Hi all:

Having an 08 MCS, I've long dealt with the no charging capability + music through the mini audio conflict. i.e. I can either plug my phone into a usb cigarette lighter adapter, which will keep the phone charged and allow me to use bluetooth, OR I can plug the phone into the aux/usb/iphone/ipod cable adapter and use phone and audio, but not charge the device.

Now I have the pricy adapter from MINI that looks like the one in the attached file. I can get audio, bluetooth, & power! So? Problem solved? Not really.

The portion of the cable leading to the iphone is so short that I have to cradle the iphone in the drinks holder. I'd like to cradle it in the dashboard cradle I have installed to the left of the steering wheel, which allows me to use the navigation while driving etc.

Is there a similar Y cable that has a longer stretch to the iphone?

How have others resolved the power charging + audio + bluetooth issue on similar models MCS? Pictures please!

I do NOT want to use an armrest fitting, btw.

Thanks.

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Just get an extension cable for the iPhone end, as mentioned here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...r-the-r58.html

 

Tried the "just get a extension" and it didn't work. Got one from Cable Jive $15.00. 2008 MCS is R56 series, so maybe the extension cable is okay for R58's, but not R56's.

 

I didn't realise that BMW made an updated cable which charged new iPhones/iPods, I thought their solution needed to plug in the lighter socket as well.

I got a similar 3rd party thing, which is probably much cheaper http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...00_i01_details

With my original adapter I used a USB extension cable and an audio extension cable to locate the adapter in the glove box. USB/Audio is easier to extend than the 30pin iPod cable. I eventually opened up the y-cable and soldered in the extensions permanently. I'm going to do the same with the new y-cable eventually.

 

A pass-through ipod cable designed for the current Apple products should be all you need. Not sure why it wouldn't work but then I haven't looked or tried this personally - the MINI cable is just the right length to reach my iPhone cradle. I suppose if the iPod pass-through doesn't work, you could get a 3.5mm stereo cabke and USB extension cable and extend the other end of the MINI cable.

 

In theory, a straight pass-through extension cable with 30 pin connectors should work. However, I did a quick search and the vast majority of cables on the market do not connect all the pins in the connector. Some vendors explicitly say that their cable is only for recharging or doesn't carry audio, or video, or USB lines, and many vendors don't give much technical detail at all. So caveat emptor.

 

Btwyx: I'm sorry I wasn't more explicit. You're right. BMW's solution is to run it through the cigarette lighter. The thumbnail cable photo attached in my post plugs into another BMW brand ($$$) adapter that has 3 "outs": 1 for cig lighter, 1 USB and 1 Aux. The USB & AUX plug into the Mini dash board (tucked inside that little cubby behind the cup holders), and the cig lighter plugs into that socket, thereby routing charging capability. THEN the cable I took a picture of plugs into the "power adapter" and voila! Trouble is, the Iphone portion is too short...