I saw a thread in the mods forums about the mic being located in right side of the upper console (and that it can be moved to the left and provides much better pickup for USA drivers).

there is an excellent YouTube instructional video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymLQR8sYfqQ

So, for 2012, is it still on the right?

 

Yes it is. It is one of the first things I did when I picked up my 2012. Be careful though, the wiring harness is very short.

 

Yup on my 2012 MCS it was. Took me a few minutes to carefully switch it to the left.

 

I actually ended up taking down the panel that the cover attaches to so it would be easier to route the wiring to the other side. It was just a few screws to get it down.

 

Thanks for the heads-up, all. Will do this over the weekend.

Cheers,

 

I completely forgot to check this out when my car arrived. I've been using the mic for several weeks now and it is adequate... about the same as my usual Bluetooth headset. Hopefully I can improve it

 

I got my 2012 MCS about a week and a half ago and everyone I've talked to using the BT says they can hear me just fine. I had planned on switching it to the other side, but there doesn't seem to be any need to.

 

I sent a link to the tutorial about moving the microphone to my service department, and they moved it over before I took possession of the car - very convenient, and they had no idea about it being on the right.

 

Just finished installing the OE roof rack and also checked mine... It was on the right side and now on the driver's side.

 

I moved mine over to the driver's side today, too.
The YouTube video was very helpful.
Having slimmer fingers would have been good, too. Ah, well...

 

LOL I was pushing the wire through the right side and pulling out from the left at the same time and then I notice the wire is pulling and jamming my finger in the opening. Oh well I did manage to get my finger out.

 

Exact same thing happened to me.

 

I have something blocking the 2 sides. I pushed the wire in, now I can't fish it out. :/

I guess I'll be stopping at the dealer and feeling like a jacka** come monday.

 

I agree, same on my 2012 CM4.... Sounds great.

 

I agree, same on my 2012 CM4.... Sounds great.

 

Can you see it? I used a screwdriver to push from one side into my finger on the other side. If you have a headlamp, it makes it a lot easier to see what you're doing. A coat hanger with a hook bent into the end should make it easy enough to fish out. Don't give up!

 

I couldnt get the microphone to unplug. Was it tough? I was afraid to pull any harder than I did...

 

It's a little tough. I used needle nose pliers because I couldn't get a good enough grip with my fingers.

 

Yes it is tough. Even after pushing the little tab in I had to pull hard. Eventually it gave way and I bashed my hand on the rear view mirror.

 

If you find the wire is too short you can remove some of the tape off the harness and it'll give you a few extra inches. Just follow the wire back into the opening and you'll see what I'm talking about.

 

Made the change-over on our 2012 CM-S. Not too bad, just takes a bit of time and an 8" piece of hook-ended coat hangar to "grab" the wires from the left side of the fixture and coax/pull them through.

All things being the same, the volume of the driver's voice when the mic is moved over is very noticeable. My SO's call volume from the CM-S before and after the change was dramatic. I also noticed that the voice recognition system of the Tech+Nav package seemed required fewer corrections -- even when parked.

 

I emailed my MA yesterday and asked if the dealership could move the mic before I picked up my car. His response was really interesting--he said they could do it for me if they could figure out how (so I sent him the YouTube video), but that Mini had technically "forbidden" them from moving the mic, because Mini claims it works better pointing at the passenger side!

Judging from all the reports I've read here, I think Mini LIES!

I told him that if they could do it for me, that'd be great, but that if not it was no big deal to do it myself if the reception bothered me. I have plenty of crochet hooks in my craft supplies that will work beautifully for pulling those wires over....

 

I just got my Coupe S two nights ago and people seem to have a hard time hearing me when on the freeway. Maybe this is why. I'll probably move it tonight. Consider this my first "mod" haha

 

I think someone's lying - my dealership certainly had no issue with moving it once someone had told them how....

 

Oh, they're going to move it for me. He was just saying they weren't SUPPOSED to move it for me. But who knows...