Ok, I have posted this before over at the convertible forums but I hope someone has the same issue.
I own a 2011 convertible and the biggest problem is I can hear everyone clearly but no one can hear me. when I talk It comes across with alot of static and this is even with the car turn off and top up. Very frustrating not being able to communicate. I even lean forward an almost scream into the steering column to no avail. I have turned up the bluetooth volume on both sides receiving and calling. The phone is hooked up correct because they come across very clear thru the speakers when someone calls. I am wondering if the speaker itself is bad on the steering column? Anyone else had this problem? This car is truly great from all other aspects.
thanks

 

I have the identical issue. Apparently it is a known issue that requires a software upgrade according to my SA. My other half refuses to use the bluetooth connection so I haven't resolved the problem in my '10 convertible. Very strange since my '09 convertible has no issues at all, top up or top down.

 

Hrmm..I'll have to call my SA and see if he knows about it. Everything I've read on forums has led me to believe that there is no solution though. I'm waiting to hear from the forum member who offered to help and see if he could come up with any ideas.

Also, I recently upgraded my iphone 3GS to IOS 5 and hoped that maybe the new bluetooth software on the phone would solve it. It didn't. Seems that the problem is intermittent and everyone reports hearing me differently. Sometimes they say my voice is too low and they can't hear me, other times they say there's a lot of loud background noise (even when I'm not moving), other times they say they hear me with an echo, etc... The only thing in common is that they all say I sound like crap and it's annoying talking to me.

 

You can do the following small test to see if the microphone is the problem: After connecting your phone to the car use the voice recording function on your phone. Speak to the car's mic and then play back what you recorded. This way you know what the others should be hearing...

 

Hrmm.. how would I do that on an iphone? Seems like I'd just be recording using the phone's built in mic.

 

On my Nokia phone, when a headset is connected over bluetooth, the recording is done from that mic. I dont know what the iphone would do, but the procedure should be the same.

If not on the phone, you can try it with a laptop having bluetooth on...

 

I have talked to two SA's and three different techs I know at three different dealers and as far as they know there is no update that will correct this problem.

If you believe your SA please take your car in and have this supposed update done and let us know if it corrected the problem. and if it does solve the problem please find out what the software version number is so that the rest of the people with this problem can insist their dealer do this update.

Unfortunately I get the feeling that your SA has no idea but i would be very happy to be proven wrong.

 

I have spoken with MiamiGuitarMan on the phone.

1. Phone no bluetooth connection and the sound is great

2. Bluetooth connected to car, car NOT moving and the volume is drops by approximately 50% but is still clear enough to hear

3. Bluetooth connected to car, car moving and the voice starts to echo making it very hard to understand as the echo is only a few milliseconds different from the original voice. And the Echo gets worse as the car moves faster, which is an odd thing to happen. Hell even the echo is odd as it starts when the car is moving.

The echo may be being caused by vibrations in the mounting system of the microphone mount. Not sure yet but I will continue to work on this with a few people until I have it resolved or have tried everything possible to get a resolution. Just please be patient.

 

THanks for everyones help and input. my Dealer is 500 miles away so I will have to wait for the 1st check up in the spring to get what needs to be done. Will check back to see if any solutions where found.

 

As a side note on software updates at the dealer, the ULF (bluetooth) module will get updated (to the latest version the dealer has on their system) along with every other module in the entire car if the dealer connects it to ISTA/P. It is an all-or-nothing update system. An update can take 4+ hours to complete.

Also, BMW updated the ULF module hardware many times, I believe the latest version was the 13th rev! You may end of having to replace the module. I think I installed the 11th or 12th rev in my car, and the BT works reasonably okay.

 

I believe the so "called" different generations of the ULF refer to all versions, including incompatible to the MINI modules. When we are talking about the MULF2-HI fitted to the R56, the different part numbers just reflect the different software on the unit. Updating the unit's firmware should yield the same results as a newer unit.

With only knowledge of the v41 Datens, the last update to the MULF was back in 2009 with software number 9229740. I do not know if an update is available in v43 Datens however...

 

If the ULF hasn't been updated since 09, then the original poster's issue is probably the microphone itself is defective or the ULF module is defective.

 

This is partly true but each generation of ULF has had hardware changes as well as different part numbers for different software revisions and options. So older before gen 10 will should not work in a 2nd gen MINI.

I believe you are right and that the 9229740 is that latest software for the ULF and as such has not been updated in a few years.

There are currently two Gen 13 versions available.

84109226711 - not for use in cars with NAV

84109229740 - Latest version can be used in all cars with or without NAV.

