So yesterday, Mac Genius (different than the one I spoke with the other day) told me the issue is not a Firewire versus USB thing, but a firmware thing. He said no inline adapter will fix it, and that we need to be pushing BMW for a new adapter.

Bleh. I hope he's wrong, but based on the above postings it looks like he might be right...

 

japtor - are you in a Clubman or Coupe?

 

I am beyond furious about this. I had a genius at the Apple Store do a phone swap, just in case, but the problem is still there.

It appears that iPhone 3g software 2.1 broke my charging capability of the Mini 08 iPod/Bluetooth system.

Has anyone checked to see if the phone charges in Airplane mode but not in Phone mode? I briefly thought mine was increasing in battery level yesterday, but still no lightning bolt.

 

Sounds like we're barking up the wrong tree here.

As frustrating as it may be - we need to be lobbying BMW for a fix...

 

This is frustrating. I have sent multiple emails to miniusa and still no response. I stopped by a mini dealership on the way home yesterday, and they acted like this was news to them. My car is going to be serviced tomorrow, so i am going to tell the service rep what is going on, and tell them to fix the issue.
If your car is under warranty i suggest everyone try the same. Tell your dealership the USB ipod integration is broken and you want it fixed.

Let's not let mini push this under the rug. Make it a big deal to your dealership. Hopefully if enough of us complain they will do something about it.

 

I have another problem, I´m wondering if someone else have had it.

Too often people do not hear me, I used the bluetooth for over a year with a Nokia and never had this problem. But now most of the times people I´m calling to says that they can´t hear me. (the bluetooth volume in the iphone is all the way up).

 

2009 MCCS I plugged in 1st gen Iphone with 1/2 or less battery. Got the battery display and lightening bolt. Plugged in the usb y split with aux plug to use ipod function. Drove around a little bit and kept bluetooth on. Found that when I got home my phone battery was dead. When used with Iphone usb adapter it charged but cannot play music. Has anyone figured a solution or contacted Mini? One selling point to buy the Mini was to have upgraded stero that could play my music commercial free. Very disappointed as I leave the office with a very low battery. Or drive to work and lose a lot of battery.

 

08 coupe built in January or February, picked up in March. There's definitely some voodoo involved since I've gotten both ends of the stick, but I haven't driven around enough with the phone (got it semi recently) to figure it out.

 

I should be taking delivery early next week.
I ordered the 6NF smart phone integration and have an iPhone 3G, so I can let you guys know when it comes in how it works, though my MA isn't sure about the compatibility as my car is the first one ordered with it..
I should be able to see if it is a new cable.

 

Ok I've almost forgotten what this thread is about

So today with half a battery I plugged my 3G iphone into the usb and aux plug and play some tunes randomly on my way home and by the time I get home it does seem to have charged it a bit. Short drive.
When I plug in the phone it does give me that warning but I don't turn on airplane mode.

Also during hurricane Ike I had to use my car to charge my phone but I used the usb charger I bought to go with my first generation iphone.

I will do more investigating tomorrow. I think I'll let the phone's battery drain to see if it really does charge.

Does anyone have the arm rest insert? I was wondering if this would charge the phone before I really look into buying one.

 

Hey everyone,

Just checking back in to see how you all were fairing. Honestly, I've been very happy with the Griffin work-around, and haven't really thought about this issue much since then -- but I agree that we all bought our iPod connectivity packages with the understanding that they were FULLY compatible, so if we can put pressure on BMW to fulfill their promise, we should!

I took my MINI in last week for unrelated service (annoying rattle in the tach cluster), and found out BMW is recalling the exhaust tips on the '08 MCS, because people were getting burned. That gave me an idea. Maybe if we all heat up the end of a USB cable until it's white hot, and brand ourselves (any suggestions on where?), they'll get the point?

It'll also help us recognize each other when we're not on the road!

 

I've been emailing back and forth with Jayson from Classic. He says it appears that MINI is completely unaware of the problem, or at least he hasn't heard anything about it. I explained what's been discussed here, that the 3Gs and newer iPods are no longer working (charging) with the OEM adapters. He said he will investigate, but that he is unaware of any updates currently to accommodate the newer iPods/iPhones. So he's going to check into it, and I asked him in the meantime who we all need to contact to push the issue and I'm waiting to hear back.

