Greetings,

I picked up the iphone 4 armrest holder today because I was just tired of having to fiddle with plugging in my phone everytime and it just sitting in a cupholder.

All of the MINI CONNECTED featured work just fine except one... in the "Connected" screen (the blue one) when I go to "Activate Plug in" so I can get the ipod interface... I get NOTHING, so no play lists none of the ipod features. If I go to the GREEN "Media" section, I can connect to the ipod, but no cover art.

Is this true...

 

I was just about to post about this and found your post on a search. Have you figured anything new out about this?

In my limited experimentation, it seems that the only time I can get "plugin" to work is plugging my iPhone in to the y-cable, unfortunately. iPod doesn't work via y-cable (unfortunately), and of course ipod/armrest isn't an option.

Summary-
iphone/Y works.
iphone/armrest doesn't work, and that one I don't understand.
ipod/Y doesn't work
ipod/armrest- not an option

Wish ipod/Y worked. But I'm guessing maybe it needs an iOS device?? not sure.

But, having said all that... i'm doing just fine with iPod/Y via the USB menu. I find plugin is actually a little cumbersome, because it takes a lot of effort to get in/out of plugin mode.

 

alexroet,

Exactly what system do you have in your car?

What year is your car?

This will make a big difference is how it all works. Let me know these things and what other options you have and i can help explain how it is supposed to work.

One note is that if you put this and some other basic info in your signature then we do not have to keep asking for it. Check my signature and those of others to see what to put in it.

 

There are at least 3 different adapters for the iPhone 4/4S and depending on which one you have as to whether it will work or not. I know one is only for charging.

The part number on the one you have should be 84-21-2-218-390

Part Numbers:

84212199389 - for mobile phone prep and usb audio but not for link/music prep and no combo box (ie non MINI connected) (charging only)

84212199390 - for mobile phone prep and sub usb audio and link/music prep and no combo box (ie non MINI Connected)

84212218390 - for mobile phone prep and sub usb audio and link/music prep and combo box and MINI Connected

84212199393 - Discontinued But was not for MINI Connected.

Preps order codes are as follows if you need them to figure out what actual options you have.

S644A = Mobile Phone Prep, Bluetooth

S6NEA = mobile Phone Prep , Bluetooth, + USB Audio (USB under switch panel in center stack)

S6NFA = Link, Music Player in mobile section (not really sure what that means but it is not MINI Connected)

S6CVA = Control for Combo Box (not really sure what that means but it is not MINI Connected)

S6NMA = MINI Connected

 

Yes, I know I should make a sig but frankly I don't know what all the abbreviations people use stand for. I'll try though.

But this car is a 3 week old 2012 MCS Coupe, with premium and tech packages, and mini connected with nav. so it came with the Y-cable, and I've also added the snap-in adapter for the armrest. I don't know the part number, but when I ordered it there was only one option that worked for my setup.

 

Just because there was only one that was supposed to work does not mean you got the right one. Check the part number on the bottom of it to make sure it jives with the above. I say this because there was a time the part number on the packaging and the part number on the actual were not the same and a whole bunch of people go the wrong Snap-in.

 

Well, maybe the more pertinent question is- SHOULD the 'plugin' feature work from the armrest? Does it work for anyone else? Everything ELSE seems to work for me. So I don't know if it's a defective/wrong part, or just "that's how it is".

(and hopefully there will be a sig on this post)

 

Well MINI says it should work. But that may not be the true story either, they have miss informed people before. As for the Plug-In there have been a few reports that it does now work with the 393 part number but that the 390 should work. Only way to know is what part number do you have?

But i can guarantee that it will not work if the wrong adapter is used.

 

Well this is interesting- Mine is apparently none of the above. The sticker on the bottom of mine (and the box it came in and the packing slip etc etc) says 84 21 2 298 308.

 

Yes that is very interesting as when I look up that part number it lists it as being for an iPhone 4/4s. But it lists NO options that it works with. But it is "always" listed next to the 84 21 2 218 390 for all BMW and MINI vehicles. The other interesting thing i find with this is that the 390 is listed as follows:

BMW Vehicles - Convenience phone, expanded Smartphone = NO
MINI Vehicles - Smart Phone = Yes

Also it seems the 308 is a replacement for the 390 on the latest MINI/BMW parts update. Yet previously it was only listed for BMW Vehicles.

You may want to ask your dealer if they can find you a 84 21 2 218 390 and see if that works for you.

 

Where do you look up these part numbers?
And, how do I know which prep I have? i seem to remember when I ordered this, it said that it requires the S6NEA. And I do have all the features that you described with S6NEA, but I also have mini connected, which is S6NMA? Does one supersede the other?

Also, mine does say BMW on the bottom, and didn't say MINI anywhere.

