My MINI still hasn't been returned from the body shop for repair of scratches made while installing the illuminated sills, so I haven't been able to personally test whether the software upgrade has been successful. Tomorrow will be day 14 of driving the Hyundai loaner car.

At the time, it seemed lik a neat idea: iPod adaptor + illuminated sills. Strike one, strike two.

Here's my thought for the day: if anyone with sat/nav is thnking of having the iPod adaptor installed, make very, very sure, 100% certain, that it's not the first such installation your dealer has done. And make sure to ask how long the last install took.

 

Amen. I have to echo this. Granted, I've been saying it for a while, but I can only chalk up a process that could so badly screw up a car to improper training, from "the top" on down. MiniUSA needs to stress test these processes better, and not leave them for service techs to find the glitches in, at the expense of not only hardware, but customer goodwill.

My co-workers, who were sick to death of hearing about my car before it arrived due to my exuberance over its arrival, are literally afraid to ask me where it is and how it's going this past few workdays. Apparently, "It's painful to watch your face." I'm assuming they aren't referring to how visually challenging my face is normally.

My point being, MiniUSA should have postponed the iPod launch until training on the install (software, not hardware) could be done. Maybe it was, and I got a tech who was snoozin' at the time, but I will never have any way of knowing that, and I like to assume the best of people. Point being, this is causing a lot of pain and some bad PR for Mini, both on here and with all the people wondering where my new car is. They can't believe I've had it for 17 days and it has been at the dealership's shop for at least 10 of them. It's a good thing I'm not making car payments on it just yet!

 

I got a call from the regional manager...

The car is back from the dead. I can come pick it up.

iPod still isn't functional, but Aux works just fine, and that's OK with me for now. They want to wait to try re-installing it when I don't have a trip in 10 days, which is fine with me. By August I can go in and get the iPod work, the driving lamps, and hopefully Sirius (why not, if they're installing software anyways) and be done with mods effecting the car's electrical system for a while. If they know I'm coming, they can get an extra CCC standing by. :-)

(no, really... they want to have an extra CCC standing by, just in case.)


Many many thanks to all who voiced support and sympathy. It really helped.

And now, off to get the lil' guy out of the intensive care ward...

 

Well, for those following this story, it isn't quite over... is it ever?

The service folks were nervous to put the car through the process of introducing its hardware to its software. So what does that mean for me?

Well, bluetooth, voice operation, traffic info are all nonfunctional for now. Along with the iPod.

On the upside, in August when I will take the car back to try it again, hopefully things will go more smoothly, AND I'll put Sirius on at the same time and be done with it. Hooray! They do plan to have an extra CCC at the dealership when they do it. Just in case. As they've planned ahead, I'm sure it won't be needed. :-)

 

I picked up my MINI this morning, 2 weeks after dropping it off for the "software update" and scratch removal. Everything I've had a chance to test so far seems to be working, including voice reco, radio, CD, and yes, even the infamous iPod adaptor!

Hang in there, jmelrose. I believe my MINI is proof that it is possible to have sat nav with the iPod adaptor, and by the time you're back from summer camp, the service departments may have the software process more under control.

My SA mentioned that someone from MINI USA was at their dealership recently, updating the software on all the (R56?) MINIs they have on the lot, so this whole thing is obviously undergoing a lot of churn.

 

jmelrose: So you are going to take the car on your trip to WI, just with the Nav/audio disabled? I hope you at least have the speedo working! I was always wondering why, in the face of your deadline, they couldn't just make it like a new one without the iPod adapter, but with the Nav working, radio, aux. Is that because the entire unit they shipped is "blank" and they have to load all the operating software on it at the dealership (as opposed to when it's shipped with that stuff working)? Good luck on your adventure and remember: we all know how to use maps. Maps are easy, cheap, and urge us to stop and enjoy the scenery.

 

hmm i probably saw your car at dtmini, I sometimes park mne there when i go downtown. Larry sold me my car as well.

