iPhone 3GS in BMW Mini using adapter cable - no charging

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iPhone 3GS in BMW Mini using adapter cable - no charging

Hi all

I have recently purchased a 3GS and have tried to use it in my Mini - it plays music using the iPod cable (into USB and 3.5mm audio) just fine - but says not able to charge with this accesory.

According to all I have read the 3G and 3GS have identical charging - but my wife's 3G works just fine in the car and charges too.

I spoke to the local Apple store and they were confused. They recommended to try adapters that change from firewire to USB charging pins - tried one made by Scosche and by Griffin -both make no differnce

I have also tried it in another Mini with the dealership and tried different cables etc - all seems to point to the iPhone!
If any one can help I would appreciate it

3GS, iPhone OS 3.0

Posted on Jul 7, 2009 2:35 AM

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Answer 1

newpike Author

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Jul 7, 2009 3:45 PM in response to newpike

Are there any Apple experts that can help with this? Or at least give me some clues where the problem may lie?

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Answer 2

CTJon

Level 1

105 points

Jul 7, 2009 4:18 PM in response to newpike

There are several threads on this on North American Motoring (MINI forum). Don't have a 3GS(yet) but have a MINI so have been following this. There are similar threads here on charging issues with 3GS. Seems as if either power requirements have changed or something is definitely different with 3GS power.

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Answer 3

w7ox

Level 4

2,407 points

Jul 7, 2009 4:19 PM in response to newpike

There have been a number of threads on this issue occurring with some car kits. Try a search on 'car kit', 'BMW', 'Mercedes', 'Lexus', etc. and you will find them.

In one this device:

http://www.scosche.com/products/productID/1667

was suggested as a solution. But I've not tested it and cannot vouch for it.

Phil

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Answer 4

newpike Author

Level 1

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Jul 8, 2009 10:03 AM in response to CTJon

Thanks for the replies - I think its pretty clear there is a difference. Bit of a shame there is no answer from either company about this

As for the Scosche product, as mentioned in my original post I have tried that and it does not work with 3GS

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Answer 5

Jul 9, 2009 10:56 AM in response to newpike

Hello all. I too think that there is a charging difference between the 3G and 3GS. I have 2 different iPod car solution stories I wanted to share. First, in my MINI Clubman (CM), I have the factory installed iPod interface which charged my iPhone 3G fine. But, after I upgraded to the 3GS, no more charging. My wife's iPhone 3G works fine in the CM. My second story is that I have Drive+Play2 (DP2) in another car. This is known to have only Firewire charging, but I bought a Ridax charging converter for it. When I plug my old 3G into the charge converter and then into the DP2, it corrected the charging problem and it charged. But, ever since I upgraded to the 3GS, I tried it with the converter and DP2 and NO charging. My wife's 3G still charges with the converter and the DP2. So, my only conclusion is that there is some subtle difference in charging. To make matters more confusing, at home, I use a INCASE 2 in 1 wall/car charger... designed for the iPhone 3G... and this device, whether in a car, or on the road, WILL charge my 3GS... but, I still think it is a charge difference in the 3GS

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Answer 6

newpike Author

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Jul 9, 2009 1:57 PM in response to Romel Cunanan

Romel

Whilst I'm sorry you can't get it working, I'm happy to hear more people are having the same problem so I am not alone! Especially those with a great taste in cars! (I have a Clubman D mid 08 made, in BRG with chili pack tuscan beige on another topic)

I don't know about you, but I'm more disapointed that no one will admit the change more than there has been one. i would happily buy another adapter for the 3GS if I had to, but everyone at Apple seems to ignore ths issue or swears there is no difference.

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Answer 7

av8tor86

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Jul 9, 2009 2:28 PM in response to newpike

I got the IPOD feature in my wife's 08 BMW, and it charged my First Gen Iphone just fine. Apparently they have changed the charge ports on the 3G and the 3GS. I now have to take my apple usb cord with me in the car. I also purchased a new pink nano for her, and our I Home under the counter radio will play music from it, but it wont charge it. I really think it ***** that they changed them with the new ipods and iphones.

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Answer 8

Jul 9, 2009 9:06 PM in response to newpike

I have a BMW M3 with the new iDrive. The old Iphone worked just fine. 3GS will play music, but will not charge. Have tried adaptors and switching cables with no luck. It also wont work in the 535i in terms of charging. However will play music, connect to bluetooth, and above all drain the battery. Hoping anyone can help. Hoping apple can fix this.

