+1...I just picked up an 09 MCS, with the convenience/ipod kit, and everything is working well with my iPhone 3G with 2.1 firmware. Charges fine, and integration works as advertised.

The connectors and such are down at the bottom of the console in the little compartment.

 

A few questions I hope you guys can help with:

1. http://www.wireless4mini.com/pdf/iPhone-3G-ATT.pdf says that "the telephone directory of the SIM card is not accessible over Bluetooth interface". Can someone clarify -- can you select a number to dial from the iPhone's contact list? Does the Mini handle the case when one contact has two numbers?

2. I saw one car at the dealer that had the standard iPod integration in the upper glove box, then I saw another that had the Comfort integration in the center console. The connector in the glove box was a single iPod connector that handled the audio as well as control functions. The Comfort connector had the iPod connector plus the mini-jack for the audio. (I guess this is the so-called "Y connector".) My understanding is that audio quality from an iPod in general is better when driven through the bottom connector rather than the mini-jack. (You also don't have to fuss with two volume settings.) I don't remember if the cars I saw were 08 or 09 models. Can someone confirm that the two solutions do indeed use different connectors. If so, why the difference? Lastly, what does the Smart Phone integration in the arm rest use (for an iPhone 3G)?

3. If you have one of the USB/iPod adapters *and* Smart Phone Integration, what happens if you plug an iPod in one and an iPhone in the other -- will the Mini recognize both as a source for music and allow you to play from either? If it only uses one as the music source, which does it use? I'm actually interested in this dual solution since I have a 60GB iPod and an iPhone.

4. Since the iPhone doesn't provide for an external antenna (according to someone in this forum), it would seem the only benefit of Smart Phone Integration for the iPhone is the extra convenience of having it in the arm rest instead of the center console / glove box. Am I missing another benefit?

Thanks very much. I think I'll be buying a Clubman soon!

Jay

 

USB port Ipod kit, if it was in the secret compartment I would forget it in the Clubman all the time.

 

So what you are saying is that it works off of the center console USB port for charging via what cable. The "Y cable" or the cable that came with the iPhone.

Have you been able to play music from your iPhone thru the car stereo.

 

The iPhone's contact list will indeed get downloaded to the car, and contacts with multiple phone numbers work fine. I see things like

Joe Blow (H)
Joe Blow (W)

When they're talking about the SIM card, my guess is they're talking about phones that can store contacts either in the phone or on the card, and they don't support the ones that are on the card. Not applicable to iPhone AFAIK.

 

Sorry for the long post....

I had my 08 MCS in for a minor checkup, but I addressed the iphone 3G issue. I have the comfort access Y-cable, not the IPOD adapter in the compartment above the glovebox. The Service Manager said that MINI supports the 1G and 2G iphone with the Y-cable, but the 3G draws > 500MA power, which is the limit of the cable, hence the flakey power issues everyone is experiencing. There are no plans for MINI to address this Y-cable. On the repair order it says "CHECKED SERVICE MANUALS AND FOUND THAT IPODS THAT DRAW MORE THAN 500 MA WILL NOT CHARGE IN THIS SYSTEM THEREFORE SYSTEM WORKING CORRECTLY NO FURTHER ACTION NEEDED"

However, he said the dock, which inserts into the armrest will be upgraded to handle the 3G. There is circuitry in this dock that will handle the power draw. The new part will be available from MINI or BMW in November, part number is 84109182792. It will cost ($121.95 USD) plus optional $50 install. He said I could easily do it though.

Doesn't help the IPOD functionality. I'll take care of that with my other IPOD but this is somewhat disappointing.

 

Thanks for that information. I will be getting the insert in Nov then :D

 

The USB spec is 500mA so I'm not sure what to think about that. I did some searching around on the subject and apparently a bunch of iPhone compatible car chargers are 500mA and work fine, although that doesn't seem to be 100% either. On my computer it's showing the iPhone as 500mA right now, but that might just be listing it under the USB spec numbers.

One other thing I saw was that the phone could be using more than 500mA when using GPS/BT/wifi/whatever (power usage will vary with use or just cell reception), so that could determine whether it's charging or not. This could explain the charging randomness I've seen with my own. Then again it's charged consistently on my computers doing some stuff that would kill the battery so I'm not sure what to think, maybe the Mini's ports are just really sensitive.

 

The new iPhone, Nano G4 and other new iPods are requiring much more current than the Mini USB can put out. This is only part of the problem though. The new stuff also requries that there be voltage on the Data Lines for it to charge. I.E. 2.4 volts on the Data+ line is provided in the new AC chargers for the iPhone and Nano G4, which has not been provided before. This is why most older chargers will also not charge the iPhone or Nano G4.

So getting a iPhone G3 or Nano G4 to charge from the Mini USB will not happen until Mini makes a change.

