Navigation & Audio How to: move the Bluetooth microphone
3rd Gear
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 152
Likes: 4
They are still making cars as late as Nov 1 2009( that was my 2010 MCS build date) with the bluetooth mics on the wrong side of the car. Mine had it and the dealer moved it in less than 10 mins for free. Took them actually longer to get the paper work through the system and wash the car for me than it did to actually do the work....
Unfortunately there is no way to move it closer.
And yours is closer to you than the ones in the coop and clubman as they are on the ceiling up by the mirror. The problem with the coop and the clubman is that the microphone from the factory is pointed away from the driver on left hand drive cars and when moved to the other side is then pointed at the driver.
And yours is closer to you than the ones in the coop and clubman as they are on the ceiling up by the mirror. The problem with the coop and the clubman is that the microphone from the factory is pointed away from the driver on left hand drive cars and when moved to the other side is then pointed at the driver.
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Wife was complaining about not being able to hear me today (it's got hot in SD already 
... probably the A/C &/or open windows !).
11:48 ... finished reading post. 11:53 done
Thanks OP and Shatzy for the video.
paul
FYI. Wires tight for me too and the 'direction' is subtle... tip: on the black microphone 'mount' there is a lip on either end. One end has a very slight 'bump' on it. Look for that then look where you're going to clip it and you'll get it.
... probably the A/C &/or open windows !).11:48 ... finished reading post. 11:53 done
Thanks OP and Shatzy for the video.
paul
FYI. Wires tight for me too and the 'direction' is subtle... tip: on the black microphone 'mount' there is a lip on either end. One end has a very slight 'bump' on it. Look for that then look where you're going to clip it and you'll get it.
GOod idea but many times things like this just are not that easy.
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 752
Likes: 1
From: Emmitsburg, MD
Unfortunately there is no connection for a second Mic. but i guess ans extra could be spliced in parallel, but i can tell you that would probably cause real problems with the impedance matching for the Mic and Mic Amp, and most likely cause the volume of the person in the person talking in the car to be very very low.
GOod idea but many times things like this just are not that easy.
GOod idea but many times things like this just are not that easy.
Jim
4th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 406
Likes: 0
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Wife was complaining about not being able to hear me today (it's got hot in SD already ... probably the A/C &/or open windows !).
11:48 ... finished reading post. 11:53 done
Thanks OP and Shatzy for the video.
paul
FYI. Wires tight for me too and the 'direction' is subtle... tip: on the black microphone 'mount' there is a lip on either end. One end has a very slight 'bump' on it. Look for that then look where you're going to clip it and you'll get it.
... probably the A/C &/or open windows !).11:48 ... finished reading post. 11:53 done
Thanks OP and Shatzy for the video.
paul
FYI. Wires tight for me too and the 'direction' is subtle... tip: on the black microphone 'mount' there is a lip on either end. One end has a very slight 'bump' on it. Look for that then look where you're going to clip it and you'll get it.
The semi-circular vent in the dash really makes the difference. If its on then the "I can't hear you"s start.
Options:-
a) cover the vent...leaving AC on auto
b) turn the vents so that only up (^) and feet (v) are on... and in your face (->) is off [I'm not sure if the AC is still on 'auto' once you do that... more testing required]. Definitely helps, but I need that!
c) Make a little 'shield' for the mic. Haven't done this yet, but when I cupped my hand around the mic or put a cloth up behind it, my wife said it sounded better. I'm going to see if I can fashion something out of duct tape to test it, and if that works ... then come up with something more elegant.
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
I tried to do the mod and it would have been as easy as stated, however, my cable is about 1/2" too short. I tugged to see if there was more but didn't want to tug too hard and pull the whole thing out. Just couldn't get the microphone to go into the cover as closed as I could get it.
It would have been great and the the instructions were great and easy.
It would have been great and the the instructions were great and easy.
Coordinator :: Alaska MINI Club
iTrader: (2)
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Eagle River, Alaska
Thanks so much for the simple instructions! This was very easy to do. Super fast! Now the people I talk to won't get so irritated with me!! "Just pick up your phone!" Sorry, but I can't shift while taking a corner while attempting to hold a phone to my ear...
I had to tug on mine a bit as well to get it over to the drivers side. I also needed a pair of pliers to get the wire disconected.
I had to tug on mine a bit as well to get it over to the drivers side. I also needed a pair of pliers to get the wire disconected.
