I just made a complaint post about Mini connect on both the Countryman, and Mini facebook sites. I'm encouraging all of you to do the same, as well as call. My complaint is no one should be forced to buy a $200 cradle for the arm rest, when we weren't warned of this (I also don't want to have to keep my phone in the arm rest). Also obviously it's quite a stupid requirement considering there is not a fully functioning cradle made for the iPhone 4 yet (still no video right?).

 

The situation is actually weirder.

For the first few days I had my MINI, MINIMalism worked just fine. It was only after the update that included Mission Control (which included an update for the car as well I think) that MINIMalism stopped working and gave me the message it required the cradle!

I think the reason is they want the phone in a known orientation but like you say, it's kind of silly that not one person the U.S. (world?) can even use this new feature they have in the app.

 

Maybe I've missed it somewhere, so please forgive me if this is a repeat question ...

Last I heard, the cradle dock would be available in mid-June. Well, it's past that timeline, any word on when it is coming?

 

No…mid summer at the earliest…If your looking for one for the Iphone 3G, I believe one is available. Iphone 4…One that just charges…none that will do what the supplied Y cable provide..I've tried the 3 out over the past several months..

 

Flyer53,

I looked through the posts and may have missed this... Of the iPhone4 cradles you tried was there one that had the fan and worked with the MINI Connected app? I'm not really interested in the video, just the app and Pandora... I did notice the iPhone gets real warm and I think the fan is a must..... Thanks...

 

Yes, Music: Only plays music (no cover art or video support).
Part-number: 84212199390-2. I'm pretty sure pandora worked as well.
It was the 2nd version of the 390 production which included the built in fan.
I did have some issues going from mini connected back over to just Bluetooth. Good luck.

 

@Flyer

How's the heat build-up in the new iPhone "cradle" you fashioned?

I'm keeping an eye on these developments since NC is my dealer, too. It will be nice to know that your exhaustive efforts have resulted in a knowledgeable parts department!

My CM won't go into production until November when the 3-place seating becomes available. Hopefully, this will all be sorted out by then...

Thanks to you (and others) for pursuing this issue!

 

Koopah….NC has been great for me..this is my 3rd mini over the past 10 years or so…and I have enjoyed it the most. I have not seen any more heat build up sitting in the modified sun glass holder than I would of sitting in the cup holder, seat or for that matter..in my office..all with the bumper case on. I would think (hope) by your November build..it's all working as should be. Darien the PM has been very patient with me and has gone way out of his way to accommodate me. We've gotten 3 different cradles in and worked up 3 different scenarios for each. He has gotten as far as getting responses back from Mini USA and Germany on regards to the cradle issue. The last stating that the numbers that most have ordered and tried are BMW cradles..and that the one for the Countryman is a complete different number and we should start seeing them mid-to late summer. Good to here from a neighbor…keep in touch! Fred

 

I was at the dealer today, they had the 390-2 part on hand so I asked them if I could give it a try... my main interest was the cooling fan....
as you said the video function doesn't work, something I'm not interested in..
The MINI connected app works fine as well as Pandora, also cover art for the ipod part of my phone works, and no issues with bluetooth... so, the only thing not working is the plugin....

 

I've had the 390-2 adapter for about a week and my experience has been the same -- everything works except the plugin, which works only with the "Y" connector.

I do have one question: for "Google Send to Car" the manual says you need an "active Mini Connected User Account." How does one sign up for this account? This is something I would use, if I could.

Thanks

 

It's the user id that your MINI connected app uses on the iPhone... I think it actually sends it to your iPhone which transfers it to your car the next time you connect... I don't have Nav which is why i think nothing transfers for me when I try it.

 

Where do you find this User ID for Mini Connected on my IPhone?

 

Start the app after you have put the phone in the cradle, when it first starts, your userid will be displayed briefly on the phone...
It's also under the iPhone settings app...

 

Thanks so much.

 

Just saw the "Snap in Cradle for the I Phone 4" available at minigenuineparts.co.uk
Sent them an email on cost and shipping availability…
Describes everything we have been waiting for.

 

Is it the one with the full media? http://www.minigenuineparts.co.uk/mi...2_218_390.html

This is the one I bought for euro118 including shipping. I dont have connected but have mini navigation and bluetooth it shows album art and beleive it will work on your car.

 

States "Full Media including cover art / music streaming with playlists"

 

Here's my email response in regards to the latest I phone 4 and the "Cradle".

Hi Fred

Yes this is the latest and only media snap in for the iphone 4

I have checked all functions on my own May 2011 Countryman and if you check the description it confirms everything as follows


List of tested and confirmed functions on March 2011 build onwards (car spec has Nav, Connected, Full Bluetooth):

- Charging iPhone 4
- Music streaming with playlists
- Display Album artwork
- Web Radio (Connected App)
- RSS News (Connected App)
- Twitter (Connected App)
- Facebook (Connected App)
- Google Send to Car (Connected App)
- Google Local Search (Connected App)
- MINIMALISM Analyser (Connected App)
- Mission Control (Connected App)
- Dynamic Music (Connected App)


We can of course ship worldwide, the shipping choices and options are shown in the checkout of the website

Best Regards

Martin

 

On the actual part page description reads "To make full use of this snap in adapter, it should be at least a March 2011 build on or September 2010 at the earliest.
I will put one in the order cart and see what the costs are. Also waiting to hear from the CT dealership if it's available to them to order from Mini and save on the shipping.

 

$274.96 american dollars with shipping from the UK

 

$265.61 American with 2-4 day shipping from MiniGenuineParts in UK

 

This thread has gone on so long that I've forgotten the question. Am I correct that in cars built after March 2011 there are a two or three Mini Connected features that won't work when the iPhone is connected using the supplied Y-cable? We expect that these two or three features will work using an armrest adapter that hasn't yet been available.

Did I also read here that if your iPhone is in a case it won't fit in the adapter?

 

Here's another question.

Suppose MINI agreed that this situation was "f-ed" up and came up with a reprogram of the MINI-Connected software that allowed all the features to work with the cable. How would we get the updated software? Basically, could we download and install it ourselves, or would we have to go to the dealer?

 

Several good questions…and unfortunately no concrete answers.
Just waiting to see if my parts guy can order the newest..or so they say from his warehouse and save me on the shipping. If not i'll order the one from minigenuineparts.co.uk and give it a shot. I've tried (3) maybe this will be the lucky four.
I'm a pre March build…actually a late 2010 early 2011. Everything works with the suppled Y cable…waiting for Office to do it's thing…that probably is either a mini update or update through the mini app.

 

Now have a screen flicker on all iPod Connected screens, but weirdly not on the Nav or other portions. So album art, the blue menus, etc, all do this rainbow flickering. Not sure if this is due to the very recent iPod software update, but if someone else is experiencing this, let me know.