Is there a way to access pandora without connecting your phone to the unit? Dont want to kill my cell data if i dont have to.. Also, any word if mini connected app will include more features in the future?

 

Have no idea if T-Mobile has good coverage in your area, but for $50 a month you can get unlimited cals, texts, and 500 MB of data BUT the top 8 music services including Pandora do not count against your data usage.

 

As far as not connecting your phone... your car has no internet access. You won't be streaming anything to it without giving it a connection, so you'll need to go through your phone in some form, whether connected directly via USB or BlueTooth.

As for MINI Connected App getting updates, I really wouldn't count on it right now. The most recent update reduced the features, and BMW/MINI is on the list to be added to Apple's CarPlay program at some point.

 

If you wanted mobile wifi in your car you should've bought the new Audi A3 :D But anyway I've been streaming music into my car every day for like two years now and it really doesn't eat up too much data. It's my only real big source of data usage on my phone and i've never gone past 2GB of my 3GB limit. And I stream a lot.