I have an iPhone on the way, (Apple has them refurbished right now for $100 off), and I want to know if I can use it with my MINI. Not the iPod part, but I have the MFSW with the Bluetooth button on the left side, but what does that button actually do, and can I use it with my iPhone somehow? Or is there a way I can use it handsfree with the MINI.

 

You have to get a handsfree unit put in. All MFSWs have buttons, but they don't work unless you get a unit with it.

I have an iPhone, and I use it with the Parrot eVo kit from newministuff.com. It allows me to use it with the MFSW buttons and it works fine.

 

ML, can you tell me how the Parrot works - through the stereo I presume. And are you using you iPhone for any music playback? Is it possible to use it for both? Where does it hook into the stereo?

 

It does work through the stereo. If you don't mind the little controller jobby that comes with the Parrot, you don't need the kit from newministuff. But if you want to skip the controller and use the MFSW buttons you need it. Once you pair the phone, you can just push the button to start a call, and push the other to end it, use the volume buttons, etc. There are two module boxes with the newministuff kit - the Parrot one that you stash underneath the dash, and the other, that bridges the connection the HU, which gets stuffed behind/under the HU. That was actually the hardest part of the install for me...I finally realized you have to jam all the excess wiring and the box way DOWN behind the center stack to be able to fit the HU back in.

I don't use the iPhone for music though. I have a Nano that I had before I had the iPhone, and I have the iRide dock for it in the glove box and I've just kept it that way. I would *suspect* that it would work, but I'm not sure because I wonder if the way the Parrot cancels out the radio would interfere with the iPhone.