Well,

J.D. Power called me personally about the Bluetooth issue. I hate to slam Mini about the issues but facts are facts.

Bluetooth does not work. At least my phone and most phones from Metro PCS will not sync to Bluetooth in Mini Coopers.

Now I don't claim to be the most up on computer technology. But my phone would sync up for hands free on my Toyota Corolla with no issue. Why not on the Mini?

I know this may sound completely stupid, but, you would think Bluetooth would work similarly to Wifi. Ever try to connect to Wifi at say a Hospital, Coffee Shop, etc. No matter the router it works.

My point is that I now completely understand why so many appear to be texting while driving! To answer my phone I have to press buttons. To make a call I have to press buttons. And so do others. I am sure many find their buttons on the steering while useless.

It is just my opinion, but as we move in the age of technology all phones should sync with all cars for safety reasons. Sure, they have made cars safer since 1967. My first a Dodge Polara.

What if seat belts only worked for skinny people. And say 30% could not wear them in the car. Acceptable?

I wonder as I see people punching iPhones while driving and swerving how many accidents are really caused by these devices? Can it be proved? Sort of like watching CSI on TV and again opinion, some get caught but most police don't use high tech equipment. I am sure many accidents are caused by texting but just try to prove that fact. Much harder than DUI? Why am I concerned? My daughter is eight I just hope these issues are better when she starts driving.

For me, I bought a Motorola Roadster 2. I don't even have to turn it on. When phone is near car and I get in it syncs, tells me it has synced, tells me by voice the battery level. I wish I could take it apart and put it in the steering wheel.

I don't text. And truth be told the only calls I get are from the wife as I work very late hours. And very long commute. I don't need a phone for work except the one on my desk in the office.

J.D. Power seemed very interested in the whole issue. I just wonder how many cars out there would sync my phone? Or are they all like Mini, some work but many do not. We talked about the process and the conversation was long as I bought two new Mini's. My wife has the same issue and a different phone from mine. Hers looks more like a Blackberry. Her will not work on her Countryman. Mine car is the S Coupe.

So I guess J.D. Power got a two for one with this call.

Some would say why don't you just go buy an iPhone? Yes, I should as I do have Mini Connected on the car with Nav. But if the only call I get in the evening is from the wife why spend another $100 a month? My plan is two phones for $70 a month. And I could get by cheaper with a prepaid phone.

On the funny side this whole situation provides me an incredible excuse to avoid calls from the wife. I could not have planned a better strategy.

Just my two cents. I love the cars, I don't regret buying them. I am glad I found a work around with the Motorola and will add one to the wife's car. Please feel to post alternatives for others reading.

Both our cars are the 2013 model.

 

I have sort of the opposite problem with my iPhone. If I start the Mini to warm it up and come back in the house, every time someone calls me or I try to call out, the car picks up the phone and I'm listening to dead air. Half the time, by the time I realize what's happening and hit the appropriate button on the phone the call has gone to voicemail or they've hung up. My phonebook has never worked right. I can bring it up manually with the radio controls, but if I use the steering wheel button the only way it'll dial a number is if I speak the actual number. Usually I just push the Siri button and the car will select a number from my phone book that way. Using the cradle in the armrest doesn't make any difference other than keeping the phone charged, but then I can't use Siri. I've more or less just learned to live with it.
It is kind of strange that yours won't sinc with your phone.

 

Maybe I am wrong but Motorola's always been somewhat behind the learning curve of most other brands, like Samsung, HTC. And last I knew Toyota is an American brand, while MINI is one of the last hold outs still manufactured abroad and then imported to the USA, so maybe something is "lost in translation."

But, since Motorola was made in USA, and I spent the better part of 25yrs patronzing that brand in my former career, I always had Motorola phones until I started looking for a smart phone about 4yrs ago. From the stand point of user friendliness,"what they could do" and how well they did it, a Motorola paled in comparison. Maybe another brand of phone, better circuitry will help in your case? As with most things, you get what you pay for. Cheap phone, less features and creature comforts. As far as their MILspec phones go though, Motorola probably has the best ones available.

I also have the same issue as vetsvette does above....BT in car grabs the call while in the hose...lol.

 

Bluetooth problem?

Mine works fine.

Except for the dead "voice" button on the wheel.

I do wish it had streaming music, but. Im sure 2014 does.

(Edit, I used to have a older Motorola phone, it worked well, but its menu structure was garbage.)

 

I can see that problem happening. To bad the Mini can't answer the phone with the British Mini Voice for you. That would be so cool!

