2009, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schatzy62

Some other people in otter threads have wondered how easy this really is to do. So i have added a You Tube video to show how easy it is to do.

This video is only for cars with out the Alarm System. For car with the alarm system there are a few extra steps to get the wire moved. I will hopefully make a video of that tomorrow.

Thanks to this video, i did this in 10 min. 6 minutes of it was me not realizing the microphone piece snaps in the other way when flipping to the other side.

I didn't pull the second plastic piece off. I just pushed the wire up into the hole, used my fingers to fish it to the other side. The wire wasn't long enough to do it how the video showed.

pulling the plug off the mic was a little tough. I just used small needle nose pliers and gripped on the left and right side and pulled it out smoothly.

Big thanks!

Also for the longest time, it was annoying that i couldn't turn up the radio volume past a certain point to hear the folks talking. So if the window was down or the engine was loud, i would have to tell people to repeat themselves.

Turns out that once you are connected via bluetooth with the iphone, hit the side volume button and it turns up the bluetooth volume. voila, louder people on my MINI stereo speakers

Finner · #82 02-25-2009, 03:34 PM

Alex,

Please explain a little clearer..what to do to turn up Bluetooth volume. My voice is fine to others but hearing is difficult. I tried turning the radio volume knob up..but that didn't do it. Can you explain?
Thanks, Alan

Finner · #83 02-25-2009, 03:39 PM

Alex, Oh, you stated Iphone. Nevermind. Blackberry here. And Blackberry bluetooth software is set to low volume..not adjustable like regular volume. So I just have to live with it for a while.

**schatzy62** · #84 02-25-2009, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finner

Alex,

Please explain a little clearer..what to do to turn up Bluetooth volume. My voice is fine to others but hearing is difficult. I tried turning the radio volume knob up..but that didn't do it. Can you explain?
Thanks, Alan

I also put this in the other thread taht you commented on this subject.

The only time the incoming volume on the mini bluetooth can be adjusted is during a call while the other party is speaking. This seems strange but that is exactly how mine and other I know work.

**schatzy62** · #85 02-25-2009, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COOP310

Schatzy, I added the video to the first post (along with your name) to make it a bit easier on everyone. Thanks for making it!

Thanks for putting it in the first post. I have even had trouble finding it when someone has asked for it.

Now if we could just get every dealership to change the location then we would have done the best of all.

MINIspud · #86 02-26-2009, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Finner

Alex, Oh, you stated Iphone. Nevermind. Blackberry here. And Blackberry bluetooth software is set to low volume..not adjustable like regular volume. So I just have to live with it for a while.

How do you normally adjust the volume when making a call?

For the iphone, it is on the left side. When making a reg call, while I am on the call, i just hit the up button to increase volume.

If im connected via bluetooth, hitting the up button on the iphone increases the volume in the car. I put it up high, and then i turn it down with the volume nob that you use for the stereo.

I wonder if this method would work for your blackberry. Next time you are connected via bluetooth, try turning up the volume however your normally would if you were just using the phone.

**schatzy62** · #87 02-26-2009, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MINIspud

How do you normally adjust the volume when making a call?

For the iphone, it is on the left side. When making a reg call, while I am on the call, i just hit the up button to increase volume.

If im connected via bluetooth, hitting the up button on the iphone increases the volume in the car. I put it up high, and then i turn it down with the volume nob that you use for the stereo.

I wonder if this method would work for your blackberry. Next time you are connected via bluetooth, try turning up the volume however your normally would if you were just using the phone.

That sounds so logical, but unfortunately on my Verizon Blackberry Curve 8330 with software V 4.5.0.77 it doe not work that way.

I would love it to work that way, but alas the BB does have this limitation, or at least mine does. Other versions of software or other models may be different.

TheBigNewt · #88 02-26-2009, 01:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by schatzy62

That sounds so logical, but unfortunately on my Verizon Blackberry Curve 8330 with software V 4.5.0.77 it doe not work that way.

I would love it to work that way, but alas the BB does have this limitation, or at least mine does. Other versions of software or other models may be different.