 

BigNewt: I think perhaps you misunderstood my post. My nav system, the CDs, radio, and aux in are working. The Nav seems to be... different. But the basics are all there.

What's missing are the things that integrate hardware elsewhere in the car with the Sat Nav. Bluetooth isn't working, although it's on. (My phone can see the car, but the car can't see that it has Bluetooth.) Voice Rec button doesn't do anything. Phone button doesn't either, obviously. The PDC doesn't display on the Nav when I reverse.

The CCC is, apparently, on it's way back to Germany. They want to get to be bottom of what's causing these problems. Like I said, when I come back I'll be getting the programming done, and they'll have a backup CCC on-hand, just in case. Apparently the National Workshop will also be trying to get to the bottom of this. They're bright kids, I'm sure they'll figure things out. By the end of August, it'll be like I have version 1.1 of my car. Currently it has been knocked back to version 0.85 though.

My understanding is the programming is USUALLY done at the VDC, and then the dealer takes it from there. I'd offer to stop by the VDC but I'm not sure they're interested in giving me a hand. I do have to drive right past it in a few weeks though!

 

Is there any info from the in-dash nav that the rest of us can tell what version of the software is in our cars? Or is it something that the dealer has to hook up to the mini to get that information.

Sorry jmelrose, I know I keep asking you these questions about versions, but I'm a OCD computer techy. I HAVE to know these things.

 

jmelrose, I have been following your long and horrible adventure and am thrilled to hear you got your car back! I can't imagine how you survived getting your car and then having it "taken" away from you. Your patience is to be commended

I'm sorry to say this because it means you had to be the guinea pig, but I didn't get the iPod interface because of your story. I had been waiting for my car since November and didn't want to chance having to wait any longer for it. I told my MA about your story and I appreciated the fact that he said to wait until Mini ironed out the kinks and that I could get the interface anytime I wanted. He also said it would have been just my luck to have it have the same problem.

I'm not particularly crazy about the gadget I got at the Apple Store, in terms of its bulk in the already tiny interior, but I'm dealing. I am so madly in love with my car that I don't let it get to me.

Best of luck to you on your road trip!!! I hope after all this your dealership will be adding all those things to your Mini for free!!! You deserve that much.

 

Is that the Griffin TuneFlex? The bulk doesn't bother me so much, but it does wave about a bit on its stalk. It would be nice to have the integration with the NAV and MFSW, but not worth having everything go south. BMW does not have a very good reputation for the timeliness of their software upgrades.

 

Yeah, I have the TuneFlex. I agree with the swivel pole being a little too loose. I kind of have it between the passenger seat and the parking brake, so it doesn't jostle around all that much.

 

Been following this for awhile and wanted to add...

I picked up my new 2007 MCS today! The voice control is DOA as others have experienced and my MA said they tried to install the iPod interface but got some odd software glitch when installing the update to the software so they stopped. New software is on the way and they will try again when it arrives. They will try to fix the voice control at the same time. My bluetooth phone works great (except voice) and I don't see any other problems with the car. Loving some of the new features comapired to my, now sold, 2005 MCS.

Anyone else with non-working voice control have any details on the fix? Did they get it working easily?

Jerry

 

Is the problem fix yet, Ipod with nav system? My car will arrive end of July and wondering should I order Ipod installation?

 

I'm back from my summer away... Let the ongoing drama resume.

The car is slated to have the software update done a week from Tuesday. (Apparently that's the next time a loaner will be available.)

Does anyone know... is there anything about the CCC that would effect transmission or engine functioning?

Anyway, I've been advised that they will need to keep the car overnight for the procedure. I am hoping it goes smoothly, because I'm not willing to worry that every time I take the car in for something that would need a software update, they'll have to have a loaner available as well as a backup CCC and just the overall stress of having the car out of commission for an extended period. Not what I signed on to the Mini brand for.

