This is a great idea, ordered the parts to make one for my 2018 Countryman. Thanks for the help!!!
Is your phone too big for armrest charger in newer Mini?
My brother just picked up a 2020 Countryman. His Samsung Galaxy 9+ is too large to fit in the armrest 'QI' charger. I don't know what other Mini models have this problem but I see many BMW owners gripe about their Iphone or Android being too large for the charger. I came up with a solution that doesn't require taking the armrest apart or breaking the factory charger.
I built what is basically a 'false phone' that does fit the charger. It takes the charge power from the factory charger and puts it in the oversized phone.
I used a 5mm thick piece of ABS plastic cut to 76mm X 150mm. The thickness of this 'false phone' can be an issue so I machined out the center of the plastic. If you had a piece of plastic around 3mm, carving it out like I did wouldn't be needed. I have a QI reciever on one side of the plastic and a QI sender on the other. They just plug in to each other. I used thin 2 sided tape to hold everything together. The Mini's electronics see this device as a phone and will turn on the factory charger. I don't see this as a battery drain problem because the charger times out after a minute or so of engine shutoff. I hope the pictures explain better that I. LOL
Amazon links for the parts I used. (I have no affiliation with Amazon or any manufacturer.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DLYF1OQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3H67BNUZX4DHH&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D2CWBS1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
![Technology Electronics Electronic device Gadget Auto part]()
I built what is basically a 'false phone' that does fit the charger. It takes the charge power from the factory charger and puts it in the oversized phone.
I used a 5mm thick piece of ABS plastic cut to 76mm X 150mm. The thickness of this 'false phone' can be an issue so I machined out the center of the plastic. If you had a piece of plastic around 3mm, carving it out like I did wouldn't be needed. I have a QI reciever on one side of the plastic and a QI sender on the other. They just plug in to each other. I used thin 2 sided tape to hold everything together. The Mini's electronics see this device as a phone and will turn on the factory charger. I don't see this as a battery drain problem because the charger times out after a minute or so of engine shutoff. I hope the pictures explain better that I. LOL
Amazon links for the parts I used. (I have no affiliation with Amazon or any manufacturer.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DLYF1OQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3H67BNUZX4DHH&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D2CWBS1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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1 - 18 of 18 Posts
My brother just picked up a 2020 Countryman. His Samsung Galaxy 9+ is too large to fit in the armrest 'QI' charger. I don't know what other Mini models have this problem but I see many BMW owners gripe about their Iphone or Android being too large for the charger. I came up with a solution that doesn't require taking the armrest apart or breaking the factory charger.
I built what is basically a 'false phone' that does fit the charger. It takes the charge power from the factory charger and puts it in the oversized phone.
I used a 5mm thick piece of ABS plastic cut to 76mm X 150mm. The thickness of this 'false phone' can be an issue so I machined out the center of the plastic. If you had a piece of plastic around 3mm, carving it out like I did wouldn't be needed. I have a QI reciever on one side of the plastic and a QI sender on the other. They just plug in to each other. I used thin 2 sided tape to hold everything together. The Mini's electronics see this device as a phone and will turn on the factory charger. I don't see this as a battery drain problem because the charger times out after a minute or so of engine shutoff. I hope the pictures explain better that I. LOL
Amazon links for the parts I used. (I have no affiliation with Amazon or any manufacturer.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DLYF1OQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3H67BNUZX4DHH&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D2CWBS1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
View attachment 278549
This is absolutely brilliant. However, having no access to a machining solution, any ideas for where to buy the plastic for the "false phone?" It's driving me crazy that I can't use the charger in my new mini. Why would they build it this way? Upscale car + upscale phone = incompatible? Very annoying, indeed.My brother just picked up a 2020 Countryman. His Samsung Galaxy 9+ is too large to fit in the armrest 'QI' charger. I don't know what other Mini models have this problem but I see many BMW owners gripe about their Iphone or Android being too large for the charger. I came up with a solution that doesn't require taking the armrest apart or breaking the factory charger.