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Answer 9

eluderm3

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Jul 9, 2009 9:27 PM in response to kingsingha

I have an 08 M3 too with the USB option. It charged my 3G just fine and continues to work, bothing charging and playing music, with my 3GS. All of the phones display the "this accessory not designed..." message, but it affects nothing.

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Answer 10

Jul 10, 2009 1:25 PM in response to eluderm3

So, you're saying that your 3GS will charge in your 08 M3, right? Man, this is frustrating.... it just reiterates the scary randomness of this charging problem across 3GS, and even in the 3G line as well...I guess there could be a quality problem with cables from multiple manufacturers just as there could be a quality problem with the iPhones themselves.... Sadly, it leaves the consumer left to try multiple solutions (either changing cables, changing charging converters, or even changing iPhones) before you could fine one that will charge right.... frustrating indeed... I wish Apple would have just stuck with firewire charging....I spoke with one customer service rep at CableJive who told me that other users have had similar problems with their charge converter working with a 3G, but not with a 3GS.... so maybe there is something that they can figure out.... The other charge converters that I have tried include Scosche and Griffin... both failed to convert charge for my 3G (before I upgraded) and my 3GS....

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Answer 11

fred724

Level 1

15 points

Jul 10, 2009 1:44 PM in response to newpike

Power adapters use different value resistors on certain pins to distinguish the apple product(s). Either the mfg of the chargers did not follow apple guide lines or something else is changed. I have an old Belkin USB cable that works fine on my Ipod, Iphone 3g, and 3gs for charging. I bought it before the the iPhone 3g was introduced.

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Answer 12

newpike Author

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Jul 14, 2009 8:06 AM in response to Romel Cunanan

Romel

What is the age of your Mini?

I have read on a few sites now about some BMW/Mini owners being able to charge the 3GS and they all seem to have 08 reg cars.

I know its a pretty big guess, but it could be that 58 and newer cars (as mine is) may actually be the problem

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Answer 13

Jul 14, 2009 8:39 AM in response to newpike

Actually, I have a Mini Cooper Clubman 2009 with factory installed bluetooth/ipod adapter. It's only 4 months old.... I guess it could be a car issue, but my whole issue with charging in general is that the 3G and 3GS were supposed to be completely compatible with charging accessories... but now it won't charge.... It's one of 2 basic things... either my phone has a problem or my car has a problem.... could my phone be defective with a replacement doing the trick? Possibly, but I'm not sure if Apple would let me exchange it, especially since the stock USB cable/wall charger works and my iphone 3G specific car/wall charge (an Incase 2-in-1) works... so I could lay the problem on MINI... but it just frustrates me that my old 3G worked with it....

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Answer 14

newpike Author

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Jul 14, 2009 9:32 AM in response to Romel Cunanan

frustrating? tell me about it!!

You say factory installed is it the glove compartment one? Do you have a lead? is it from a USB port

OK I have talked with Mini today and they have looked through the spec for me and think nothing has changed in the car. They wont find me an 08 to test it on sadly.

But whilst talking with a colleague (we are in IT) we have had a brain wave (we think!)
Whilst traveling the other day I noticed that the 3GS would not charge using my Lenovo power adapter - it can charge the laptop and other things at the same time, so I have a USB adapter and my ipod cable - this was when I was on a train and my laptop had 30% battery, so the charger was busy with the battery.

This got me to thinking what if it has to do with the power input to the usb cable.... So your wall charger works, it can draw on 220/240V depending on where you are. Any USB cable on a computer will work. Why? Because the iPhone 'talks' to it, it knows what device it is and what power it will need and will provide what it needs.

What about the car though? This is just a set of wires into a USB port, it doesn't 'talk' in the same way so it doesn't know it needs more power than it is getting, and the car will be busy using power for other things so may not give enough to the USB.

cigarette lighters provide 12V so the adapters provide more than enough power.

my bosses VW Scirocco uses a special connector (30 pin like the back of stereos) that does charge the iPhone - I would imagine again the iPhone can draw what it needs.

So the key is that a USB only provides the power that is needed if there is intelligence behind it. So yes I am saying that our cars are stupid!
As for the guy above with an 08 M3 that says it works, I don't know.

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Answer 15

wegras

Level 6

15,311 points

Jul 14, 2009 9:43 AM in response to newpike

FWIW
this link is a pretty good explanation of what has changed
but probably the solution a little extreme (soldering iron )!!!

http://getinthewoodchipper.com/?p=9

Interestingly the change did occur with the 3G as I thought
and I thought Apple claimed all hardware working with the 3G was expected to
work with the 3GS

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