My wife's new Mini has the worst microphone used for bluetooth hands-free phone that I have ever heard.It sounds as though she is in a wind tunnel with a cheap microphone when she calls me from the Mini.Tried increasing the volume and it just sounded worse.Are the all like this???

 

That's disappointing. I heard the MINI had a very good mic but I can't remember who told me that.

 

My mic is really good. Sorry you are having a bad experience.

 

So sorry. My 2010 MCS had appalling sound that got way worst with every software update. In 2011 they updated the mike to a 3 wire system that greatly improvement the sound. My car allas had the same "tin can" sound the day I sold it a few days before I picked up my F56.
Generally the sound is better but I have had a couple of complaints - "sounds you like you a in a tin box" etc... generally though people say the sound is pretty clear.
One thing that can improve the sound is the gain on the mike. I believe it is in the settings menu somewhere. Try it up a and down and leave voice mails on your home phone so you can hear if there is a difference. If the gain is too high it is just amplifying background noise.
Either way if this does not help you can get your dealer to fix it as it does work quite well unlike the 2007 version that was featured in the 2010 model!
Keep us posted.

 

How about a quick test. Have your wife turn off the air conditioning when she calls you again, could be it is picking up that noise. Just a thought.
chuck

 

I work for a MINI dealership, I've never noticed a problem with the Bluetooth microphone. Hope everything works better soon enough, I'd say take it to your dealership and see what they say. I don't know if they can do anything though.

Just a thought!

 

I agree- the two times that I tried to use bluetooth, I had to turn it off because the caller couldn't understand me. Both times I was driving on the freeway, so I thought it was just due to road / wind noise and a poor quality mic. One said it sounded like I was at the end of a tunnel. I'll make sure the AC is not blowing toward the mic next time, but I doubt that's the solution for me.

 

The latest Mini phone compatability web site does suggest that some phones will have poor sound. For example, one Samsung gets this:

OK, you have to re-translate from German to English in your mind to understand what they are saying, but it does clearly show different results with different phone models. Curiously they are not the same for all phones from one manufacturer as one might expect.

 

Yeah, that's not what one would expect! Anyway, I'm using an iPhone 4s. How about the rest of you?

 

It's a crapshoot with most cars' BT phone systems. My 2007 was pretty awful. I don't even turn it on in my 2014 Coupe. I'm guessing the mike is on the steering column because I don't have the overhead toggle switch piece like the hatchback. That's where the mike was in the 2007. Some people moved it from the passenger side to the driver's side to improve it.

 

I don't buy the phone argument. I've used 2 different phones. Galaxy S4 and HTC M8 ...bother worked fine.
The only variable is the Bluetooth transmission between phone.. The MINI is designed to integrate with the iPhone so they should not be a problem.
On my R56 no phones worked because of the crappy mic and noise reduction system. I moved the mic and that did help but the early system was flawed.
We know this one works. So I would not blame the phone. Get it checked by the dealership or play with the gain.

 

Where is the microphone located?

We have a 2006 (no BT) and are considering a F56 but will test pairing and using BT to make calls before going through with it.

After hearing the BT quality on some cars, this is now standard "test drive" procedure.

The BT in my Audi A4 is very clear, but the mic is up near the sunroof switches.

Thanks!
Scott

 

mine works great, could just be a bad mic....I'd see if the dealer is willing to change it out. (iphone 4s)

 

I believe the mic is in that little plastic disk with a slit that is on the headliner, straight over the steering wheel. There's one on the pass side for RHD cars. My MA pointed it out, and it makes perfect sense.

 

The bluetooth works great in my MINI. I have a very basic LG flip phone.

Dave

 

I have a Iphone 4s (as does my wife) that I pair with my other vehicles no problem with any of the other vehicles.I have adjusted the volume in the menu setting and that did not help.It sounds like you are in a wind tunnel(or calling from a motorcycle) to the listener and is very tacky for a close to $40,000 Mini Cooper.The bluetooth works fine but the Microphone sucks.

