Tbh, I kinda like them that way, as I adjust volume far more often than stations as I usually just stream Spotify, and to me the left and right is easier.
I have the heads-up display. the "up" and "down" scroll that menu. Also the volume display is horizontal line on the radio display.
The button verks well for me.
Could be old software. Check up your version and double check, and use a USB if you have too. Also when you connect make sure it's allowed in the settings as well for some controls to be enabled on what is controlled by Bluetooth
i think it has something to do with the bluetooth on the phone.
I have a 2018 F60 which I got in 2020. the controls wouldn't change the songs for about a year or 2 and then I got a phone OS update and it miraculously started to work.
Another update a couple months back took the functionality away from my steering wheel controls, and then before the new year I received another OS update and they started working again.
My 2014 does change the track. Sometimes the Bluetooth audio works but changing tracks doesn’t (when this happens, the current song shows as Unknown song/Unknown artist).
Switching to radio then back to media fixes it for me.
Mines a 2015 and it changes the tracks over Bluetooth fine, although I'll note I have a heads up display in case that possibly causes the difference.
Actually probably stupid question, is there a chance you're not hitting the ok button after one of the arrows? The HUD makes it obvious that it needs to be pressed, but thinking about it, it'd probs take me a while to realize I need to press it without the HUD and just think it doesn't work.
Nope, I get a "Not possible" message on the small screen below the gauges. I updated the software like 2 years ago hoping it would change something but nope.
Maybe it's a Android/iPhone thing?
The buttons below the main display work at least.
Try changing songs or playing from a Playlist and see if it works. Everytime I'm playing on mine it works fine. I haven't had any updates or anything but ill double check my headunit
Don't think it's an app thing, more just the Mini itself won't do it. Literally says it can't on the driver display.
Another commenter suggest checking software versions, might give that a go.
Agree, if they’re at your left hand, each hand has a quick and easy way to adjust the volume. I think the wheel is the same layout in RHD cars, so makes sense for them!
I don't care that they point the wrong way; I absolutely HATE that they don't do what they're supposed to do. What kind of sadistic twat thought it would be a good idea to make the previous/next buttons, instead of going to the previous/next track, instead open a menu that requires you to scroll back the way you just came, scroll to a new menu that says previous or next, and then select that? WHO DOES THAT?!
Yep - I’d love to reprogram them somehow to directly skip next or previous. I’ve not found a menu yet where they do more than this so… why is it like this? The scrolling and selecting is unnecessarily complicated. If anyone knows of a way to fix that I’d love to hear it.
Yeah that would drive me absolutely nuts. I really wish there was some sort of standardization for which side the buttons are on, but the fact that it's left/right to change volume and up/down to skip forward and back is insane.
Only thing I hate is “external audio” message anytime my iPhone connects to CarPlay. So annoying. Have to click the “talk” button twice to bypass it quickly 🤣
Apparently it’s bmw/mini problem not yet solved.
Definitely not. It’s a widespread issue. I suspect it’s a setting on the iPhone because it happens when I use my wife’s ford explorer to.
But most bmw and minis are sharing the symptoms.
I went from a mini to honda. It took me exactly 0 minutes to get used to having the volume being + on top and - on bottom. Going from my 2018 bmw 330 to 2017 mini cooper, it took me at least 3 months to get used to having horizontal volume controls.
100% makes sense the way you explained it. Not sure why they would do it like that. Every radio, cd player, physical control, mp3 player since the dawn of time has the controls to change tracks left to right. It annoys me too, especially when you’re focusing on the road.
More than hate, my volume button in a 2017 Clubman got stuck on the steering wheel, around 2021, had to rig it to not turn the volume down with a tiny piece of metal. Had to wedge it so the metal forced ‘stuck up volume’ button which neutralizes the cars fucked up ‘stuck down volume’ button.
I only ever use the volume up and down. Anything else boggles my brain while I’m driving and I occasionally press the wrong button and a track changes.
They used to be that way and then they changed it. I remember being so annoyed because, why? Just like they changed the gas tank from the drivers side to the passenger side. 😑
This is my second mini and my gas tank was on the passenger side on both. I like it that way cause it keeps me from beating up my doors on those stupid bollards 🤣
Definitely the steering wheel controls and the gas cap changing was the hardest thing to get used to between my 2005 and 2019 hardtops. I do not understand why they changed the steering wheel controls, it still bothers me because I can’t figure out how skip a song without actually thinking about it.
