2005 Mini Cooper limits Bluetooth compatibility?
People are reporting that while the 2005 Mini Cooper will include built-in Bluetooth for making hands-free phone calls with your cellphone, the implementation limits the compatibility to only three phones. Apparently, the connection forces one to fit a phone into an armrest for full Bluetooth functionality. The compatible phones include the Sony Ericsson T610, Nokie 6310i, and Siemens S55/56. If these reports are true, it's a bizarre choice and sad day for Bluetooth users around the world who happen to want to be driving Minis next year…and who don't have the three phones listed. Remember, that's assuming that this report is, in fact, true.
Filed under: Transportation, Wireless
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bryan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM
That's the stupidest thing ever...the whole point of having Bluetooth is that I don't want to take the bloody phone out of my pocket!!
Michael @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM
My friend's BMW has a similar thing, but no Bluetooth. It only takes one phone - the old Motorola TimePort, but when it's plugged in he can cycle through his phonebook on the dash display. It then works through the stereo.
duncan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM
from the originating site
The Armrest connector is purely to charge the phone, that's all. The bluetooth kit will work just as well if your phone is in your pocket. The idea is that as time goes on and more handsets are released, more phone cradles will appear. The e60 (New 5 series) still has new cradles coming out every two months.
myoung @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM
As it turns out, it's not that sad a day. I have the original bluetooth option installed in my 2005 mini cooper s, and it barely works. there is a sphere of interference extending about 3 feet from the center of the dashboard, rendering the phone unusable. If I have my phone in my left rear pocket, or I throw it in the back seat it works ok, otherwise, it's useless. I use a sony ericsson t637.
Morgan @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM
Well, I guess it's a good thing I have a Siemens S56. Of course, I'll never own a Mini Cooper, but it's still nice to know that if I ever rent or ride in one, I'll be able to use my phone hands-free.
James Ho @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM
Just test drove the BMW 120i hatchback in Taiwan and it pairs with both my friend's T610 and my K700 via bluetooth. Unfortunately neither of us were able to actually use it since it could not dial, speakerphone or anything else! With my K700 it's even worse in that the pairing gets constantly dropped and reconnected every 7 seconds or so. It also ended up crashing my phone! Looks like BMW has a lot more work ahead of them to get this bluetooth thing right!
simon @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM
This sounds very much like they used the BMW-bluetooth implementation that I have in my 330. I tested it with several phones, and it worked only with the S55 reliably. The other phones, like the Nokia 6600 or 3650 could be used for the audio connection, but no go for the phonebook. I dug into this using my Linux laptop, hcidump and some shell scripts, and there are apparently different protocols to access the phonebook entries, where BMW uses a protocol that only Siemens (to my knowledge, at least; Synchronisation Protocol) implemented.
Brave new protocol world...
Peter @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM
I have a 2005 Mini Cooper S. I did some research on bluetooth car kits the one I picked was the Motorola Bluetooth Car Kit IHF1000 total cost installed was $450.00 it mutes the radio when you get a call or make one, also works with most Bluetooth phones. I have a Blackberry 7100t and it works great.
Peter @ Dec 19th 2005 2:10AM
I have a 2005 Mini Cooper S. I did some research on bluetooth car kits the one I picked was the Motorola Bluetooth Car Kit IHF1000 total cost installed was $450.00 it mutes the radio when you get a call or make one, also works with most Bluetooth phones. I have a Blackberry 7100t and it works great.
Gary @ Dec 21st 2005 3:03PM
I purchased a Mini with the Bluetooth Handsfree system and was told that "pretty much any phone with bluetooth will work." So, I purchased a Samsung, but also considered a Sanyo. Neither phone will work with the Mini Handsfree. It turns out Mini put a footnote in their instruction manual saying "some phones may present compatibility problems." It should have said "some phones will not work" and it should have been in bold print and not in a footnote at the bottom of a page. Worse yet, it was $700. Yes $700 for something that is compatible with only a relatively small fraction of the Bluetooth phones on the market. There are no Samsung (or Sanyo) phones on the Mini approved phone list (yes, there is a small list which I found out about when it was too late). Not worth the money and VERY MISLEADING!!!!