I built what is basically a 'false phone' that does fit the charger. It takes the charge power from the factory charger and puts it in the oversized phone.
I used a 5mm thick piece of ABS plastic cut to 76mm X 150mm. The thickness of this 'false phone' can be an issue so I machined out the center of the plastic. If you had a piece of plastic around 3mm, carving it out like I did wouldn't be needed. I have a QI reciever on one side of the plastic and a QI sender on the other. They just plug in to each other. I used thin 2 sided tape to hold everything together. The Mini's electronics see this device as a phone and will turn on the factory charger. I don't see this as a battery drain problem because the charger times out after a minute or so of engine shutoff. I hope the pictures explain better that I. LOL
Amazon links for the parts I used. (I have no affiliation with Amazon or any manufacturer.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DLYF1OQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3H67BNUZX4DHH&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D2CWBS1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
View attachment 278549
My brother just picked up a 2020 Countryman. His Samsung Galaxy 9+ is too large to fit in the armrest 'QI' charger. I don't know what other Mini models have this problem but I see many BMW owners gripe about their Iphone or Android being too large for the charger. I came up with a solution that doesn't require taking the armrest apart or breaking the factory charger.
I built what is basically a 'false phone' that does fit the charger. It takes the charge power from the factory charger and puts it in the oversized phone.
I used a 5mm thick piece of ABS plastic cut to 76mm X 150mm. The thickness of this 'false phone' can be an issue so I machined out the center of the plastic. If you had a piece of plastic around 3mm, carving it out like I did wouldn't be needed. I have a QI reciever on one side of the plastic and a QI sender on the other. They just plug in to each other. I used thin 2 sided tape to hold everything together. The Mini's electronics see this device as a phone and will turn on the factory charger. I don't see this as a battery drain problem because the charger times out after a minute or so of engine shutoff. I hope the pictures explain better that I. LOL
Amazon links for the parts I used. (I have no affiliation with Amazon or any manufacturer.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DLYF1OQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3H67BNUZX4DHH&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D2CWBS1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
One more question--must you have that notch in the plastic?
View attachment 278549
You could use any piece of rigid plastic. I only machined mine because the ABS plastic I had was too thick. It can't be much more than about 3 mm. depending on the thickness of the case your phone is in. Just be careful as the armrest door may press on your phone if you make this false phone too thick. There's not much space in there!This is absolutely brilliant. However, having no access to a machining solution, any ideas for where to buy the plastic for the "false phone?" It's driving me crazy that I can't use the charger in my new mini. Why would they build it this way? Upscale car + upscale phone = incompatible? Very annoying, indeed.
Thank you so much. I found a shop nearby that said they'll cut the plastic for me (I wouldn't know how to tell him where the hole was, or how big, etc. So hopefully, I can get him to come out to my car and help me measure it. I really appreciate this. It's been bothering me! Happy Thanksgiving!
Throwing out another solution (much better in my opinion) to this that worked for me, just get a new part 3D printed (costs about $10): Wireless charger and larger iPhones
I got my plastic piece made over the weekend. I'm excited! Amazon stuff coming tomorrow. I'll report back! I really appreciate your creativity and your willingness to help.
Hello. I'm trying to do the same but I don't find the plastic phone. Do you have the STL file so I can print it???
Thank you
Thank you
How did you remove the qi charger in the Mini??. In that thread it's explained how to do it in the X2Throwing out another solution (much better in my opinion) to this that worked for me, just get a new part 3D printed (costs about $10): Wireless charger and larger iPhones
I might sound dumb. But does using a silicone case measuring like iPhone X and putting the two components front and back as shown work???My brother just picked up a 2020 Countryman. His Samsung Galaxy 9+ is too large to fit in the armrest 'QI' charger. I don't know what other Mini models have this problem but I see many BMW owners gripe about their Iphone or Android being too large for the charger. I came up with a solution that doesn't require taking the armrest apart or breaking the factory charger.