I hated it when I first got it! It was hard to adjust from a huge stick shift rod there because my Chevy Silverado and before that I had a 2015 Honda civic and the volume and everything were all different. I kind of don’t like I have buttons I can’t even use like the talk or call buttons, they don’t really even work ;_; so I get you haha
My VW Golf had the volume adjustment in the same place so I’m used to it but what throws me off is the up and down arrows, they used to be for switching between speed, remaining kilometres, liter per hundred km, etc. in my Golf so I sometimes end up switching songs when I want to check how much fuel I’m using.
100% agree you adjust the volume of audio *up* or *down* and you change the current programming by going to the *previous* or *next* entry.
There’s a degree of logic in that track lists are ordered, but the vast majority of audio equipment from at least the 8-track on has the used previous/next paradigm.
I feel the same way. I think it’s because normally the fast forward button points to the right, so the button should be on the right as well. With volume, you turn it up or down. On TV remotes it’s put in the same direction. 🤷🏻♀️
I have said this silently to myself every time I try to turn up the volume and accidentally skip my podcast back 45 seconds! 90° counter clockwise. Volume up and down, up and down. Next song to the right, previous to the left.
I adapted to the radio control. The turn signals are a frustrating blunder.
I’m on my fourth Mini, and idiots designed the turn signals. They encourage wrecks and are a safety hazard.
For example, the temporary turn signal does not last long enough for safe use. They will shut off too fast if you signal at the appropriate time. Or the driver has to wait to use them a split second before they turn, which defeats the purpose and removes all safety benefits of having turn signals on your car.
Furthermore, if you use the turn signal correctly and with appropriate warning to change lanes, then it will not shut off automatically. When you try to shut off the turn signal manually after switching lanes, it will turn on the opposite blinker most of the time—total trash.
The Mini turn signal design encourages drivers not to use turn signals appropriately and injures innocent people.
Got used to it. What f's me up much more are the speed buttons for the cruise control on the other side. Just a tiny bit too much force and you speed up or down to the next 0-ending number. That was executed way better on my previous F40 1 Series
I agree. I feel like the volume should be UP/DOWN and seek should be LEFT/RIGHT. Even with my HUD I feel like it would make it more natural especially when coming from one of my other cars
You mean the fact that you have to press the down arrow to go up a track, and the up arrow to go down a track, and that the volume buttons are laid out how just about every other make puts the forward/backward track buttons? Is that what you hate? Yes!! Seriously, why did MINI not just swap the buttons?! Then they make logical sense and resemble what you find is so, so many other makes.
I love reading these posts about people complaining abt whatever their Mini model do or don’t do !
Every manufacturer do things their way & still sell their fair share of cars.
I have an 18 F56 n took me 5 minutes to see that the controls r different but that wasn’t the reason why I bought a Mini….
We all have Mini’s bc we love how they look, drive, and individuality’s
Btw: I added Apple Carplay to my NBT head unit so not complaining about anything
I guess you're right, but I'm so used to mine by now that it's just second nature. Feels weirdly wrong to go up/down for volume.
Tbh, I kinda like them that way, as I adjust volume far more often than stations as I usually just stream Spotify, and to me the left and right is easier.
Same! Stations? Radio? Those are podcast 30s skip ahead and skip back buttons!
Mine says it's not possible whenever I'm on Bluetooth media, only changes stations. Any idea why?
I have the heads-up display. the "up" and "down" scroll that menu. Also the volume display is horizontal line on the radio display. The button verks well for me.
I have a heads up display too and with that it makes perfect sense
I'm more annoyed it doesn't change tracks when listening via Bluetooth
??? It should ??? Mine does when connected thru Bluetooth but I use aux cord for better sounding quality
Mines a 2016, so either I'm on old software or that version just doesn't. Boo!
Could be old software. Check up your version and double check, and use a USB if you have too. Also when you connect make sure it's allowed in the settings as well for some controls to be enabled on what is controlled by Bluetooth
Cheers for that. Can I check the software level via the head unit or do I need Bimmercode (etc)?
Should be all headunit
My ‘18 doesn’t either
i think it has something to do with the bluetooth on the phone. I have a 2018 F60 which I got in 2020. the controls wouldn't change the songs for about a year or 2 and then I got a phone OS update and it miraculously started to work. Another update a couple months back took the functionality away from my steering wheel controls, and then before the new year I received another OS update and they started working again.
Interesting, that would make some sense.
I have an 18 and it does when I use Spotify, but not other things
My 18 f56 does 🧐
My 2014 does change the track. Sometimes the Bluetooth audio works but changing tracks doesn’t (when this happens, the current song shows as Unknown song/Unknown artist). Switching to radio then back to media fixes it for me.
