So this post is part review, part question. I have a 05 Cooper Cabrio, with H/K stereo and OEM iPod adapter. When I plug in the iPhone to the stereo the little warning comes up. “This accessory is not designed to work with the iPhone…” or something to that affect. And asked if you want to put the iPhone into airplane mode. This turns off the Wi-Fi and the cell service. Both in airplane mode and not, had the same problem.

Sometimes the radio sees the iPhone sometimes not.

When it does see it you can pick between the preset MINI play lists and use the steering wheel controls to change tracks. The strange thing is sometimes the music plays thru the stereo. And sometimes it plays thru the speakers on the iPhone only. Even when it’s only playing thru the iPhone’s built in speakers, you can still change tracks with the steering wheel controls. Very strange.

So when you do it the radio to see the iPhone, and it’s playing the music thru the stereo’s speaks, and a call comes in. The music fades, and the phone ring is played thru the stereo’s speakers also. Which is pretty cool.

Anyone else have the same problems with connecting that I have had? Anyone figured out a sure fire way to make it work at least most of the time?

 

The MINI kit was released before the iPhone, you may experience problems like this. However, youre would be the first I've heard these issues with.

 

Yes. I occasionally have found issues with the music playing through the iPhone instead of HK speakers.

However, the method I have found to work the best to get everything to wor smoothly is:

1. Start with car off. iPhone not plugged in.
2. Start Car.
3. Plug iPhone in.
4. Switch the radio to iPod mode

This seems to have worked for me every time now.

 

Yeah that's how I get it to work most of the time. But still sometimes doesn't. Do you put it in Airplane Mode or not?

 

No airplane mode. That would kind of render the "phone" part of the iPhone useless . I actually just listen to my normal iPod in the MINI now. I don't bother with plugging and unplugging the iPhone.

 

The iPhone is a no-go for me (05 MCS, OEM iPod adapter) but it does take a charge off the adapter if I'm in a pinch for battery. Seems the R56 iPod adapter works no problems.

 

Have you tried it after the iPhone software update? Some people on the iPhone forums are reporting their iPhone now works with various car kits where it would not work before the update.

It's worth a shot...

 

Haven't updated my phone yet, so have not tried that yet.

 

did the software update help this? I am considering a 3G iphone and have an 06 MCS with OEM ipod adapter. Want to be able to plug in the iphone and use the music and phone features....

 

My 3G works with the OEM adapter to play music, but it will not charge from it.

 

wow - is this a common problem? was not aware i would not be able to charge the phone using the OEM cable... hmmm

 

also - have you tried using blue tooth? How do u take and place calls if iphone is in glove box?

 

It's not in the glove box. I have the adapter wired into my passenger-side cupholder. I have bluetooth that plays through the HU (a Parrot EVO that has the harness adapter from NewMINIStuff to work with the MFSW) and I can see the phone just fine for calls, etc.

My old non-3G iPhone charged off the OEM adapter. It's the new 3G version that does not

 

Thanks for your input. By the way - is your OEM iPod adapter in your MINI a white cable or black cable? I used to have the white OEM adapter from MINI, but it had to be replaced earlier this year and when they did, it was replaced with a black, thicker adapter. I have read reports that BMW released a new adapter in August of 2007 that addressed the charging issue and am wondering if I have the updated adapter that might charge the iPhone 3G. Check out the very bottom of this link:

http://www.bmwblog.com/2008/07/14/ip...w-factory-kit/

 

The new 3G is no longer wired for firewire which is where the older adapters used to send the charge. So, most of the adapters out there struggle with the 3G.

 

Yeah - I was reading that too. I did find this:

http://cablejive.com/iphone_3g_charge_converter.html

May solve the issue?

 

Mine is the old white one. It actually needs to be replaced, I think, but for now it works okay. The only issue I have with it besides the new charging problem is that it's pulling current from somewhere and I get a humming noise through the HU/speakers as I accelerate. It's obnoxious.

That device looks like it will solve the charging problem. Hopefully it will be available soon!

 

ordered the power converter.... we'll see if it works!

 

I have the 3G iPhone and the OEM iPod adapter in my '06 cabrio. I get the "this accessory is not designed..." warning and the prompt to switch to airplane mode, but I've never had any audio interference, so I just leave it in normal mode. The Bluetooth works great with my Garmin GPS, and transfers the contents of the phone's address book to the GPS.

The MFSW controls work fine, and I've never had the music come from the phone's speakers, just the car's. I don't plug the phone in until the car's turned on and the stereo is on, so that might be the reason.