Neutral
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
String helps to fish the mic wires
The video and others' comments were very helpful. As below, I too found the connector needed a knife blade to get over the bump in order to pull it out. And my wires were too short for routing to the left side as others did, so I too needed to route it up through the small hole to the top, above the inner cover. Before I did that though, I tied a piece of string to it and was able to direct the free end of it over to the hole on the left. I just pulled the string and the mic came with it. Easy!
Now if I can just get my HTC TP2's phone book to sync.....
Now if I can just get my HTC TP2's phone book to sync.....
I just did the mic mod on my '09 and have a few comments. It took me about 20 minutes because of two things.
- The small connector was a bit hard to pull out. I inserted a knife blade under the top of it to lift the small plastic section of the mic housing up a just bit so that it would come out easier. This allows that small bump on the little connector to not hit the mics housing when pulling it out.
- Maybe the mic wires on my mini were shorted than that shown in the video. I fed the wire straight across to come out the other side but there was only about 1 inch handing out. This made it really short and trickier to put back together. I thought there would be too much stress on the wire and connector. Rather, I needed to push the wire straight up (from its original position) into the area behind the "inner panel" covers, then feed it to the hole on the drivers side. Lots of loose wiring to work with this way. Since my fingers would never fit up there to do this. I used a "grabbing" tool to reach up there, grab the wire, and pull it out the drivers side hole. An improvised tool with a "hook" on the end would probably work just as well.
- The small connector was a bit hard to pull out. I inserted a knife blade under the top of it to lift the small plastic section of the mic housing up a just bit so that it would come out easier. This allows that small bump on the little connector to not hit the mics housing when pulling it out.
- Maybe the mic wires on my mini were shorted than that shown in the video. I fed the wire straight across to come out the other side but there was only about 1 inch handing out. This made it really short and trickier to put back together. I thought there would be too much stress on the wire and connector. Rather, I needed to push the wire straight up (from its original position) into the area behind the "inner panel" covers, then feed it to the hole on the drivers side. Lots of loose wiring to work with this way. Since my fingers would never fit up there to do this. I used a "grabbing" tool to reach up there, grab the wire, and pull it out the drivers side hole. An improvised tool with a "hook" on the end would probably work just as well.
1st Gear
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Athens, Greece
Guys THANK YOU!!!!! I have my MCS from 08 and thought that was the sound quality... Made peace with that until today!!! 2 1/2 years later!!! Took me 5 minutes to complete the change.... Sound much much better!!!
THANK YOU!!
THANK YOU!!
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 635
Likes: 0
From: Near Boston, MA
I just did it -- dropped down the top face (the one that just pops off), really annoying to pull out the little connector I must say (I used a little tiny screwdriver to help)...
then just with fingers poking through the various holes I got the cable re-rerouted to the left side, and put things back together. [I had previously opened up the next part to put the V1 power connector there, but this time it wasn't necessary]
Note to those like myself that had trouble putting the microphone rectangle back -- the arrow should point to the FRONT OF THE CAR.
I havent made a call yet, we'll see!
then just with fingers poking through the various holes I got the cable re-rerouted to the left side, and put things back together. [I had previously opened up the next part to put the V1 power connector there, but this time it wasn't necessary]
Note to those like myself that had trouble putting the microphone rectangle back -- the arrow should point to the FRONT OF THE CAR.
I havent made a call yet, we'll see!
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 0
From: Cherry Log, Georgia USA
So I'm expecting my '11 MCS to arrive any day now, I'm guessing this mod is still needed, correct?
Also, has anyone had a chance to check out the location of the microphone in the Countryman? My husband picked up his CM last week and is having trouble getting the voice system to always respond. But since the CM is built in Austria I wonder where they put the microphone.
Annette
Also, has anyone had a chance to check out the location of the microphone in the Countryman? My husband picked up his CM last week and is having trouble getting the voice system to always respond. But since the CM is built in Austria I wonder where they put the microphone.
Annette
1st Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
From: Rainy Pacific Northwest
The mic is indeed on the "British" side on the 2011s. My Mom and partner complained that they couldn't hear me when they called me. I could hear them beautifully.
I just went out and switched the mic to the right side. I had to tug a bit as the wire was shorter than in the video, but the harness did have some give.
I was able to program in name voice dial commands so the mic was hearing me at least.
I'll try a test run tomorrow along with checking to see if the center air vent is part of the problem.
I just went out and switched the mic to the right side. I had to tug a bit as the wire was shorter than in the video, but the harness did have some give.
I was able to program in name voice dial commands so the mic was hearing me at least.
I'll try a test run tomorrow along with checking to see if the center air vent is part of the problem.