Hopefully the SA is right on the iPhone dock in the arm rest.

 

The big problem i have, is the fact they said there is a usb port in the car. USB spec has been set in stone for a very long time. When they made the usb port on the mini they did not follow the specification. They should not be able to claim a usb port on the car. It should say a variation of usb. Heck I can put a non functional usb port on a car.
Soleview1 your service manager is mistaken there is no 1g 2g iphone. 3g does not stand for 3rd Generation it means it can operate on 3g networks. There was only one previous iphone and it was just called the iPhone.
Besides the iphone doesnt draw more than 500ma since it follows the USB spec.

 

Except that there are many versions of the USB Spec 1.0, 1.1, 2.0 etc.


In fact they did actually meet one of the specifications. It is a 2.0 low power spec and they have met the requirements of the spec.

See above notes


On this point you are very correct there are only two versions of the iPhone. Original 4 or 8 gig and the G3 8 or 16 gig.

Actullay a new On-The-Go and Battery Charging Spec for USB Deivces does allow for up to 1500ma (1.5A) of current draw. Apple has not fully met this spec as the spec requries that the data terminals (D+, D-) be shroted to gether to draw the extra current but the new iPhone does draw the 500ma + of current.

Here is info on the USB Power Spec -
The USB specification provides a 5 V supply on a single wire from which connected USB devices may draw power. The specification provides for no more than 5.25 V and no less than 4.75 V (5 V±5%) between the positive and negative bus power lines. There are two types of devices: low-power and high-power. Low-power devices draw 1 unit load, which is defined to be 100 mA. High-power devices draw 5 unit loads or 500 mA. All devices default as low-power but the devices' software may request high-power as long as the power is available on the providing bus.

This is how the USB power in the Mini meets the spec. It is only a LOW POWER USB.

All the previous iPod's/iPhone's were able to charge on the low power spec. The new Nano G4 and the iPhone 3G not longer will charge on the Low Power Spec. and in fact the Nano G4 requires a voltage on the D+ line to charge from a charger or data transfer on a computer USB port.

So final outcome Mini's do meet the USB requirements.

Is it correct for them to say there is nothing they can do about it. NO they need to make it work with the latest devices at least on the new 09's.

I am temporarily driving a Hyundia (my BMW is in the shop GF has the MiNi) and it has the exact same problems that we are having with the Mini. I have tested it.

Most other auto manufacturers are having the exact same problem. My next door neighbor has the same problem with her Toyota. The local Dodge dealer is having the same problems with the Dodges (all models).

This is a problem caused my Apple in the changes they made to the Nano G4 and the iPhone 3G. Now the auto manufacturers need to catch up.

 

Except my 80gb classic doesnt charge also. I bought my classic in 07 before i bought a mini. The new iphone's and nano's arent the only thing that doesnt charge. I have been dealing with this issue for more than a year.
i still dont see anything in their literature that says low power spec. If you go to the miniusa website and choose the convenience option or whatever they are calling it now. There is a link for compatibility, the compatibility shows an iphone 3g. I know this is suppose to be compatiblity for the bluetooth but it is linked from the ipod integration option. Too misleading for me.
Still as you said high power spec is 500ma and if the shorting of the data terminals was the problem my y cable wouldnt charge my phone using my laptiop. It does charge using the laptop.

Low power usb 2.0 is not USB it is a variation of the usb spec as i stated earlier.

 

Nick G

From your other posts is seems you have the "Y Cable" and are having a charging problem. Have you just tried the standard USB cable that came with your iPod to see if that will charge your iPod from the car.

I mean to say plug the standard iPod USB cable that came with the iPod into the cars USB port and see if you can get the iPod to charge.

If you can then there is a problem with your Y Cable.

If it will still not charge make sure you have turned it off and see if you can get it to charge from the car with out being on (Screen off).

If you still can not get it to charge that way then there is a problem with your car's USB port and Mini Needs to replace the ULF module.

Now if the iPod will charge from the car in the off state then there is a problem with your iPod.

BTW the Mini USB port Puts out 5VDC and the Y Cable does not change it from Firewire to USB it passes the USB power 5VDC to the iPod connector.

 

Shatzy
There is no way for me to check the classic anymore. I gave it to my sister after it did not work with the mini and she gave me her 5th gen ipod. as for the iPhone i'll check today.

 

I do not think the iPhone will charge in any state in the Mini as the requirements that the Nano 4G require i beleive are also required by the iPhone. I.E. data transfer on the USB or +2.4 volts on the D+ line. It will aslo take more current than the Mini will put out on the USB. I.E. 500MA minimum where the Mini will ony put out a little over 100MA max.

 

New, anecdotal observations...

