R60 Mini connected: should I get it or no?
#1
Mini connected: should I get it or no?
I'm considering getting Mini Connected but I went and tested it out at the dealership and it felt very unintuitive. The toggling to the left to scroll was very interesting. Different functions were difficult to find and the mini connected app worked sporadically. Could you Mini Connected users give me some feedback re: your experiences and if you think it's worth the extra money?
#2
I have Connected w/Nav.
I almost never use Connected but I also have an iPhone 5 so connectivity isn't quite so straightforward. I definitely missed the big display when I recently had a loaner without Connected. Even so, I dunno if I'd get Connected without Nav. I'd probably just go with USB/Bluetooth which became standard in 2013 anyway.
I almost never use Connected but I also have an iPhone 5 so connectivity isn't quite so straightforward. I definitely missed the big display when I recently had a loaner without Connected. Even so, I dunno if I'd get Connected without Nav. I'd probably just go with USB/Bluetooth which became standard in 2013 anyway.
#3
#4
#5
#6
I have MC with no nav
Every car I've owned in the past, the nav is not very user friendly and inferior to using nav on my android phone... Google maps FTW
TBH the main reason I insisted on getting MC at all (and obviously no nav) is because I much prefer the look of the screen as opposed to the ginourmous look of the Flavor Flav speedometer without it. So far, I'd grade the functionality B or B+
Every car I've owned in the past, the nav is not very user friendly and inferior to using nav on my android phone... Google maps FTW
TBH the main reason I insisted on getting MC at all (and obviously no nav) is because I much prefer the look of the screen as opposed to the ginourmous look of the Flavor Flav speedometer without it. So far, I'd grade the functionality B or B+
#7
Once you realize that you must scroll WITH the circle its a lot easier to understand.
Meaning;If you look at the options from top to bottom and you look at the left of them you can seem an arc. rotating the toggle switch in the movement of the arc will result in moving down. Once you use it for a couple of days you get used to it. My favorite is when new passengers try to change the channel or work the radio at all.
Meaning;If you look at the options from top to bottom and you look at the left of them you can seem an arc. rotating the toggle switch in the movement of the arc will result in moving down. Once you use it for a couple of days you get used to it. My favorite is when new passengers try to change the channel or work the radio at all.
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#8
You buy Connected not for the Connected app, but because of the display it gives you. Even though I hardly ever run the Connected app I still am really glad I got Connected.
There are various uses:
1) Connected App, fun at times but not something you would leave on much.
2) USB music player, where you can control the selection of songs or playlists from the control ****, and get to see album art. You can use the steering wheel controls to skip songs or adjust volume (Connected App does not have to be running for this to work).
3) Bluetooth audio, control playing songs from device (like using Siri), you don't get album art but do see song info, steering wheel controls also work. Needs to not have device plugged in to car USB port I believe.
4) Calling information when you receive a phone call in the car, use the **** to accept or reject a call.
5) Very useful visualization of the rear backup sensor, showing you where objects are behind you and how close instead of just the beep.
6) Information on vehicle status, including things like indicators of the run-flat sensors for each of the four tires.
7) More information about errors, like if the run-flat sensors detect a low tire or the car thinks it's out of oil.
MINI currently thinks of the smartphone->display link as more of entertainment. But it has a lot of potential and I think over time MINI will open that up to more development. There are a lot of great uses you could see for a smartphone app using the center display as a second or main screen, and providing an alternate control scheme via the control ****.
There are various uses:
1) Connected App, fun at times but not something you would leave on much.
2) USB music player, where you can control the selection of songs or playlists from the control ****, and get to see album art. You can use the steering wheel controls to skip songs or adjust volume (Connected App does not have to be running for this to work).
3) Bluetooth audio, control playing songs from device (like using Siri), you don't get album art but do see song info, steering wheel controls also work. Needs to not have device plugged in to car USB port I believe.
4) Calling information when you receive a phone call in the car, use the **** to accept or reject a call.
5) Very useful visualization of the rear backup sensor, showing you where objects are behind you and how close instead of just the beep.
