I'm having trouble getting my IPod touch to connect on a consistent basis. Perhaps there is a secret handshake i.e. Is the Ipod supposed to be connected before/after the radio is powered up? Most often the IPod screen will flash between the normal screen of IPod icons and the Device Connected screen that you would get if the Ipod was successfully in use by the USB/Aux connection provided by Mini.

I am beginning to suspect the cable but without another cable to check I have no other way to check it - the dealer is 100 mile drive (200 mile roundtrip) so I am looking for alternatives or the experiences of other. All thoughts/suggestions appreciated.

Dennis

 

Clubmaster, I'm looking into the same issue. It was pointed out to me to look at the Iphone charging threads as apparently the Iphone and Touch are pret' near the same. There are a couple / few solutions posted on some of the other threads.

 

i have a first gen Touch and had trouble the first few times....

I upgraded to 3.0 and i found that if you turn off the radio, plug in the AUX first, then the usb, THEN the dock connector and then turn on the radio, i get a connection every time. though, once through that sequence seems to be enough. just leave it all plugged in, and only disconnect the dock connection it seems to work.

good luck!

 

So with iPod adapter, can you control the iPod with the multifunction steering wheel?

 

Go over to the NAV and Audio Section this is where all of these problems / situations are discussed as they are common to all 2nd Gen cars.

 

yes, you can control from the wheel.

 

I have two ipods and one of them exhibits this symptom, the other doesn't. So you might try testing a friend's ipod to see if it is the cable or the ipod.

I also found that if I carefully plug in the ipod only part way (so you don't here a click) then it works. This is annoying but it might be an option for you.

 

FYI sometimes the handshake seems to fail. I have a 2nd gen ipod touch.

I have found that if I press the menu button to see all the icons then go into the music menu it picks up the connection every time.

 

I'm a little baffled at this entire iPod integration (or lack thereof) in the MINI. I've had iPod integration in my other cars, aftermarket things connected to factory radios, a Panasonic deck with iPod integration etc. and they all worked OK, and they ALL got audio through the iPod dock port.

Why on earth does the MINI need you to use the AUX input jack for audio? It's nuts.

I picked up my Clubman today (2008 - bought it used w/6000 miles) and put in a USB drive for my MP3 files. Works a charm.

Having read all the bits on the iPod, I'm not sure why people would bother when USB drives are so cheap and tiny. I put a teeeeeeny 16GB drive in there for $40. You can't even see it unless you bend over to see under the switches.

I might try my 2.5" USB HDD plugged into the USB port and see what happens. If that works, then heck, for $100 you can put a 500GB 2.5" drive in there and be done with it forever. But I think a $40 16GB USB drive is plenty.