OK, I'm hoping another one of the Americans in here has tried this, and can verify whether or not this is feasible.

I just bought a 2005 MCS, but I decided to hold off on getting the Bluetooth option for now. Why? Because I have a Motorola V710 from Verizon Wireless, and I know that VZW has crippled much of the Bluetooth functionality. I can't be sure the phone will work with the car!

Apparenly the only phones listed officially as working with the official MINI bluetooth integration kit are:

Sony/Ericsson T610
Siemens S55/S56
Nokia 6310i

That being said, I have to wonder if it can be made to work with the V710. Even if it involves installing a custom firmware update such as SuperDave's (phone-forum-active V710 owners will know what I'm talking about), I'd be happy with that. The catch 22 is that I can't test it before buying it because there aren't any other MINIs with the BT option installed that I'm aware of right now. My dealer didn't have any around when I visited.

Although I am not 100% certain, it is my expectation that any Bluetooth option offered in current BMW cars is the same kit... so if any of you have experience with the VZW V710 in a recent BMW, that feedback would be useful too!

Thanks

 

Verizon's BlueTooth implementations on the V710 is atrocious. So much so there's a current class action suit against Verizon because of that specific phone. They've weakened the BlueTooth so people can not transfer ring tones, therefore having to pay for them individually. Point being, I'd be willing to be that's the reason the phone is not listed. Its BlueTooth is so weak it won't work.

Just a guess though.

 

I am aware of the lawsuit, and familiar with many of the limitations that Verizon has put on the phone... but Bluetooth operates with different "profiles" for different types of communication. Verizon has deactivated some of these profiles, but not all of them. In theory, if the necessary profiles were not disabled, then it should work, right?

Problem is I'm hoping for some first-hand experience. It really sucks that the company with the highest quality wireless network (VZW) also has the most restrictive and greedy money making policies. But first and foremost I want the phone to work as a phone, which is why I remain on VZW.

 

What dealer are you working with? Towson had a Convertible in the showroom with the Bluetooth kit installed over the New Year. If that one's gone they may have another...

 

While I can't speak for the MINI's BT kit, someone I know and trust who owned a V710 and a BMW said the phone would not work with BMW's kit. That's the best firsthand experience I could get.

As for Verizon's changes, I believe they dumbed down the BlueTooth in general not just specific parts, though they could have done that as well. On those specifics I am unsure.

 

Probably the best question is what handsfree profiles are supported by the V710?

 

I may have answered my own question... it seems that the brand new V710 firmware update that VZW just released, fixes many issues, although it does disable TransFlash capabilities. The nice thing though, is that one online user who has a recent BMW, reports that this new firmware finally works. There's hope for my MINI yet! I think I may take the plunge and get the BT kit installed. Even if it doesn't work with my V710, and never does... the next phone I get will likely work, whether it be from VZW or another carrier.

mbabischkin, I am not sure which profiles specifically ARE enabled, but the #1 complaint that most people seem to have is that the "OBEX" profile is disabled. Handsfree & headset profiles are enabled, certainly... not sure about the others.

In case anyone cares, here's a link to the post from BMW owner I mentioned that has reported some success with BT in his car:

http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...&pagenumber=12

 

I purchased my 710 as soon as they came out, loved the idea of a Bluetooth enabled phone for many reasons, I even paid the pricy sum of $499 to be one of the first to get this phone.



After MANY heated discussions with Verizon about how they told me my phone was Bluetooth and most of the functionality does not exist I keep trudging along.



I have received both a new phone (camera issue) and the firmware upgrades. The Bluetooth syncs fine with both my hands free car kit (not in the MINI), speaker phone in the MINI and my laptop. Problem is most of the transfer functions are crippled, however with the transflash card they will work. Not sure where you heard that the transflash was disabled.



I'm not much of a ringtone/wallpaper guy but it does **** me off to think I paid big bucks for a phone that was advertised as Bluetooth, spent the money with Motorola for their newest phone tools software and then I can't do simple things that I wanted to do.



Verizon...love the service, hate the fact that they only enable features that benefit their bottom line.

 

I have an 05-s with mini blue tooth and the v710 from verizon. It works fine. Sometimes slow to be recognized 60 -90 seconds after getting into car and sometime fast. How do I find out if I have the latest releas4e of software? If you local to the Baltimore Annapolis area I'll be glad to demo mine for you.

 

BaldBikerGuy... maybe I wasn't being specific enough. With the newer firmware updates, I think they disabled certain portions of the TransFlash transfers - audio files (ring tones) in particular, not sure what else.

05mini-s - That is exactly what I wanted to hear! Now I'm DEFINITELY going to proceed to get the update! Incidentally, you can check to see what version of the software you have by going to "Phone Info" on the main menu (item #9), then "Other Information", then "S/W Version". The version of the firmware/software that came with my V710 is 8700_01.30.8F. They released the version 01.40.0R, which fixed many problems, but added a few restrictions, including the TransFlash ring tone transfers, as mentioned above.

One bright user named "SuperDaveX" out there figured out how to unlock some of the locked features, and released a custom flash update to do it.

Info on the updates and what changes can be found in this post:

http://www.howardforums.com/showthre...1&pagenumber=4

As for the offer to meet up so I can see it in action, I live in Annandale, VA (not THAT far), and I'd love to do that... I just don't know when I'll have the time to drive out your way. I have so much going on before an overseas vacation coming up... but it's nice to know that a fellow MINI owner is available for the test. Thank you!

 

Edge,

Yeah, I did some research after my post this AM and found that I don't have the new software but will update this weekend. Thanks for the info

 

I'll also throw in the alternative of an aftermarket Bluetooth kit from Nokia, Parrot or Sony Ericcson. They are MUCH cheaper than the MINI kit, plus it's unclear if the current MINI kit supports the bluetooth buttons on the MFSW...

I've got on SE HCB-300 kit in my Subaru, and a second kit waiting for my new MINI to arrive. The harness from newministuff.com is enroute (mutes the radio and routes the phone audio to the car speakers with no splicing or soldiering) and it will cost me $240 for everything including the shipping... As opposed to $425 for the MINI kit...

 

According to my dealer, the bluetooth kit can be implemented with the buttons on the MFSW, so that's a huge selling point in my book for the OEM solution!

 

Find out if they've actually installed one and seen it use the new buttons on the MFSW. Some dealers are actually claiming that an upgrade is needed that is currently expected in June....