6) Information on vehicle status, including things like indicators of the run-flat sensors for each of the four tires.
7) More information about errors, like if the run-flat sensors detect a low tire or the car thinks it's out of oil.
MINI currently thinks of the smartphone->display link as more of entertainment. But it has a lot of potential and I think over time MINI will open that up to more development. There are a lot of great uses you could see for a smartphone app using the center display as a second or main screen, and providing an alternate control scheme via the control ****.
#9
#12
2) USB music player, where you can control the selection of songs or playlists from the control ****, and get to see album art. You can use the steering wheel controls to skip songs or adjust volume (Connected App does not have to be running for this to work).
3) Bluetooth audio, control playing songs from device (like using Siri), you don't get album art but do see song info, steering wheel controls also work. Needs to not have device plugged in to car USB port I believe.
4) Calling information when you receive a phone call in the car, use the **** to accept or reject a call.
3) Bluetooth audio, control playing songs from device (like using Siri), you don't get album art but do see song info, steering wheel controls also work. Needs to not have device plugged in to car USB port I believe.
4) Calling information when you receive a phone call in the car, use the **** to accept or reject a call.
According to other posts on this forum, this takes care of #3, for ~$100. That was the only thing that interested me about Connected, and you can get that device for $900 less.
#13
Not true. I have an iPhone 5 and always have MINI Connected on when I'm in my roadster. I use the Apple short 30 pin to lightning cable. The Driving Excitement app is fun Updated to latest firmware on the MINI too. No issues/problems at all.
#14
I have Connected w/out Nav, and honestly I'm wishing I spent the extra money and got Nav. Connected by itself is ok, but it would be much more useful if it mirrored the phone display to the car display. I think adding Nav would have made it a better value.
I quickly got tired of the car nagging me with I used the Minimalism or driving excitement features - or for that matter whenever I turned on my wipers when Mission Control was active. But I do like the Office functionality (now that I have it working)...
#15
#16
I vote no.
I always have an aftermarket GPS. My Garmin and a pro clip pillar mount and I'm good to go. With lifetime updates on my Garmin it hasn't let me down. Over the years I've done built in NAV and have always been disappointed with them. Getting new iPhones every year I also worry about connectivity and built in functionality not working properly. I usually seem to have a car long after technology changes and to me all the built in "tech" in an auto gets dated pretty quickly and updates are dreadfully slow.My iPhone 4S and 5 works flawlessly without connected, I use the standard Mini Y-Cable and the Apple Lightning to 30-pin Adapter. I get a readout of the song, playlists, and steering wheel controls all work. If I have bluetooth on I can even push and hold the iPhone home button and use Siri to read/send texts, make calls, etc. I can even use AppleMaps (or other GPS apps) and get Nav over my speakers while listening to podcasts or songs. Though I have to be listening to something from the iPhone as it doesn't break in to the radio while listening to the radio or sat (that can be a downside for some but I never listen to radio broadcasts so for me it's a wash), but if you are listening to your iPhone it works great.
I always have an aftermarket GPS. My Garmin and a pro clip pillar mount and I'm good to go. With lifetime updates on my Garmin it hasn't let me down. Over the years I've done built in NAV and have always been disappointed with them. Getting new iPhones every year I also worry about connectivity and built in functionality not working properly. I usually seem to have a car long after technology changes and to me all the built in "tech" in an auto gets dated pretty quickly and updates are dreadfully slow.My iPhone 4S and 5 works flawlessly without connected, I use the standard Mini Y-Cable and the Apple Lightning to 30-pin Adapter. I get a readout of the song, playlists, and steering wheel controls all work. If I have bluetooth on I can even push and hold the iPhone home button and use Siri to read/send texts, make calls, etc. I can even use AppleMaps (or other GPS apps) and get Nav over my speakers while listening to podcasts or songs. Though I have to be listening to something from the iPhone as it doesn't break in to the radio while listening to the radio or sat (that can be a downside for some but I never listen to radio broadcasts so for me it's a wash), but if you are listening to your iPhone it works great.
#17
I vote no.
