I have the built in nav and really want the IPod adapter but this news is somewhat unfortunate. I was hoping they would solve this issue but it seems we are not screaming loud enough If you are the first "official" case, I can possibly see their stance but I still think they should attempt to fix. What is the magic combination or number of tracks where everything goes awry? I have an 80 GB IPod and plan to use higher end codec so maybe I won't hit that number. However, these IPods just keep getting bigger

I wonder if this same issue is present in the '08 model with USB or maybe the USB does not interact with SAT NAV like the IPod interface does?

 

Jmelrose said there were no issues with the usb interface in a car without NAV. I think we always suspected a memory issue with the Nav and the iPod adapter, because it uses the CD changer interface as the input, and CD changers are way different than Ipods.

 

Well, that's good/bad news. So this is a SatNav issue, and not an iPod interface issue? The limitation's not with the CD Changer interface like previously suspected?

If I add the iPod interface to my Navless '07, will I run into this issue as well?

 

Excellent question. I don't know the answer myself. You could ask jmelrose because he's been through it all with the ipod interface issue and he might remember what nonNav owners have said. That or do a search for ipod interface. From reading the early threads about it I surmised that not too many people bought it (because it was expensive), that dealers had some problems installing the software to make it work, and because it used the cd changer input for the 6 menu choices the thing was not ready for prime time for the 07 Mini.

 

Just for the record for anyone curious... this issue does not exist with the Non-SATNAV Systems. It seems linked to the memory needs of displaying the information with the SatNav.

I don't have an easy way of finding out the exact number of tracks short of re-doing all my playlists, and I've already gone down that road once. My research work on this issue is DONE. :-)

 

Did your service advisor provide the ticket information that they submitted to Mini? Myself and maybe others may wish to provide that to our dealers for reference. At a minimum, they can maybe assess how many people are having issues. I would imagine or hope these tickets and or resolutions are shared by all Mini dealerships. I personally have not purchase the IPod adapter yet but really would like too (I have the mini Sat-Nav). I was hoping that this issue would be solved by now but the conveinence of control and cleanliness of the install may out weigh it.

jmelrose, have you posted any detailed test procedures on how to duplicate the issue? If not, can you post or send to me? I would like have them on hand so when and if I get the interface, I would like to be able to repeat the issue myself. Thanks for all your efforts!

 

JLLG,

No offense, but did you READ this entire thread from the start? I not only documented all the things I did to test it, I solicited requests for others who have had similar issues to share them. Not one person did. No one offered to repeat the testing on their end to see if it was my iPod, a bad iPod adapter, or the SatNav. I got lots of sympathy but no testing, and I'm not surprised. It's a pain in the neck to do! So, I hate to say it, but I'm not too keen on re-typing it all at this point into a single post. I hope you can understand why.

I'm not expecting anyone to come up with anything different. It sounds like a known issue and my service tech (a great guy) could only apologize he didn't get better news about it from MiniUSA. I do find it a bit deceptive that they haven't made it a better-known issue, as people with large ipods will be in for an unpleasant surprise, but well... I'll withhold my comments on MiniUSA (unless you get to someone a bit higher-up).

Good luck though! Let us know if you find anything out!

 

Sorry about that jmelrose, I have been reading this thread from when it started but hadn't reviewed in a while. I remembered you mentioned PM'ing you, but I just looked back and you meant for questions only. This thread has been around for a little while so I guess the details were a bit rusty since I have only been reading the most recent posts.

 

Well, actually I meant to PM me if someone were to test out this issue with thier own iPod, SatNav, and iPod Adapter... I was the one with the questions, not any answers. :-)

It's alright, no harm done. I hope someday maybe they can fix the issue. I'm sure I could make a case to have the adapter installed and my money refunded, or something else, but I'm going to put tail between legs and take what I have. The next Mini I buy though I'm going to let someone else stress-test the new accessory installs!

 

Thanks to jmelrose for his thorough research of this issue. I just had the iPod adapter installed into my BMW E90 330xi with iDrive & Nav, and the playlist limit is making me crazy. Playlists would be the ideal method for quickly accessing tracks if this limit did not exist; scrolling through by artists/ albums/ songs is just not practical, at least with my 8000+ tracks. If it turns out to be a memory limitation in h/w, I'm not hopeful for a fix anytime soon. Potential s/w workaround would be faster scrolling in the other listings, with A-Z shortcuts like phone contacts and/or accelerating scroll after a few seconds (with temporarily disabled force-feedback?) like iPod itself. I guess it is still more useful to me than the CD changer, I'm just frustrated that this product isn't better thought out.

 

I got in my late 07 R56 with Nav system and iPod connector today to check out how many songs I could see within a playlist. I have one on my 60GB iPod with 750+ songs and I was able to scroll down all the way to the last one.

