Since you had a Volvo 1800, I'm gonna go out on a limb and guess that you're at least somewhat handy with a screwdriver... See if I'm right about the iPod Adapter installation costs and if it's gonna be more than a few hundred for labor, consider getting the iPod Adaptor (from the dealer, if they'll sell it w/o installation or from an aftermarket supplier) and something like this and installing it yourself...

 

Thanks for the input. I'd guess that any ipod to usb adapter could be used for charging and then run the minijack for the audio output. I wonder if the Mini would still be an accessory on an average usb to ipod cable. Of course then there are wires coming out both ends of the iphone. I'll have to think about it.

I really appreciate the info. I hadn't been able to get this anywhere else.

 

You're brilliant, again. I called my beloved dealer, he laughed and said "but of course you have the iPhone/USB bluetooth package."

Kinda makes me want to get your solutions for a variety of my life problems, and then call my dealer to have them magically implemented. :-)

Incidentally, he explained the full functionality of it in exhaustive detail, and I felt like I was getting a spaceship instead of a car.

So much for my love of owning cars older than I am. Where art thou, oh screwdriver?

 

Congratz on the good fortune..

On another note.. i did check using my iPhone on the way home with the USB port disconnected. As expected it worked great through the mini jack just like any other mp3 player would. You can control all of your music selections on your iPod in a normal manner and get the eye candy if you want to mount it to your dash as someone asked above. I must admit it is pretty cool to be able to control it that way. I would but a 3 foot long mini jack and that way you would have enough length to place the ipod somewhere else in the car except in that little cuddy hole.

Cya,
Malc

 

Hey Everybody, thanks for the great info - really appreciated!! Now I have to wait another 3 weeks until my $25,000 IPhone accessory crosses the ocean.

 

Good one!

 

I just got mine last night. Gosh that USB/Aux-in Y cable is short.

Unfortunately there is an issue with my USB/Aux-in. I can control the iPod or iPhone, but there is a bunch of popping and scratching sounds like an old record with a scratch and a bad needle coming through the speakers. That and the audio from the iPod and iPhone halts and breaks up in a random manner. It's going to the dealer today.

Once it gets sorted out I think it will be an excellent feature.

 

With the Itouch my USB/Aux-in Y cable works fine I have not had any of the transient noise or cut-outs you were describing. Of course I have not used it that much yet.

I have noticed cut-outs occasionally even on my Bose Sound-dock with the Itouch.

 

Yeah, I took delivery last night. So, this is from the beginning. The drop outs I'm talking about make the iPod unusable. So far I've tried my iPhone, a current Nano 4gb version, and a 5th Gen Video iPod.

As to the bluetooth, I got it paired with the iPhone just fine. However, it is unusable because there is a hum with cracks and pops. No sound of the caller and the caller can't hear me until I switch the phone off of bluetooth. I know my iPhone works because I use a Motorola BT headset sometimes. Oh well, the dealer can sort it out. I know it will work eventually.

 

Sorry to hear about the problems. I use my iPhone everyday though the Mini bluetooth with no problems. I have used the iPod a few times and the only complaints I have are:

1) I am constantly adjusting the song volume based on the songs varying recording levels.

2) I also do not really like working the integrated menus though the Mini stereo. I find it much quicker to use the iPod application on my iPhone. This can only be done when I hook the iPhone up to the car through the mini jack only and not use the Y cable. I also use the USB-iPhone cable at the same time so I can charge and use the iPhone-iPod.

Call me crazy.. but it works for me.

 

Do all Bluetooth phones work with the Clubman?

 

http://www.wireless4mini.com/

This will list phones supported by Mini. Also there are threads in the nav and audio sections where people list the ones they have tried and the results.

 

Question...

Has anyone happened to look to see if you can plug a regular iPod in via the dock connector plug, AND use the iPhone's phone functionality simultaneously?

I ask because I burned through an iPod plugging and unplugging in my '06 MCS, and I'd hate to do that to the iPhone. And besides...I've got an old 3G iPod that makes a great never-see-it music keg.

 

I have not tried a standard iPod with and iPhone in my car but it should work just fine. The music will be muted when the phone comes into service. You will still have to rely on the the Mini head unit to control the music selections unless you connect it just via the mini-jack. But, if you are using it as a music keg then my guess is that you do not care about using the iPod to search and select your musical choices.

my 2 cents...
Cya,
Malc

 

That's what I figured - it'd sure be nice to be able to use it that way!

And after being limited to playlists MINI1-MINI5 in my R53, not being able to see track info, etc, head unit navigation should be a vast improvement.

 

Not sure if this will work.................since I haven't signed the deal yet to get my Clubby.......but.
With the aftermarket Ipod hook in my current RX8 I hook my Iphone to it and can control it with the steering wheel buttons and it is locked out of the Iphone screen..........NOW here is the work-around. If it works the same way.

After you hook it up and say no to the airplane mode then it goes to ipod mode and locks the controls.................hold down the HOME button at the bottom it will go back to the home screen then click back to the ipod mode and then you can control it on the iphone touch screen.......you do lose the steering wheel controls while in this mode but some people would rather control it this way.

Maybe this works the same way with the MINI system.

May I can try it out in my own Clubby within the next couple of weeks.

 

Do any of you more experienced iPhone users have a good mounting option to suggest?

 

My Katana LX paired up first time, and making/accepting calls was a cinch. The comfort package included an interesting cable that has an ipod dock connector on one end and a usb and 1/8" stereo jack on the other. I plugged the cable into the respective ports and the ipod worked like a charm! Additionally, I had bought a Samsung 12Gb USB hard drive and loaded several albums on it. The system recognized it and had no problem scrolling the directories/playing.

Am I lucky or what?

 

Hopper,

I wish I knew a good solution for mounting the iPhone without using a cup holder. I must admid I use the mini jack for a portable satellite receiver and put my iPhone in a cupholder when I do not have a drink or under the emergency break when I do have a drink.

I wish there was a way of using Bluetooth to connect the iPod to the radio.

Cya,
Malc

 

Right now I'm using an old Dell Axim Windows Mobile pda and a portable bluetooth gps unit. Using this, the gps goes on the dash and the axim in a cupholder - suboptimal for both. One of the challenges of mounting an iPhone or smartphone with gps will be locating the unit so that the antenna has a good "view" of the sky.