Hello,
The title kind of says it all. Have a 2008 clubman with convenience package and the cables that came with the setup do not "Charge" the iphone's battery. I think It just holds the charge. Also, when i use pandora, internet radio etc.,
it's a bit flakey. Is there a new cable out on the market or a replacement available? Thank you all!

 

Unfortunately there is no new cable on the market. The problem is tjat Apple has changed the pin configuration in the Docking connector for the iPhone, iPod Touch (8,16,32GB) iPod Classic (120GB only) and the iPod Nano Gen4 (8,16GB).

This unfortunately is a problem and has no real fix at this time. Others have complained that their new iPods do not charge in the car either.

Hopefully BMW/Mini is working on a solution.

 

Do the 2008's still come with an older spec charging cable for iPod integration? (Apple announced it was phasing out the firewire charging pins a few years ago - the iPhone 3G and new nanos seem to be affected based on several BMW forums).

Here is a possible solution if MINI doesn't have a newer cable:
http://cablejive.com/iphone_3g_charge_converter.html

 

As for Pandora being flaky - if that happens while you are moving it is probably due to variable network reception as you move between cell towers and other sources of interference. According to Pandora's site they stream music at 128 kbps, so you need a strong stable network connection.

HTH - Tim

 

I expect there will be several inline adapters hitting the market in the near future that will plug between the old-style charging cables and the newer iPods/iPhones to allow the old cables to charge the new units. I remember seeing one such adapter already announced, with an estimated MSRP of about $40. If I can find the article, I'll link to it here.

 

I'm experiencing similar problems.
While I don't have a 3G iPhone but rather a 5th Gen 60gig iPod, I do have other problems as well. It doesn't even register on the USB, doesn't charge and I can't use the interface to control my play list, song selection etc. My wives Nano works fine. The only way I am able to use the my iPod is through AUX.

 

Yeah, my 2G iPod Touch is also not being charged. Quick question, do most of you disconnect the iPod when you leave the car? FYI, I'm not talking about theft related reasons, but potential battery saving reasons. Does it make a difference?

 

OT: This absolutely sucks. When I ordered my clubman I ordered it with the ipod adapter so that I could keep my ipod attached. All the time. Now I can't. My old ipod won't hold a charge so i was going after a new nano. now that won't work. That sucks.

 

I have the iPod nano 8G and it stays charged. I unplug it and turn it off when I am not in the car.

 

i use a fifth gen ipod & it charges just fine.

 

Does anyone have a 2009, someone stated here a while ago that they thought the USB Ipod adapter part number was changing and they thought it would have a USB charging type of adapter instead of the current one which seems to be a Firewire type of charging device. I believe the information came from some searching of BMW part numbers.

Our 2009 will not be in for a few weeks, I was just hoping to be able to successfully charge our 3G iPhones.

 

I wonder if a new nano would work and hold a charge. The new nano's are they fifth gen or sixth. I thought they changed the pin configuration on the new ones.

 

Mine is new. Got it in June

 

hmmm... I need to go to the local apple store to talk with them, because about a week or so ago they came out with the new nano chromatics (?) and I think they have a new configuration. Apple, and I love their products, seems to switch things out.

 

Is this one of the ones you're talking about?


http://scosche.com/products/sfID1/21...productID/1667

There's a thread in in the Navi and Audio forum about the 3g iPhone that discusses this problem amongst others

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=147646

 

Scosche isn't the brand I was thinking of, but that's the same type of device. It plugs in between the device and the firewire charging cable, and converts the firewire power into USB power so that the old cables will work with the newer iPods/iPhone.

 

It depends what adapter you are using. My '05 OEM iPod adapter did not charge my new Nano Chromatic (4th Gen) . The iPod screen even stated "This function is not supported". So I went back to the earlier Nano (3rd Gen) and it charges just fine.

 

I'm not convinced it's firewire pin outs because my gen II (the red-headed step-child of iPod compatibility) is straight firewire and it won't work AT ALL (much to my disappointment as I had it in mind for dedicated MINI tunes). I think it's just a different USB pin-out configuration that Apple tweaks every now and again to keep us buying more of the Kool-Aid

I'm hoping one of the respondants in the thread I quoted above has the converter on order. I'm eagerly awaiting to hear the results of his purchase.

 

Has any tried to use the USB iPod adapter that came with thier 3g and plug it into the USB port in the MINI and a get a male to male 3.5mm cable and plug that in the the Aux input and headphone jack on the 3g? might look ugly, but hey it might work....in theory anyways.

 

When are you expecting the iphone to charge? Only when the car is running or when it is turned off too? I doubt that the USB is hot when the car is off and it might not even be charging unless the stereo is on. I don't have any answers (no USB in my car) but it might be something to explore.

Regards,
Terry

 

It is the pin issue. I talked to someone at the Apple Store and there are several adapters expected out shortly to solve the problem. My 3G has the no-charging issue with my OEM adapter. Accoring to the folks at Apple, the inline adapter will fix it, so we just need to be patient til they come out

 

I don't have a USB port on my 07, but when using the phone cradle in the armrest, it charges the phone as soon as I unlock the car or open my door. So even sitting, with engine off it's powering the phone charger.

I don't see why they wouldn't continue that same thinking to the USB port, but I have been mistaken a few times before.