We are about to order a 2008 mini cooper s and just got an email from our SA that the USB may be delayed and may not be in the early build 2008's. Has anyone else heard this?

 

They're already included in the Euro models, it would seem odd to have them excluded from the 2008 US version, but stranger things have happened I guess.

 

Bor,

Good luck finding someone who sells it.

-Joel

 

Indeed... The rest of the world has been receiving the USB ports since early August. Thus, I wouldn't see why the first 2008's wouldn't have it as well. Maybe it has something to do with FCC approval???

As for retrofitting the USB port... I imagine it would take a whole new Bluetooth module and possibly a new radio as well. Could also require dealer programing too. No matter what, I'm sure that it would be super expensive to do. It would be nice if a retrofit kit became available, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.

 

It does seem strange, doesn't it- maybe they just have more of the previous bluetooth kits on hand than they expected and need to use them up?

Hopefully someone thought ahead enough that the radio could pull the track data over the CAN bus, more like a CD changer. I did read somewhere that the USB chip was built in with integrated with the bluetooth module. I could see a swap like that going about as well as Edge's stereo upgrade

 

I happen to have insider connections to the auto OEM electronics industry (work for a semiconductor company that supplies CPUs to these guys) and I can speculate on 2 things related to TheOfficeMaven's post:

1. very unlikely that they have 2 different radios - big headache to manage inventory for very little cost savings if any between the radios

2. not likely that the USB port requires ECU programming - I bet the BT-USB module connects to the radio directly.
The only ECU that could be required (for folks like me who do not have the BT at all) is to enable MFSW controls for the BT phone functions - cause they got through the CAN bus

Anybody got a diagram of the connections to the headunit ?

 

Hi Bor,

Thanks for your comments.

As to the radio... I was actually referring to needing a newer firmware on the radio itself (hence requiring the need for a whole new radio for older cars since the firmware is not upgradable) and not an entirely different radio that would require MINI to stock two separate units.

MINI has indeed improved the firmware on their radios over the years (a good example of this is the 2005+ headunits being able to play MP3 discs and the 04/2005+ headunits being able to display song ID text). Thus, it is indeed possible that the radio would require a newer firmware in order to support the USB port. Which in turn would require a new radio for the early build cars.

I'm not saying this is a for sure thing, but only something that is indeed within the realm of possibility.

 

Yes. I just placed my order for my 2008 MCS a week ago and my MA mentioned something vague to this effect. I was just laying ground work for the horrible fight which is sure to ensue when they give me the price for the retrofit down the road next year.