Now here is an interesting fact about the microphones.

84316938762 - Used in ALL BMW models and MINI R55, R56, R60

84109167397 - Used ONLY in MINI R57 and R58 models.

And quess what R58 users are also complaining of the same problem as R57 owners.

Now there are some complaints about quality of outgoing voice in all 2nd Gen MINI's but There are alot more complaints about the R57 than any other model. It could be that the Microphone for the R57/58 is just that much worse or it is in a really bad location.

I am still working on this to try an figure it out. As stated in a post #8 above the mic does work. I asked MiamiGuitarMan while sitting still and the car running to lean in to the mic and the volume went up and almost to the point of being as good as the phone itself. So with that knowledge there is something going on with the mic as the car starts to move. I believe much of the problem may be its location in the car. If you look at them they actually point back toward the dash slightly not at the driver. And as many of us know who own coops, and clubman moving the mic to the drivers side from the passenger side made a huge difference in the sound quality. I.E. moving the mic so that it was not pointed away from the driver made a big difference.

There has been one (1) report though of replacement of a ULF module fixing the R57 problem. But there have been other reports that replacing the ULF module does not fix the problem. And with that knowledge it is doubtful that straight replacement may not correct the problem. Unless of course MINI quality control is bad enough to have let thousands of bad modules get put in R57 and R58 models.

 

As a side note, My Dad's E64 convertible (04 645) has the mic in that same spot on the column and I can hear him just fine all of the time on his BT system (that car uses the older TCU module).

It really could be just the noise from the Cooper and an overly-aggressive noise cancellation program or some combination of factors.

I am sure this is a frustrating problem! When I asked the dealer for a quote to install the factory BT retrofit, he said most people don't like it anyway ($1300 is what the quote was).

 

Yes teh MINI is a lot noisier inside than an E64. And with the echoing that is started and gets worse as the MINI starts to move indicates that noise cancellation software could be a cause.

And i agree many people dont like it but why should it be so bad in a MINI, Ford, Chevy, Nissan, and many others have systems that work very well in other than convertibles with the top down. So MINI really needs to work on this but getting tehm to do so is the hard part. But in the mean time if i can come up with something that works maybe it can get incorporated into the car at some point.

 

Have you tried moving the microphone to the driver's side from the passenger side in the roof?

 

On the R57 the mic is already on the driver's side. It's right on the steering column.

 

update... Finally made it back to my Dealer. They spend two days with the car and they admitted it doesnt work properly. Ordering a new microphone for which I thought was the original problem. They updated the computer etc... but they couldnt get it to work either. I have I phone 4 so I hope they get it to work since it was a paid for upgrade. Nice to have this under the 3 year warranty. Does anyone know if the aftermarket bluetooth that is in the visor works any better?
thanks

 

I took mine to the dealer and was told that it's working within normal parameters. Bunch of crap, imo.

I paid $500 for that option and it's essentially unusable and since the dealer tells me there's nothing wrong with it, I don't know what else I can do.

What aftermarket bluetooth are you talking about? I don't have any BT in my visor.

 

sorry for the confusion. Mini has an aftermarket bluetooth in their catalog that clips to the visor that I was wondering how it works... Normal parameters(ha) which is the person on the other end cant hear you at all but Static.. so They are telling you it is ok? not a very good dealership. I am back up to the dealer in August and will let you know what happened.

 

I have a 2010 MCS with BT. Anyone ever find a solution to this issue? I had no idea the microphone was on the steering column. Always thought it was up near the map lights. I agree that this system is practically useless. I'm considering purchasing an aftermarket unit. Jabra makes a good one that I've seen. Would be great if we could figure out if just relocating the microphone would fix the issue.

 

Bump

Still having the problem with mine. Still just as frustrated....

 

I have read that the problem can be the microphone. BMW's microphone is of difference impedance than many typical cheap microphones which also makes it more prone to static. At some point in the production they changed the PN to: 84 31 6938762.

Maybe you should check to see the PN on your microphone... (Although the change happened in 07 so all R57s should have gotten the newer part but who knows?)

 

any updates on this? My wifes 2011 R57 with a Samsung S3 sounds like she is underwater and breaks up badly. It is frustrating trying to talk to her on the BT.

 

Update: I have a 2010 MCS the Bluetooth is unusable at speed. In talking to the SA he said that the BT software needs to be "downgraded" to the rev used in the 2009. They've already done the acoustic taping to no avail. The specialist for programming is coming in next month, I hope to find out more. This is a great car, it seems a pity to be strapped with an inferior system like this.