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

newpike.... wow, seems like you might have something here. Did Apple think that a firmware/software update could fix the problem? If the 3GS needs more power, maybe they can fix it at the phone level.... i.e., change something in the software that tells it that it does not need as much power. I actually had read on another post where one user postulated that the 3GS needed "clean" power, which I was not sure exactly what it meant... newpike, I wanted to see what you thought of my other issue in my other car, though... VW rabbit, Drive+Play2 (DP2)... the DP2 had FW charging, but then bought a Ridax charge converter. With the Ridax, my 3G charged... but with my 3GS, the Ridax won't charge the phone. My wife's 3G still will charge with Ridax... so, in my mind, if it is an internal power issue where a car is not providing enough power, do you have any thoughts on why my 3Gs won't charge with a converter? I know it's a VW (sigh), but the principle of the problem is the same....

There was another thread on this where it said BMW was working on a new cable. Sounds like a typical one vendor changed specs and didn't let all interface people know. You'd think they'd have people like BMW in their test loop.

Hello all-
just some information on this topic. I have a brand new 2009 BMW 335xi, with the ipod interface with the newest idrive system, worked and charged perfectly. Worked perfectly with my iphone 3G, as soon as I installed the 3.0 software, the phone no longer charges. I have recently upgraded to the iphone 3GS, same exact thing, charging is not working, but playing!!! Great for a long trip, thanks Apple!!!!

I went to my local apple store, they told me they were not aware of the problem, tried to sell me a few adapters, none worked. They are dumbfounded, and not really tech savy. I went to see my dealer, the car is two months old, and wondered why this happened. The blame is all on Apple here, they changed the power requirements without informing anyone about it. The software on the BMW will need to be updated as newer build BMW's charge and play (iIhave seen it personally) the iphone 3GS perfectly. BMW has not yet released any sort of bulletin on this situation, but people are complaining and letting them know about it.
Would be great if someone from Apple would at the very least acknowledge that there is a problem!!!!!!!!!!

newpike... the VW was my wife's pick 😉 If it were up to me, I'd have 2 MINIs!

To all those that have been reading this thread, I should clarify my issue with charging 3GS and the Drive+Play2 Unit that I have.... I tried a Ridax charge converter when I had my old 3G and it charged, meaning lightning bolt icon was present in upper right corner. But, when I upgraded to a 3GS, it no longer gave the lightning bolt charging icon, but it ALSO did not show the standard screen that charging was not compatible. When I removed the Ridax adapter, and tried to charge the 3GS just with the cable of the DP2 system, the standard screen that charging was not compatible APPEARED again. So when I say that the Ridax converter did not charge my 3GS, it does not bring the lightning bolt icon up, but it also does not say that the charging is not compatible. My work commute is only about 10 minutes, and in that time, I cannot notice any charging of the 3GS with it. In my Cooper Clubman, it does exactly the same thing.... tried Ridax converter, and it does exactly what it does in my other car - no charging bolt, but no notice that charging is not compatible; and no noticeable charging of the device with the converter.

Wow I consider myself very lucky that my 3GS charges in my 08 M3 Sedan. If this didn't work, it'd be a real nuisance. It charges on my way to and from work, so I've never actually "charged" it outside of clicking it into my car since I got it.

I will say this though. My father has an M5 and when I put my phone into it (it has the USB/iPod option, 6FL) it says that the device is not charging. However, it says this for my wife's 3G too, so I think it may be an issue with the car itself. If you plug in the white USB sync cable, it charges the phone(s) just fine.

For everyone with modern BMW/Mini USB ports that won't charge your iPhone 3GS, try using the USB sync cable to charge the phone in the car. If it works, it's probably NOT a power problem, but some sort of firmware. This does not explain why my 08 car works however.

As an aside, Apple does read this forum. I received a call from them yesterday regarding a seperate issue and they referenced this forum a the reason they called.

Hi newpike,

My father's car is the same year as mine. We got them together. Both are late 08s.

