Navigation & Audio Lightening y-cable for 2013 Mini S
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,585
Likes: 1
From: Augusta, GA
I assume there's some sort of technical reason it was done the way it was, but I can't fathom what it would be!
-Paul
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 80
Likes: 2
From: Pasadena, California
I can agree that the digital (USB) connection is better performance than the standard 3.5mm stereo jack connection. Yields higher level output. Also appears to be more dynamic range.
Last edited by WestCoastD; Sep 3, 2015 at 08:51 PM.
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,585
Likes: 1
From: Augusta, GA
I just recently found my old iPod (5.5 gen) that's charging up. Gonna try that on my way to work tomorrow.
-Paul
Neutral
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Lancaster, CA
I got my K+DCAN cable in the mail a week ago, but with Abner in the shop for 12 days it'll be a while before I can try this out.
Last edited by virgilante; Sep 17, 2015 at 09:51 PM.
paul,
thank you so much for that. it work perfectly. Now i don't have to spend 100 bucks for cable. I was able to play music and mini connected app.
thank you so much for that. it work perfectly. Now i don't have to spend 100 bucks for cable. I was able to play music and mini connected app.
A. Of sorts, yes.
B. Sorry, 'MEDIA' is the module. It dumps a text string into a .TRC file (not FSC, I corrected my original post, oops!). You then modify the TRC file to the options you would like to select, then copy or rename it to a .MAN file. The MAN file is then read by NCSExpert and then coded to the car. It's all plaintext suprisingly enough (if in German...). And NCSDummy helps with German translation and coding part. You'll likely find the manual for NCSDummy interesting as it goes into much more detail than what I'm capable of.
C. Nope, just a plaintext line. Looks exactly like this:
USB1_IPOD_AUDIO
digital
As for MINI dealers helping you out, don't count on it. Unless you're in close with a tech, they don't like 'coding outside the box', so to speak. MINI/BMW is also not too happy that these tools are out in the wild, as they were meant for techs only.
I'm not a developer, programmer, tuner, etc. I just like fiddling with stuff that I'm not supposed to.
-Paul
B. Sorry, 'MEDIA' is the module. It dumps a text string into a .TRC file (not FSC, I corrected my original post, oops!). You then modify the TRC file to the options you would like to select, then copy or rename it to a .MAN file. The MAN file is then read by NCSExpert and then coded to the car. It's all plaintext suprisingly enough (if in German...). And NCSDummy helps with German translation and coding part. You'll likely find the manual for NCSDummy interesting as it goes into much more detail than what I'm capable of.
C. Nope, just a plaintext line. Looks exactly like this:
USB1_IPOD_AUDIO
digital
As for MINI dealers helping you out, don't count on it. Unless you're in close with a tech, they don't like 'coding outside the box', so to speak. MINI/BMW is also not too happy that these tools are out in the wild, as they were meant for techs only.
I'm not a developer, programmer, tuner, etc. I just like fiddling with stuff that I'm not supposed to.
-Paul
paul,
do you noticed mini connected app disconnect quite often? Every 5 minutes or so, it would disconnect and connect again.
do you noticed mini connected app disconnect quite often? Every 5 minutes or so, it would disconnect and connect again.
That's it. The very same that comes with the iPhone. So far, I've used Rhapsody, MINI Connected, Apple Music, and music stored on my iPhone. All work flawlessly.
I just recently found my old iPod (5.5 gen) that's charging up. Gonna try that on my way to work tomorrow.
-Paul
I just recently found my old iPod (5.5 gen) that's charging up. Gonna try that on my way to work tomorrow.
-Paul
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,585
Likes: 1
From: Augusta, GA
Did you try to 'reboot' the MINI after changing the settings? Things were acting weird immediately after (I hit play on my iPhone's Music app and it routed through bluetooth
), but I disconnected the battery, left it disconnected for a few minutes, then reconnected. Everything has been perfect since then.-Paul
thanks..gonna disconnect battery and leave it out for an hour or so. hopefully i don't get the mini connected app disconnection. Again thanks for the usb1 digital trick. i was able to go out and buy the ligthing to 30 pin adapter.
Huh, no, not at all. It's been rock solid for all apps, including MINI Connected.
