Just got my first Mini--a 2009 Clubman S. I have an iPhone 4S that I'd like to use with Mini Connected, and I'm looking for a y-cable. I've seen several Chinese ones on eBay for much cheaper than the OEM cable (around $10-20). Some specifically state that they do allow you to switch tracks on the phone using the headset.

Anyone have experience using non-OEM cables? The price difference is so big I'm thinking about just taking a chance.

 

I got this one from Amazon:
I got that so I could use newer iPods which only do USB power (and not FireWire power). It works at least as well as the OEM cable.

 

Ah thanks. I didn't find come across this searching on amazon earlier.

 

I have that same one from Amazon and it works quite well.
http://api.viglink.com/api/click?for...13797017998538

 

I received mine the other day and it works great with my daughter's iPod Nano and my wife's iPhone. Unfortunately my iPhone (which is the one I want to use) has some weird audio bugs and it doesn't work--doesn't show up as an iPod, and if I try to play music through AUX, it auto-pauses after a second. MINI Connected also reports problems connecting.

It also happens to be running iOS 7, but I don't think that's the problem. Will test again when my wife's new iPhone 5c gets here in a few days, though I've heard other people have problems getting audio out of the lightning-to-30-pin adapter.

 

It's a bummer these cars don't just play audio through bluetooth. Seems like such a weird choice to force you to use a cable, when the phone is already connected over bluetooth.

 

I would try disconnecting the cables , closing the music app manually on th e phone then reconnect the cables and try again. If that doesn't fix it try a hard restart on the phone and try again.
I have had the same problems you mention with this cable and even with the factory cable. I have the regular boost radio in a 2012 MCS running iPhone 5 with ios 6. I just upgraded to ios 7 but my car is being serviced so I don't know how well that will work yet.

 

There are some MINIs which play over BlueTooth. I had a loaner which had MINI connected (and Nav I think) which did. Annoying that the standard BT doesn't.

 

And THAT is why I won't upgrade to a 5 yet... the 4s seems to be the last "Version" that all the Mini cables play well with... as noted.. even with adapters they don't work right. iOS7 works fine on the 4S. But yea, my wife's 5 won't play right in the car when using a factory lightning adapter.

Aux does work ok for her phone with just a headphone style adapter cable.. but I have to charge the her phone then with a cig. adapter... again the 30 pin > lightning adapter seems to confuse the radio..

 

I just tried my Amazon cheapo y cable again (iPhone 5 with ioS 7) in this loaner countryman and it is problematic. It worked good initially but then it didn't recognize the iphone so the ipod icon went away on the HK Stereo and it goes into that mode where it just show you the aux and the USB icon and you lose steering wheel control to change songs with the right and left arrow. I say it's not worth the aggravation. Just spend the extra money for the factory cable.

 

If you want an genuine OEM one I have I can sell you. I have it list on ebay for $25 including shipping. Never used it. Can't guarantee that this will solve your problem. eBay item number: 130993311377

Also, you might want to clean the jack on the phone with a q-tip and alcohol, sometimes it gets dirty and linty. That's what I do when my earbuds start acting up.

 

I have an iPhone 5 which works fine with this cable and also a short 30 pin to Lightning adapter cable. Maybe you still need it ? I'm curious as to what you are doing instead? Some kind of Bluetooth adapter perhaps?

 

I just loaded all my songs on a USB drive and plugged that in, works awesome. You can barely see the drive.

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

How many gigs? My MINI doesn't seem to do well with anything over 4 gigs. I'd love to find something tiny like yours but with maybe 35 gigs that will work.

I've used an ebay after-market y-cable that worked fantastic, then just recently quit on me (about 4 months being continuously plugged in). The aux and charging portions still work, but it doesn't see the iPod any longer, so I lose steering wheel controls for moving about.

 

I got the lightning to 30-pin adapter and tested it out with the cable from Amazon and my wife's iPhone 5c. It works great, so it is just a hardware issue with my 4s, which has had other audio problems. Now I just have to wait until January to upgrade to a 5s.

One thing I noticed that other people have mentioned here and in the Amazon reviews--when I first tried it out, the audio crackled noticeably as I increased the volume. I noticed the "LEV" button on the far right in iPod mode and pressed it. I found that the volume was cranked all the way up. I turned it all the way down and the crackling disappeared. Now I can turn the system volume way up and get clear audio.

 

Sorry for the delay in replying but it is a 16 GB branded by HP that I picked up at Walmart for $20 or so. They do make 32 GB and 64 GB versions.

Some people do have issues with larger sizes (I don't - mine loads instantly) and there is a TSB about it maybe that will help: http://www.mediafire.com/view/1471nb.../SIM650109.pdf

 

Nice idea. It looks like that's what I'll do until I get a new phone. The only problem I've run into is when I play an album from the USB drive, it plays the tracks in alphabetical order. It doesn't seem to read the track order from the files.

 

Hmm that's weird.

 

Ok i am somewhat confused. Have 2009 Clubman with bluetooth, steering wheel radio controls, and the audio & USB plug under the window buttons infron of the stick shift. My Iphone 3G worked great. Then my Iphone 4 would not charge, still played & displayed music properly but would not charge. So i go a USB split cable, plug the end of the Y cable from mini into the usb splitter then one end from splitter into the mini usb and the other into the cigarette plug usb adapter. Figured it was a power output problem that it would not charge. that worked till i upgraded to the Iphone 5 S. now with that same config or taking the USB splitter cable out of the equation i get no music from my phone. Not on AUX not on USB, nothing. Cant even use my WAZE navigation app that used to override my phone music playing to give me directions. Help!!! Is there a new y cable? I do not have mini connect whatever that is.

 

As stated, the cars that are equipped wit MINI Connected (with or without nav) will play music over bluetooth. Personally, I don't mind connecting my iPhone to a cable. It keeps it charged while I use it. It's pretty much a routine for me. Get in, start the car, plug in the phone, and off I go.

 

Ok, make sure you have the factory "Y" cable, and the "OEM/Apple" 30 pin to lighting connector (the cheap copies dont' work right..)

 

Sounds like you need a different Y cable like the one I mentioned above.