Newbie with Bluetooth/iPhone problem

[LarsA]

Guys,

I just registered with this Forum; greetings to you all! I've owned my 2010 GTI for a little under 2 months. Love the car, but am pretty disappointed with how my iPhone (3GS) works (or rather, doesn't work) with the GTI's 9W2 system. I've read many posts on this subject all over the web, but am still looking for a solution.

I've paired my iPhone with the car's Bluetooth (several times!) and the car usually recognizes the phone as soon as I get in the car, but the connection drops very soon thereafter. If I keep my phone on (i.e., leave the screen turned on), the BT connection seems to stay on; however, leaving the screen on will eat up the battery too fast. I've tried getting around this problem by plugging in the MDI cable, but then audio connectivity gets troublesome, and/or the system won't recognize the iPhone as an external media source. If I start playing an album on the phone before plugging it in, sometimes the system will start playing it - via BT, I believe; sometimes that doesn't work either!

I have a feeling this is just an iPhone issue; other BT-enabled phones seem to work just fine via the 9W2 system. It just ticks me off that some of the things that sold me on the GTI - the iPod/iPhone-specific MDI cable and BT connectivity - aren't working as advertised (at least not in my case.)

Sorry for rambling. I'd really appreciate any help/input you all might offer. Thanks in advance!

LarsA

[LarsA]

I'm pretty sure I'm not the only GTI owner with an iPhone, so I'll try to be more specific:

1) Do you have to leave your iPhone's screen ON (and disable the power save/sleep modes, etc.) in order to maintain a BT connection? If not, how do you keep BT alive?

2) If yes to 1), do you keep your iPhone powered on with the MDI cable? If so, is there an easy way to maintain BT audio even when the MDI cable is plugged in? Mine always cuts out, even when I select "Enable BT Audio." Do I have to play a track via BT before plugging in the MDI cable and/or follow some other procedure?

I hope this brings about an answer or two. Although my iPhone is updated with the latest firmware - and doesn't seem to have any other issues - I'm wondering if the phone is at fault here.

Thanks,

LarsA

[bubuski]

Even though I have now upgraded to the 9W3, when I had 9W2 my iPhone 3GS always paired and stayed paired without any input from me. I usually just left it in my jacket pocket or the cup holder with the screen off. I did not use the MDI with my iPhone. MDI was used for my iPod. BT audio was always turned off as I did not have use for it. New calls always rang in the car's system.

[LarsA]

Thanks, bubuski; that's how I thought it was supposed to work, too (i.e., just get in the car with your phone in standby mode, and it should establish & maintain the BT connection automatically.) Guess there's something wrong with my iPhone, after all...

I tried to get around the music issue by hooking up an old (2nd generation) iPod to the MDI cable, but sound quality was pretty crappy. Right now, I'm experimenting with the SD card and HDD, but the system's interface is painfully slow and counterintuitive (as everybody has pointed out.)

Oh well, I still love my GTI!

LarsA

[bubuski]

Larsa, here is someone else with an issue and detailled information regarding the USA spec 3GS.

Originally Posted by wbguillory

Okay. Here's the scoop: Your iPhone 3GS will NOT work with the 2010 Jetta SE. You can call VW Customer Care and they will tell you no. Only the iPhone 3G will work, and flawlessly, I might add...
Don't freak out, Cryonine, with this statement. I've spent HOURS ont he phone with Apple Specialist. At one point, I had two specialist: Robert and Roger conferenced in on my 3GS. Here's the reason, SOME, work and SOME don't: If you purchased your iPhone from the At&t store and your iPhone 3GS works, it's because you have an unlocked Canadian version, model: MC5??LL.
I probably had one when I purchased mine the day it came out; however, I'm on my third one, due to hardware issues, and if you have the Apple Care Protection, as I do, the Apple Warranty Exchange will only give you an American Model: MB717LL, which will NOT work. I've called Apple iPhone Tech support and put in an enhancement/firmware request for this to work with the Premium VIII, RCD-510 unit and also have gone to: apple.com/feedback and requested it, in great detail, there as well. Many times. I have major neck issues and must have surgery this year due to disc problems and this feature is a must for me...

Check your model number of your iPhone. If it's: MB717LL, please call Apple iPhone Tech support at: 1800-694-7466 and give them all the details I've just mentioned, OR, go to the apple.com/feedback site and copy and paste the parts of this email which pertain to this problem in the feedback dialog box and submit.

PS: Even if you deselect the BT Audio in the setup>media area, and have a 3G, you will get a pop-up while you've been driving for 3 minutes, asking if you'd like to enable this feature.

I hope this helps. Please understand this one important addendum: If you try to connect your iPhone 3GS, American Version, to the car mentioned, it will connect; disconnect; connect; disconnect in 3-5 minute intervals and render the iPhone
useless; nearly wrecked twice...

I've owned Many, Many, Apple products since '02...

It's 4:50AM and I'm tired of worrying about this.

Oh, BTW, don't get the "Jawbone" either. Stinks: They hear you just great, and you hear 1 Khz voice, to the most disturbing level!

Thank you,

wbguillory
Houston, TX
Unix Admin

Source: VWvortex poster

[Super Steve]

wow thats crazy that you get a "Canadian" model with at&t
I have iphone 3g and it work flawlessly with the bt.

[LarsA]

Thanks for the follow-up, guys. My iPhone IS a model MB717LL/A (shipped to me on the very first day of 3GS release), so maybe that's part of the problem. I'll have to talk to someone at Apple to get to the bottom of this.

Cheers,

LarsA

[jaygti]

There are advantages to being Canadian [|*|]

[jbcritch]

Interesting issues here. In response:

1 - if the sound from your ipod is terrible, check the input "level" and set it to low or medium. (I think those are the choices). I know mine sounded like crud until I reset it to a different level in setup. Now it sounds great (to me - compressed audio and all that...)

2 - I've not had an issue with any iphone pairing with my GTI. I've had a 3G, 3GS and now 4. All worked great, until about a week ago.... I upgraded to IOS 5.1. Now my phone connects fine, but disconnects after a while with no notice. My MDI screen suggests it is still connected, but it will not dial or receive calls. I think if I call immediately upon entering the car it will stay connected. I'm testing that theory now. Anyone else with this issue?

[jbcritch]

Originally Posted by jbcritch

Interesting issues here. In response:

1 - if the sound from your ipod is terrible, check the input "level" and set it to low or medium. (I think those are the choices). I know mine sounded like crud until I reset it to a different level in setup. Now it sounds great (to me - compressed audio and all that...)

2 - I've not had an issue with any iphone pairing with my GTI. I've had a 3G, 3GS and now 4. All worked great, until about a week ago.... I upgraded to IOS 5.1. Now my phone connects fine, but disconnects after a while with no notice. My MDI screen suggests it is still connected, but it will not dial or receive calls. I think if I call immediately upon entering the car it will stay connected. I'm testing that theory now. Anyone else with this issue?

Deleted my phone, then added it again. This did NOT clear up my BT issues...

[jbcritch]

Reviving to add new info: iOS 6.0 did not clear up these issues!

[quality_sound]

iPhone 4S worked fine with iOS5 and still with iOS6. I'll check and see which version of the BT I have.