For the first two years of owning my MINI I have been using the regular old 30-pin iPhone Y cable for use with media and MINI connected and putting an apple lightning adapter on top. Worked perfectly fine and sounded flawless. My cable started to stop working slowly and when they came out with the Lightning Y-Cable I decided to get it. I returned the first one because of poor sound quality and the second one is no different? There is a lot of static and distortion in the music no matter what song I listen to. If I stream bluetooth audio it sounds good and if I use a plain old AUX cord it sounds fine? Even if I can get my old cable to work it sounds fine.

Anyone else experience this issue? Any suggestions on how to fix it?

The car has navigation and H/K stereo if that matters at all...

 

Do you know anyone with a working copy of NCSExpert, along with a D-CAN cable? If so, there's a pretty easy fix so you never have to deal with the y-cable again. If you know or can find someone, I can provide instructions.

(If you're anywhere around Augusta, GA, I can hook you up myself!)


-Paul

 

Any chance I could get the instructions on this from you as well? Just got a DCAN cable and theres nothing I'd like more than to get rid of the horrible sounding Y-Cable.

Thanks

 

Sure.

DISCLAIMER: I have no idea what I'm doing or talking about. If you nuke your MINIs computer from following the below directions, it's on you.

Ok?

First, download the NCSExpert software package. Take a look at the Electrical forum on NAM 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.

I was also having some weirdness after I coded the MINI, so I did a 'hard reboot' (disconnected the battery, left it for about 5 minutes, then connected it back up). After that, everything has been bullet-proof. I even drove across the country with no issues. It's been tested now with a iPhone 6, 6s, and an older 5th gen iPod. The only thing I lost on the iPod was the 'PlugIn' mode that sent video directly from the iPod to the screen. No big loss, IMO. Never used the option anyhow.

Good luck!


-Paul

 

Paul,

I am near Augusta, GA and I'd love to have your help setting up the iPhone the way you describe. I live in Aiken.

 

I'm near Augusta. I'd be interested in getting with you to do the software mod to eliminate the y-cable, assuming I understand correctly what you're talking about.

 

So your running a regular cable from USB port to your phone?

 

Yup.

Edit: Well, to be 100% truthful, it's a red & black fabric covered lightning cable with reversible USB that I found on Amazon. I could give a link, but I don't know if that's frowned upon. If you're interested in exactly what cable i have, send a PM!


-Paul

 

PM sent!


-Paul

 

Three questions,
1) Anyone have a good source for a DCAN cable? I have a '12 R56 if it matters.
2) We can send video from the iPod to the navi screen?
3) Can NCS either eliminate the lockout or raise the speed it kicks in at (that's how we override the lockout on Audis) so it'll function in motion?

 

1. Can't help ya there. I bought mine from Amazon (search KCRIUS for the vendor I bought from). But it seems like it's a crapshoot if you get a good one. Generally, if you get one that has a green circuit board you're good to go. If you get a blue or white board you're probably SOL.
2. If you follow my instructions above, nope. I think the Y cable needs to be used for the video. I actually tried using my old iPod with the standard 30 pin cable and playing video, but the PlugIn app didn't recognise it at all. While programming, there is an option for 'both'. I'd imagine that if you set it to that you could use the Y cable for when you want video and just a standard Apple cable for audio. (Or just stick with using the Y cable.)
3. Yes. And there's other programs that turn setting it into a one-click operation. Search for Dr. Gini BMW for the program.


-Paul

 

Paul, I have a r56 HK no nav, no mini connected. Would your fix work for me?

 

Um, probably? Can't think of a reason why it wouldn't. Even if it doesn't work, it's simple enough to reverse the changes.


-Paul