I've noticed the Iphone/Ipod y-cable is incredibly short and the pillars around the console are rather sparse. Has anyone gotten creative in regards to mounting an Iphone so it's still useable? For Navi and basics use while driving..

I have a ProClip with a Dice unit and I love it. Trying to find a similar setup for a friend so they can't use their Iphone as well as I do.

 

installed a floor based Arkon Mount. Bought it on ebay. It bolts to the front left seat bolt. You have to unbolt the front left seat from the car floor. I then had to drill open the bracket that came with the Arkon mount because the Mini seat bolt with star drive was a greater diameter bolt. It fit a 5/16 drill bit perfectly. Once i did this i bolted the bracket and subsequently placed the mount. I will try to take some pics over the weekend. I also use the DockXtender which allows full function of the y-adaptor. There are two lengths available 2 or 3 feet? and 6 foot. I got the 6 foot and it was way more than enough.
I will try to post pic and links this weekend if anyone is interested. It look and functions very well.

 

My iPhone is currently living in a Belkin charger/sound unit that plugs into the lighter and has a bendable arm. It's an OK solution. I don't bother with the MINI's USB jack, since the Belkin charges. I plug the sound out from it into the MINI's AUX jack and play music that way. I may switch to using Bluetooth streaming for music so I can control tracks with the steering wheel buttons.

Bluetooth for the phone means that tracks fade and pause for calls, which is cool.

I'd prefer to mount it higher and plug it into the USB jack, but that Y cable is way, way too short to provide any meaningful functionality. I'm sure there are longer cables available that would do the same thing, and it would be nice to have album art up, so if anybody works out a better solution and finds a longer Y cable, please post your setup.

I like my phone for navigation and didn't get Nav in my Connected, so a higher mount would be money. I'll have to look into the one Matt is talking about as well as the extender he's describing.

 

Hmmm, I bet this would be a good cable for putting the iPhone where you want it but still reaching the USB/AUX jacks.

Here's a pic if you don't want to follow the link:

 

Have you ordered one? Does it work?

 

I would love to find a solution as well. I've ordered 2 iPod/iPhone docking extenders, but they haven't worked (shows playlist, songs on the Connected screen, but can't hear sound). I ordered a little higher cost (maybe paying more = actually working???) docking extender that should arrive today. Fingers are crossed. Will let you know if it works.

Tippykayak - if you order & it works, please let us know!

 

I will definitely post anything I do that works well, including using a long cord like that if I get one. Right now, I won't be using that solution. I need to find a mount that I like first. But if I end up getting an extension, I'll let you guys know what works or doesn't work about it.

 

The extender you're using may not include the pins for the line out sound. That would be my guess. For whatever reason, Connected doesn't use the iPod integration that lets sound go through the USB alone, so when you extend the Y cable with a dock connector extension, it has to be carrying the line out sound in order for that sound to get all the way to the jack.

Try setting the Connected to play sound from the AUX jack (not full iPod integration). See if it works without the extender cable. Then add the extender cable back in. If that kills the sound, I would bet that means that you're extender is missing the line out capability.

If you're ordering new ones, call the company and ask if they carry line out sound. If they can't absolutely confirm that, don't order it.

The cable I posted should solve that, since it's intended to carry line out sound, but I can't attest to it personally. I can attest to having and loving Radtech products and their quality, but I haven't used the cable.

 

Oops, double post.

 

I'm working on an iPhone mount that can allow you to keep the cover on, something the dreaded Armrest Cradle won't allow. I have it planned out, the parts will be in later next week. In the meantime I'm happily motoring in my CM-S
Also, I had a feeling the cable extension was going to be problematic, most likely BMW/MINI messed with the pin config to create a proprietary situation

 

My only hope is in the fact that I believe the USB logo can't be used unless the jack fits a certain set of standards, and the 1/4" jack (the sound one) is a straight-up low tech analog jack.

The fact that the USB functions work with the extension encourages me. That's where a proprietary shakedown might have happened. If the USB functions work but sound isn't coming out, as the other poster said, it seems likely that it's a line out function.

