so who has the skinny on this EXPENSIVE iphone cradle?

$255 bucks, so that it can connect to your vehicles antenna and you can use bluetooth (bluetooth is wireless, thus you don't need wires or a "cradle")

this doesn't seem worth almost $300 after taxes....

thoughts, comments??

 

and with that, how about the "special cable" for $200. is that really necessary?

in my current vehicle we have the same thing, it allows the ability to make music changes via the radio instead of touching your phone. I never use it, just use the bluetooth.

 

You mean the radio screen doesn't control what's playing when the iPod is plugged in? It does on my VW and Mazda, though it forgets on the Mazda between starts.

 

The SPECIAL casble came with my 2014 Clubman.
I do believe that all cars with mini connected came with the cable.
Altho it might be special to someone, it's available through out the internet and BMW dealers for much less.

and, I not understanding your first post maybe, but bluetooth IS wireless with out the cradle.
and once the cable is attached to my iPhone 4S, I can make all controls function thru the on screen controls PLUS the steering wheel controls.
Music, APPS, Google Send to Car....etc.

 

What iPhone cradle? Is there a link that's missing, or is this a new option on the mini Configurator online? Do you mean the center arm rest option with enhanced bluetooth?

 

The arm rest has a place inside for the phone but what I read you have to purchase the additional iphone cradle to go inside it, that cradle is almost $300 bucks. "enhanced bluetooth" not sure what that means.

again what I read was when in this cradle it allows your phone to use the vehicle's antenna to enhance cell signal (?) and I'm guessing when physically attached through the cradle you'll have access to phone features (apps etc) via the connect system on your mini dash board instead of having to use the phone.

hope that clears up the confusion...

 

OK I think I see what you're saying
Enhanced Blue Tooth and USB/iPod Adapter:
Enhance your Bluetooth usability by adding a center armrest that docks with your phone and connects to the MINI's roof antenna for an enhanced signal while charging. You can then control your phone or MP3 from the multi-function steering wheel and controls on the instrument panel. For a full list of compatible phones visit miniusa.com/bluetooth. (Note: an additional snap-in phone adapter is also required. Your MINI Dealer will have all the details.)

I'm guessing the NOTE is the concern part there, that Enhanced Bluetooth option comes bundled in with any of the packages that give the Center armrest and Mini Connect, so its essentially free, but the adapter costs extra? That's interesting, an extra $200+ for a piece of plastic shaped like your phone does seem excessive.

 

exactly, the arm rest came with the wired package, but then I noticed that little disclaimer. Not sure what you actually get with the entire system when the car is delivered.... but when I looked up the adapter I found that price tag and was thinking no way!

 

An a year or so iPhone changes size then you are stuck with it. Not worth it IMO

 

The snap-in cradle is only available through the dealer as far as I know. I asked my MA about it and he recommended that I do not buy it for my iPhone until he can get one and play with it. I have a feeling it might be of value to me for two reasons. (1), when I use Pandora One, I have to keep the phone charging or within a couple of hours I'll have a dead battery. I now plug the phone cable into the USB port for the charge. This iPhone cradle would eliminate the need for a cable. Just insert the phone in the cradle and go. And (2), I am hopeful that I can access Pandora for channel selection without having to fiddle with my phone.

 

That's a good point that I didn't consider. The next iPhone coming this Fall is supposed to be larger. If I pay $300.00 for this and then in the Fall when I upgrade I would need to lay out more money for a different cradle, that would not be good. I'll talk to my MA about this at some point.

 

right now in my current car (wife's car kia sportage), I use a cigarette lighter adapter to charge my phone and use the bluetooth to stream pandora to the radio. (the lighter adapter is much faster at charging my phone than the y cable) I can use the cable adapter we got with the car and that allows me to like/dislike songs and adjust things through the radio itself instead messing with the phone but its extremely slow at charging the phone and I was thinking that little advantage isn't worth the cash.

excellent point on teh phone size changes....makes it even more not worth it.

does the y cable come with the car if you get the connected package or is that an extra buy too?

 

yes, but guys check it out.......
with the standard cable, the "Y" cable which comes with the connected systems, you CAN control the pandora, tunein radio, and APPS, thru the connected or wheel controls.
there is NO need for the cradle as the MA's have stated.....unless you want to HIDE your iPhone from prying eyes!
I NEVER have to reach for nor touch my iPhone after opening MINI Connect or TuneIn Radio, then as I drive off everything is either thru the onboard screen, steering controls, or voice commands.
That arm rest/cradle thing is tied into the connected option in the web site congig. It's due to the wiring being in place for the cradle and as Ive read for over a year now....hardly no one gets them or uses them!
The arm rest cradle is just another add-on which is not needed.
As for enhanced bluetooth, the bluetooth which is standard, is just fine.
I receive excellent cell connections in car with the normal cable and can stream pandora/tunein radio all the while charging the iPhone at the same time.

P.S. @ojedam64
The cable as I was told and what both the wife and I got.....free with the MINI connected pkg!

 

BUBBA, thanks for the info! This is my first mini purchase (i've only driven my friends 2010 justa) so i wasn't sure if there was something different that I wasn't aware of or for that matter what came with the mini.

i got the connected package as well, so sounds like I'll be set up perfectly.

THANKS!

 

The armrest cradle has been available since 2007 R56 came out. It's regarded as "the most expensive phone charger in history" lol. Hardly anybody bought one.

 

Hmmm. I haven't seen any cable. I'm going to check my glove box.

 

Okay, I checked and I do not have a "Y" cable. Bubba, can you verify that my '14 MINI S should have come with this cable? And, how do I go about accessing Pandora through the connected system. Unless I'm just doing something wrong, I cannot find any Pandora info on the car's display when I connect it with my USB cable. I only can play Pandora through my iPhone controls.

 

With my R56 it was in a little clear bag stuffed between all the other books.

 

I'll have to check my folder when I get home.

 

Maybe it will be there...

 

There is a way to control pandora through the connected system but I have no clue how to do it and since I'm still waiting on my mini I can't go look.
When you figure it out post up that way next week I'll be all over it! LOL

 

No cable! I checked in all of my paperwork from the dealer, too. I'm not convinced the F56 comes with the cable with the Connect system. Maybe this is another item MINI eliminated.

 

That's a bummer..I bet I'll keep mine from my R56 when I trade.

 

I ordered the stock radio and was told by the MA that I would get cables to connect the Iphone/pad to the radio.

 

Bob
They may have just left it out, it would be worth a call for sure. You just dropped 30k+ they probably will give ya one.

Tommy