I have played with two hands free units. One is called Jabra Drive, the other is the Motorola Road Warrior 2. My phone is a HUAWEI M570. You can text and do all sorts of things with this phone. Not a cheap flip phone but for me a cheap flip phone would be fine.

The units clip to the visor and work fine. Hearing and taking a call is fine and hands free. I don't really need the complicated units that attempt to download your address book. Nice to be able to dial by number that is memorized. But that is all I do. Don't need to hear text messages or send them but the Road Warrior will do that and even find your car if you forgot where you parked it.

I like the Road Warrior 2 better so far. I don't have to turn it on. When I get in the car it lights up and says it is connected to my phone and with a voice tells me my battery level. So I will know when I need to charge it. It says "Battery Level Is High".

Seems to me to be the work around to solve the problem. Maybe my next phone with hook up to the Mini. Who knows?

And then there are those who would say if you are using the Mini Blue tooth that clarity is not very good. Hearing the caller or the caller hearing you.

I don't make many calls from the car. Just the wife checking to see when I will be home to have dinner ready. If I was in sales or something that demanded me to be on the phone all the time things would be so different. I would have an iPhone in that case.

That was the reason for the Motorola Road Warrior. Great for rental cars, great for salesman. Loud speaker to hear, unit finds your car in a parking lot. Long battery life.

In the end I am very pleased with my Mini and I stressed that point to J.D. Power. The blue tooth and phones is the only issue. And it is not that big of deal as there are simple work arounds like these visor mount devices.

My only concern is that many would not find these devices and just go back to punching buttons and make driving unsafe for the rest of us.

 

Sorry but I think it's operator error. I've never seen any issues pairing a phone.

 

It could very well be, but make that three operators.

Salesman
Wife
and myself.

I also called and spoke to MiniUSA. No luck there and there are pages of phones that have been tested to work. But we walked through the process over the phone of syncing. I used my wife's phone to attempt to set up mine with some help.

But getting a second opinion is always good and I might learn something!

The bigger issue to me is that say 20% of the phones out there don't work with Mini. And I am sure it is not just Mini but other cars to. So that means 20% of the phone have to manually use their phone which is the same as texting.

And I am just guessing at 20%. Of all the cell phones I really don't know what percentage works with Mini and which ones do not.

 

Hi Bill,

I'm sure you already tried all this numerous times, but when you tried to sync your MINI to your device, does MINI not appear on your phone? It should say something along the lines of MINIXXXX (the X's would be numbers)?

After choosing MINIXXXX on your phone, the display in your car will require a passcode. After inputting the passcode, it should sync right up.

Also, by any chance did the salesman try to pair his own personal phone to your car? The reason I ask is if his phone doesn't pair with your car, there could be an issue with the bluetooth. Since your car is a 2013, they should fix and/or replace it under warranty.

Let me know your thoughts. I would love to help out a fellow NAM Member

 

Thanks for the reply. You made a good point about the dealer. Why not have them try to pair it again when I take it in for service next time. After all it is under warranty. Another set of eyes in the service department might give me more answers.

When I attempt to pair it I do see the phone Mini(something) and enter the code. It says it pairs. Just like going through the motions. But then if I have my wife call me nothing. Or better, try making a call from the call. Nothing.

I am very happy to report that I returned the Motorola Road Warrior as it did not work well and went with this unit.

http://www.iogear.com/product/GBHFK231/

It actually will charge via solar power. Very nice clip, they give you two, one for charging solar and one for visor. Nice unit, I think I paid $29.99 for it. B&H Photo carries it.

No fancy bells or whistles. One button to press to answer, press twice to redial last number that is all. And you will not miss an incoming call! Not on this unit.

Unit is top quality. Slides in and out of holder very nice.

My phone does not have the ability to do voice dialing. Not supported which is why the Motorola did not work. Simple solution would be an iPhone but I just don't use a phone much. My only contact in it is the wife. If I need to make a call I look up contacts in my iTouch. I am not huge on driving and talking or texting as that is the in thing.

I spoke to a friend who used to have a computer business. Seems there are many Bluetooth protocols. There is not one standard which is why others have problems similar in other cars. So I have been told but I have no proof.

Technically speaking, I program with some very advanced functions in Excel and Access and our company IT Department refer many problems to me to fix. It is not my job to fix other peoples PC Computers but I often do. But I am no expert here. But I learn fast and have connect phones in other cars with no problem.

I don't regret purchasing the Mini. Love the Navigation System and a must in my long commute. The packages I got on the car were cheaper as bundled and might be a good selling point, like having satellite radio. Of which I am enjoying and might renew that contract.