This week’s Ask MF comes from Matt Bentley and deals with an issue we’ve heard quite lot about from a few readers:

>I was wondering if you could shine some light on the current state of the iPod/iPhone integration for R56 vehicles. I own a 3g iPhone. My phone will only charge intermittently, and additionally, there’s no way (other than simply unplugging the USB cable from the vehicle) to enable the use of the iPhone’s iPod app screen, as it’s locked out by default by the ‘Accessory Connected’ screen.

>Though my dealer has been happy to look at my car, they’re unable to figure out why the phone will only charge intermittently, or why the iPod app is locked out.

>Additionally, they were unable to tell me why the iPhone/iPod itself requires 2 connections – stereo mini jack and USB- in order to connect, while aftermarket units simply use USB.

>I’d really appreciate it if MotoringFile was able to highlight this to MINI USA, as it’s a shame to have an iPod/iPhone integration system that really isn’t that well…integrated.

Based on my own experiences, when Apple changed the way the iPhone charged (starting with the 3G) charging in MINI’s system became much more unstable. But that was with the first port installed R56 iPod adapter. We don’t have a ton of experience with the new system other than to know that it doesn’t charge an iPhone 3G or 3GS. So we have to turn this one over to MF readers.