anyone got theirs working ?

 

i agree with you. there are so many basic functions that much less expensive cars have that we are asked to pay for, which is ridiculous. want voice dialing? upgrade to mini connect. want to stream music over bluetooth? upgrade to mini connect. it doesn't matter than the vast majority of the features of mini connect only work with an iphone so it's a complete waste of money for android users, you have to upgrade if you want basic features that come on cars you can get for 15k.

for a so-called premium car there is a surprising lack of features and attention to detail.

 

My take is that my MCS was meant to be driven, not for a computer station. I do have the MINI Connect package and it works great, but I bought my MCS to drive and smile.

 

so you never use voice command?

 

This is an area that Mini should work on. More of these interfaces should be standard with the base model of minis. I would make sense with marketing and having buyers feeling good about getting useful accessories with the car. It's good business and they would sell more cars.

 

i bought my car to drive it as well. but occasionally i need to make a phone call or i might want to stream pandora or google music. both of these are problematic and dangerous as the car sits right now. for a driver's car they aren't making things very safe for the driver.

 

Exactly! It is a safety issue and when Mini places a voice command button on the steering wheel in a 2013 brand new car it should be there for a purpose, and not an illusion! I was completely deceived and misinformed.
I called Mini USA... their answer?.... "sorry"
My dealership's answer? "you should have asked".. seriously!

 

Did you purchase the car knowing the features you wanted weren't present?

 

Non working steering wheel phone button is a minor annoyance. I just use the button on my Iphone. I got my phone after I bought my car. I have been in contact w/ the dealer about this and have gotten no relief, yet.

 

If I may jump in on this question.. I purchased my car based on what I saw on the car. I saw a phone button, voice command, and cruise buttons on the steering wheel. I also saw an "s" on the car indicating I had an "S" version, i saw the HK radio upgrade, the auto up down windows, a sunroof, all of the accompanying toggle switches, all of the standard stuff... of EVERYTHING that i could see.. the voice command button is the only non-functioning button/device on the car that does not work.
Again, I don't care what it worked like prior and why the decided to disable it.
The fact is, I bought a car with a voice command button that does not work.
Two things (in the least) that MINI could have done to alert a potential buyer.
1: place a sticker, or tag inside the vehicle stating that the voice command button does not function.
2: EDUCATE the sales staff to alert the potential buyer that the voice command button is a non-functioning button unless your get the upgraded connect system.
IF either one of those two suggestions had been implemented, I would NOT have purchased this car, I would have opted to get a different car and get the Mini Connect system.
INSTEAD, I have beed deceived and glaringly misinformed.

A prudent person would assume that if the 2013 car comes with a button on the steering wheel... it IS functional! what would have prompted me to ask.. oh by the way, I see that voice command button, does that work?????

Should I have asked if the brakes work, or the sunroof, or the radio, or the windows, or .... etc etc etc etc...

 

You have a good point.

 

No, I had assumed that... Since a button was present....IT WOULD DO SOMETHING..

My salesman said nothing about it.. Even after I speced' a JCW leather wheel and I asked if I would "still get the phone control buttons.." He said yes...

 

Dan, my MA would probably argue that you got the buttons...but functionality is included with the cold weather package...

 

Well, you can tell him I got it with the Recaros...

And it still does nothing! ;p

 

I think you need to get a grip. It's a freaking button. If that was going to whip you into a frenzy, just wait til you need the timing chain or tensioner replaced, or a $700 walnut blasting service, or the clutch blows up at 51,000 miles and 4 years an 1 week of ownership...lol (for $2600...)

In the grand scheme of thinks the non working "guy with bad breath" button is pretty minor...lol

 

When I bought mine the salesman told me that MINI stopped voice command somtime in 2012 because people rarely used it. So the button is there but it doesnt really work.

 

No I didn't. To be honest I guess that's my fault for assuming that mini was at least in this century when it comes to features. I saw the voice command button and asked about Bluetooth. I was told Bluetooth is standard. My mistake for assuming that it would also include the standard Bluetooth features like streaming and voice command that can be found on everything from a Chevy sonic and up.

I looked at maybe six other cars before I went to mini, every single one had voice commands and streaming music over Bluetooth WITHOUT a radio upgrade. Ford, Subaru, Volvo......all had it. Yet this premium luxury brand wants me to pay for it. Typical Bmw behavior.

 

The thing that kills me ... It's it's a SOFTWARE fix. Just like the auto-unlock option..

I wish I could just get a delete plate for that side of the wheel. (Ill keep the phone button..)

 

My question was directed at psichick.

 

Hopefully, the people who have the button without the actual feature being present can have their car programmed so the function will operate. I believe I would be aggravated if mine didnt have it.

 

it is weird. I don't have the rear fog option, so I don't have that toggle. Looks lopsided down there as well.
Really doesn't make sense to have a nonfunctional button. I would be frustrated too if that wasn't explained to me.

 

Wouldn't doubt it. I never use it. But thats because its so useless. It never understands me. Its easier for me to either use the phone itself, or the interface on the stereo than voice command.

 

!

 

2011 justa here, have the voice command button. used all of 2 times in the last 2 1/2 years it does not pull from your phone's contacts. You have to add every number manually to the car's phone book, definitely not worth having. Your not missing anything. As far as MINI including a button with no functionality try this one, my car has wiring and bulbs for rear fogs however with out a toggle switch and programing they are not active. So this is actually par for the course for MINI. FYI MINI is not a premium car, its only marketed that way. That said the car is great fun to drive just don't expect much else. I feel your pain.

 

Well hearing it sucks sort of helps...


I wonder if I can wire it up to drop BBs on tailgaters...?