Hi All,

had a bit of a search here and google and found bits and pieces. Looking for 2022 BT recommendations that ideally integrates with the factory Hardon Kardon 30pin iPod input and maintains MFSW control to skip / volume. Ideally with iOS. 2006 r52 MCS.

I’m in Canada, on Amazon I see Bovee for $120, invery Airdual-100 for $90 (see deets below), & invery docklinQ- pro $30.

and a bunch of other 30pin iPod dock adapters in the $30 range.

I don’t mind spending the $90 to get steering wheel interface. And auto sync on ignition. But just wondering with the mini if anyone has success with the basic dock adapters. Why spend $90+ IF $30 would do the trick. And the bovee seems overpriced Vs this invery brand.

so what are ye all using? Open to recommendations. The main goal of this is iPhone BT streaming to listen to podcasts and music from the Amazon prime music app.

Fwiw I have the MFSW but don’t have any factory phone BT support.



invery airdual-100 relevant specs (among others):

• 2006-2013 year BMW CIC / CCC system (USB+AUX connector)
• 2006-2013 year MINI CIC / CCC system (USB+AUX connector)
• Compatible for diversified cars equipped with iPod music interface. BUT doesn't work with USB-iPod cable.

 

Hi all, just following up in case anyone searches for the same. Have a long drive coming up so took the plunge on the $90cad invery airdual 100. Just arrived and played with it for 10min. It works and awesome sound quality. I’m no audiophile but sounds just as
clean as cd’s. Delighted will report back if I’ve any issues.

what works:
Specs: 2006 mcs cabrio (r52) with hardon kardon sound system (cd radio) with factory 30pin iPod connection in glove box. Using with iPhone 11 Pro ios15.6.1.

1) works in both modes. There’s a switch on the device for iPod/general modes. I did notice a faster response skipping songs in iPod mode

2) MFSW skip tracks and volume works. There is a small delay on track skip. It’s slower than skipping a CD/mp3-cd but fast enough. Skipping on the phone is instant. I think this is a lag in communication: radio to invery to phone, then phone to invery to radio, but if using the phone directly it’s just phone, invery, radio. Plus any delay in internet if on a streaming service.

3) syncs once car is on. BT Turns off after a min car off.

4) shows track number but not titles on screen. would be nice but Bit of a meh as phone is visible in car holder anyway.

5) it’s under the typical “no magazine” mode. Cycle mode on the radio: radio/magazine/cd. When phone is playing output over BT connection. You now have radio/cdc/cd. So it’s under cdc. It may say searching cd if in connection process.

6) iOS Apple Music (iTunes), Amazon music all play fine and work with MFSW controls. Manual mentioned the iPod mode may not play well with other apps but it’s perfect and as above responds faster.

nuances:
1) cannot pause music via app. Will pause for 5sec and restart. Closing the app will result in it reopening the app and playing! This is likely a radio issues as there is no pause function on the mini radio: Can’t pause/mute radio or cd’s. To “pause” you change mode on radio or turn the radio off. Or phone BT if you wanted. The iPhone app will know it’s not playing on the radio and will pause and resume once cdc mode is reselected.

2) iPhone volume doesn’t sync. So if phone if phone vol is low it can only get so loud. Basically just set phone to max once synced and control volume from radio/MFSW

3) switches audio back to phone automatically for phone calls. Likely a positive as there’s no mic. But would have been nice to use the speakers for the caller and mic from the phone as an option. Tbh I use headphones for calls as cabrio!

And here it is:

 

Well following up again. Didn’t expect to.

tldr: two invery airdual 100 didn’t work. 1 lasted a week, 2nd dead on arrival. Using bovee-1000 now successfully.

the invery device worked for 1 week and then stopped. iPhone could connect to it on both BT modes. But Unfortunately the HK head unit would not go into CDC mode (no magazine). tested with iPod mini and it was still working so not a head unit issue. Got a replacement and still no joy.

decided to splurge the extra $30 ($120) for Bovee-1000. Delivered today and works no problem. Pausing works now too, you still have to increase phone volume to max else upper end will be limited on head unit. Otherwise works just as other device in previous posts. Responds a little quicker too. No sound hiss or anything. I’ll update here if it fails. Oh I had one little initial hiccup: Steering wheel controls went out of sync with phone. On iPhone BT settings, selected info button beside Bovee and changed device type to “car stereo”. Early days but it’s a positive sign.

yes auto syncs with car on, pauses radio/car off - resumes once back on. Didn’t test phone calls. Cabrio so need headset anyway