Has anyone linked there phone to the headunit? I have seen a few kits out there for Alpine, Pioneer and a company called Parrot. I was just wondering if anyone has tried to do this.

MINI has a kit that is similar to the Parrot for about $495, we will have a complete solution soon that will be MUCH better like our BMW kits.

My friend just got a PIONEER 9800 off ebay for i think 350+shipping wich i think retail is 500 i think , not so sure. It lets you hook up your cellphone to the headunit and it works great in his M roadster.

I got the Parrot one from Mickeythemini. It works with the factory headunit and with the steering wheel buttons. It was pretty easy to install (getting the stereo back in w/ all the wiring took most of the time). From my understanding Mickeythemini makes the wiring harness to make the parrott kit work with the factory parts. It works great for me and I think it is under $200 (if you install it yourself - it is an easy install)

Tom, does this mean that you are coming out with a different kit from the parrots? Just trying to figure out my options for my new cabrio...

To be honest there is no need for anything other than the Parrot Evo kit - does everything you could ever want, and is a totally stealth install (and it works with the wheel phone buttons!)

Yes, it will offer much more features than the Parrot/MINI kits, especially in NAV applications. We'll have more info as soon as we're further along in development.

Is it possible that you can elaborate on what the parrot kit and the MTM wiring harness is? I would love to have a bluetooth that worked off of the steeringwheel buttons, but i don't love it enough to spend $500.

Thanks

Expensive.

So basically you're going to have the phonebook display on the NAV screen, like the BMW kits?

The Parrot kit consists of a Parrot EVO bluetooth handsfree kit, and a wiring harness (so that you don't have to splice any wires - simply plug and play!). Part of this wiring harness is the interface so that the steering wheel buttons activate the kit. Very easy to install, ~30-45 mins for a person who knows which way to turn a screwdriver (the 05+ model Minis are a lot easier to pull apart!)

Part of the plan, yes.

I only know one person with the OEM kit - but from what I know about it I do not see the price difference being justified.This is the kit I have http://www.newministuff.com/new/shop.php?action=productshow&id=256 have any questions give them an email. I know my FI did and he said they were really nice and super helpful. I can't vouch for any other kit b/c this is what I have and have only had it for about a month.

Very nice, keep us posted...

I'd be on the "definite" list for that one...

I'm talking with Mikey right now in regards to the Parrot solution. It seems like a reasonably priced solution over the OEM bluetooth. Nav integration would be nice, but unfortunetly nobody has the solution yet.

Tom,

Do you guys have an idea of what price range your are trying to fit this new solution in?

Not at this time, since things can change depending on equipment used. We may have mode info within the next week or so, I'll keep the thread updated.

I have the pioneer 9800. It works well for bluetooth and I added the ipod connectivity and it does that much better than the aux input. There is a picture of it installed, by the way I also have it integrated with MFSW controls.

How do I get in touch with mickey the mini?

www.newministuff.com

His e-mail is on the site.

I'm sitting at a cafe, about to shut down to return to my stereo installer's shop up the street, who JUST finished installing my Parrot EVO with the NewMINIStuff interface for the MFSW... so we'll see what we'll see, in about five minutes!

I'll be interested to see how you like Mikey's kit. I've had it installed since the summer and, honestly, the transmit audio quality is just awful - drop-outs and people tell me I sound like Darth Vader. I've tried two different microphones, two Parrot controllers and five different types phones. It's not bad when the car is stationary, but while in motion it's lousy. This kit may work well in a quieter car, but in the MINI it ain't so good.

Mikey has offered me a refund and I just need to take the time to remove everything. I keep hoping that it'll get better. I just upgraded my Blackberry at a cost of $250 in hopes that the Parrot kit would work better than it did with the old Blackberry. Nope. :impatient

Thats very strange; not being rude but it really sounds more like an install problem than anything. I've installed quite a few in different cars including my own and I've never had any issue with them at all, even on the move. I've used Nokias, Sony Eriksons, iMates, HTC, DoPod, Motorola, Samsung, etc phones... no problems with any of them at all.

Well, I am expecting a kit from Mikey very soon and then I am going to do a review on the product and post it on mini2 (I mod there). So, I will let you guys know. I think that I am a good candidate as I am not stock (CAI, pulley and MTH) as well as having the autobahn available for higher speeds. I'll make a few calls to the house and see how it works.

Kevin:

I can't figure it out. At first I mounted the mic at the corner of the door rubber/A-pillar - the recommended location. No good there, so I moved the sunroof switch to the opposite side and affixed the new mic to the outside of the factory mic grille on the overhead console - so it's closest to the driver. Same issue.

If you or someone that has one of these kits would PM me - I would be keen to call you so that I can hear what your kit sounds like.

I installed my mic on the driver's side sun visor and have not had problems that you are having. Mine works great - people tell me it sunds a lot better than the phone's speaker phone and a not too much worse that the cell phone normally. Did you check all your connections? Maybe something wiggled loose and you have half a connection (that happened w/ my AUX adapter a few months ago)

I have loved this BT kit have had it over a month and no problems.

The OEM may be over priced but I've never heard that it didn't work. The other Bluetooth solutions seem to be only, "vaporware" like WHEN it's available "it'll be great!" or else makeshift.....I think I'll pay a bit extra and have it work.