I got another iphone 4 and found some interesting nuances...

First, it does charge when hooked up to the USB port. Granted, it's more of a trickle charge but I spent 6 1/2 hours today getting a tattoo. By the end of my tattooing session, my phone was at 5%.

On the drive home, it managed to charge to 8-9% over a half over drive. (over a long drive, this would probably still at least maintain any drainage from nav software)

When you hook up the phone, there is no "auxillary" choice to choose from. (only if you hook it up to the cigarette lighter USB)

However, if you're using Sirius mobile on your iphone, you can still play it over the radio/speakers eve n if there is no "auxillary" icon. You simply select ipod and it still plays the ipod or Sirius mobile.

Anyway, I'm glad it works better than the 3Gs setup.

Mark

 

How can it work better? Mine just works. It charges, it plays... No issues at all.

It works with the AUX in,
It works in the armrest,
It works when I'm outside the car.
It works either near or far....

Sorry got carried away with Dr Seuss....

 

i have to admit it was a nice surprise that I can now play pandora through the cable, charge the phone, and have bluetooth on at the same time. Nice change from my 3GS.

 

But in order to play Pandora you have to unplug the USB portion of the BMW wire correct therefore losing the charging capabilities? (just checking)

 

I thought you had to do the same thing as Torobud - you have to unplug the USB portion in order to make it work...? If there's a trick to fix this them please let me know!

 

What you get??

 

Nope. I just play pandora, then plug it in as normal. I don't have the ability to move between tracks or like/dislike anything, but it works.

 

I did a coverup on a tribal band around my ankle and another tattoo above it.



You can see my freakin' ankle (foot and leg is swollen like crazy... I actually have cankles)



Mark

 

If I do that it automatically switches to the iPod and starts playing whatever the last song I listened to...

 

It does the same for me as well... I can do it by unplugging the USB part of the wire but then it doesn't charge and I forget to pulg it back in when I want to switch to the iPod...

 

You know, I'm thinking that when I had it working I had no music on my iPhone. I'll have to test it again, as I haven't tried in a few weeks.

 

I can't find an extension cable that will charge my iPhone 4. I have 3 different extension cables and all will work fine when connected to a wall adaptor (in the house) but when I hook them to my MINI's iPhone adaptor they won't charge and give the Accessory not designed...screen. When I remove the extension cable and hook the iPhone direct to the MINI adaptor it does charge. Strange that all the extension cables work fine in my house but not in my car.

Does anyone use an extension cable that works?

 

I'm getting ready to run out the door but when I come back, I'll try to find the link to the one I bought.

I think someone on the forum gave me the link. If you want to search my posts in Nav and Audio (which shouldn't be that many) I'll bet it's in there.

I bought it and it does work.

If you don't find it, I'll look when I get back.


Mark

EDIT: I took a quick look. I found the post with my pics but can't find the link. I'll look again when I get back.

Link

 

It's not strange at all. I'm assuming that you plug the extension cables into an Iphone charger in the house. The Ipod connection in the car is different. AFAIK, there is 1 pin that is different between an Ipod charger and an Iphone charger.

There is also the matter of how much current the car's usb port can provide.


As stated earlier, I bought the Scosche adapter, and the usb in the car will charge the Iphone. It also charges with no issues in the armrest. (smart phone prep)

 

I too was pleasantly surprised to find my '08 iPod interface charging again on my iPhone 4. Call it progress.

 

Found it.... try this company.

 

That is the issue I believe. I've driven other cars and plugged the wire from my charger into the factory USB port and not had it charge. The ports in cars are really designed for iPods, flash drives and music players which require less current to charge than the iPhones do. From looking at the option list my understanding was that the smart phone prep boosted the current in the USB port and gave you the ability to mount it in the armrest.

Some of the aftermarket 12v adaptors will provide enough to charge a phone if you want to give up a 12v spot for them.