His USED to charge my wife's 3G, and my 3G at the time, but that ceased. It could be the 3.0 firmware, I'm not sure. I don't have any non-3.0 firmware phones to try. But the fact that it works with the standard white USB sync cable to charge leads me to believe it is a firmware issue. No idea why my car is unaffected though.

Hmmm... very interesting, I don't know why I have not tried this yet, but when I get home, I'll try the USB white sync cable that came with my 3GS in my Clubman.... right now, I just have the y-cable (with USB and Audio plugs).... I guess if I plug in my USB only cable to the USB port in the car, and the 3GS charges, then it really is a cable/car issue... at least with my MINI...obviously, with the USB cable, I won't be able to get audio, because the Y-cable has audio and USB charging built into one connector....Also, still does not completely help me with my other car, because I can't change the DP2 cable.... Harman Kardon is really not upgrading these things to meet 3G/3GS specs as it is really a discontinued item. Also, my wife's 3G that is 3.0 software updated DOES charge via the Ridax charge converter with my DP2. Why on earth did they switch to USB charging.... Apple should have just left well enough alone.

Romel
How old is the Y cable Mine purchased in june 08 definitely does not support
my 3G .To get the B/T cradle I had to wait till Feb 09 for BMW to release the 3G
compatible version (firewire issue).Any change to the Y cable would have taken as long I suspect

I am picking up vibes that BMW have updated the Y cable to work post the firewire change, any one with the old Y cable would certainly have problems with a 3Gs

FWIW
Another piece of the jigsaw BMW now list the 6NF option as the
Bluetooth telephone audio connection as opposed to the 6FL which is the USB connection (using Y cable for an iPod)
Looks like 6FL isn't meant to support the iPhone fully as an iPod and phone

I assume Mini Brand uses the same gear as BMW

Peter... I am not familiar with the terminology "6FL" and "6NF" although I have seen one of them used on this thread. Is that some kind of stock number or model number listed on the cable? I purchased my MINI Clubman in March 2009, so I assumed everything was as up to date as possible from an equipment standpoint via BMW, but I guess they could have always used some old parts with my car. I purchased my car with the BT/iPod factory adapter installed. Thus, the y-cable inserts into 2 ports just below the CD player in the small alcove/compartment behind the shifter. The cable is not in the glove compartment. Here is a summary of my recent tests/experiments with my Clubman (I used my wife's iPhone 3G (3.0 software) and my iPhone 3GS (3.0 software):

1) Factory y-cable + 3G - interestingly, the charge icon comes up as a "plug" not a "lightning bolt" and the phone is at half charge; I cannot remember if this had happened before with her phone, but I know my old 3G showed the "lightning bolt" icon

2) Factory y-cable + Ridax charge converter + 3G - same as #1

3) White USB cable from Apple + 3G - "lightning bolt" charging

4) Factory y-cable + 3GS - "charging not supported" message

5) Factory y-cable + Ridax + 3GS - same as #4

6) White USB cable from Apple + 3GS - NOTHING, no messages, no charging; the phone is functional, but it's as if it is not plugged into anything source at all....

7) Incase 3G cigarette adapter charger + 3G - "lightning bolt" charging

8) Incase 3G cigarette adapter charger + 3GS - "lightning bolt" charging
So, what do all my fellow Apple/BMWers think of this? To me, it seems like it is 2 prong issue.... 1) since my wife's 3G charges correctly with the stock Apple USB cable, it seems like there is a BMW cable issue, so maybe my y-cable is a bad one.... but more importantly, 2) since my 3GS would NOT charge with the stock Apple USB cable, it appears that there is some subtle difference in the 3G and 3GS in terms of power needed to charge through this system. I plan on taking my car into my local MINI service technician to see what he thinks of my experiments. At the very least, I will have the y-cable changed, but maybe there is something even deeper in the system that needs to be looked at (e.g., maybe I have a bad USB port on the connection)? If anyone has thoughts on my situation, I would appreciate them.