I always have an aftermarket GPS. My Garmin and a pro clip pillar mount and I'm good to go. With lifetime updates on my Garmin it hasn't let me down. Over the years I've done built in NAV and have always been disappointed with them. Getting new iPhones every year I also worry about connectivity and built in functionality not working properly. I usually seem to have a car long after technology changes and to me all the built in "tech" in an auto gets dated pretty quickly and updates are dreadfully slow.My iPhone 4S and 5 works flawlessly without connected, I use the standard Mini Y-Cable and the Apple Lightning to 30-pin Adapter. I get a readout of the song, playlists, and steering wheel controls all work. If I have bluetooth on I can even push and hold the iPhone home button and use Siri to read/send texts, make calls, etc. I can even use AppleMaps (or other GPS apps) and get Nav over my speakers while listening to podcasts or songs. Though I have to be listening to something from the iPhone as it doesn't break in to the radio while listening to the radio or sat (that can be a downside for some but I never listen to radio broadcasts so for me it's a wash), but if you are listening to your iPhone it works great.
I always have an aftermarket GPS. My Garmin and a pro clip pillar mount and I'm good to go. With lifetime updates on my Garmin it hasn't let me down. Over the years I've done built in NAV and have always been disappointed with them. Getting new iPhones every year I also worry about connectivity and built in functionality not working properly. I usually seem to have a car long after technology changes and to me all the built in "tech" in an auto gets dated pretty quickly and updates are dreadfully slow.My iPhone 4S and 5 works flawlessly without connected, I use the standard Mini Y-Cable and the Apple Lightning to 30-pin Adapter. I get a readout of the song, playlists, and steering wheel controls all work. If I have bluetooth on I can even push and hold the iPhone home button and use Siri to read/send texts, make calls, etc. I can even use AppleMaps (or other GPS apps) and get Nav over my speakers while listening to podcasts or songs. Though I have to be listening to something from the iPhone as it doesn't break in to the radio while listening to the radio or sat (that can be a downside for some but I never listen to radio broadcasts so for me it's a wash), but if you are listening to your iPhone it works great.
#18
#19
Based upon these replies, I have sent a complaint into Mini corporate.
#20
#21
I'm considering getting Mini Connected but I went and tested it out at the dealership and it felt very unintuitive. The toggling to the left to scroll was very interesting. Different functions were difficult to find and the mini connected app worked sporadically. Could you Mini Connected users give me some feedback re: your experiences and if you think it's worth the extra money?
#22
I have the iPhone 5 and my connected works fine. I don't use it often but when I do, it works. Haven't tried the plugin feature, will try it tomorrow to see if it works. I also use the 30 pin to lightning adapter cable instead of just the 30 pin adapter because I wanted the extra length.
Don't bother - it doesn't work. When you select it you'll get a message that no plug-in compatible devices are connected. The video out that's needed isn't supported by the adapter cables for the iPhone 5.
#23
I have an iPhone 5 and it works fine with Connected. There is no loss in the iPod plugin thing not working - before I had an iPhone 4 which that did work with, and the interface was terribly slow compared to the native USB audio controls in Connected. Also of course you can just use Bluetooth audio for music and control the whole thing from your phone.
#24
To the OP, I'd suggest spending some time in a car with Connected and/or Nav. While some of the features are gimmicky and get old fast, some others are more usable. I personally like having the larger screen to navigate through the playlists on the iPod. The screen also seems to make using the phone easier. I like having the Nav, although I'll conceded that it isn't brilliant; the Nav in my Active E (electric 1-series BMW) is better - at least in part because it has an even bigger screen. The real-time traffic seems slow to update, but I don't know if that's the fault of the nav; both cars do that. Having the Nav lets you use Goggle send to car; I don't think Connected alone can do that. I can't speak to the iPhone 5, but I'm using a 4S with the MINI-supplied Y-cable with no issues; haven't tried the armrest cradle/dock accessory.
For me, I found it useful enough that I ordered it again on my new 2013 Clubman when I decided to replace the 2011 Clubman.
For me, I found it useful enough that I ordered it again on my new 2013 Clubman when I decided to replace the 2011 Clubman.
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