Hi guys
I've been having some difficulties with my new '11 ClubbyS and my iPhone. I have an iPhone 3GS running 4.1 that when I connect using the Y-splitter cable (no armrest) it sometimes doesn't recognize the iPhone/iPod. This happened when I first picked up the car and their solution was turn off the phone and the car, turn both back on, and connect. Usually this has helped, but sometimes it doesn't and this time I can't seem to get anything to make it work, even time. I've restarted the phone/car easily a dozen times or more because it started this past Tuesday and has been buggy since.

Anyone have this problem and have any solutions/suggestions?

 

I have noticed that sometimes(and only sometimes?!?) it takes an extraordinarily long time for the my ipod touch 4G to be seen by the mini stereo with the same setup. It is annoying...


Cheers!

 

This happened to my 2010 a few months after I purchased it. It was really hard to reproduce the problem because it was intermittent, but it seemed to degrade over time so on the third time I took it back to the dealership they were finally able to diagnose it. They replaced my Bluetooth module (the Bluetooth and iPod software share the same system apparently) and all's been well since.

Note: If you have a custom ECU tune you might lose it. When they replaced the Bluetooth module they also updated the ECU and the remap wouldn't work anymore. I had to ask Jan @ RMW to send me a new map after I sent him the updated ECU and again, all's well.

 

Have you by any chance gotten a software update from Apple recently? Those updates have been known to hose up connectivity with car systems. One thing to try is to do a cold reboot of your iPhone while it's connected to your car and your car is on (where it would normally recognize the phone). This has been reported to correct some connectivity issues.

Hope this helps...

 

I'm running 4.2.1 software on my Iphone 3GS and have had zero connection problems since I bought my 2011 MCS in November. Maybe try updating software on IPhone ????

 

Well I briefly got it working last night, cheered, then the IPOD icon went away again and went back to Aux mode. I updated to 4.2 to see if it would help, no dice.

I guess I may have to take it over to the dealer. Too bad I have zero time until Wednesday. This is starting to become a pain in the ****...

 

I did the restart Ed suggested, it somewhat worked. I got full connectivity for a brief minute. However, it died, and now the IPOD icon shows up but when I choose it, it either goes right back to radio or just says "Loading.." for a minute and then goes back to the radio.

Service Dept here I come I guess. This is pretty annoying seeming it worked just fine for so long and now it's busted. I hope the SA doesn't just blow it off as the phone...

 

Thats easy to check. Just borrow someones Iphone or Ipod and try to connect that one up. Also, any chance the Y-connector is bad ???

 

Hmm. So, after fidgiting a bunch more, I got it to work, then it lost connection, still had the IPOD icon, so I yelled at it a bit and then connected it again, and it seemed to work for awhile.

I'm gonna drive it to work tomorrow and see what happens. It's got two more chances (there and back) to work, if not, I'm calling up MINI.

My guesses? Either the cable is bad or my radio is. I doubt it's the cable, but we'll see..

 

I thought I'd give an update since it might affect a lot of people:

(And for background, I have a 2011 ClubbyS with bluetooth and the split Y-adapter for iPod/iPhone integration. No arm-rest or glovebox assembly, they ended that for 2011s and on, something to do with VisBoost)

I went to my dealer today and fiddled with everything for a bit with a technician. After telling them that it definitely used to work and somethings up since it has pretty much up and quit working completely since mid last week, they decided to try to switch out the Y-cable. Sure enough, that did the trick. It also seems like my Aux jack is a bit loose. So, I'll be in on Friday for a 30-45min quick fix of replacing the jack. Have full iPod capabilities back, no fiddling or restarting every time or whatever (although I find it funny it was just this dumb cable the entire time, yet I thought it was some magic trick of restarting and opening doors and crap haha). All of this was warranty, obviously.
However, MINIs do take some time occasionally to see the iPod/iPhone, usually after an upgrade, but as of today, MINI supports OS 3._ and all 4._. If it gets stuck, power-cycling the phone does the trick.

So, for the others out there having trouble, double check your cable. Also, at least in 2011s, there's a mesh pocket thinigie on the passenger side floor-well wall closest to the radio, apparently you stick your iPhone/iPod there, not the cupholders Cupholder trick breaks/shorts the connector in 3-4months apparently!