Trying to figure this one out. I do not like the mini supplied iPhone cable. To short and i don't like the interface on the car. I use a Griffin Dual USB adapter for power and Dock to line out/usb. It has worked well for the past year and a half.

Then i started to notice about 4 weeks ago the sound quality was horrible. It was just very noisy. I swapped out the cable for a straight 3.5mm stereo cable and the sound was the same crap. I bring it to the dealer and they hook up the iPhone via the MINI cable and it sounds fine. So they blame the wire i was using. Alright, fair enough. So i go to RadioShack and borrow two new cables. (headphone 3.5mm stereo). Same crap sound but my mini cable works just fine.

I can't figure it out. Any ideas?

 

Using just a stereo cable, without power or USB?

 

Yeah, headphone jack on iPhone to AUX input on car (3.5mm stereo both ends).

 

Other odd notes. While at radioshack we tried a sales associate's iphone and it sounds "ok" using the headphone cable. So i went home and tried my iphone hooked up to my home theatre via a 3.5mm to R/W RCA cable. Sounded fine.

 

it's the rca cable. i had similar issue using 'cheap' cable. hate to admit that i had to get monster cable. no problem ever since. seems like the quality of the cable is better, plugs are bit bigger allowing for tighter fit. got monster at target for just $15

 

It's all of my cables? I feel it is some combo of my phone and car.

How does the Mini Adpater work? Does the USB only do a serial to usb conversion for controls and the audio cable does..well audio.

 

you do have an Iphone?...u need to put the volumn all the way up after plugging in cable to iphone...

I love iphone and aux combo because it allows to answer phone calls and talk thru car's speakers...just like bluetooth

 

You are correct sir. For the OEM Cable.

Now with that said if an iPod is set to mass storage device then the USB will read the music over USB just as if the iPod was a USB Stick. And with this you can use the USB cable that came with the iPod.

Not sure if the iPhone can be set to work as a Mass Storage Device though so that may not work for you.

There are many other people that have a noise problem with Phones or other music devices connecting thru the headphone jack to the AUX input. It just seems to be very noisy.

Why the OEM cable clears this problem up i am not sure but it could be the way the OEM cable handles grounding of the USB and AUX jacks. (just a guess with out seeing your car)

I had a problem in the past with a lot of noise on the AUX jack but I had also soldered wires to it on the back side for a special input I added. What I ended up doing was adding a new ground wire to the jack and grounding it at the same place as the New amp I installed.

 

I think i need to try the input with a different source (another MP3 player) or something. I usually use the line out on my iPhone to get a line level. O well.

 

Well i figured it out today. Somehow the Aux input level was set to max and was over modulating the signal. Brought it back down to the middle (3/6) and it went back to sounding like the normal stock stereo.

 

I just went from the 3.5 on both ends to the iPod docking cable with the 3.5 on the other and the sound quality is noticeably better. I wish I could control more than just volume with the MFSW but at least I can play it. That was one of the things I was really looking forward to when I had the 03 (that and the 'S!!!)

 

I had the exact same issue two weeks ago with the new Sony MP3 player that I got for my birthday. My old 2gb nano and new HTC Evo don't have any noise issues. I ended up taking the Sony back after trying 2 of them. I guess I should have just tried a better quality cable.

 

Hello,I have a question,not really a comment. This is the closest forum i could find with the problem that i am having. I have an 2005 Mini S with the ipod dock in the glove box,i bought a new phone(not an Iphone) so i bought a converter to connect to the male end of the ipod connector. Female end on one side and the 3.5 on the other side. I have it all hooked up in the car and can't figure out how to get the radio switched to Aux. mode to run the music through the car speakers. Hopefully it is possible and i am justmissing something.

 

Pinhigh - I have an R56, but check for an Audio button. Once you press it, you'll get options for Tuner, CD, Aux and then you should be able to scroll to it.

 

Pinhigh,

As you have an 2005 you have a 1st Gen car and this is a 2nd Gen forum. As Albie said check for a audio button. but if you don't find one then head over to the 1st Gen section and they would be able to help you better.

And just a note for you some of the adapters in the older cars took the place of the CD Changer so you might have to set the input to CD. I have to do this on my 2003 BMW.