I was hoping to have Sirius installed, and black driving lamps installed, at the same time. 3+ months later, and neither one is available yet.

GLJones, I'm at DTM as well. Glad your updating process went better than mine did. That gives a glimmer of hope!

 

It sounds like the 2nd gen Nav/iPod integration is handled alot differently than it wwas on the first gen.

 

I was thinking of doing the Sirius install myself. MINI part # 65129119346 is the Sirius controller. The NAM price at Classic MINI is about $400. I'm not sure where it goes, and the $400 doesn't include the plastic case it fits in, etc.... but if you don't want to wait for an official upgrade kit

 

Got my car back from DTM Saturday. iPod adaptor works great with my iPod but the iPhone won't play through the interface. Haven't tried it yet but someone said it will work in 'airplane mode.'

Only issue I am having is the address book download from my iPhone on the Bluetooth interface is now garbled. It worked before the update, now it is all just random numbers. I posted another thread about it. Will ask DTM about it on Monday. Voice control works great. I found a list of voice commands at https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=103467

Jerry

 

Hi Jerry.

That's very odd your iphone won't work through the interface. My car hasn't been programmed yet, and when I plug in the iPhone, it works! It says "accessory attached" on the screen, and on the NAV system I can use the OEM controls to go into playlists, artists, songs, albums, etc. My REAL iPod doesn't work, however.

iPhone software update 1.0.2 just came out today. Make sure to upgrade to that. My Belkin car charger/amp/line-out didn't work with my iPhone with the 1.0 release, but 1.0.1 fixed that and now I can use it in lieu of my iPod with it. (However, the ipod is much easier to use one-handed in the car.) The Belkin suggests I go into airplane mode also, but I don't, and everything seems to work as expected. My case doesn't allow the iPhone to fit into the cradle it came with, so I use a full-sized iPod dock and that works fine. However, because of the video out on the dock, I get the "airplane mode" message as well, and I just ignore it. If you don't hit "yes" it assumes "no". Basically, it's a message letting you know the dock connector you are connected to does more than the iPhone outputs, so... beware! :-)

I'm so confused on how the Sirius has a part number but isn't installable. I don't need a subscription, I can transfer it from my portable unit to the car, so how hard can it be? Obviously the software is available to the factory (and likely being programmed at the VDC in the US like all the other electronic accessories), so what gives? Grrr...

Back to the iPod, I was almost ready to give up on it. The 255 song/album/artist limit is REALLY lame. I went and made sure all my playlists are under 255 tracks at least. i guess I have to hope I don't want any artists from my collection after the Grateful Dead.

 

My baby is in getting the work done tonight. Tomorrow will be the test!

 

Apparently all went well with the install, and the car should be 100% functional when I pick it up tomorrow. Hooray!!

Now, when do I get to install Sirius and the black driving lamps I paid for already?! MiniUSA... I'm looking at you!

 

Does anyone have any pictures of what the UI looks like on the Nav screen when you have the iPod connection kit? I'm on fence about getting it... mostly because I keep forgetting to pause my iPod when get out of the car and I got used to useing the buttons on the wheel with CDs.

 

There's a bunch of pictures of the nav's iPod interface over on the Interior & ICE forum on www.mini2.com. I'd post a link for you but I'm not at home at the moment.

 

The car is now done.

Yesterday I picked up the car and all the work on it that I've wanted since I picked it up May 16th (for the 2nd time) is finally done, and my service tech at Downtown Mini did a fine job. He's a great guy and can work on my car anytime.

Anyway, all the electrical gadgetry now works correctly. In addition, the OEM black driving lamps have been installed (and look spiffy with my JCW Aero Kit) and Sirius radio is installed. Iphone software update 1.1.1 took care of my address book/bluetooth woes, and all is well in the world.

Time to get to motorin' this weekend!

 

Are you still having issues w/ your iPod adapter acting flaky?

Also, the people demand driving lamp pictures.