I built what is basically a 'false phone' that does fit the charger. It takes the charge power from the factory charger and puts it in the oversized phone.
I used a 5mm thick piece of ABS plastic cut to 76mm X 150mm. The thickness of this 'false phone' can be an issue so I machined out the center of the plastic. If you had a piece of plastic around 3mm, carving it out like I did wouldn't be needed. I have a QI reciever on one side of the plastic and a QI sender on the other. They just plug in to each other. I used thin 2 sided tape to hold everything together. The Mini's electronics see this device as a phone and will turn on the factory charger. I don't see this as a battery drain problem because the charger times out after a minute or so of engine shutoff. I hope the pictures explain better that I. LOL
Amazon links for the parts I used. (I have no affiliation with Amazon or any manufacturer.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DLYF1OQ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3H67BNUZX4DHH&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D2CWBS1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
View attachment 278549
I don't know how big an iPhone X is. That's a Galaxy S10 in the pictures.
The S10 in it's case measures 6 9/16" X 3 1/4" X 9/16" thick.
Hope that helps.
The S10 in it's case measures 6 9/16" X 3 1/4" X 9/16" thick.
Hope that helps.
Thanks for the reply. The size is almost the same. What I meant asking is, instead of the ABS Plastic cut out like a phone, can we use a silicone phone cover and apply The qi receiver and sender on two sides and stick it up with the double sided tape all together. Will this kinda work and mimic a dummy phone? Since we are swapping the plastic cut out for the silicone case.I don't know how big an iPhone X is. That's a Galaxy S10 in the pictures.
The S10 in it's case measures 6 9/16" X 3 1/4" X 9/16" thick.
Hope that helps.
Thanks
Silicone won't be rigid enough the hold back the slider in the armrest.
Makes sense . Thanks so much 👍🏽Silicone won't be rigid enough the hold back the slider in the armrest.
I got my plastic piece made over the weekend. I'm excited! vidmate insta save
The receiver part for this still seems available on Amazon but the sender is no longer appearing. Any idea for alternatives?My brother just picked up a 2020 Countryman. His Samsung Galaxy 9+ is too large to fit in the armrest 'QI' charger. I don't know what other Mini models have this problem but I see many BMW owners gripe about their Iphone or Android being too large for the charger. I came up with a solution that doesn't require taking the armrest apart or breaking the factory charger.
I built what is basically a 'false phone' that does fit the charger. It takes the charge power from the factory charger and puts it in the oversized phone.
I used a 5mm thick piece of ABS plastic cut to 76mm X 150mm. The thickness of this 'false phone' can be an issue so I machined out the center of the plastic. If you had a piece of plastic around 3mm, carving it out like I did wouldn't be needed. I have a QI reciever on one side of the plastic and a QI sender on the other. They just plug in to each other. I used thin 2 sided tape to hold everything together. The Mini's electronics see this device as a phone and will turn on the factory charger. I don't see this as a battery drain problem because the charger times out after a minute or so of engine shutoff. I hope the pictures explain better that I. LOL
Amazon links for the parts I used. (I have no affiliation with Amazon or any manufacturer.)
Amazon.com: Wireless Charger Receiver, Nillkin Magic Tag Qi Wireless Charger Charging Receiver Patch Module Chip for Samsung Galaxy J7/J3/J6/S5, LG V10 and Other Type A Devices
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07D2CWBS1/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
View attachment 278549
Hi
I wonder can iPhone both iPhone 13 Mini and iPhone 13 would fit arm rest charger of Mini Cooper S latest model?
Thanks
I wonder can iPhone both iPhone 13 Mini and iPhone 13 would fit arm rest charger of Mini Cooper S latest model?
Thanks
1 - 18 of 18 Posts
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