I have a 2017 Countryman S with Navigation, MINI Connected 5 and the large touchscreen. I used to use the MINI Connected App for my iPhone - it would see my calendar appointments and offer to send the destination information to the Navigation system in the car. That was very handy. After about a year this feature failed - it couldn't connect to the car Navigation. Recently I tried again to get the App to work; when I tried to pair it with the car (via entering the VIN) I got an error message saying my car didn't have the needed hardware. Now, when I start the App I see a message saying it only works for vehicles built after March 2018.

It appears that MINI/BMW has modified the app to _remove_ capabilities that used to work. Essentially all of us with cars built before March 2018 are out of luck. Has anyone figured out a way to address this issue? (The App does say the phone can be connected to the car via a USB cable - I haven't tried that yet.). The iPhone does connect via Bluetooth for telephone use - I can send and receive calls via the car. But the other capabilities are apparently gone.

MINI and BMW don't seem to understand the App market.

Anyone with suggestions or work-arounds?

David

 

I don't have the app or the right car for it. But look for an apk old version of the app and install that. Don't let the app update in the future. That might work as I've done similar with other apps that decide I'm out of date with the world.

 

Yea, but the app comes from the Apple app store and they are updated automatically. I did find a "MINI Connected Classic" on the App Store - downloaded it, and it doesn't function at all. I was able to get some functionality out of the current app by connecting it via a USB cable. The new app apparently no longer uses Bluetooth to connect (I'm guessing its now cell or WiFi). All in all a very disappointing experience.

David

 

Mini seems to have a habit of deciding to withdraw features from their cars that used to be standard. I know the driving modes are no longer included in base models since 2019, but my 2015 has it. Now your car has lost functionality in one of its apps. It seems like a bad business model to suddenly withdraw features. Weird!

Kat

 

I forgot about Apple, I was thinking Android which has more options to go back in time. MINI/BMW software experience was always a disappointment for me. Other car companies have both Android & Apple supported, no extra charge.

 

I have good news. I took the car into my MINI dealer (MINI of Las Vegas) for my annual service and complained about the MINI connect failure. The Tech checked it and determined that the "7963 Software Update" was required. That restored the MINI Connect functionality and it is working again. This update was apparently released recently. So, don't give up on this and have your dealer check for the software update.

MINI, of course, doesn't notify anyone about this. These cars are rolling computers now - and the manufacturers need to deal proactively with software updates.

David

 

David, I have tried without luck to get any assistance on the MINI Connected app issues from my dealer, MINI Customer Service, and the app feedback link on iPhone's App Store. There was a time when I could log into the app, and all of my vehicle info (fuel quantity, range, fuel economy, location, etc.) was accurately saved on the main page along with a cool icon of my actual 2016 F55 (details down to the paint scheme and wheels).

Sometime around app version 10.4, they took that away, and (as you state above for pre-2018 models) you could no longer register your VIN in the app to pull up your vehicle details. However, once you plugged the phone into the car, it would at least remember your vehicle info (but no icon). Now on app version 10.6, you still can't log in with your VIN, AND the app does not remember your vehicle info once you disconnect. It makes the MINI Connected app nearly useless for the pre-2018 models. I sent feedback to the app software developer 4 weeks ago through the iPhone App Store, and app version 10.6.2 was released a couple of days later, but I didn't notice any changes so I suspect that was simply a coincidence.

Today I updated the MINI Connected software in the vehicle from update 9042 to update 9051, and I still have the same problems. I have since sent an email to MINI Customer Service with all of the relevant details...not trying to get my hopes up though! I really wish Apple offered the option to go back to an earlier version of the app, but I think the back end database at BMW ConnectedDrive is actually a bigger part of the problem at this point.

Shaun

 

I think many of the features of this app now assume that you have the latest car hardware (over the air updates, etc.). So older cars are not going to be able to access those features any more. All I wanted was the ability to load my navigation system with a destination defined on the iPhone, That does work for me now. I don't pay much attention to the Apple App Store updates since they occur automatically.

Of course now with the virus issues I haven't used navigation in two months, so who knows if it is still working....

David

 

The update to MINI Connected (v10.7 for iOS on 10 June 2020) seems to have cured the amnesia - at least for the last 5 days in my case. I suggest you give it another go.

I have a 2017 F54 Clubman without the built in 4G SIM, so I dont expect to have all the latest features of MINI Connected (like cars built from March 2018) - but I love being able to push addresses from my Calendar, Apple & Google maps... via BT when I get in the car. I too have pulled my hair out when that stops working (and I dont have any hair left) - which seems to be like a lottery every time an update comes out.

I have also noticed that when 'amnesia sets in' and the VIN registration stops working I can restore what I need when I get back in the car and fire up the app again, it seems to pickup the VIN directly from the car and start working again (sometimes). For older FXX series cars I suspect MINI Connected problems are a combination of update issues and cloud registration issues - none of which they seem in a rush to restore service when things break.

 

Hi Shaun, how did you update the software in the car? My car is a 2019 with remote services and I have been unable to get the confirmation code from the app to show up on the car.