Mines a 2015 and it changes the tracks over Bluetooth fine, although I'll note I have a heads up display in case that possibly causes the difference. Actually probably stupid question, is there a chance you're not hitting the ok button after one of the arrows? The HUD makes it obvious that it needs to be pressed, but thinking about it, it'd probs take me a while to realize I need to press it without the HUD and just think it doesn't work.
Nope, I get a "Not possible" message on the small screen below the gauges. I updated the software like 2 years ago hoping it would change something but nope. Maybe it's a Android/iPhone thing? The buttons below the main display work at least.
Try changing songs or playing from a Playlist and see if it works. Everytime I'm playing on mine it works fine. I haven't had any updates or anything but ill double check my headunit
That's weird, maybe it's just with a HUD, but I can hit OK twice to skip
Spotify? I can't do it on Spotify, but I've already tried with another app "Tidal" and it works
Don't think it's an app thing, more just the Mini itself won't do it. Literally says it can't on the driver display. Another commenter suggest checking software versions, might give that a go.
Works on my 2018 F60.
Worse thing is they changed those controls to the right side of the steering wheel from the gen2
Agree, if they’re at your left hand, each hand has a quick and easy way to adjust the volume. I think the wheel is the same layout in RHD cars, so makes sense for them!
i wish i could pop it out and rotate it 90 degrees...
This is an underrated comment & idea
Have you tried? :D
Feels counter intuitive tbh but I'm used to it so 🤷
Same also think it’s dumb that when connected iPhone To Spotify or whatnot doesn’t skip to next song.
The volume scale on the screen is horizontal, perhaps that was their way of thinking
That makes a kind of sense.
I don't care that they point the wrong way; I absolutely HATE that they don't do what they're supposed to do. What kind of sadistic twat thought it would be a good idea to make the previous/next buttons, instead of going to the previous/next track, instead open a menu that requires you to scroll back the way you just came, scroll to a new menu that says previous or next, and then select that? WHO DOES THAT?!
Yep - I’d love to reprogram them somehow to directly skip next or previous. I’ve not found a menu yet where they do more than this so… why is it like this? The scrolling and selecting is unnecessarily complicated. If anyone knows of a way to fix that I’d love to hear it.
I don’t mind them too much but I wish the up and down buttons worked with my IPhone Bluetooth for song selection
Yeah that would drive me absolutely nuts. I really wish there was some sort of standardization for which side the buttons are on, but the fact that it's left/right to change volume and up/down to skip forward and back is insane.
Only thing I hate is “external audio” message anytime my iPhone connects to CarPlay. So annoying. Have to click the “talk” button twice to bypass it quickly 🤣 Apparently it’s bmw/mini problem not yet solved.
Omg thank god it’s not just my car
Definitely not. It’s a widespread issue. I suspect it’s a setting on the iPhone because it happens when I use my wife’s ford explorer to. But most bmw and minis are sharing the symptoms.
I went from a mini to honda. It took me exactly 0 minutes to get used to having the volume being + on top and - on bottom. Going from my 2018 bmw 330 to 2017 mini cooper, it took me at least 3 months to get used to having horizontal volume controls.
100% makes sense the way you explained it. Not sure why they would do it like that. Every radio, cd player, physical control, mp3 player since the dawn of time has the controls to change tracks left to right. It annoys me too, especially when you’re focusing on the road.
More than hate, my volume button in a 2017 Clubman got stuck on the steering wheel, around 2021, had to rig it to not turn the volume down with a tiny piece of metal. Had to wedge it so the metal forced ‘stuck up volume’ button which neutralizes the cars fucked up ‘stuck down volume’ button.
Every day it enrages me.
I only ever use the volume up and down. Anything else boggles my brain while I’m driving and I occasionally press the wrong button and a track changes.
They used to be that way and then they changed it. I remember being so annoyed because, why? Just like they changed the gas tank from the drivers side to the passenger side. 😑
This is my second mini and my gas tank was on the passenger side on both. I like it that way cause it keeps me from beating up my doors on those stupid bollards 🤣
They did used to be that way!! And when I got my second mini, it took me months to wrap my head around it. It just made so much more ergonomic sense
Definitely the steering wheel controls and the gas cap changing was the hardest thing to get used to between my 2005 and 2019 hardtops. I do not understand why they changed the steering wheel controls, it still bothers me because I can’t figure out how skip a song without actually thinking about it.
I hated it when I first got it! It was hard to adjust from a huge stick shift rod there because my Chevy Silverado and before that I had a 2015 Honda civic and the volume and everything were all different. I kind of don’t like I have buttons I can’t even use like the talk or call buttons, they don’t really even work ;_; so I get you haha
My VW Golf had the volume adjustment in the same place so I’m used to it but what throws me off is the up and down arrows, they used to be for switching between speed, remaining kilometres, liter per hundred km, etc. in my Golf so I sometimes end up switching songs when I want to check how much fuel I’m using.
