This part of the Countryman discussion is relatively quiet, (as the CTM section is vs the smaller cars), so I hope this gets some traffic for the group edification.

Apparently Apple iOS 8 is buggy, especially with respect to Bluetooth reliability. I don't plan to change phones until after the first of the year, but I wanted to see what the early and ongoing feedback was on BT compatibility and performance was in our cars.

All feedback and tips welcome!

 

Well I don't have a Countryman so I can't tell you how Bluetooth connectivity is with them. But I can tell you that my iPhone 6 works perfectly in my fJCW. In fact, the call quality is much better than it was with my iPhone 5 in my '07 MCS.

 

Knock on wood, but I haven't had any difficulties with either of mine. I'm hopeful that the newer phone (last phone was a "dumb" phone that would only connect to BT for a few days, then take a 2 week hiatus, then repeat). I just broke down an picked up a new audio cable and other than needing to encourage the adapter to fit in the opening in my Otterbox case, that's been working without difficulties too.

 

I came up with another question: If you are (or are not) having problems, which version of iOS 8 do you have, and have you updated the phone since you got it?

 

I have a 5 year old Motorola Razr V3. It works perfectly in my VO 2014 HT/S using voice commands, as does my old iPad 2 (iOS8), the music links up fine using Bluetooth.

 

I ran the betas and had no issues with the iPhone 5s. Once I upgraded to 8.02 I had weird phone calls over bluetooth. I could answer but they couldn't hear me and then I would dial and it would hang up. Once I upgraded to 8.1 no issues at all.

 

I have the latest firmware. Updated twice so far.

 

I think 8.0.2 is the version that I've read all the issues about. 8.1 is good, then?

Thx!

 

Running 8.1.1 on an iPhone 6 in a '11 Countryman S ALL4 and BT streaming and phone works just fine. If anything it's "faster" to connect.

 

I've been running IOS8 since it was released. First on an iPhone5 and since the start of October on an iPhone6. No issues with Bluetooth handsfree with either phone or any release of IOS8 - however I also never got the 8.01 upgrade. Went direct from 8.0 to 8.02. Currently running 8.1.1

I only use Bluetooth Handsfree - for music and podcast playback I connect to my Aux/Lightning connection only. Don't use the Y cable but a paired AUX cable and Apple Lightning to USB cable.

 

Doing it that way, does the head unit display the info from your iPhone/iPod audio?

 

Yes it does... However it doesn't always update - sometimes shows the last song/podcast played. Given that I get the audio I don't sweat the display much.

Track display had been working correctly about 95% of the time with music and about 40% of the time with podcasts - since the most recent IOS update those numbers have gone down a bit though...

 

Bluetooth audio and phone works for me 90% plus of the time - phone reliability is higher . . . . but USB connections, with and without the official cable - don't work at all. If the phone is plugged into the USB even to charge - it will NOT work BT under any circumstances . . .

iOS 8.3/ iPhone 6/