Did you try to 'reboot' the MINI after changing the settings? Things were acting weird immediately after (I hit play on my iPhone's Music app and it routed through bluetooth ), but I disconnected the battery, left it disconnected for a few minutes, then reconnected. Everything has been perfect since then.
-Paul
Did you try to 'reboot' the MINI after changing the settings? Things were acting weird immediately after (I hit play on my iPhone's Music app and it routed through bluetooth
), but I disconnected the battery, left it disconnected for a few minutes, then reconnected. Everything has been perfect since then.-Paul
I disconnect the battery and let the car sat for an hour. No go. Within mini connected, I use the sport instrument and I noticed once every so often the app close and reconnect again. Maybe it's the sport instrument app that is unstable. The music from my iPhone still work.
Also the sport instrument show the rpm. Man I notice it lagging. Meaning it would be 10 second delay. When come to stop sign, it rpm is around 700 while the app showing 1500..after 10 seconds then it show 700.
When I was using the old iPhone 4s, was delay and apps close as well. So changing the usb1 to digital still have the issue. I am thinking the apps itself is the issue.
Overall I said well worth it making the change instead of using the y cable. The sound is a huge improvement. Let alone u can use the same cable from Apple instead of mini media cable. I believe that the media cable for lighting iDevice convert from digital to analog. When the mod using ncsexpert allow full digital.
Also the sport instrument show the rpm. Man I notice it lagging. Meaning it would be 10 second delay. When come to stop sign, it rpm is around 700 while the app showing 1500..after 10 seconds then it show 700.
When I was using the old iPhone 4s, was delay and apps close as well. So changing the usb1 to digital still have the issue. I am thinking the apps itself is the issue.
Overall I said well worth it making the change instead of using the y cable. The sound is a huge improvement. Let alone u can use the same cable from Apple instead of mini media cable. I believe that the media cable for lighting iDevice convert from digital to analog. When the mod using ncsexpert allow full digital.
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,585
Likes: 1
From: Augusta, GA
Weird. Are all other apps working ok? Best I can recommend is to delete then reinstall the MINI Connected app. If that doesn't work (as much as this sucks) try restoring the iPhone, then just install the MINI Connected app before installing anything else. If it works, then install everything else and hopefully all will work.
Good luck!!
-Paul
Good luck!!
-Paul
I disconnect the battery and let the car sat for an hour. No go. Within mini connected, I use the sport instrument and I noticed once every so often the app close and reconnect again. Maybe it's the sport instrument app that is unstable. The music from my iPhone still work.
Also the sport instrument show the rpm. Man I notice it lagging. Meaning it would be 10 second delay. When come to stop sign, it rpm is around 700 while the app showing 1500..after 10 seconds then it show 700.
When I was using the old iPhone 4s, was delay and apps close as well. So changing the usb1 to digital still have the issue. I am thinking the apps itself is the issue.
Overall I said well worth it making the change instead of using the y cable. The sound is a huge improvement. Let alone u can use the same cable from Apple instead of mini media cable. I believe that the media cable for lighting iDevice convert from digital to analog. When the mod using ncsexpert allow full digital.
Also the sport instrument show the rpm. Man I notice it lagging. Meaning it would be 10 second delay. When come to stop sign, it rpm is around 700 while the app showing 1500..after 10 seconds then it show 700.
When I was using the old iPhone 4s, was delay and apps close as well. So changing the usb1 to digital still have the issue. I am thinking the apps itself is the issue.
Overall I said well worth it making the change instead of using the y cable. The sound is a huge improvement. Let alone u can use the same cable from Apple instead of mini media cable. I believe that the media cable for lighting iDevice convert from digital to analog. When the mod using ncsexpert allow full digital.
i am going to reset the phone and start from scratch. No phone restore or whatever. Just fresh restart. Will report back soon.
Weird. Are all other apps working ok? Best I can recommend is to delete then reinstall the MINI Connected app. If that doesn't work (as much as this sucks) try restoring the iPhone, then just install the MINI Connected app before installing anything else. If it works, then install everything else and hopefully all will work.
Good luck!!
-Paul
Good luck!!
-Paul
5th Gear
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 987
Likes: 0
From: Cannon AFB, Clovis, New Mexico
Sorry, I just saw this. Apple Lossless is usually done in iTunes. I believe there are other programs that will do it, but I use iTunes. You just change the ripping settings to Apple Lossless and off you go. The file type will be .alac
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Oxnard, CA
Easiest way is to find someone who has the equipment & has done it before! It's not for the feint of heart, and it has the potential of 'bricking' your MINI. Possibly bad enough to have to have your car towed to the dealership or even have to replace modules! 
