I have this feature in my everyday driver and love it, not only is it conveniant, but it makes driving much safer. Does anyone have this feature in their Mini and if so which kit did you go with. My new Mini is weeks away from arriving but it can't hurt to think ahead. Thanks

 

Many ppl use BT. I used a MOT 1000

 

Prevailing wisdom, even from my MA is that the MINI kit is not worth the money, aftermarket only. I am counting my pennies for the Nuvi 660 GPS and a Blutooth phone, then I can receive calls thru the GPS screen while driving.

 

I am using the Nuvi 360 at present, but it does not have the sound quality I am looking for. My last car, I had a Parrot 3200 and it worked extremely well. I am looking for an integrated option for my MCS so I'm looking to add this one. New Mini Integrated BT.

 

Reviews indicate that is a bad choice. Its buying fish at a steak place. Garmin does GPS well but the BT stinks.

If you want a top quality BT unit, get a dedicated one. If you want a compromise ... go for it.

 

Good analysis, if you want to carry your Nuvi on a trip and use it then, it's better than no BT but I wouldn't use it on a daily basis.

 

I have been debating the BT option but for the price I could get a good head set.

 

I have the Motorola 1000 and I thought it worked quite well... I haven't installed it in the MINI yet, having pulled it out of the previous vehicle, but really, at this point the only thing holding me up is research into whether an adapter will allow me to use some of my BT-related MFSW buttons with the Motorola... not designed to, but hey...

 

Your MINI will come with Bluetooth wired and installed, buttons and doodads about for it...but to have it enabled by your dealer will cost ya!

Ask your MA about enabling the car's Bluetooth to see what they charge.

 

I have the OEM bluetooth kit and really love it. Its very similar to the unit I have in my DCX truck. I have had it installed for 5 months now without any issues. Call quality is excellent and the person on the other end appreciates that as well. If your listening to a CD and you get or place a call, the system will pause the playback. Is it the cheapest solution...no, does it carry the same warranty as your vehicle...yes, fairly easy to install...yes. I am not a fan of bluetooth headsets in the car as I like to listen to the radio without the sound being impeded by something in my ear.

 

I had my dealer enable the bluetooth feature for me in my last BMW 545i, it worked fairly well but it wasn't perfect. The system in my current car, 07 550i works great, but for what the car costs it should.

Are you saying the 06 MC come with Bluetooth already installed? I thought that I had to order the optional Blue tooth dealer installed kit for about $250.00 plus labor. My salesman talked me out of it because he said the labor was crazy. Not sure what to do, but I hate ear fitted bluetooth headsets and I'm to spastac to drive a stick while holding my phone in one hand with a Starbucks coffee in the other

Who's got the best setup?

 

I had a Garmin C550 GPS with Bluetooth. I had issues with the G550 and exchanged it twice (three units in a month), before going to the Nuvi 660. The Bluetooth isn't bad on the 660, but given the cabin noise in the MINI, it's not really suitable - the receive volume just isn't loud enough to be usable. Now in a Cadillac, it may be OK.

I also have Mikey the MINI's Parrot Evo/MFSW BT kit. It works OK, I guess, but not with my Blackberry. With some other phones the audio is decent, with the Blackberry the transmit audio makes me sound like Darth Vader.

The only in-car BT that I've been happy with was in my Acura TL.

 

I was hoping the Parrot EVO/MFSW was a good fit. I am temporarily using my Nuvi, but had a Parrot on my last car and except for incoming call volume not being quite high enough, it was good.

 

I've installed several Parrot Evos, one of the best kits I've used, and you can't see it at all when used with a steering wheel with the phone buttons. HIGHLY reccomended!!

 

I need to get mine on order and get it installed.
I have an office in Adelaide, SA and get over about twice a year. I usually spend at least one day in Melbourne. I like the area a lot.

 

I'm real interested it this. I understood I had to buy a kit for my 06....?

 

There are two options. One is a handsfree kit that you can plug your phone into for recharging. The other is a simple Bluetooth connection and much less expensive than the first one. The second one is where the car should be pre-wired for the microphone and the buttons on the steering wheel, they just add the bluetooth device and viola.

 

Its not really "all there bar programming", its just that the wheel buttons are there. Its not something that just needs coding in . Cheapest option by far is the Parrot Evo.

 

It was my understanding that the dealer installs the bluetooth transmitter module itself, but that the wiring harness and buttons are already there (at least on MFSW)... anyone actually have it 'enabled' by their dealer after taking possession? What did it set you back?

 

The buttons are there and the wiring for the buttons are there, nothing else is installed. No bluetooth module and no microphone.

I believe that the kit runs around $900 installed. Your mileage may vary...

Compare that to $350 for the Parrot CK3100 that a stereo shop near me wants and that price includes installation...

 

I thought that the mic was also prewired. There was a spot in the car where I asked the sales guy what it was and he said it was the mic for bluetooth or hands free. I think the $900 installed is for hands free and not bluetooth. Although I will get confirmation in a couple of weeks when my car arrives.

 

No, the mic is not prewired. The location is pre-existing, but they have to actually run a wire with the mic all the way up there.

I know, because I paid a LOT in labor for my full OEM Bluetooth install. It wasn't a small job (but hey, that shouldn't be surprising considering how much the full kit costs!).

 

Why shoot, that also means they have to open some stuff up and leaves a greater chance of future rattles. Now I am thinking I should just get a good headset.

 

Well, you could always put the mic somewhere else...

but no, the BT kits are not for the faint of heart.

You might find the install PDF (for the "big" OEM kit, the one I have) interesting - here:

MotoringFile >> Archive >> Universal Bluetooth Handsfree Install PDF

 

Thanks for the link. It almost looks like a fun weekend project. Looks like not too much of the dash would have to come apart so maybe there is no need to worry about rattles.