[chilipack]

hi guys...

contemplating speccing the bluetooth option on my S....question is....is it worth it....are there compatibility issues or faults with the system? in other words am i perhaps better off fitting an after market parrot kit feedback please!!!?

Kind Regards

[Stiggy]

I think it's great. You get voice control, which I wasn't expecting. Press the button on the MFSW, say "Dial Name", say the name, then "Dial" and off it goes! Incomming call: press the phone button on the wheel, the radio is muted, and you talk hands free. It works fine with my Nokia E61.

The USB is great too. I've got a cheap £20 8GB USB stick which holds all my music, and you can scroll through all the tracks using the knob on the stereo.

Plus cruise control, armrest and the MFSW for the price - well worth it!

[chilipack]

Thanks Stiggy! it does sound great !!! and can u see who you are calling on the nav/radio screen if you dont want to use the voice control? iv already got the MFSW specced so it would be the addition of the armrest - think it could get in the way perhaps?

[Stiggy]

Yes, you can dial the number from your mobile or from the buttons on the stereo - but it's a bit fiddly! The display shows the number dialled.

I personally like the armrest as my MINI is automatic, but it is easy to remove if you don't like it.

[oldnell]

I thought the USB socket ended up in the armrest, so if you remove the armrest, don't you lose the USB port?

[Washy]

Quote: Originally Posted by oldnell (original)

I thought the USB socket ended up in the armrest, so if you remove the armrest, don't you lose the USB port?

No the USB port is under the dash with the aux input....

[oldnell]

Aaah, OK. That's something the sales guy at my local dealer didn't know.

So it seems to me that you need to buy the Bluetooth with USB audio option, but the bluetooth bit of it requires you to have an armrest.

Following on from that, if you remove the armrest do you lose bluetooth/phone functionality? Seems a bit of a waste to have to buy an armrest just because you want USB audio only to rip it out again.

Cheers

Oli

[Washy]

As far as i can tell the arm rest only has the aereal/chargr for the phone cradle....which I never use. SoI guess you could do with out it...

[Stiggy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Washy (original)

As far as i can tell the arm rest only has the aereal/chargr for the phone cradle....which I never use. SoI guess you could do with out it...

So far, I've not been able to work out what is in the armrest! I can't see any connectors in there, but I think there is a wire coming into the back of it.

There's nothing in the manual on it - can anyone enlighten me?

[Blue-Dooper]

I've got the optional cradle that snaps into the armrest - charges the phone and also connects the phone to the external aerial for a better signal. Think there's more info on www mini.com/bluetooth

[Stiggy]

Thanks for the link. It is actually:
MINI.com - Bluetooth

I didn't have this document, but it doesn't really help as I have a Nokia E61 which isn't on the list. My bluetooth connection works fine, with only an occasional error on the phone when I switch the car ignition off - no bother really.

I just have a blank 'adaptor' in the armrest with a single button on it. I don't need to fiddle with it I suppose as my phone works fine as it is, although a charger might be handy.

[brett]

to plug an ipod in to the usb port do I use the Apple IPOD lead that plugs into my computer? and does it control the Ipod from the steering wheel and display track data??

[Stiggy]

You need a special lead from BMW (£40) that uses both the USB and the audio plug. Then you can control the iPod completely from the MFSW and see track info on the stereo display.

Do a search and you'll find lots more information.

[Washy]

Not tried it myself, but apparently the lead apple supply with the ipod will work, but any songs that are DRM protected (bought from itunes etc) will not play. So in theory if you only have songs ripped from your own CD's you do not need the BMW lead.

[brett]

when you say usb cable and audio lead, to you mean the head phone socket?? If so thats pretty crappy compared to the denison

[ramses ii]

Quote: Originally Posted by Stiggy (original)

So far, I've not been able to work out what is in the armrest! I can't see any connectors in there, but I think there is a wire coming into the back of it.

There's nothing in the manual on it - can anyone enlighten me?

If you have a phone with aerial out possibility taken that it is supported by BMW (i.e. there is a cradle available) it makes a lot of sense spending another cca 100 Euros for the cradle.
(bluetooth drains the batteries fast - so charging the phone is imperative ; also you get much better signal through the car antena)

I revived my forgotten Nokia 6310i (BMW has the cradle for the armrest) only to find out again that it is a real fine telephone (it works 100% with the mini).

[brett]

Looks like I'll be using my hard drive for the audio then!! Good bye apple Ipod!

[Martin F]

Quote: Originally Posted by chilipack (original)

hi guys...

contemplating speccing the bluetooth option on my S....question is....is it worth it....are there compatibility issues or faults with the system? in other words am i perhaps better off fitting an after market parrot kit feedback please!!!?

Kind Regards

I had Mikeythemini fit a Parrott bluetooth kit to my R56 MCS last week and think it is brilliant. I have the MFSW and all there is to see is a neat no-holes mount for my Nokia 6310 and a tiny mike by the door pillar. It works really well and at about £300 fitted seemed like very good value to me.

[brett]

So if my Nokia 6120 is not on the list would it work via USB?? I know with my parents BMW X5the phone is not on the list but it works as hands free but desn;t bring up the address book.would it be fully functional via usb??