Hey all,

I'm looking into buying/ordering a 2009 Cooper Hardtop and I'm looking for some feedback.

I was hoping someone with an iPhone (or iPod, I imagine the music component would be the same) and the built-in dashboard Nav system would be able to answer the following questions for me and/or provide me some general info. I saw a couple videos about the Nav on youtube, but I couldn't be sure the versions I was seeing were on 2009 Minis and my understanding is that the ones in this model year are a little different than in the past.

1. Does the iPhone/iPod get plugged into the standard USB port to interface with the Nav, or does it use the Aux? Or can it use both?

2. To what extent does the music info on the iPhone/iPod get displayed on the Nav? I believe others mentioned that there's a limit of 255 playlists that each have 255 songs... does this apply in this situation as well?

3. Does album art from the iPhone/iPod get displayed on the Nav?

4. Do movies on the iPhone/iPod play through the Nav? I know this is a silly question, but I saw a vid of someone playing a movie through the Nav so I wanted to make sure. :p

5. Are addresses from your iPhone sycned with the Nav to be used as destinations?

6. One of the pics I saw of the Nav manual scans in the stickies seemed to suggest that the secret cubbyhole was filled in with the CD player... if you get the Nav do you lose the secret cubbyhole?

Other than that, I assume that the regular bluetooth syncing rules apply, and that I'd be able to use the standard, handsfree operations as normal... correct?

Sorry for such a longwinded first post! I read the stickies and searched the forum and I couldn't find answers to most of these, but if I missed something please feel free to direct me there and lock this.

Thanks in advance!

 

there is a big difference between gen1 and gen2 NAV systems but for the most part the 2007 to 2009 (gen2) all work pretty much the same way.

you will need a MINI supplied "Y-Cable" and it uses both the USB and AUX inputs. Just to let you know. Most first generation iPhones will charge without problem in the MINI. As for the 3G and 3GS there are a lot of problems with charging in the MINI and for the most part they will not charge off the USB port. They will require a separate charger.

this is not a limit on the USB iPod connectivity.

no there is no native video on the NAV for the US Spec cars, it would be against the law in many states. But there is a cable sold in England that will allow for video playback on the NAV. research newministuff.com a vendor here.

see above.

No

The secret compartment is a open space unless you order the six disc CD changer or the other type of iPod connection.

check out the sticky thread called "Bluetooth Compatibility List" there is lots of info in there recently about the iPhone and it's problems with the MINI Bluetooth System.

Just to let you know all of these have been answered at least once and in some cases more than once in other threads.

 

Thanks for your very helpful response. I'd found an answer or two since I'd posted it, but I did try and look before I cluttered up the board!

 

I'm not sure the 255 limit exists for the 'old' ipod adapter/boost kit anymore either- IE it might finally be fixed. My track numbers go at least to 1300 in playlists (thats as far as Ive gotten) on the boost kit I just installed.

 

So you have the iPod in the Secret Compartment and do not have the limitations? Is that what you are saying?

 

Yes, I have the ipod in the secret compartment that uses the cd changer interface- you choose 'cdc' as the input. The display display says things like 'Track 1200' and 'Track 1305' before switching to show the song name. I really haven't futzed with it much because it seems to do what I want.

The programming by the dealer was very recent, in the last two weeks.

 

Thanks for the Updated info.

 

(Continuing to threadjack with the secret compartment iPod retrofit/255 limit) So I got curious on the drive to work and pushed more buttons. I really don't think I'm running into a 255 song limit- but wait for confirmation from someone else before you pay MA the ECU reflashed. I haven't had my MINI long, could be user error.

Anyhow, my main playlist is 13.5 gigs on my ipod touch (more than 255 songs), so I chose that playlist with the selector.

That came up on the screen for me to scroll through, and I started playing a song near the beginning (track 5). I used the random to skip to a different song in the list (track number over 1000) and the screen updated to the new position it was playing from in the 'q-r-s' area of the list. I turned the selector **** l/r to choose from nearby songs (track positions 1003-1004-1005, etc) and clicked and those songs played too. I assume if I turn the selector long enough I can scroll the whole list.