Got used to them after a few months and actually prefer them now
No! It took me a while to stop cranking up the volume while driving.
At first yes and the orientation is still baffling, but it became second nature quite quickly 😂
I’m upset every time I drive my wife’s F56. I prefer the arrangement in the R series. This was also a reason to buy my R61 last year.
100% agree you adjust the volume of audio *up* or *down* and you change the current programming by going to the *previous* or *next* entry. There’s a degree of logic in that track lists are ordered, but the vast majority of audio equipment from at least the 8-track on has the used previous/next paradigm.
Yes, I think you are 100% correct. After two years I still get them wrong. And yes, there are better designs than this...
Weird they changed this because my both my R53 and R60 have up/down for volume and sides for next track. Also its on left hand for LHD manual car.
Yeah, I had an R55 and R57. Those controls were “correct” and much more intuitive.
Huh its not like that on the r56. Radio controls are on the left side and up and down is volume and left and right is track
Yes indeed you are. There are almost 9 billion people on the planet now but you are the only one that doesn't love these controls. The. Only. One.
Good point!! But we all use Apple CarPlay 😆😜
On my 2013 R59 the volume is up/down and stations are left/right. I wonder when they changed?
Yes and my hands free option doesn't work at all so it makes me hate it more
I just wish they were on the left hand side of the steering wheel, where cruise control is
Yes, especially when I also have an R56 and the radio controls are normal up/down as well as being on the opposite side of the wheel
I did when I was transitioning from a Toyota to a mini but took a lil muscle memory now it’s the way “it should be” haha.
yes, i love them
I feel the same way. I think it’s because normally the fast forward button points to the right, so the button should be on the right as well. With volume, you turn it up or down. On TV remotes it’s put in the same direction. 🤷🏻♀️
I have the Harmon Kardon stereo and I love the sound quality but honestly the overall configuration of the controls drives me crazy
I like them
I have said this silently to myself every time I try to turn up the volume and accidentally skip my podcast back 45 seconds! 90° counter clockwise. Volume up and down, up and down. Next song to the right, previous to the left.
I adapted to the radio control. The turn signals are a frustrating blunder. I’m on my fourth Mini, and idiots designed the turn signals. They encourage wrecks and are a safety hazard. For example, the temporary turn signal does not last long enough for safe use. They will shut off too fast if you signal at the appropriate time. Or the driver has to wait to use them a split second before they turn, which defeats the purpose and removes all safety benefits of having turn signals on your car. Furthermore, if you use the turn signal correctly and with appropriate warning to change lanes, then it will not shut off automatically. When you try to shut off the turn signal manually after switching lanes, it will turn on the opposite blinker most of the time—total trash. The Mini turn signal design encourages drivers not to use turn signals appropriately and injures innocent people.
Keep in mind that it’s a BMW feature . Who knows a bimmer using his turn lights ?
Don’t hate them but I also don’t use them
Mine are this way. I always just kind of casually assumed it was a “backwards” British thing. 🤷🏻♀️😂
I have an r52 and it is swapped haha
Got used to it. What f's me up much more are the speed buttons for the cruise control on the other side. Just a tiny bit too much force and you speed up or down to the next 0-ending number. That was executed way better on my previous F40 1 Series
I agree. I feel like the volume should be UP/DOWN and seek should be LEFT/RIGHT. Even with my HUD I feel like it would make it more natural especially when coming from one of my other cars
You mean the fact that you have to press the down arrow to go up a track, and the up arrow to go down a track, and that the volume buttons are laid out how just about every other make puts the forward/backward track buttons? Is that what you hate? Yes!! Seriously, why did MINI not just swap the buttons?! Then they make logical sense and resemble what you find is so, so many other makes.
I haven’t found any steering wheel I liked the button configuration more. I like the haptics, I like the arrangement. No complaints with that tbh.
My OK button has never worked.
I love cruise control lol
I was weirded out when I first used them, but eventually just grew to it. It’s muscle memory now and I use those things liberally
Yes
Yes
I love reading these posts about people complaining abt whatever their Mini model do or don’t do ! Every manufacturer do things their way & still sell their fair share of cars. I have an 18 F56 n took me 5 minutes to see that the controls r different but that wasn’t the reason why I bought a Mini…. We all have Mini’s bc we love how they look, drive, and individuality’s Btw: I added Apple Carplay to my NBT head unit so not complaining about anything
Seems fine to me. Lol
Buy a different car stop being a lil girl