Unfortunately I have a ipod touch 5th Gen so it's a lightening connection. Dammit. Thanks anyway. :( I'll just get a USB stick it'll be easier all round.

All is not lost. I took the cable from my sister's BMW Mini (her's is a genuine BMW cable, but it is effectively the same type of cable that Thecko linked to). I then added a genuine Apple dock connector to lightning adaptor - hey presto, full iPod/iPhone control in my Rapid via the radio and steering controls. I've got an iPhone 5s, but the situation will be the same with a Lightning-based iPod Touch.

 

Still not the cheapest solution, but it does work.

 

Surprised that so few people on here seem to have Lightning-based iOS devices (and thus haven't encountered the same problem as us).

I haven't tested it yet but I've ordered the replica BMW Y cable with attached lightning plug from eb*y for £7.99.

 

I'll report whether it works later this week.

That's the only one I've seen on eBay with a lightning connector is the BMW one.

Excellent thanks a million Chris! let me know Camel, can you link me if it works?

I haven't tested it yet but I've ordered the replica BMW Y cable with attached lightning plug from eb*y for £7.99.

 

I'll report whether it works later this week.

Do please report back. If your cable controls Dock Connector devices, then we have a much cheaper solution to pair with Apple's Dock Connector to Lightning adapter to get the modern devices working as well.

Its in the post. I hope to test it after work tomorrow.

Great stuff - looking forward to your next update.

I am pleased to report that the following £6.49 USB+3.5mm to dock connector cable, combined with a genuine Apple dock connector to Lightning adapter, works perfectly in a Skoda Rapid with both my iPhone 5S and my iPad Mini Retina:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251078199427?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Full control and track info accessible.

I am pleased to report that the following £6.49 USB+3.5mm to dock connector cable, combined with a genuine Apple dock connector to Lightning adapter, works perfectly in a Skoda Rapid with both my iPhone 5S and my iPad Mini Retina:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251078199427?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Full control and track info accessible.

 

I will buy this also then.  The one that I had delivered (after a 2 week wait) had the lightning built in and it didn't work - same as the one you bought before I think.

Hi All

I ordered a cable from e#%y using the link provided by chrisgreen and am pleased to say that it works well. I can now change volume and tracks on my iPhone 4S via the radio or MFSW controls. Thanks to Natalie for starting this post and everyone who contributed - I learned a few tips.

Les

I made an additional purchase from an eBay seller earlier this week (which arrived today) - a genuine BMW/Mini Lightning to USB & 3.5mm cable (got it for £30):

BMW Lightning to USB & 3.5mm Cable by Chris Green, on Flickr

BMW Lightning to USB & 3.5mm Cable by Chris Green, on Flickr

So - unlike the previous solution there's no need for the genuine Apple dock connector to Lightning adapter. The translation tech is built into the large plastic lump (this is an Apple certified cable, and BMW has licensed the actual Apple translation chipset).

BMW Lightning to USB & 3.5mm Cable by Chris Green, on Flickr

BMW Lightning to USB & 3.5mm Cable by Chris Green, on Flickr

BMW Lightning to USB & 3.5mm Cable by Chris Green, on Flickr

BMW Lightning to USB & 3.5mm Cable by Chris Green, on Flickr

As with the other cable, this delivers full track control and navigation, inc track information, and charges the device. Quite why VW hasn't produced such a cable I don't know. All I can say is thank goodness BMW uses the same interface tech and does bother to release updated device cables.

I thought that would be the one that does it. Glad all is good [emoji106]

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I thought that would be the one that does it. Glad all is good [emoji106]

All working well, but a couple of quirks to be aware of (which I think are more software - in the phone and head unit - than hardware-based).

If you leave the phone attached to the cable (and the cable attached to the MDI interface) when you switch the car off, and then restart the car without disconnecting the device, the MDI interface complains and refuses to initialise. It's perfectly happy if you connect the device after the car has started.

Chris

Dear Chris

 

Thank you for your helpful suggestions.  I have just bought my first Skoda Rapid, and was dismayed to find I couldn't play my iPhone 4S through the radio, like I used to in the old banger I had previously.  I got the cable you suggested http://www.ebay.co.u...=STRK:MEBIDX:IT, and discovered that it does indeed work with an apple dock connector and an iPad with lightning.  However, I can't get it to work without the apple connector, into my phone which has the old wide connection.  Is there a magic chip in the apple connector which is what makes it work properly?

 

Normally it's my phone (with the old wide socket) that I would want to hook up in the car, rather than an iPad.  Do you or anyone know of a Y cable that would work with a 2013 Rapid / Swing radio going to the old connector that would work?  I've trailed through the forum without finding this.

 

Thanks

Simon

Would something like this work, for instance (see post #39)?

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Y-Cable-USB-to-AUX-Adaptor-Lead-For-BMW-MINI-Cooper-iPod-iPhone-iPad-interface-/261076586322?pt=UK_MP3_Player_Accessories_Cables_Adapters&hash=item3cc9608f52&clk_rvr_id=833767024527&afsrc=1&rmvSB=true

Dear Chris

 

Thank you for your helpful suggestions.  I have just bought my first Skoda Rapid, and was dismayed to find I couldn't play my iPhone 4S through the radio, like I used to in the old banger I had previously.  I got the cable you suggested http://www.ebay.co.u...=STRK:MEBIDX:IT, and discovered that it does indeed work with an apple dock connector and an iPad with lightning.  However, I can't get it to work without the apple connector, into my phone which has the old wide connection.  Is there a magic chip in the apple connector which is what makes it work properly?

 

Normally it's my phone (with the old wide socket) that I would want to hook up in the car, rather than an iPad.  Do you or anyone know of a Y cable that would work with a 2013 Rapid / Swing radio going to the old connector that would work?  I've trailed through the forum without finding this.

 

Thanks

Simon

Hi Simon

The cable you purchased (that I linked to in post 33) works absolutely fine with an iPhone 4S as-is (I've just grabbed the girlfriend's 4S and double-checked with my cable, all working fine). Add on a genuine Apple dock-to-Lightning adapter and the same cable with work fine with all Lightning-based iPads and iPhones.

However, please remember that the Rapid's MDI port is extremely finicky - you have to be careful of the order you connect everything together or it won't work.

With the car running, connect the USB and 3.5MM cables to the ports on the MDI interface. Select MDI on the radio, at which point "Initialising MDI". Only then connect the dock connector (or Lightning connector) to the phone or tablet. If you have Bluetooth, make sure the Bluetooth pairing has completed before connecting the phone to the MDI cable.

Do not connect the phone to the cable first. Do not start the car with the phone and cable already connected to the MDI interface. All of these will usually result in a failed initialisation.

I work near Bracknell, happy to meet up with you one evening and help you get it sorted.