The title says it all. Does the iPhone 3G work with the factory iPod solution? I am interested in answers for both the dealer installed option (in the secret compartment) and the 2008+ option (USB/Bluetooth option).

Thanks!

 

My first-generation iPhone w/ software 2.0 (which is the same software on the iPhone 3g) works just fine, so I'm assuming the iPhone 3G will work without issue.

I cannot vouch for the dealer-installed secret compartment system though, as I have not used it before.

 

Not exactly. The SW isn't the issue, there is a new hardware authentication with dock connector devices that won't allow certain devices to work (ensuring Apple gets a cut of the $ thru the "Made for iPod" program). My aftermarket iPhone charger that I bought for my gen 1 iPhone does not work with my iPhone 3G. The wife's car charger doesn't work either.

 

I spoke with DICE about my DICE HD unit (I'd heard about the no-charge issue) and they said that Apple changed the ports with the 3G. Will take them about 2-4 months to have a new cable to sell.

He found nothing on the market that would work as an adapter, but I suspect you'll see something pretty soon. This is gonna affect a whole lot of people...

 

I have a Clubman with the factory installed usb/bluetooth option. When you plug in the iPhone 3G into the factory y cable you see a message asking if you want to put it into "Airplane Mode" to reduce interference with the audio. I choose no because I also have bluetooth turned on the iPhone 3G and paired with my Clubman.

I'm happy to report the iPhone 3G is completely compatible with at least the factory installed usb/bluetooth Ipod kit with the y cable. With the iPhone 3G connected and playing music the phone part of the iPhone 3G also works great. I can receive and make calls. The music stops during a call and resumes playing when the call is done.

 

Does the Ipod/Bluetooth charge your phone while it plays?

 

Yes.

 

Oh that's sweet! No more chords!!!!!

 

The Y cable no longer charge my iPhone 3G. It feeds the power but doesn't charge the battery. When I plug in the cable, instead of getting the battery icon with thunder bolt, I get the battery icon with the plug instead.

 

That's disappointing.

 

I haven't used the iPhone 3G in my car for long enough to see if it does indeed charge the battery, however when I plug it into my Clubman, I get the battery icon with a lightning bolt, not the plug icon that you mentioned.

Odd!

 

some things I've noticed with my 3G - some may be user error - so take with a grain of salt:

It does not charge in my R56 with the factory usb/bluetooth - it looks like it is - but on a long drive it actually ran out of juice (I turn off 3G now while driving to slow the battery drain)

And one other annoyance - which I'm trying to find out if it's my fault...when I select an artist/album and tell the head unit to play all - it plays the songs alphabetically rather than by track order...I sync'd the iphone to the same itunes I had my regular ipod nano sync'd to and never had this problem before - so I'm wondering if it's something in the mini's software rather than me screwing up.

 

Correct me if im wrong, but I believe the Plug icon shows that its connected to power and the battery is fully charged. It only shows the bolt if it is actively charging.

 

Ditto here. It shows a plug in the battery icon, not a lightning bolt for charging :( Very disappoint that it isn't charging my phone.

Ditto here again.

 

My phone had 1/4 battery when i plugged it into my R56 usb port. It didn't charge it when it showed the battery/plug icon.

 

So the alphabetical song playing seems to be a change in the ipod software, and not Mini's fault. If you select an actual album - it will play it in the proper order. But selecting an artist and then all just plays all the songs from all the albums alphabetically, instead of going through each album one by one like my old ipod :( You can get the same behavior right on the ipod with headphones.

 

It seems my iPhone 3G is indeed charging in my Clubman. I seem to be the only one! I had about 3/4 battery on my way to school today and after the 45 minute drive, my battery was full.

Hmm?

 

It must be a different cable. Maybe the older cable use the firewire charging pin?

 

I was playing around with my iphone 3g and the mini's usb cord and I initially got the plug symbol, then somehow I got the lightning bolt charge icon. I'm not sure what I did to get it. I am going to keep playing with it when I have time and try to figure out how it has to be to get it to charge my phone. I will need it to charge, otherwise it will be useless on long trips...

 

Yup, the new battery doesn't last as long as the old one, not at all but I understand that the 3G technology requires more. Also using bluetooth will drain the battery too.

I guess I will have to buy a new car charger for the 3G if the supplied cable does not work. I thought it was charging mine yesterday but will check again in a few when I go for a drive.

 

the charging of my iphone seems sporadic. it seems it will start charging it after it's been plugged into the car for a few minutes, the plug icon changed to a lightning bolt. Still trying to figure it out.

Anyone else have a crappy mini usb cord? I found out this morning if the aux plug isn't in a certain position it doesn't play to the driver's side speakers. :(

 

@oryx:

I am experiencing the EXACT same thing that you are describing. Brand new 2008 Mini Cooper S with bluetooth and iPod adaptor. Pairs with 3g iPhone and transfers all information fine, but power management is REALLY screwy! I've tried everything, but can't seem to figure out why it sometimes shows the lightning bolt and other times shows the on-AC icon. Thought maybe it was a loose cable/pin, but wiggling it and re-seating it doesn't seem to make a difference. Sometimes it switches between the two power modes during the same session, whether I'm using the iPhone or not. I've also noticed that when it shows the on-AC plug icon, it loses charge. When it's on the lightning bolt, it doesn't lose charge, but I haven't noticed whether it really is charging, or just maintaining its current level. Very frustrating, as I need this thing to charge my phone. I leave work with a drained battery way too often, and was counting on the mini to recharge me on the way home.

If anyone has figured this out -- or a solution -- PLEASE LET US KNOW!!! Thanks!

 

it's definitely screwy. my r56 and my iphone seem to work together and charge. but in my husband's r56, my phone doesn't charge. and in my car, his iphone doesn't charge, and in his car his iphone doesn't charge. ??? only thing i've noticed is that i dont use my phone heavily during the day and it's never less than 1/2 battery and it charges, and his is always below that when he plugs it in the car, so i don't know if having low battery causes it to be screwy and not charge. we are baffled! .

We did try the usb cord that came with the iphone directly into the usb port on the car and it will charge the phone. however, you couldn't control the player thru the obc, you'd have to hook an aux cord to the headjack and control the ipod function thru the phone itself.

 

Here's my experience:

If I unlock my car, get in, and with the door still open, plug in my iPhone 3G, I get the lightning bolt, and it charges fine.

If I get in, start the car and close my door, and then plug in the iPhone, it does not charge, and I get the plug sign.

This has been a pretty consistent experience for me. Hopefully this helps.

 

I'm not sure it is that diabolical. The older iPhone charges through the Firewire power pins, the 3G charges through the USB 2.0 pins.

FWIW, the Griffin PowerJolt V2 Car Charger ($19.95 at the Apple Store) will charge the 3G. I don't have the USB port in my 2007 MCS, so I use this with the iPhone 3G Dock and the AUX port.