But there's no knowing until somebody plugs it in!

 

I got the Cravenspeed [Smartphone Mounting Kit] that installs behind the tachometer. I like it because it keeps my phone at eye level and allows my to rotate the phone for GPS. I also use [this] dock connector extension cable to make sure I can leave it plugged into Connected.

 

And you play music just fine through the aid jack with that?

 

Man, I hope he says yes. I would love to be able to use a real mount with my iPhone. It's crazy the cable is so short.

 

The Dock Xtender will extend the port on the Y adapter. Everything works fine on my 6 ft Doc Xtender (music, video, CONNECTED). It was a little pricey (i think like $30 + ) . MY Arkon Mount is on passenger seat not "left seat" as i discussed. I think i could have easile gotten by on the 2 ft extender cable.


Here is the mount: http://www.amazon.com/Arkon-Universa...6106931&sr=8-1

Here is the Dock Xtender 2 ft: http://www.amazon.com/CableJive-dock...sr=1-1-catcorr

I have attached pics. let me know if you need help. I believe i had to use the accessory (included) bracket attachment to fit the mini seat attachment bolt and had to drill out the appropriate hole to 5/16 inch.

 

yep

 

Awesome. And I'm glad everybody realized I meant AUX. Stupid iPhone.

 

You can extend the audio cable with a (A/V Cable 3.5mm-4 contact) & additional usb extension. the A/V cable was 9.99 gotten at any good electronics store. Extends the Y cable until the correct cradle (if wanted) is out this summer. Also have most of the area around shifter apart and looking to relocate the stock usb/audio inputs.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-solution.html
I should have posted this here but this is my iPhone cradle solution.

 

Well...had a long awaited day off....since part of the rail system was loose and apart as I'm refinishing some of the plastic pieces, I started to look more at the armrest and what it would take to move it back a few inches to give more room for rail items between the e-brake and the armrest where it is now.
A few hours later...the armrest that houses the the correct cradle is out and the rail is back in. I'll post a few pics later. I actually don't miss the armrest as I drove most of yesterday...except for the little storage it had. I could widen and lengthen the slot in the rail where the harness from the cradle runs trought the bottom of the rest through the rail. As hoped they all connected under the plastic cover that houses the plugin for powering up accessories. I'll see what it might take to remove the base from the armrest that someday might house the I phone cradle 4. Would like to possibly mount the armrest on a base that fits for the rail...be able to move/slide it as needed. There will be more room in the arm once the cradle base is removed
for misc. Items. If the correct cradle were here doubt I would be storing pens, keys, change etc. ... on top of my unprotected I phone! Perhaps another mount cradle base elsewhere. The hardness is much different than the USB/RCA plug in's in the front of the rail, as I havecthat apart and there is plenty of loose wire to move those plug in's which I have over to the right cup holder base. Hope to post some pics later as Countryman really looks pretty good with out that "needed expensive" unavailable cradle armrest
__________________
2011 All4 Countryman Cosmic Blue with White Roof..Cold, Premium, Sport & Convenience Packages. Mini Convenience with Navigation. Coffee Lounge Leather.Deposit on Slot 8/5/10, ordered 11/30/10 Production completed 1/10/11, Boarded the Faust & departed Bremerhaven on the 21st, Zeebrugge on the 23rd, Southampton on the 24th, Halifax on 31st, landed NY/NJ Feb. 2nd & Dealership 7th, Great Cruz-in with Nav as of the 18th!
Last edited by Flyer53 : Today at 07:03 AM. Reason: Spelling

 

I was test driving a Juke last week (as a second car for my wife) and to my surprise the lack of arm rest really bothered me (they don't offer one). I don't think I would have ordered it on the CM if I didn't have to, but now I think I would really miss it if it was gone.

 

Same here with ordering it. It's been a few days and I seem to be ok with it.
I do find my self looking to rest the arm, especially on the highway and not as much shifting. I probably will come up with something moveable/detachable. Still working on removing the base for the cradle from the inside w/o destroying snap/plug.