1) I have the Y-cable with the part number that ends in "796" - the "newer" one
2) Worked fine with (properly charged) my 30Gb 5th Gen iPod with video
3) The above iPod died - hard drive failure I believe
4) Picked up an iPhone 3G
5) First try this morning in the MINI. Plugged in with door open. Declined airplane mode. Got the lightning bolt icon.
6) Closed door. Started engine. Declined airplane mode a second time. Still have lightning bolt icon.
7) Used the iPod function during drive in. Stopped using iPod function (switched back to car tuner) approx. 5 minutes before parking.
8) When car was parked, checked and noticed that the icon had changed to a "plug"
8) Disconnected iPhone, and checked usage, which said:

Time since last full charge: Usage = 0 minutes
Time since last full charge: Standby = 0 minutes

Does that mean the Y-cable is charging my iPhone? Not sure, but that's what I've (unscientifically) observed...

 

This is very interesting as one other person has reported that the first time they used their iPhone 3G and plugged it in with the door open it also charged. But if my memory serves me correctly they have never been able o get it to charge since then.

Can you try and do some more scientific testing like.

1. plug in iPhone 3G with door open - Does it charge (show lightning bolt)
2. same wiht door closed.
3. same with door open but then close door and diconnect iPhone 3G and reconnect.
4. same with door closed tehn disconnect and reconnect.

Of course this needs to be tried numerous times over week to be able to see if it is actually working or if it is just a fluke.

 

I have noticed with our 09 Clubman S, that the iPhone 3g 2.1 firmware has issues when it is low on battery power. It goes back and forth from charging to not charging and then it vibrates on and off.


Once it has more than a 1.4 charge it works just fine.

 

More unscientific observation:

a) I have not been able to reproduce the behaviour I documented previously (a few posts ago)

b) With less than half charge, the icon seems to sporadically change between the lightning bolt and the plug

c) one time, I plugged it in and got the plug icon, but then tried using the iPod function thru the car's controllers, and the icon switched to the lightning bolt - may be co-incidental, based on the erratic nature of #2

Is item #2 (on page 3) true? http://wireless4mini.com/pdf/iPhone-3G-ATT.pdf

 

If item #2 is true then everyone should be ok if your vehicle was made after August 2007, there should be two different part numbers also.

 

As the document was not produced until after August 2007 it is probable that the date in #2 should read August 2008

And as others have stated there was a revised Y-Cable available since August 2008 i would say there is a typo in the PDF.

But other people have also had problems with the new version of the Y-Cable not charging the 3G phone.

If any one has picked up the new Y-Cable maybe they can plug it in and tell us if there is any voltage on the D+ or D- lines at the iPod connector side. This is where i believe the problem may be as this is now a requirement for the 3g and Nano G4 if they are not connecting to a computer running iTunes. Now i have not confirmed this personaly about the Itunes and computer part but i can tell you that a Nano 4G has an AC power cord that supplies 2.4 VDC at the D+ line which is not provided by a charger for an ealier Nano. And this is why a Nano 4G will not charge form an older charger. I have heard reports that the iPhone 3G is the same way.

 

What I'm seeing now is as follows (2009 MCS, iPhone 3G):

1. The charging with the Y-cable is flaky; sometimes I get the lightning bolt, sometimes I don't - and sometimes it switches back and forth on its own.

2. If I plug the iPhone's own USB cord (the white one that comes with it) into the car's USB port, it charges with the lightning bolt consistently. But of course the car doesn't recognize it as an iPod then.

#2 seems to imply the car can supply enough current to charge the phone...

Greg

 

This also seems to indicate that the data transfer for the iPhone 3Gdoes not need to see iTunes for the charging to work, or there is a voltage on the data lines, or the iPhone 3G does not need the same requirements that the Nano G4 does.

 

There were more than one, I was one and I know I wasn't the first (or last apparently). I have gotten it to charge since then, but it doesn't seem consistent. The door may be part of the pandora's box but it's hard to tell, plus I have that keyless option which may be another variable (some stuff in the car activates when I'm near it). I stopped caring after a while since the battery life hasn't been an issue.

And when it comes to iPod generations the usual nomenclature is to put the number before the "G" (like "iPod 4G" or "4G iPod"), although I'm not sure what the next iPhone will be called, 2G iPhone 3G, iPhone 3G 2G? The G3/G4 stuff was bugging me cause that refers to the older Mac processors (and "nano" isn't even capitalized but that's a weird one in the world of proper nouns).
Wonder if the PocketDock (or other similar items) would work consistently. I believe some others have similar stuff to be able to put their iPods/iPhones in other locations like the armrest.

 

I'm having the same issue on my 09 JCW with USB plug in center console - factory supplied Y-cable does not charge but Apple USB cable does. Hence I'm of the belief that the issue is with the cable and not the USB port as others here have summized.

Has anyone tried the passPORT from Scosche? Is it available yet? Figured I'd roll by the Apple Store near my office tomorrow and pick one up if they are in fact available.