CarPlay audio issues (wired OR wireless) on iOS 13.1 from iPhone 7 Plus

I don't think that there's a way to disable any WiFi connections in the Minis, since, as far as I know, we don't have the hotspot functionality. The 4G modem in the current Minis is for SOS connection, traffic/map updates for the navi, and the connected stuff in the car. I'm guessing that VW has some kind of actual, usable hotspot in their cars. I could be wrong there, but I haven't seen any hotspot option in my menus.

Having said that... I didn't disable or change anything, other than updating to 13.3.1 and switching my Mini infotainment back to CarPlay from Bluetooth. I can confirm that (at least for me, in my 2019 Cooper S Iconic with navi), the problem is gone! Drove around quite a bit today and not a single skip. YESSSS. Only took 4 months. =P

For the combination of Volkswagen MIB3 and iPhone X I found a solution to the audio stuttering with wireless CarPlay. I disabled the WiFi AP connection in the head unit (leaving only the hotspot feature enabled). I guess that the constant search for WiFi networks is causing interference with the wireless CarPlay connection.

Clearly Apple, Harman, and Mini don't care. It's an issue for such a small subset of people that they just aren't worried about it, if they're even aware of it.

I know it has something to do with the WiFi chip (or the coding specifically for the new chip), because the issue wasn't happening on my XS on iOS 13, but it's been happening through all of the rapid updates on my 11 Pro since day one. Had the phone for 2 months and I can't use wireless CarPlay in my Mini, which is one of the huge reasons I went with that brand over my usual Hondas (that and a manual transmission available with other bells and whistles, which I couldn't get elsewhere).

I've switched to just using Bluetooth for audio, since there's no skipping. I'm guessing it's some odd bandwidth issue with WiFi direct connections. It's really a shame, because I love CarPlay and I love not having to take my phone out of my pocket to use it. It's a big enough shame that BMW/Mini won't allow us to turn off their split screen feature (that I don't care for at all) and use widescreen CarPlay, but now it just isn't worth using at all.

For those who suspected that it is a software issue, and wish to do a factory reset of their iPhone, don't bother.

I took the pain to reset my iPhone's network settings, as well as re-installing as a new phone. None of them works.

Hope this will save you lots of time.

Same skipping problem happened to my 2019 MINI F56 over wireless CarPlay.

Happened to both my old iPhone X and new iPhone 11 Pro. iOS version doesn’t seem to matter - happened on both iOS 12 and 13.

Once I activated Apple Maps while listening to music and the audio skips badly. Leading me to suspect the connection between my phone and car is unstable, and unable to support the huge amount of data being transmitted.

Interestingly, my wife’s iPhone XS on iOS 13 seems to work fine, in the same car.

Spoke to MINI dealer and they are not aware of this issue.

Same skipping issue. I only use CarPlay over wireless (2019 Mini). I had an iPhone XS, and it worked fine. Then I upgraded to iOS 13.1 on it before my new phone showed up, no skipping. New phone, iOS 13.1 (and now 13.1.1) and it’s skipping. So, for me, it’s the new phone that’s doing it, but even when it was on the same software as the old phone. Restarts, unpairing and re-pairing, even a hard reset, and nothing works. It’s random and sometimes happens several times in a row.

I am having the same issue also with my 2019 Mini Cooper and Wireless CarPlay. I am on a iPhone 11 Pro Max and did not have this issue at all with my XS Max, even with iOS 13.0. The audio is skipping regardless of the app I am using through CarPlay, whether it's YouTube Music or the Apple Music app. However, I have noticed that if I use Bluetooth Audio as opposed to CarPlay it does not skip.

Apple, please see this post and please offer an answer as to why this is happening because this is beyond ridiculous for a $1000+ phone. And before you even try, this clearly does not have anything to do with our vehicles as it worked prior to my phone upgrade.

I have the same issue with my 2019 Mini and wireless CarPlay. Audio from all sources worked fine with my iPhone XS and iOS 12. Now I have audio skips in music and podcasts with iPhone 11 Pro and iOS 13.

I haven’t tried it with Bluetooth, but I’m guessing it would be the same. So it’s clearly an issue with wireless CarPlay over WiFi (that’s how harmon/kardon makes wireless CarPlay work in MINIs: the handshake is over Bluetooth, and then it switches to WiFi for the actual connection).

I am having same issue with Mini Countryman and iPhone 11 Pro.

I have exactly the same symptoms with CarPlay on the Volkswagen MIB3 system and an iPhone X running iOS 13.3.

Yes! I disabled that option after updating to 13.1.1 and so far so good! Only had 15mins to test out today. Will update again over the weekends.

Interesting, thanks for the tip fredje007! On the Mini side of things I will see if there's a way to disable the WiFi AP in the Head Unit and report back on whether this makes a difference or not.

https://www.dropbox.com/s/u02cye7j1xpnlm9/Untitled.mp4?dl=0

An example of just how bad the skipping gets. Less than 28 seconds and it skipped 6 times. It's unbearable. Back to Bluetooth with none of the benefits of CarPlay.