Hi all, I apologize if this has been covered a bunch of times, but I couldn't find anything addressing this issue when I did a search. Here's my problem: when I get in my 2009 MCS my phone connects to the car's bluetooth instantly. That's the great part. The bad part is that I can't figure out how to get the call to disconnect from the car when I park so that I can continue on my handset as I walk into the house. I turn the car off, take the key out, lock the doors, and still my call is connected to the car.

My phone is a Blackberry Curve and my carrier is Verizon. Has anybody else had this problem? Thanks!

 

Wouldn't you just go into the phone's Bluetooth settings and select the handset?

 

With a Blackberry, you can click the menu button when on a call and you should have a menu option like "Switch to Handset".

Still, my car (an '07) automatically disconnects from the car as soon as the doors are locked.

 

Yeah, it says in the manual that came with my car that the call should switch back to the handset as soon as the ignition is turned off. I would think that it should switch back to the handset with the car off just as smoothly as it switches to the car when you get in it. I can also listen to my radio without ever putting the key into the ignition. I guess I'll take a look at my phone next time I'm on a call and see if there's a "switch to handset" option. Perhaps this is one of those cool features like being able to remotely put the windows down, but not put them back up.

 

MrBurns,

Do you have the convenience package? as this may make a difference, although it really should not.

 

I've got the convenience package, and you still have to press the start button or insert the key to turn on the radio or have the phone connect via Bluetooth.

Then again, something could have changed in the past two years.

 

I do not have the convenience package. However, I just went out and unlocked the car, got in the passenger seat, and was able to turn the radio on with the key in my pocket. I tried the windows, but they would not operate.

Next, I closed the passenger door, put the key into the ignition, but did not press the start/stop button, and the windows went up and down just fine and the radio still worked.

After that, I took the key out, and the windows and radio STILL worked. However, once I opened the passenger door, the windows stopped working, but my trusty radio was still rockin' and rollin'.

I read through every section of the manual referring to the radio and/or bluetooth and it states that to turn "radio readiness off" take the key out, open a door, lock the car, etc. I suppose a call to the dealer is in order.

 

Ok, I talked to a service tech at South Bay BMW - apparently there were no Mini techs available. He said he had no idea the radio would work without the key in the ignition. I just saw a post where someone else's does the same thing, so fine fair enough - could be kind of cool for tailgating purposes I suppose. As for the bluetooth switching back to the handset, you all are on the money. Its the same system that is in the BMW 3-series. You have to switch it back manually on the phone. He also said that if you don't, you can shutdown the car, lock the car, walk away with the phone, and the connection won't be broken until you get out of range - at which point your call will disconnect as well. I think that is some idiotic programming. Why not make one of the buttons on the radio be a "switch to handset" button"?

At any rate, I'm new here and don't want to be "the guy who gripes all the time" so I'll end by saying my 2009 MCS 6MT is the most fun car I have ever driven. I can't wait to get past 600 miles so I can open it up! The "snap, crackle, pop" exhaust sound is completely addicting!

 

Okay i did a bunch of testing to day and made a video of what happens unfortunately the video when up loaded to you tube come out as crap and you can not see the screen on the phone and what it does. So to put it in words.

1.View Connections screen on Verizon BlackBerry Curve 8330. outside car it shows bluetooth ON.

2. Unlock the car and it shows bluetooth ON

3. Press start button once (turns car on but doe not start) bluetooth shows ON

4. Press start button second time car starts and bluetooth shows CONNECTED.

5. Press start button again engine goes off. bluetooth show CONNECTED

6. Press start button again and radio and other electronics in car turn off. Bluetooth shows ON (so it has disconnected).

Same sequence as above but step 6 changes to

6a. Get out of car and lock door radio and other electronics in car go of and bluetooth shows ON (so it disconnected)

this si how it is supposed to work.

Now a note on the radio itself. By pressing the volume button turns the radio on but only the radio and not the ohter electronics in the car. This i great for going to the drive-in but unfortunatley the radio will still go off after 15-30 minutes as that is how the computer is programed.