Really? I used my BB 8100 Pearl via BT the whole time I've had the car and never had a volume problem at all. I never messed with anything except the car's volume knob while the sound was being relayed from phone to car. I recently paired up my new 8900 Curve and it's the same as the 8100.

**schatzy62** · #89 02-26-2009, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheBigNewt

Really? I used my BB 8100 Pearl via BT the whole time I've had the car and never had a volume problem at all. I never messed with anything except the car's volume knob while the sound was being relayed from phone to car. I recently paired up my new 8900 Curve and it's the same as the 8100.

I can adjust the call volume with the volume control in the mini but the level that the BB sends out via bluetooth is not adjustable.

I also have never had a problem with the volume.

rlw · #90 03-07-2009, 11:54 PM

I did mine the other day, but it was sure a tight fit. Mini gave us barely enough slack in the wire to get it done, an extra inch or two would have helped immensely.

One caution, be careful when putting your finger into the cutout, it's a bit sharp along the edges and my finger got wedged in there for a bit. I thought for sure I was going to have to gnaw it off...

bjlovet · #91 03-15-2009, 06:39 PM

Thanks for this thread! The one question I have is, if I accidentally break my mic while making the move, does anyone know how much it would cost to get a new one, or even how to get one for that matter? Just curious... I'd like to make sure I have a back up plan before trying anything. Sometimes the unexpected just happens.

fishbert · #92 03-16-2009, 08:55 PM

looks like $74.77 for a new mic.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...80&hg=84&fg=30

bjlovet · #93 03-17-2009, 06:25 AM

Thanks! I guess I just didn't know where to look...

With the part number from that page, I found one a little less expenive in case anyone is interestd.
http://www.ecstuning.com/stage/edpd/pagebuild_v2.cgi?gkww=84316938762

aafflyer · #94 03-17-2009, 10:51 PM

I'm not going to jinx you by saying there's no way you can break the microphone, but I have to say it is extremely a low probability especially if you watch the video and the come back to your PC as you are doing it if you get unsure as you are doing it.

Good luck, and report back when you have successfully completed the task.

clbrowni · #95 03-28-2009, 10:51 AM

My very first mod, not too bad. The only problems I had were that the wire was too short so I had to unscrew the top, pulling the plug from the mic, and then figuring out that it went in backwards on the other side. Otherwise, it was a snap. Took me about 15 minutes just because I had to dig around for the star shaped topper for my screw driver. Are there any other mods like this that a person of NO automotive knowledge can do?

Thanks so much for the great pics and vid!
cindi

rlw · #96 03-29-2009, 06:22 AM

I, too, did this mod about a month ago. And it was one of the first things I did for (to?) my car. The video made it look a doddle, but I encountered difficulty. The wire was too short and I had to carefully pull some slack into it from where it disappears up into the roof. And I was just barely able to get enough slack to cross it over to its new location - barely. Jeez, those Germans are tight on their tolerances!

In addition, my fingers were too big in diameter and actually my index finger got jammed in the hole for a minute or two. And let me tell you, that hole can have some sharp edges, be careful. Plus, I was doing this on my lunch hour and imagined myself caught in this British-made Chinese finger trap, howling for help from the bowels of the parking garage.

I finally freed my finger and gave up until I got home later that night, after bandaging my bloodied finger. I also greased-up the new finger I used for the at-home try. So, I did get the mod accomplished, but I gave my blood for the bloody thing!

Finally, I haven't noticed any improvement in the mic's operation. I still say "Store Aaron" and the damn system says "Delete Rob?" WTF?

rlw · #97 03-29-2009, 06:35 AM

ClBrowni wondered:
"Are there any other mods like this that a person of NO automotive knowledge can do?"

Yes, there is at least one. And this one involves NO blood, unless you're incredibly inept. Try the "seat tilt" mod. I did mine, and it makes for a much more comfortable seating position.

1st, I did not develop this mod, another kind member, whose name escapes me now, came up with this. Basically, he and I believe that our seats are tilted too far forward. Especially if you jack the seat up using the lever supplied. This tends to lean you forward and also reduces your under-thigh support.

