Wanted: OEM-style iPhone Gauge
Big thanks to Mark for sending this in! It’s an iPhone holder that integrates into the MINI dash much like the old R50/53 Chrono Pack speedo. From the photos, this appears to be an R56 installation and we don’t have any word on whether a similar kit would be available for the R50/53. It’s made by the German company Attractive4MINI and is due for release sometime this spring. No word yet on pricing. Also, rumor has it that something similar is in the works from MINI USA. It’s a great idea and kudos to its developers.
[UPDATE] We’ve talked with the folks at Attractive4MINI and have a little more info. The first versions will be iPhone 4 only. It does include the dock connector and can replace the arm rest iPhone dock if you want it to. That means that this gauge can be your iPhone cradle for MINI Connected. Also, they plan to build a version of this for the Countryman as well. Sadly, there will be no R50/R53 version as those gauges are apparently too small to house the iPhone. They are making plans for US shipping availability once the product is ready to go.
More photos after the break.
<p>Me. Want! Me want now!!!</p>
<p>That is a GREAT looking piece! I would LOVE that on my R52! That and an iPad version to replace the center speedo! The bar has been raised very high with this OEM looking mount, to the other manufacturers out there, good luck.</p>
<p>I WANT!</p>
<p>Wow! That is really nice. Please post when this can be ordered.</p>
<p>That’s very cool.</p>
<p>Thats the exact gauge/dock that i started a thread on NAM a few days ago. Hopefully someone will make one.</p>
<p>That is dead sexy. I want one right now for my R53. The only thing is it will will be nice that I can;t tell from the pictures is if they can figure out some way of having an insert to accomodate various sized phones.</p>
<p>Interesting in light of a recent article here. On this page <a href="http://www.attractive4mini.com/entertainment/bilder.html" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.attractive4mini.com/entertainment/bilder.html</a> they have a few pictures of Matte finish MINIs.</p>
<p>Very impressive. It looks like they adapted it from the iPhone dock for the Bluetooth kit (I have one in my center armrest, looks -exactly- the same). Somebody put a lot of work into this!</p>
<p>YUM!</p>
<p>If I can get this for an R-56 I want to be on the list!! What a cool thing :-)</p>
<p>Nice “option,” but I wouldn’t want it standardized, replacing larger analog gauges and requiring me to buy an IPhone just to know what my car was up to.</p>
<p>LeeL – the matte BRG Clubman on that page is sweet.</p>
<p>Great idea but something flexible that can hold non-Apple products, please. Screw Apple and their whole locked-down, sanitized, totalitarian world. Unless they open up fast, Google and Android will crush them as spectacularly as Microsoft and the Windows PC did. Pretty products will only get you so far.</p>
<p>Don’t be “that guy”… they can make it for both iphone and android. Don’t hate.</p>
<p>When and where can I get one for an R53?</p>
<p>@that.guy – spiteful tirades are terribly bilious things…</p>
<p>It is a prototype and its not even on their website for sale. This is really old news but, whatever.</p>
<p>@tryon…just because its old news doesn’t mean that more interest can’t be sparked to actually/maybe put it into production. Just think that if back in ’92 Pearl Jam woulnd’t have released videos for “alive”, “Evenflo” and “Jeremy” from an album released over a year prior, Pearl Jam would have been just another 90’s grunge band and not one of the ICONIC groups of the era. I know, took it a little too far but what the heck….</p>
<p>Some things just go together. It’s like peanut butter and chocolate. MINI and technology. Rock and Roll.</p>
<blockquote>spiteful tirades are terribly bilious things</blockquote>
<p>But they feel so good… :)</p>
<p>A Droid version would be spectacular</p>
<p>I wonder how they would handle the different form factors. That photo shows the older style iPhone/iPod. Maybe they’d have different inserts.</p>
<p>I speak for ATTRACTIVE4MINI (i’m kind of their press “man”)</p>
<p>We are currently in negotiations with the BMW/MINI supplier. This prototyp works, but has to be altered to fit mass production. Due to Apples Product Cycle (they reinvent the iPhone every 12 month) we won’t offer an Option for the 3g/3gs models (though the prototype was made for these).
We are starting with the iPhone 4.
Once we have figuered the mass production design and the final electronic protocol for FULL integration, upgrading to newer models will only be a matter of changing the jacket.</p>
<p>If you have any questions (no we are not sure what PriceTag it will receive), please don’t hesitate to write me an email:
<a href="mailto:o.kanaan@attractive4mini.com">o.kanaan@attractive4mini.com</a></p>
<p>Thanks, Oliver. That’s great information.</p>
<p>WOW. That could probably get me into an Iphone. Damn. ;)</p>
<p>I wonder how they move the OEM pod to the side like that – slack in the wiring harnass? I doubt it. Extension cable?</p>
<p>@ that.guy – ok cool we’re cool. I meant that only in half-seriousness anyway… some nose-twigging, if you will. 🙂 Have a good week man.</p>
<blockquote>@ that.guy – ok cool we’re cool.</blockquote>
<p>Whatever you say man. Apple still sucks.</p>
<p>Weather or not Apple sucks is not the question here. The way I see it, Attractive4MINI is just giving the people what they want. MINI and Apple worked together on MINI Connected so they are building parts for the iPhone. If Apple sucked SO badly I don’t think MINI would have worked with them. Also, Apple stepped up to work with MINI when others did not. There are some good things about being a closed system and the Apple / MINI partnership happened to be one of them. I shutter to think about having SYNC in ANY of my cars, no way!</p>
<p>Searhc attractive4mini.com 😉
and publisch Attractive4MINI at Facebook ..!</p>
<p>How is this going to accomodate all different types of iphone cases?…</p>
<p>@ Jan:</p>
<p>I will only hold the iPhone without any cases.
Different VERSIONS (iphone 4, iPhone 5…) will have different jackets!</p>
<p>Very goodlooking ! Just bought a Iphone 4 and started a couple of minutes ago look for holders for that , and what did I found ! 🙂 very nice gauge!! Have to find out how to move the oiltemp and boost gauge which ist there today..</p>
<p>Yes it looks good! Want it now!</p>
<p>When can i buy it?</p>
<p>Is this available at all?? Did anyone manage to get one for their car</p>