Now, if you're not scared away, the first thing to do is to buy a K+D CAN cable. They can range anywhere from $20 to $100+, and there's no guarantee it'll work. I bought mine from Amazon for about $25 and it works great. But even from the same vendor you may get a bad one. (If you get one and it has a white PCB, it'll likely not work. I got a green one and it's fine.)
After that, you'll need to download the NCSExpert software package. Take a look at the Electrical forum and Google for ideas on where to get the software (don't pay for it either, you'll find it for free without too much trouble).
You'll also need the 'Datens' for your MINI. I think the newest version is v54. This is a collection of software that runs your MINI (and that explanation is way over-simplified but that's the general idea). And you'll want to get the newest ones - from my understanding new datens are backwards-compatible with old ones, but not vice-versa. If you use old datens but your MINI is loaded with newer ones, you're gonna bork stuff up.
Then, I recommend getting the NCSDummy companion software to help along with the coding. Once again, Google is your friend, but its pretty easy to find.
Once you have the cable and software (read EVERYTHING until you feel completely comfortable, the NCSDummy manual is particularly helpful), load up NCSExpert, pull the 'MEDIA' TRC file, *make a backup of it!!!*, open that file in NSCDummy, change the USB1_IPOD_AUDIO option from 'analog' to 'digital', send that to a MAN file, then open NCSExpert again and code your MINI from the MAN file.
Easy, right?
Also, everything seems to be working now, but things were weird for a little bit. After I 'rebooted' my MINI though (disconnected the battery, waited a few minutes, then hooked it back up) things seem fine.
The nice thing is that once you go through all of this, you can use it for a LOT more than screwing with audio. You can change all sorts of options on your MINI that you would otherwise have to have coded at the dealership, if they would do it at all.
Good luck!!
-Paul
It's not for the feint of heart, and it has the potential of 'bricking' your MINI. Possibly bad enough to have to have your car towed to the dealership or even have to replace modules! Now, if you're not scared away, the first thing to do is to buy a K+D CAN cable. They can range anywhere from $20 to $100+, and there's no guarantee it'll work. I bought mine from Amazon for about $25 and it works great. But even from the same vendor you may get a bad one. (If you get one and it has a white PCB, it'll likely not work. I got a green one and it's fine.)
After that, you'll need to download the NCSExpert software package. Take a look at the Electrical forum and Google for ideas on where to get the software (don't pay for it either, you'll find it for free without too much trouble).
You'll also need the 'Datens' for your MINI. I think the newest version is v54. This is a collection of software that runs your MINI (and that explanation is way over-simplified but that's the general idea). And you'll want to get the newest ones - from my understanding new datens are backwards-compatible with old ones, but not vice-versa. If you use old datens but your MINI is loaded with newer ones, you're gonna bork stuff up.
Then, I recommend getting the NCSDummy companion software to help along with the coding. Once again, Google is your friend, but its pretty easy to find.
Once you have the cable and software (read EVERYTHING until you feel completely comfortable, the NCSDummy manual is particularly helpful), load up NCSExpert, pull the 'MEDIA' TRC file, *make a backup of it!!!*, open that file in NSCDummy, change the USB1_IPOD_AUDIO option from 'analog' to 'digital', send that to a MAN file, then open NCSExpert again and code your MINI from the MAN file.
Easy, right?
Also, everything seems to be working now, but things were weird for a little bit. After I 'rebooted' my MINI though (disconnected the battery, waited a few minutes, then hooked it back up) things seem fine.
The nice thing is that once you go through all of this, you can use it for a LOT more than screwing with audio. You can change all sorts of options on your MINI that you would otherwise have to have coded at the dealership, if they would do it at all.
Good luck!!
-Paul
Or can this be done with the basic sound system as well?
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 80
Likes: 2
From: Pasadena, California
That's it. The very same that comes with the iPhone. So far, I've used Rhapsody, MINI Connected, Apple Music, and music stored on my iPhone. All work flawlessly.
