Hi all

Have a 2011 with miniconnected and picked up the 4S snap-in adapter a couple weeks ago. Over the past couple days, I've snapped the phone in and in about 5 minutes with the mini app running, the phone overheats. Searched Google and some BMW owners are reporting the same thing. Anyone here?

 

Moving this thread to the NAV and Audio forums will have a better chance of getting more responses.

I have personally not heard of this but some things to try are as follows.

1. without the MINI app running place it in the holder and see if it gets hot just from charging. - If it does it is a possible iPhone issue with charging off the MINI.

2. to verify if it is a charging issue off the MINI plug it into the USB port and try and charge it from there - If it over heats there it is most likely a problem with the phone not shutting off charging.

3. in the event that it does not overheat while charging only in the arm rest then it is an application problem and you can try two things there. remove and install the app again (sometimes this helps) of see if there is an older version you can find and install to see if that has the overheating problem. If it does not overheat then it is definitely that version of the application.

 

This is my suspicion. I see my phone getting pretty warm in there regardless of app, or if it's being used. Remember, the cradle does "quick charging" which causes more heat. Shouldn't be a risk to your phone; newer MacBooks will do the same thing.

 

Does it actually OVERHEAT (like, give you the message that your phone is too hot, and shut off) or does it just get hot? I've noticed mine gets very hot, but it seems to work fine.

 

So I also think the phone overheats in the adapter, but I suspect it is a "HOT CAR" issue and not an adapter issue. In my real life I am an engineer, so I am always testing things.

We have been having some killer days here in DC. So I was playing with it and here is what I did. After my car was sitting ALL DAY in the 100+ sun I got in to drive home (about an hour to the house). I pulled the adapter out left the arm rest open and "cooled" the adapter by holding it to a vent. I made sure it was nice and "not hot"

I did the same thing to the phone.

I put it all back together and left the phone in with the slot closed for about 45 mins. The phone was warm, but not HOT like it has been in the past.

What I suspect is that the adapter like everything in the car gets REAL hot. When you put the phone in there it is the coolest thing in the space so it starts up-taking the heat around it (damn thermodynamics). But with all things being "normal" the heat is very small.

That said the iphone 4s (what i have) can run hot, depending.

 

Bubble and Squeak, I wish this was Reddit, so I could upvote you.

 

I think that's about 90% of it. My phone is hot to the touch after being in the adapter, but it works fine. I also notice it gets pretty warm when charging "normally" in my house. I think I notice it more b/c I had to take my case off to use the adapter, so I can feel the heat more. And as someone said, if it's a quick charger, it may get hotter than a 'normal' charger. Combine with a hot car, and...

One other test might be worthwhile- put your phone in the armrest, but not 'snapped in'. Just laying there, but not charging. See if it still gets really hot.

 

I think you have nailed it for some folks for sure.

I can say this I dont have an iPhone but they react just as any other Android or Smart phone when the temps rise. What happens is that if the battery is to hot and trying to charge it takes the more current to get it to charge properly and thus generates more heat in the phone case and it is just a upward spiral of heat. I know many of the newer phone are having problems with this as the temps rise out side. I have seen many complaints of this on phone forums.

Some people may still have issues where an app is running continuously and thus generating a lot of heat in the processor and then that causes the battery to heat up and cause the upward spiral of heating as well.

 

Did some testing and both the iPhone 4 and 4S overheat in the armrest with the miniconnected app running no matter what the temp outside or in the car. It was 58 this morning and after 15 mins, the alert on the phone indicating overheating displays. I confirmed the fan in the holder is working and it seems the only way to keep it from happening is by leaving the armrest door open.

I'll take it back and get them to exchange it.