We just purchased our 2008 MCa and have been having issues with the USB port (I previously posted in the audio forum). We took it into our dealership that spent a week trying to figure it out (USB still not working at all) and concluded that a new radio is needed.


Since it is an expensive part, the dealership cannot start work until approved by MINI NA....MINI is not giving authorization but has been insistent on that there is nothing wrong and for the dealership to keep trying to 'code the USB'.


How long before I can call MINI NA on this? Just frustrating for we are moving in about a month and need to have the windows tinted for our 35 hour drive....


Thanks!

 

Typical BMW/Mini and Dealer response placing the customer in a "just go away and stop bothering us" position.

Try to accumulate three dealer service records identifying the problem. After that you can threaten with the lemon law. Good luck.

 

Have you tried a reset of your iPod and then plugged it back in.

I have found that my girlfriends iPod (8 gig nano) sometimes needs to be reset after it has been attached to the computer. For some reason, not the cars reason, there is something that when connecting it to the computer causes it not to be recognized by the car any longer.

I just press and hold the Play and Center buttons for about 10 seconds until the iPod goes into reset mode and then give it 30 seconds to restart and plug it into the car and it takes about 30 seconds for it to be recognized again. then it works until the next time she connects it to the computer to change the music.

Mine (30 gig gen 5) has never given me a problem but then again i do not change the music on it anywhere near as often.

Try this an let me know what happens. What the iPod screen says when plugged in and what the car display says as well?

Also what cable are you using to connect it to the car. Is it the one that Mini supplies?

 

Thanks for the responses...I have tried to reset both my wife's and my ipod without luck. When we took it to the dealership, they tried several different ipods as well with the same results.


The USB port is just dead....the only way to get sound in from the AUX is via a 1/8 inch jack.


We had thought of the lemon law, but since it has been there for 3 weeks now (and no luck as to when we can pick it up), we have to wait for it to go in and out at least twice more for it to be ready....


Just very discouraging...

 

????

What are you basing this accusation/comment on?

That's a pretty swweeping and damning remark for someone who has a brand new MINI (his first) and in all of his 19 posts has not expressed any problems that might give one evidence of personal experience in negative dealings with the dealer and/or MINIUSA.

I think that you would be very justified in seek ing help from another dealer and/or directly contacting MINIUSA to help move it along. Seeking their advice/help will probably go further than just complaining about the dealerships non-response. Best of luck to you!

 

You must have missed the water pump noise problems that I have reported on this forum and the inability of the dealer to resolve the issue or to involve the Mini USA regional service representative in the case.

My car has spent ten days over four separate visits at the dealership in search of a fix and I have offered to give them one more opportunity.

Although disappointed I am not overly surprised by these proceedings as I have experienced similar indifference to problems under warranty issues by a dealer servicing my BMW in another State.

That being said I do admit to a level of rancor emanating from the planned withholding of technical information and service manuals by BMW/Mini which succeeds in excluding the client from the diagnostic process and making him subservient to the dealer. The often cited mushroom farm analogy comes to mind here.

 

Pretty obvious that the USB port is dead. That means that it's not properly connected to the headunit. Assuming everything else in the stereo works just fine (including the Aux input that can play any iPod using a 3.5mm jack) they have to remove the headunit and do it over. That is unless they can isolate the USB jack and just replace it (unlikely). Pretty simple logic, and I'd URGE your dealer to just do it and get the money from MiniUSA later to satisfy you. They'll maybe stall you off if you don't hound them enough. Maybe a friendly question like "Gee, I've heard that if you can't fix a new car fast enough I can just get my money back, is that true?" would spur them into action. And they can take action without MiniUSA authorizing it you can be sure of that.

 

Good suggestion to "hound them" keeping in mind that the dealer is paid by the OEM based on allocated time-rates that are lower than what the dealer charges clients hence the reluctance to perform warranty work unless they are forced to do so.

 

Again i will ask what cable are you using to connect the iPod to the Mini.

It MUST use the dealer supplied cable. NO other cable will work.

And the cable that the dealer supplies has both a USB and a Aux connection, i.e. It uses both connections to make an iPod work.

 

I was using the cable that the dealer has supplied (both USB + AUX connection)....They have just replaced the radio and it is still not working...I think that the car is possessed!

 

Well you have now run into the mechanic that knows nothing about electronics.

The USB port is connected to the ULF-SBX-H (bluetooth) module and not the radio. BTW the aux goes thru this box as well.

in the attached documents you will see that the USB and AUX connectors go to the ULF module and that the reading on page two of the other document states

"USB Port
The USB port sets up the data interchange and electical connection of USB devices with the ULF-SBX-H."

The lines underneath this speak about the USB control of USB Sticks and that by using the iPod connector the ULF module does not have to store information for an iPod as it does for a USB Stick.

But if the ULF-SBX-H module is not outputing the 5VDC that the iPod and adapter cable require then it will not work. Also if the USB controler is bad inthe ULF-SBX-H module then it will not recognize the iPod or other USB device that is plug into it.

If needed take these to your service manager and ask them why they replaced the radio instead of the module with the USB controller.

If you need more info let me know and i will see what i can find.