In the meantime, if you're under warranty I would definitely go in and complain. Be sure to not just play dumb - otherwise they're just going to keep trying to switch out your adapter. Make it clear to them that the current adapter is incompatible with the newer iPhones/iPods and maybe you can at least get either a record for replacement when a new one becomes available, or get the current one removed and your cost refunded.

I'll report back when I hear from Jayson again.

 

I received an email back from miniusa a couple of days ago.



Hi,

Thanks for writing MINI. We appreciate your enthusiasm for our vehicles and are pleased to answer your questions about the iPod/USB adapter in your vehicle.

The iPod/USB adapter was designed to work with a wide variety of portable media devices, including the Apple iPhone. However, due to the continually evolving nature of these portable media devices, we are unable to provide a list of fully compatible devices.

If there are further questions I can assist with, please feel free to drop me an e-mail. I will be happy to lend a hand.

LET’S MOTOR.

Jeremy E.
MINI Customer Relations and Services
Representative
866.ASK.MINI (275-6464)


Translation

I know you spent a lot of money with us, and extra for your ipod/usb adapter, but you are S.O.L.. Our ipod adapters work with a wide range of products except ipods and iphones. I'm glad you spent the extra money with us, now F. Off.

MiniUSA

I also took my car into a dealer this week for a jcw tuning kit install. I told my service rep about the problem, and he knew all about it. He told me mini has made no attempt to fix the problem. He was upset about it also, and showed me a line of post-its next to his desk. All the post-its were for the same problem, he then added one to the line for me.
This is BS and they still don't say the phone is incompatible on the website. They actually trick you by linking to the bluetooth compatibility under the configurator, which has the iphone 3g listed.

 

Got into the car today and plugged the phone in before turning anything on*, got the bolt. Later I got in the car and did the same, no bolt. The difference was the driver door apparently, cause I then tried with the door open and got the bolt again.

"Time since last full charge" is showing 1 minute usage and 8 standby, so it was definitely charged. It's been about 7 hours since I unplugged it from power in the morning.

*Nothing that I turned on manually at least. I have the keyless thing so whatever gets activated when I'm near the car was on, but nothing I did myself.

I also tested out the Youtube app, and I guess I got the same experience as the guy that tried videos in Airsharing. Music faded out, the video played for a second, then the app closed. I tried some other stuff (PapiJump and the lightsaber app) and that worked fine, faded out the music and played their own audio. Pointless extra note: the lightsaber app is apparently in stereo, using the accelerometers to determine where the lightsaber sounds should be coming from.

 

I have the iPhone 3G and just took delivery of my '09 MCSa with smart phone integration. Unfortunately, I was the 1st one with this option that the dealer received and they don't have the armrest insert for the iPhone 3G yet, so for the time being, I'm Bluetoothin' it

 

Hey QkSilvr - I think you're wanted on this thread:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=153713

 

You'll probably be "Bluetoothin'" either way. I'm guessing the new option just puts the dock adapter stuff into the arm rest like I've seen on BMWs. In which case it'll use that for power and music while still using BT for the phone functions.

 

Smart phone integration also links the phone to your Mini's antenna as well.

 

Except the iPhone, it doesn't have an external antenna connection!

 

QKSilvr
Our car was ordered with the smart phone intergration and is due to arive at the end of the month. We tested the 3g iphone on a 09 with out the smartphone prep. We pluged it in under the radio and was able to charge it as well as listed to the music on it. My question is does the car also come with that cable to use under the radio or is it no Iphone music untill the snap in adaptor come in?

 

I use the cable connected under the radio for my 50GB+ of music on my iPod. I got the smartphone integration so I could connect my iPhone in the armrest @ the same time. Still don't have the plastic armrest insert, so haven't been able to test the "prep" yet.

 

http://gizmodo.com/5064803/scosche-p...-obsolete-cars

maybe this will work?
I pick up my 09 with smartphone integration on Sat, so, I'll keep you all posted


Tyler

 

That's most likely just another FireWire-USB power converter, which if it is, won't do anything here.

The rest of the crap in that press release ("Scosche engineers developed a highly sophisticated product that maintains all functionality including audio, video and data of the iPhone 3G and new iPod models" etc) basically means all the wires in the dock connector are there on both sides, just like any of the other passthrough converters/cables/extensions.

 

We pickedup our 09 Clubman S with the Ipod Kit, so far it has charged both of our iPhone 3G with 2.1 firmware seems to charge just fine....

 

Is that the Ipod kit in the secret compartment or the USB port Ipod kit?