437 contacts. Only dies when it tries to sync. So far.

 

I'm looking at the new ATT phone by Sony Ericsson, the C905A. It's an 8.1 MP camera with xenon flash. Just waiting to hear how well it pairs with the MINI.

 

Turned off the contact sync on the iPhone and it hasn't had a problem since. Not to trim the contact list to see what th emagic number might be.

 

It could be more than just the number of contacts- it might be some data in one contact that has issues.

 

I see comments about the armrest, this is not required is it? I have an 09 model and I assumed the connection was wireless like a headset but I guess hope springs eternal.

 

Just picked up the new Sony Ericsson C905A from AT&T. I am happy to report that it works, pairs, dials, syncs address book, and voice dials through the MINI bluetooth system in my 2007 MCS.

The only important test remaining is to see what battery life is like with and without bluetooth. I was spoiled by a Samsung Sync that didn't seem to eat the battery any quicker when I left bluetooth on 24/7. I know that's not true for most phones.

I've almost given up hope of attatching any phone to the external antenna.

The C905A has an 8.1 MP camera with flash.

 

Thank you so much for this info. I purchased a new Mini yesterday and NO ONE has been able to help me find a new cell phone that is bluetooth compatable. This should save me any further stress. I truly appreciate all your hard work!

 

Hi Alibia,

I believe that having an armrest is required for Bluetooth/USB support. However, if you have the armrest and USB/Bluetooth, using the armrest isn't required to connect to the car through Bluetooth. The phone dialing/address book functions are always wireless and always using Bluetooth, even if you have the phone in a snap-in connector.

The armrest connection just adds the capability to use a snap-in to charge, a passive amplified antenna and (if you have the SmartPhone Integration and the correct snap-in) a USB connection in the armrest.

Hope that helps!

Thanks! It's been added to the list The extra detail is appreciated!

I know what you mean about the Bluetooth battery drain- it doesn't seem to be too bad with my Blackberry (definately much less than the WiFi's battery suck), but our RAZR would be done in a day pretty easily.

 

The antenna is passive, i.e. there is not actual physical connection to the phone. And it really only works if the phone is in the arm rest. When i put my blackberry int he armrest around town where i live there is no increase in signal but when I travel to areas of low signal strength it really does help.

 

I understood that it depended on which phone cradle you had based on phone model. Some have a passive loop, but some make a real connection to the phone. Right?

 

Yep, our house is surrounded by a low-signal area. Even without a snap-in with our RAZR, on one particular stretch of road just having my phone in the armrest was the difference between losing a call and getting a single bar.

 

The last phone I know of that actually had a "real" external antenna connection was the Motorola E-815. Some other phones allow you to unscrew the antenna and connect a external antenna that way but even most of those (if not all) are gone with the advent of the internal antenna which is what 99% of the phones these days have.

On a some blackberry there is a way to get to an external antenna connector but it means taking the whole phone apart and drilling holes in the case. but then it is a special connector that is not easily available. I understand also that there are a few Motorola's that can be modified but from what i have heard it is not worth the hassle.

 

Yep- the RAZR has one that's externally accessible by removing a little rubber grommet, but to make it work with a snap-in would be tough to make, just because of the location of the connectors. It'd need one of the connectors to move or something.

 

Hi!

I got a mini 2009 3 days ago (and love it). At first, the bluetooth wasn't working correctly because I had thousands of contacts. I stopped syncing my contacts with microsoft exchange, and now only have 20. The address book syncs PERFECTLY, but i can't dial a single # from voice commands. As a a matter of fact, when I say "read phonebook," it says that the phonebook is empty!

Is there anything I'm doing wrong, or is something wrong with the system? Thanks!

 

We need some more info

Do you have NAV in the car?

If you have NAV some phones will use the phone book in the phone to dial.
If you don not have NAV you have to program the MINI phone book.

What make and model of phone do you have?

Different phone respond differently to the Bluetooth options.

 

I do not have NAV, but I do have iphone 3g (with updated firmware).

 

iPhones will not do voice dialing via bluetooth. Why apple still does not allow this feature is beyond us.

Since you do not have NAV then you will need to set up the MINI voice dialing system.

All the instructions should be in the owners manual. I know they have changed some of the wording since the original versions, so hopefully your owners manual will have the correct wording to program the system.

If you still can not figure it out PM me and i can walk you thru it.

 

How annoying! Thanks .... I really appreciate it.

 

Man, Schatzy, you're kicking my butt in response times today! :D

@eroxx: Here's a link where Schatzy62 covered some of the voice commands for non-nav cars in detail. Just as an FYI, it may or may not be fixed in the latest manuals, but earlier manuals were printed with incorrect voice commands.

 

My Palm Pre works perfectly with the bluetooth in my MINI. I have about 200 contacts and they all synced over fine.

Of course, with it not being on the official "approved" list, I have the concern that my Pre will blow up the MINI's bluetooth module one of these days a-la the Treo 755.

 

Cool, good to know, Thanks!

It's only the 755p that had issues, all the other Treos didn't cause any damage and the Pre has a different OS. It's probably safe

EDIT: For what it's worth, others have also been using the Pre, and so far there hasn't been any serious problems announced. Someone did mention problems syncing the address book once, so it's good to know that works for you.

 

If the passive antenna is in the cradle, do you think you are getting a signal increase just by having the phone in proximity of the antenna cable ends? Wouldn't a generic cradle be nice that had a passive loop as well as an extra powered USB port?

My new C905A has an FM radio that only works with a wired headset, which it uses as an antenna. I'm going to investigate, 'cus I'm thinking there is a slim chance that the same antenna might also improve the signal for voice calls.

 

There are some cellphones that do have an external antenna jack. For those phones the Mini armrest cradle that you buy has a connection for that antenna jack (in addition to the connection for charging). Most phones, howoever, don't have one. IMO the "passive" antenna boost is hype. The cradle basically charges your phone.

 

If you pull the blank plate out, there's a small RF connector in there, someone (I think Robbin Cassidy?) mentioned that it looked like an MCX connector. You could probably get a wire loop on that and get the same effect. IIRC, the other connector has 14V on pins 1 and 14, but I'm pretty much useless with the WDS and couldn't verify whether it was a good as a power source.

If it'd hold up to the current draw, you could get a voltage reducer (or cut up one of the cigarette/USB chargers) and make something work.

 

Has anyone tried the T-Mobile my Touch phone??? Will it work in my 2008 Clubman??

Thanks in advance.