 

As others have stated I have had no issues with mine and I would recommend seeing if you MA will replace this on your brand new beautiful car.

 

Update- problem solved! Whilst in traffic this morning, I reached up and popped the plastic mic cover off the headliner (pull the right side out), to find that the mic itself was flopping around loose up inside the headliner. So I pulled it out, and clipped it where it should be- attached to that cover and pointed right at me. All good now!

 

MoFlash,


I can give you some info regarding your Bluetooth problem. I have a iphone4s. Bluetooth worked fine in my 2009 Mini for over 4 years. Then I started having the problem you describe. I could hear clearly, people could not hear me. My voice sounded distorted, like in a tunnel, and they tell me my voice cuts in and out so if speaking a sentence, only partial of what I said might be heard. I was at the Mini Dealer and they did try to find a problem but they could not. Here's why:


We tried everything, deleting and repairing. Still the same problem on the Mini. Yet my iphone worked fine with my BMW on Bluetooth.
Then we tried pairing a different phone, a Samsung on the Mini. Bluetooth worked fine on the Mini. (I should also say my wife's iphone4s had the same problem with my Mini.)
So, when I paired a non-apple phone Bluetooth worked fine in the Mini. I have basically given up. The mic worked with my iphones for a long time and then the problem started. If I use a non-apple phone, pair it, Bluetooth works fine.


I can only suspect that at some point an apple ios update has messed something up with the ability for the Mini mic to work well with my 4s and my wifes 4s. I have done further iphone updates, hoping each time it would resolve but it hasn't.


At this point, I am waiting for iphone6. Before I buy one, I will get someone to come to my car and we sync the iphone6 with my Mini. At that point we will see if this resolves the tin can sound, the tunnel sound, the breaking up of sentences, etc. If not, my only solution is to pair a non apple phone. Or get a new mini and hope...and I am not going to do that.


One last thing, with the iphone paired, if I am talking to someone close by, reception is perfect. For example if I call my wife from the driveway, call either her cell or the landline, she can hear perfectly. But once I am about 3 or 4 blocks away, the poor sound begins to occur. I can always hear clearly. Its the others who can not hear or understand me.
So pair a non-apple with your Mini and see if it works fine. If so, you are stuck with the same issue I am dealing with.


IF ANY MINI MECHANIC HAS ANY SUGGESTIONS, PLEASE PM ME! Thank you.

 

I was wondering if anyone has removed the upper switch assembly? I've read all the threads regarding BT mics. In my case I've removed the cover plate and the mic. There isn't enough room to fish the mic cable to the driver side. My car is out of warranty so the mini dealer suggest I go to an after market shop to get help. Any suggestions?

 

Jazzcat,

You can read my message directly prior to yours. My mic is on the driver's side. I had the dealer move the mic when I took delivery. All was fine for about 4 years and then my problem started as described above.
I finally gave up and searched online for an alternative solution. Bought an HB01 Bluetooth for like $25 or $30. Plugged it in and it works great. Sound comes out of my speakers and everyone hears me clearly. The hassle is I must press the "Aux" button first when making or answering a call.
I have an iphone 4s. But had the same problem with other newer Iphone's. Yet if I sync another brand besides iphone my mic works fine. So my options were either ditch iphone and use mini bluetooth or go with aftermarket. I went with the HB01 bluetooth device.

I still dont know for sure what changed after 4 years to cause the mic to start having the problem. The dealer tried to resolve but never could. I think the problem first appeared after I had to have a re-program of my drivers window. But I am not positive of that. Good luck!

When my problem started

 

Like yours I hear others fine. I've tried three different phones so the issue is mic location or the mic itself. Before buying a new mic I will try moving it to the drivers side. I just received a email about changing bulbs which helps me take the upper assembly off. Plastic is not forgiving so I didn't want to force it. Thanks for the info.
Kevin

 

I have an iPhone 6 and the sound is decent enough that people can understand me. Of course, must have windows up and roof closed.

 

I've had comments about how good the BT sounds in my car, both transmitting and receiving. iPhone 6 running IOS 9.3.2 beta.