I searched the forums for this and didn't see this particular problem.

I have the smartphone prep cradle (-683) for my iphone 3G. (I asked the dealer to order 84 21 2 151 043 but he said it had been superceded by 84 21 2 158 683.) And it's been working fine since I got it a few weeks ago.

Until yesterday. I was driving along (oop, excuse me, motoring ), listening to a playlist. All of a sudden the connection dropped - the Mini couldn't see the phone anymore. The stereo display switched back to USB/Aux instead of iPod. I pulled the phone out, popped out the cradle and reinserted it fully. Put the phone back in and the Mini could see it again. It resumed my playlist, and then before the song finished, it lost again.

Rinse, lather, repeat. The road wasn't bumpy, I've inspected the cradle and all seems well. Should I just take it to the dealer? Kinda reluctant cos it's a long drive for something like this.

Thanks!

 

I mean what else could it be but a cradle connection problem, either with the car or with the iPod. Either way you should get another one.

 

+1

EDIT: Actually do you have your "Y-Cable" still. if so try the iPhone attached to that to see if that drops as well. If it does then it is a programing or hardware issue with the ULF Module.

 

Another car or another iPhone?
j/k...

You're probably right...it just seemed weird that this would crop up out of nowhere after weeks of happy. I was just hoping maybe someone else had the same problem and had figured out the source and/or solution. Like I said, hoping not to have to drive all the way back to the dealership. Oh well... thanks for your input!

 

Hm, interesting info, Schatzy. In the weeks before I got the cradle I used the Y cable with no problems, but maybe something has happened to the module since then somehow. I will try it later today.

 

Ok, it isn't the iPhone. I drove around a lot this afternoon and evening with zero problems using the Y cable.

I did have a thought, however. I wonder if the smartphone prep cradle problem could be related to whether the iPhone's airplane mode is on or off? I'm wondering if the phone's attempts to switch cell towers (or to continue GPS tracking on the maps app I was using) could be causing a problem. So on my last trip home tonight I put the iPhone in the cradle with airplane mode on to see if that solved the cutting out issue. But I only had a few miles to go when I thought of that, so I really need to test it some more.

Or is that just a silly idea that couldn't possibly be it?

 

Well the way the car is wired there should be no difference in the cutting out action if it was the iPhone or the ULF Module. From what you are saying you either have a loose wire/plug for connection of the armrest or cradle. Now that means there are four possible places of connection interruption.
1. iPhone to Cradle
2. Cradle to connector in armrest
3. wiring harness to armrest connector
4. wiring harness to ULF Module

Most likely it is the iPhone to cradle connection as that is the one that gets connected/disconnected a lot. and if that is the case then it would be time for a new cradle.