I just recently found my old iPod (5.5 gen) that's charging up. Gonna try that on my way to work tomorrow
-Paul
I just recently found my old iPod (5.5 gen) that's charging up. Gonna try that on my way to work tomorrow
-Paul
But I'm still very curious about MiniConnected. Are there any update's in regards to integrating this functionality on my 2009 Mini Hardtop Coupe-S? Stable software?
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,585
Likes: 1
From: Augusta, GA
-Paul
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 67
Likes: 1
From: Hingham, MA
Usb stick!!!
Might actually go try this before folks have time to respond. I've been using my iPod shuffle via the aux cable, but I have USB drives all over the place. Other thing it solves (if it works) is that it doesn't run out of battery. I ran out of battery on the shuffle 40 minutes from home yesterday and was without my Megan Trainor playlist for far too long!
Thanks!
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 80
Likes: 2
From: Pasadena, California
Totally forgot about this being an option. If I create a playlist in iTunes, can I just plug the USB stick into the USB slot in my car? I've got a 2012 NOT CONNECTED R57.
Might actually go try this before folks have time to respond. I've been using my iPod shuffle via the aux cable, but I have USB drives all over the place. Other thing it solves (if it works) is that it doesn't run out of battery. I ran out of battery on the shuffle 40 minutes from home yesterday and was without my Megan Trainor playlist for far too long!
Might actually go try this before folks have time to respond. I've been using my iPod shuffle via the aux cable, but I have USB drives all over the place. Other thing it solves (if it works) is that it doesn't run out of battery. I ran out of battery on the shuffle 40 minutes from home yesterday and was without my Megan Trainor playlist for far too long!
I have a pretty large WMA & iTunes archive (60GB/18,00 files). I use the SanDisk Ultra-Fit USB 3.0 Flash Drive's (64GB & 128GB). Very compact size and fit into the Mini USB port, minimal overhang to get snagged and broken (by you wonderful well-trained car-wash employees)
Last edited by WestCoastD; Apr 18, 2016 at 02:40 PM.
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
From: Oxnard, CA
Totally forgot about this being an option. If I create a playlist in iTunes, can I just plug the USB stick into the USB slot in my car? I've got a 2012 NOT CONNECTED R57.
Might actually go try this before folks have time to respond. I've been using my iPod shuffle via the aux cable, but I have USB drives all over the place. Other thing it solves (if it works) is that it doesn't run out of battery. I ran out of battery on the shuffle 40 minutes from home yesterday and was without my Megan Trainor playlist for far too long!
Thanks!
Might actually go try this before folks have time to respond. I've been using my iPod shuffle via the aux cable, but I have USB drives all over the place. Other thing it solves (if it works) is that it doesn't run out of battery. I ran out of battery on the shuffle 40 minutes from home yesterday and was without my Megan Trainor playlist for far too long!
Thanks!
You should try using the iPod Shuffle with it's sync cable connected to the Mini's USB port. Might be able to play music AND keep it charged while you use it in the car. I don't know where my shuffle is at, or I'd try this myself. Now I gotta dig around for it. If not, might just use my old iPod Photo that still works.
The only reason why I haven't used it is because I download podcast mixes of some of my favorite DJ's from iTunes, and I hate not having the latest podcasts, so I use my iPhone 6. While my Lightning-30 pin adapter was broken, I did use a USB drive, but not being able to have GPS directions go thru the car stereo while playing music was annoying. I play my music loud, so I couldn't hear the directions.
FYI for all - if you know someone with MINI coding abilities and experience, you can have your MINI coded to be done with the infernal y-cable once and for all and simply use a standard lightning cable and still have all of the features of MINI Connected and audio.
Technical details - in NCSExpert, pull the trace for the media module, change USB1_IPOD_AUDIO to digital (from analog), and code it back in.
Just did it myself and it looks like it's working perfect. I'll make another post if it hoses up tomorrow while driving around.
-Paul
Technical details - in NCSExpert, pull the trace for the media module, change USB1_IPOD_AUDIO to digital (from analog), and code it back in.
Just did it myself and it looks like it's working perfect. I'll make another post if it hoses up tomorrow while driving around.
-Paul
however after a recent restore of my iPhone 6S Plus, i havent' gotten my mini connected app working again but believe that will be fixed when i 'reboot' my mini (ie disconnect battery for a few mins and reconnect).
2nd Gear
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 80
Likes: 2
From: Pasadena, California
I forget, does the 2013 come equipped with "MiniConnected" app?
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