The solution is quite simple: Place some spacers under the front rails of the seat mounts. Here are the steps:

1) Loosen the rear bolts of your seat mounts, two for each seat. Only loosen them 4-5 turns, you just need some slack. This requires a Torx T-40, I believe.

2) Remove the front bolts. It takes a LOT of un-screwing to do this, they are long bolts.

3) Place a 1/2" - 5/8" spacer on the floor of the car between the seat rail and the floor. I used some properly-sized nuts I had in my "nuts and bolts box". You do have a nuts and bolts box, right?

4) Re-insert and tighten the front bolts.

5) Tighten the rear bolts.

6) You're done!!

Sit back and enjoy your new-found, more comfortable seating position!!

Some folks recommend replacing the front bolts with 1/2" longer ones to account for the spacer. But I did not find that necessary. I still had to turn those bolts 15-20 times to get them tightened, meaning that there were 7-8 threads' length of bolt inserted into the threads. A bolt achieves it's maximum shear strength after 4-5 threads have been inserted...

jbewley · #98 04-20-2009, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by COOP310

A few people have commented on how the microphone for the Bluetooth phone kit is on the wrong (passenger) side of the car in the US. A few others have moved it to the correct side. I decided to do just that yesterday and thought that I would post some pics. It's a pretty easy mod and I hope that it is just as easy to follow along.

1. The first step is to remove the trim piece that covers the microphone (the one in front of the switch pack. To do this, simply run a spudger or small flathead screwdriver between the trim piece and the headliner. A small amount of prying may be necessary, but not so much that you would damage either piece. The microphone itself is mounted to this piece. It is simply held in place by a small tab. Release the tab and pull towards it then up. You will also want to remove the wire that connects to the microphone

2. The next step is to remove the holder underneath the trim piece. This is the plastic part that also houses the switch pack. It is held in place by two star shaped screws (I forget what they are called) and six tabs. After removing the two screws simply push the tabs toward the middle of the console and pull down.

3. After you have lowered the switch pack, simply re-route the cable to the left side of the piece. I routed it through the larger hole in the photo to ensure that the wire was long enough to reach the microphone without being too tight.

4. Now it's time for re-assembly. Re-mount the switch pack by sliding the switch side in first, making sure that the front tabs catch the ring above the headliner. Snap in the six tabs around the rest of the piece and replace the screws. Plug the wire into your newly right-sided microphone and snap the trim piece back into place.

Don't forget to check to make sure everything works before you motor again! Enjoy!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Schatzy62 posted a video down the page a little bit (post #34) that details how to do this mod. I've gone ahead and posted it up here for everyone's convenience. Thanks Schatzy!

[/quote]

I know this is could be considered as "over kill" but I do not have the sun roof. Onces the second cover is removed can the switch pannel be removed to add the missing toggle? It was easy to do on the center stack for the rear fog toggle. Just askimg in case I decide to do this.

Jim

zaubermeister · #99 04-20-2009, 01:24 PM

Thanks for the great post. I never do anything myself as I'm technically challenged but I had to try it and was easy as pie.

Cheers.

-D

**schatzy62** · #**100** 04-20-2009, 02:09 PM

Quote:

I know this is could be considered as "over kill" but I do not have the sun roof. Onces the second cover is removed can the switch pannel be removed to add the missing toggle? It was easy to do on the center stack for the rear fog toggle. Just askimg in case I decide to do this.

Jim

Unfortunately all the switches at the top are "electronic" so that there are not any actual contacts to use up there to make the switch do anything. The drive the computer and the computer then has an output that is coded to that switch. These are just like the ones in the lower center console.

It is possible on the lower set Fog light switche to have the computer drive a relay that then could serve as the actual switch to make something work. This is becuase it is a on/off switch from the computer.This may not be posible with the overhead sunroof switch as it is a variable function switch. I.E. depending on how the switch is moved, push and release does one thing, and push and hold does something else, so it is not just an easy on/off type item so hooking the computer output of that switch to a relay may give some strange results.