I wish I could find just one picture of some ones iPhone 4 using the included cell phone holder...This thing is the pits, I sat up last night trying to make it work. And I didn't fair to good....the phone is still riding on the passenger seat.

 

Between the promised full iPhone/cell phone integration and the 18" HP summer tire issue with the Sport option, Mini is stinkin' up the joint.

 

Temporary fix when I get my ALL4 in a couple of weeks...a great little magnetic mount from Harbor Freight that I use in my Touareg and my Itasca Navion RV:
http://www.harborfreight.com/magneti...kit-66781.html

 

I'm sorry I don't have a pic (and it's too frigging cold to go outside and take one), but I really don't understand the problem. I mounted it just far enough back that the e-brake handle clears the top of the phone when it is in the holder; it fits fine.

 

You are taking a HUGE risk of forever ruining your built-in compass by using a magnetic mount. Be careful!

 

The magnet will only make the compass inaccurate, not ruin it. It can be recalibrated. There are strong magnetic forces everywhere, especially in a car.

 

Anyone getting a specific date from their dealer on when the iphone snap in case thing will finally come in? Just stupid that the car is available but no the snap in piece.

 

When it does get here it will be the same as the BMW one. BMW iDrive=MINI Connected. I was picking up parts at my BMW shop(my dealer doesn't have a separate MINI shop) and asked the head of parts and she said"I wish I knew, I get asked 20 times a day. BMW owners want it bad too.

 

I have to admit that a lot of thought did not going to the factory cradle that came with the countryman. The USB portion of the Y cable does not fit through the holders back hole and you cant move the holder close to the shifter because they blocked off the rail. It makes no sense to me why they did this? Im not a big fan of the arm rest cradle either, no matter how much it will cost. I really liked the idea of having the phone in that holder in the rail. It may be time to break out the tools and remove that thin material they used to block the rail towards the shifter. Any thoughts or Ideas on the subject?

 

I called Ask Mini to find out if they had a specific date on the iPhone adapter.
The best they had was "coming soon" in Jan.

 

I'm looking into a Countryman, but currently enjoy the Clubman. I use a TomTom iPhone mount and suction it to the right side of my speedo. It covers up the top half of my fuel gauge and everything above that, but that's okay with me. Wires run straight down and connect into the power and AUX in. I like using my iPhone directly (when mounted there within easy reach) rather than relying on the MINI to drive it. That proved too awkward so I'm skipping the USB connection.

It appears the Countryman's AUX input is closer to my hip than to the instrument panel (like the Clubman). Does anyone think my use of the TomTom iPhone mount will not be appropriate if I get a Countryman?

Spike

 

You'll probably want to run the cable under the trim piece around the shifter (and probably tuck it behind the edge of the trim piece that holds the toggle switches), but that shouldn't be too hard to do. I think you'll be fine.

 

Pro-Clip has a real clean iPhone mounting solution for about $65. KUDA has a nice one for substantially more but it's more pleasing to the eye...

 

Has anyone tried a BMW cradle? From the pics I've seen it looks EXACTLY like the cradle I had in my E90 M3.

 

Most of us here have the iPhone 4 which there hasn't been a cradle released by BMW or Mini as it will be the same.

 

Most, but not all. I asked, however for the people that have 3G or 3Gs models. Plus, since BMW has already announced when their iPhone 4 cradles will ship, if it's before Mini then there would be another source that might be cheaper as well.

 

Are the BMW cradles the same as the mini? When is the BMW ship date they are giving? Is this literally just something owners can snap in or is there some type of "installation" cost?

 

That's what I was asking. If they ARE the same then there will be a MUCH more expansive network to buy them from. On M3post some SAs were saying as early as this coming week.

It is absolutely a user installable type of deal. If you have Smartphone Prep (6NF? I can never remember) you press the eject button to remove the cover inside the armrest. Then you insert the front of the adapter and snap it down in the rear. It removed just like the cover did.

To insert the phone you insert the rear and snap the front in. To remove, slide the release at the front forward and the phone pops up. Piece of cake.

Too bad no one's in Germany, I'd try out one of my cradles to see if it fits.

Actually, if the one I'm test driving tomorrow has Smartphone Prep I'll try it out and report back.

 

I bought the snap-in adapter from MINI dealership today. It's for the 3G/3GS as I plan to wait until the next iPhone release to upgrade. It appears to be the same as the BMW. It is in a BMW box and the manuals inside are BMW manuals. I haven't read the instructions yet, but I am getting a message on my iPhone that says that the device is incompatible and may not function properly. I am also not able to connect it through MINI Connected...and I'm not receiving any audio through the CD/External Device - although it looks like it's playing. Hopefully all will be resolved once I read the manual!

 

What is the part number on the cradle? BMW has 4 cradles for the 3G/3Gs and only two will let you play music. You also have to have iPod integration as well as Smartphone Integration to be able to play music.

How much did they charge you? BMW wants $220 for them but you can get them used for $75-$100 on bimmerpost.

 

Part number is 84 21 2 158 683. I have Smartphone and iPod integration and all works well through the USB Y connector (ie. Mini Connected and iPod out). However, it's not working through the snap in adapter. CD/Multimedia shows that my phone is in the snap in adapter but works in Bluetooth mode only. But Mini Connected and iPod out require a USB connection (via the Y cable or snap in adapter) and it is not connecting to my phone via the snap in adapter. I'm looking at some of the BMW threads now looking for answers.

I paid $220.

 

The 683 should work. The 682 is the non-audio outputting version. The other one you can try, is the 84 21 2 151 043. I have the 682 and the 043 and the 043 plays audio while the 682 does not. Did you verify the part number on the back of the part itself? I wouldn't be surprised if the box said 683 and it was a 682.

Even in the cradle the iPhone will connect over BT, there's nothing you can do about that. The ONLY thing the cradles do is charge the iPhone and send audio out. No external antenna connection, no video out, no hardline connection for hands-free.

Yeah, $220 is retail on them. Used they're MUCH less expensive. And with everyone switching to an iPhone 4 there are plenty of them around. Look in the M3post and E90post classifieds. I found both of mine in the M3Post (when I still had my M3) classifieds and they were both about $85 shipped.

 

Thanks for the reply. I'll take a look at the back of the cradle this afternoon. Hope that's the issue cuz I'm a little frustrated.

 

Well, I looked at the part number on the unit and it's 683. Rrrrrrrrrrgh. I've revisited my build sheets to make sure what I configured didn't get screwed up. Plain as day...6NF. Guess it's time to bug the dealer - again.

 

Well that sucks. See if they have an 043 to try.

Let us know how it goes!