The only problem I've noticed is that when the playlist is set to random, I seem to get the same songs over and over again. I don't know if it is not reading all the way through the playlist or if the randomizing function just sucks. Anyone have any ideas?

Lumber

 

I am still curious as to if ANYONE has had better luck than I have had. Is this still an issue with the 08 systems?

 

I am having similar problems in my 2008 MCS.

First, I'm not even sure which iPod adapter I have:

• I do have the premium stereo system
• I do not have the navigation system
• I do not have the
• I do have the iPod adapter in the secret compartment, installed at the dealer the day I picked up the car. I control it on the stereo head-end as a CD changer, and song and band names appear on the head unit.
• I do not have the Comfort package, which includes the Bluetooth adapter.
• I do not have the USB port.
• I do have the Aux port at the bottom of the center console.

At any rate, I have a 160GB iPod with many many many playlists. I didn't count, but I know I can't see them all. It's very very very very very very very frustrating, especially since I paid $475 for this feature.

And as a software engineer, I know that pathetic software is to blame. There is no reason that the head unit needs to read and store every playlist. If it has enough memory for all of them, that's great. If not, then ditch old ones when I scroll to a new one. It's not that hard.

I'll try to check again on Thursday to see approximately how many playlists I can see, and how many songs are on them.

 

hi witch ipod/mp3 is best for a new mini cooper?

 

I checked; approximately 242 of my playlists are visible to me; the remainder (another 500 or so; it's hard to tell in iTunes) are not.

Very frustrating.

Meadbar; I would recommend getting a smaller iPod than the 160GB model I bought. What's the point if you can't see the majority of your music!!!

 

I just got my Clubman S today and have had great success with the iPod integration. I haven't really tested it extensively, but everything that I've tried to do has been easy. I have the Hi-Fi audio system without nav. I tried both my iPhone and wife's iPod nano and the library showed up right away in the head unit. I had no problems scrolling quickly through the lists. So, maybe some of the problems people are seeing are being fixed in newer units? I'll check back in after I've hooked it up to a really loaded iPod and have had more time to listen.

 

This sounds like a solution to the problems that you have described, however it is quite expensive as it uses the MOST system, a fiber optic bus.

$600 for mObridge Audio
$800 for mObridge Bluetooth (includes Audio)

mObridge Mini Link

 

are you connecting your ipod to the usb port? just the usb port?

 

My comments on R56 iPod interface, from end of last year:
http://www.gbmini.net/wp/2007/12/r56_navstereo_ipod/

 

intermurph , so if you don't have the blue tooth option w/ usb port , how is it being read at all(in the head unit)? through the aux port?

I've been reading a lot of these threads lately b/c I'm trying to decide whether or not to add the convenience package for the armrest, bluetooth and multi function wheel and here's what I've found:

ipod using just usb port: 255 limit
ipod using aux port: interface through the ipod itself(though, maybe you have something to add to this one)

ipod using the mini y cable connecting it to the usb and aux port: people seem to have no problem w/ this setup(though, I've never tested it so I don't know for sure, and I'm not seeing if anyone tested the large amount of playlists issue w/ this set up

 

My iPod is not connected via the Aux input. It is connected via an iPod-specific cable that is located in the hidden compartment above the glove compartment.

There appear to be several different options for connecting an iPod. My option has an iPod connector, but it does not have a generic USB connector that I can find. It does have an Aux input, but I don't use it.

 

When the R56 came out, there was a factory iPod solution ($$$) that doesn't work so great - it's slow and has the 255 limit.

More recently, USB was added to the R56, and then an option became available to access the iPod via USB - less $$$ and hopefully better functionality, but I have not see any review of it ...

 

so, wait, you can get an option of just the usb? or are you talking about the bluetooth one w/ usb that is $500

 

I don't know about a formal review, but there are active daily discussions on this option -- look for USB. As far as I've seen, the iPod access has the same functionality; however, it also supports MP3 files on USB memory sticks. The iPod uses the USB for control and aux input for the audio signal. It has been reported that the MINI aux input does not give high quality sound. Either the dealer installed iPod adapter or a USB memory stick gives better sound.

An aftermarket solution has become available that claims to be better than the MINI OEM options: http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...oducts_id=1653 . It is a bit expensive ($600). They are also adding Bluetooth/phone integration soon.

I think Ian (GBMINI) is referring exactly to the USB/Bluetooth option.

 

You can also use a FAT32 formatted MP3 player and have complete access to all menus including playlists.The sound quality appears to only be limited by the HiFi itself.

I have the Archos G'mini and am very happy with how it interfaces with my MINI.