I've seen some posts offering a part number but haven't heard of anyone actually getting the 3G cradle. Anyone?

Also, has anyone developed a work around the cradle, like a male/female cabling solution in the armrest?

 

Bump.

No-one has an iPhone 3g working out of an armrest cradle (or a cabling work-around to eliminate the use of the cradle?).

 

Srahaim,

I too would like any info on using the 3G iPhone with the MINI.

It is one of my last hang-ups in moving forward with an order.

Well, just kidding. But, someone out there has to be sporting the 3G with a MINI.

There was a post on here somewhere about an adapter... will see if I can find it.

You would hope with all the changes that they are starting to make with the 2009 production that this would be one of them.

 

The cradle is what will have the apple plug on it so no cable will work unless you could get the pin outs for the MINI wireing and rig it into the apple cable. I was at the dealer last week and they got a memo saying it was still in the works. Since it does not take 6 months to make a different size platstic part (they have a original iphone cradle which the 3g will fit in but cant be removed from since the size is a little off) I assume the 3g still did not charge correctly in the armrest and that is what is taking so long.

 

BTW the 3g works great in the MINI(phone and iPod) when pluged in under the radio. It just does not charge if less the half full. I just keep a normal charger in the car just in case I happen to have a less that half full phone. Once it gets to half you can plug it back into the MINI and it will finish charging it while you jam away to the tunes.

 

I am using the old iphone cradle with my 3G iphone. I removed a very small amount of plastic and two very small plastic tabs in order to get the eject mechanism working properly. I'm very happy with it so far.

P.S. A VERY sharp chisel works wonders on the 792 cradle.

 

Does the charging work correctly(ie the phone will charge if you start off with it almost empty)

 

I am not familiar with the cradle.

Is the cradle something that can be upgraded at a later date if MINI comes out with one for the 3G phone? (or other future phones?)

Thanks.

 

You can upgrade to in latter if you order comfort blue tooth with smart phone intergration. The smart phone intergration allows the phone to connect to the usb/iphone adaptor via the arm rest snap in. With out intergration the snap in just does the power and if the phone supports it remote antena. This is a picture of the bmw one but the MINI should be the same.
http://accessories.bmwusa.com/ItemVi...&productId=948

 

Check out this youtube video, there is a part number at the end of it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfN3g...eature=related

Merry X'mas everyone...

 

With the battery in the red and below 20%, I get the charging lightning bolt when I place the phone in the cradle.

It still hangs up a little when I push the eject button. I may need to trim some more plastic to make it perfect.

 

Ok so far for the 3G iPhone here's what I get out of the above:

1) There's a part number for the cradle but no part (as my Dad would say, making Navy talk, "Liberty but no boats!"

2) The first gen cradle will kinda work (the 3G phone has to be jammed in there pretty well and it's difficult to release). Phone and iPod functions work but charging is iffy. Trimming some plastic off of the cradle makes it fit better.

3) There is no known cable solution that plugs into the 3G iPhone and the connector in the armrest thus bypassing the cradle altogether.

And,

4)The phone will work if you activate bluetooth and just plug it in as an iPod under the center stack (but I don't think the car can read your address book).

Was really hoping for a cheap fix ala #3.

If I've got it wrong so far (or somebody has a miracle cure) shout out.

 

the mini can access the address book on the iphone 3g through bluetooth

 

Edit: looks as if my Cablejive suggestion won't work as desired with the cradle.

 

Perhaps someone could develop an adapter to connect the iPhone 3G to the 1st Gen H/K iPod cable in the R53?

IPhone Connector
http://pinouts.ru/PortableDevices/ipod_pinout.shtml

IPhone Charger Requirements
http://tzywen.com/modules.php?name=N...rticle&sid=683

 

Just ordered the cable from CableJive. I'll report on my experience once it comes in. I got the 2' cable. Probably need a 2" cable though, as I doubt both the coiled extra cable and the phone can be tucked into the armrest! Anyway, I'm curious to test it out.

 

Looking forward to seeing how it works out for you. I am hoping the cradle is released soon since I paid extra for the smartphone integration.

 

After seeing all the problems getting the phone to work, I am glad I ordered without. My car still runs well though...

 

The iPhone works great with the bluetooth integration and I can listen to my music with the Y cable. All we are waiting on is the release of the new cradle for the 3G. I believe the cradle will enhance the reception and it will be tucked neatly in the armrest. The Smartphone integration was only an extra $100.

 

Got the Cablejive cable and it's just a male/female iPhone cable that doesn't match the "plug" on the armrest interior. It works if you need to add a couple more feet to your "Y" cable in the center stack but it's not the solution I was looking for to bypass purchasing the BMW 3g IPhone cradle for the armrest (if it ever comes out).

 

srahaim - apologies for the recommendation are in order I guess.

Does the MINI cradle allow enough room for the iphone to float freely in the armrest or does it take up most of the room in there? (I've obviously never seen one in the flesh...)

I guess in a last resort you could hack up the existing cradle and just leave the bit that inserts into the base of the iPhone - then use your cablejive to connect between the 2. Seems a bit drastic tho.

 

The cradles, for all phone models available, take up all the rest of the space in the armrest.

 

I just checked with the local MINI dealer and the cradle is not ready

 

I ordered my cradle when I picked up my car in November and was told mid december it would be available. Called the dealer yesterday and was told it was in transit to the dealer. We'll see...

Other posters are right about a few things -

3G works perfect with Y Cable under the dash - bluetooth for phone and address book and audio for ipod and calls.

The charging thing has totally to do with the Y cable. Old Y cable pre-introduction of 3g reacts like others describe it will only charge after half full. On my new clubman (picked up in november) no problem charging what so ever from Y cable - even if completely dead

 

Those of you who want this cradle need to goto the dealer and make a specific request for it. Evidently, production of the cradles (or any part for that matter) is based up calls per quarter. In other words, they make more if there's more calls for the item.

My dealer said that the 3g cradle w/smartphone prep is NOT available in the US or Germany right now. They don't yet exist.