 

Hm, just found this on the dealer's parts page, but i couldn't find more info than that. One is for "media" and one is for "music"?


01 84212218390 SNAP-IN ADAPTER FOR MEDIA - IPHONE 4/4S 0.32 1 $263.64

84212218390 was superseded by 84212298308.

and:

01 84212199393 SNAP-IN ADAPTER, MUSIC - IPHONE 4/4S 0.31 1 NA

84212199393 was superseded by 84212199392.

 

Here is some more clarification on the codes above and what options you must have to do certain things in the car.

DISCLAIMER: This is all taken from BMW/MINI documentation and we all know that sometimes it is not always correct.

For bluetooth you can have S644A or S6NEA but not more than one of them.

S644A = Bluetooth connectivity for your phone but does not provide USB support or input.

S6NEA = Bluetooth connectivity for your phone. Provides USB for iPod/iPhone connection. Can use USB Sitck for Music some other USB music devices may work in Mass Storage Mode

S6NFA = Link, Music Player in mobile section -- Seems to be a cable addition to get music to play from the arm rest. I am not 100% sure on this but if it is not in BMW then you can not play music from the arm rest. It is not another module though that is why I think it is just a wire harness

S6CVA = Com Box -- This is a module and will add the following to either MINI Connected or Visual Boost (not currently available in the USA), If this is not installed it seems MINI connected can still accomplish some of these tasks but only thru the y-cable

• External Call Lists: Now missed and dialled calls that were made while the phone was not connected to the vehicle will also be viewable on the onboard display.
• Enhanced Contacts with Images: If your Bluetooth mobile phone has images associated to your contacts, you will now be able to see the contact images in your car as well.
• In-Car Office: Access calendar items, notes, and tasks on your Bluetooth mobile phone via the on- board display.
• E-Mail: Access and read emails from your Blackberry mobile phone seamlessly via Bluetooth on the onboard display.
• Text-to-Speech: Emails, calendar items, notes, tasks, and SMS messages can all be read aloud to the driver to ensure the driver ' s eyes always remain on the road ahead.
• Bluetooth Audio Streaming: Stream your own music from your Bluetooth enabled MP3 player straight to the vehicle's audio system.
• Album Cover Art: Enjoy the beautiful album art on your Apple iPod now on your BMW/MINI onboard display.
• Voice Control for External Devices: Now you can control the music playback from your connected external audio device using voice control. Call up your favourite genre, artist or song with simple voice commands. No more scrolling and searching.
• Easier Connectivity with Apple Devices: With Combox, Apple devices no longer require a Y-Cable to be connected to a BMW/MINI. The factory provided white Apple cable is all that is needed.

S6NMA = MINI Connected

 

S6NEA and S6NMA are different items and as such you can have S6NEA without the S6NMA but to have S6NMA you must also have S6NEA

There are many parts that have a BMW logo only but work with the MINI and will never have a MINI logo.

 

Ok. then if I have mini connected I must have S6NMA (and thus also S6NEA). but I'll check when I get home.

Yeah, that's why I didn't think much of it.

 

Oh and just a little more info

Option code 6FP Full MINI Connected consists of (shortened codes)
473 - Center Arm Rest
620 - Voice Control
6NE - Comfort Bluetooth with USB
6NF - Smart Phone Integration
6CV - Combox Controler
6NM - MINI Connected

7L5 Full MINI Connected with Navaigation consists of:
6UH - Real Time Traffic Info
473 - Center Arm Rest
606 - MINI Navigation System
620 - Voice Control
6NE - Comfort Bluetooth with USB
6NF - Smart Phone Integration
6CV - Combox Controler
6NM - MINI Connected

 

Wow, great.

Ok, my order says I have-

7L5 (mini connected with nav), which includes
620 voice command
6FP mini connected (not sure how/if this differs from 6NM)
6NE comfort bluetooth with USB/iPod adapter
6NM mini connected
6UM mini navigation system [wonder how this differs from 606]

And also listed is-
6NF smartphone integration
6UH real time traffic info
6VC Combox (vs 6CV?)

And 473 (center armrest) as part of ZTP (technology package)

 

If you look at the above post 6FP is the Full MINI Connected. It all has to do with how the order was input to the computer This may be a change from 2011 to 2012 orders i was looking at the 2011 option listing i dont have a 2012 yet to look at.

That is my typing dyslexia 6VC is correct.

But again just because MINI/BMW say in some literature that it is supposed to work does not mean that it does. Depending on specific laws in each country they may have to disable certain parts of the system like e-mail or something else.

As for the Snap-In issue I would check to see if the dealer can get you the ending in 390 part and see if that work. Even though it has bee superceeded sometimes they can still get or find the older part.