Looking at possibly getting a new Cabrio but I need bluetooth. How well does it work? Is it useable at all with the top down?


bonus question: how well does the iPod integration work.

BTW: the one I'm looking at doesn't have Navi.

 

Top up, the Bluetooth works fine.
Top down, slow speeds, windows up, BT works okay.
At highway speeds, top down, BT is pretty much useless.

It would be nice if someone can figure out a mod to improve the BT microphone.

 

The ipod integration works okay does show track info. The problem is searching through large number of tracks. It helps if you set up playlists.

 

This has been my experience, as well... Works well with top down at
all but highway speeds. I did find I needed to raise the BT volume on my
iPhone after pairing so that I could hear the other end (at all). I found that
in another thread (can't recall which, now... a search should find it).

ipod integration is ok, but as noted, playlists help greatly. Also, somewhat
annoying, if you (like me) prefer to randomize your playlists, you need to
select the RND function each time you restart the car... there really should
be a preference for that.

 

I have only had mine for a week but my initial experience with bluetooth is not good for the reciever. I can hear what is being said just great but the reciever can barely hear me at low speeds with the top up, as soon as I go over 40mph with the top up it's useless. I haven't even tried with the top down yet as my experience has been so bad with the top up. I'm going to take it into the shop to see if there's a problem with the mic. but I have a feeling it's just that bad. Anybody else had this experience???

The IPOD functionality is pretty good but it's best to have lists as stated earlier. The one annoying thing I've noticed is that it starts over from scratch if the car sits for a couple days (rather than starting back on the song last listened to in the list)...I'm assuming that's because the Ipod has to be booted up after being inactive for too long but will have to confirm that next time.

 

Mine is useless. I have taken it in to my local mini dealership and of course they say nothing is wrong. But I cannot hear anyone when I make a call or when I get a call. And they can barely hear me. Maybe I will go to another mini dealership.

 

I have a cabrio but not BT. I'd imagine BT usability should match how easy/difficult it is to have a conversation with a passenger (can be challenging at times with the top down). Do you use a wind deflector? It cuts down a lot of wind turbulence noise.

 

I'm in the same boat at you. Top down or up, the Mini Bluetooth paired with an iPhone 3G or 3GS is horible. I can barly hear the other party, and here's why. Their implementation if poor at best. Both the volume on the iPhone and the volumn on the MiniHiFi controls the Bluetooth volume on the iPhone. Why it does this is not understood. The volume on the iPhone is the way it is designed, however why does the volumn **** on the Mini control the iPhone volume? It should control the volume on the MiniHiFi independently of the iPhone's volume. This would allow me to turn up the volumn of the vehicle to whatever loudness I want. As for the Microphone, it is in one of the worst spots on the vehicle, which makes me lean forward just so people can hear me.

I'm pretty disappointed in Mini's lack of flexibility of their MiniHiFi volume control **** when using Bluetooth.l

 

Mine's pretty bad too. Top up or down. Everyone complains they can hardly hear me and it sounds like I'm in a tunnel. I normally just keep it on now so that I get notified of a call above my loud music Then I turn down the music, answer the phone and switch to handset and switch off the bluetooth.
Sucks, but it is what it is.
Hopefully someone figures out how to improve this.

 

My BT works very well except at high speeds top down and windows down.

The IPod sounds great but it's not easy to find your songs. It will not sort by every option is says it will. Playlists help, but if you have 200 songs in your playlist, good luck finding the song you want quickly. Oh well.

I still love to crank the HK and continually hit the steering wheel control to skip to the next song. My wife gets annoyed quickly with that cause it's just like when I watch TV. Flipping channels faster than she can tell whats on.

 

I found that turning off the vent just right of the steering column helps with people hearing me over BT, possibly because the mic is right there and it no longer is dealing with blower noise.

 

Just the other day, was thinking of doing the same thing the next time I use the BT in the car! The BT is paired w/my iPhone 3GS and people on the other end have a hard time hearing me. I can hear them perfectly.

Hmm..wonder if this is just a iPhone thing or do other phones have issues as well?

 

I have a palm pre. Have exactly the same problem!!

 

I got my MINI cab at the beginning of May. At that time I was using a Palm Treo 700p, which was almost 5 years old. Nobody could hear me over Bluetooth, but I could hear them fine, even with windows up, parked. The phone had some other issues, so I assumed it was more of a phone issue, than a MINI Bluetooth issue. I also have a Motorola Razr, about 3 years old, so I tried pairing that and it was a slight improvement, but still not acceptable. Then this week, I got the iPhone 4 and was first surprised that it worked with the iPod adapter (and appears to be charging). More importantly, Bluetooth has improved dramatically. I have only tested with Windows up and parked. But person did not know I was on speaker. I don't know how it will be with traffic and/or wind, but it's got to be better than what I was experiencing.

 

I can concure with Clarabelle. Bluetooth with the new iPhone 4 works so much better than the previous 3GS and 3G. For starters, once you're on a call, the volumn buttons on the phone don't do anything (finally), and the voumne on the Mini HiFi actually controls the bluetooth volumn, and it actually go to a much louder settings than the 3GS and 3G, which you need for topless motoring.

One things that is understandable, is that my old 3GS cradle for my center handrest doesn't work with the iPhone 4. I asked my dealer and Mini via email, and I got two different answers. Mini via email responded back to check with the dealerships, as they don't have any information on future parts or accessories. The dealership said they have no information, and to check with Mini via email.

Ohh well, I guess I'm going to be waiting a year or more if you keep in mind Mini's past with releasing accessories.

BTW, Anyone looking for a 3G (and it also works with my 3GS) cradle for the center handrest? This is only for the non SmartPhone Integration setup.

 

I have a 2010 Cab with factory NAV and Blootooth and the same problems. My Blackberry Bold pairs but nobody can understand what I am saying.
Let's take a poll:
1-Phone
2-Factory NAV or not
Maybe we can figure this out together.
Thanks
Michael

 

You can just change your voice mail message to say "I'm Motoring with the Top down now and I'll call you back when I'm done having fun"

 

There ya go
Mine is fair. I lost one call so far. Also had one person say they could not hear me. But I like having it so I can answer if I want and tell the caller I'll get back to them later.

 

I just did a test with my phone in a BMW 323 loner adn the reception was chrystal clear at highway speeds. the problem is in hte MINI system.

 

Tested the following phones yesterday all paired including address book but bad call quality:
T-Mobile:
Blackberry 9000 (not on list)
HTC Touch Pro2 (not on list)
ATT:
I Phone 3G (on approved list)
Blackberry 9000 (on approved list)

 

The problem is the latest software in the 2010 convertables. When they did a patch to improve IPhone volume controll they screwed the pooch.
An engineer from BMW came to the dealer and rolled my software back to an earlier version and reception is excellent.

 

I have been using BT for several weeks and most calls are with clients.
I hear them just fine but their reception can be a problem.
I foud but adjusting my seat in more upright position its improves transmission. Top down at highway speed requires my old headset

Works well for all callers but my father - but his hearing has been bad for 20 years.

I havent lost a client so far.

Small price to pay for this package of fun and handling.

 

Same deal here. But I'm not a big user while I'm driving so it's not a big deal. Let's just say it works good enough but not perfect.

 

The BT in my 09 Justa hardtop works very well with my Blackberry, especially since I got rid of the run-flats and can actually hear what comes out of the speakers. I can't figure out the voice command stuff, but when I dial up a contact or have an incoming call, I have no problems at all.

Now AT&T connectivity is another story altogether......

OOPS. Just noticed that I was in the Cabrio section -- sorry. Nevermind.