Can I just splice into the plug that is in the back of the head unit or do i really have to buy the plug and cable?

I would love to just have a stereo 1/8" male plug coming off of it rather than plug to female to male to male into the ipod.

Anyone tried this? If so, could you describe what color wires go to what?

 

liaudio,

The aux input is separate from the main wiring harness for the head unit so you at least need the appropriate connector. If you only want a male plug, then just get a male to male extension, plug it into the end of the aux input, and leave the coupled female-male connection behind the head unit. Should be a cinch.

 

But if there is a plug, there must be a way to just splice into the wiring. I would like to avoid ordering it if posible.

I'd be surprised if no one hasn't tried this yet.

$45. vs. $1. See my point?

If you have tried this, what color wires do I need to splice into?

On an 1/8" Stereo plug you have "R+", "L+", and a common "-". So really only 3 wires.

The easiest way would be to take the cable, plug a male to male 1/8" stereo cable into the socket, and test for continuity.

Can someone try this?

 

The plug doesn't plug into a wiring harness; it plugs into the back of the
radio. Also, it is not just wiring. There are some components heat-shrinked to to the Aux cable. I am not sure what they are (didn't look, didn't care) but until that cable is plugged in the head unit will not show or allow you to select that input or adjust it's volume level.

Think about the time and effort you will put into researching this, getting the wiring straightened out, finding a plug that will work (or removing the radio and soldering to the pins on the radio), etc and you will find that it is much simpler/cheaper/faster to just buy the cable.

 

There is more to the aux cable than wires and connectors. There is also an embedded PC board which does some level shifting and a virtual ground, and this also is part of what 'enables' the aux function in the radio. People have tried to simply connect wires and essentially nothing happens, the radio does not even recognize the new input.

 

I must have got lucky if other people have tried plugging stuff in with no luck.

When I made mine out of old computer connectors it worked great. Only tricky thing is to put in a Isolation Transformer which is 14$ at Radio Shack.

liaudio -

If you're all about DIY, here is my write up that I did on the whole thing.

Audio Modifications made to my MINI

All in all I spent $14 and maybe an hour on the whole thing. Including the mounting of it. (also on the link)

The HU detects the Aux by a completed audio circuit, not a PC board.

PM if you have any questions at all.

 

I should rephrase what I said. Those that made up their own aux connectors discovered that depending on what player they were connecting their solutution sometimes worked or didnt. You become dependent on the output impedance and configuration of the player. Some provide a load that triggers the HU to enable aux, others dont. Also, the aux input would 'disappear' if the player were to be also powered via the cig lighter socket due to ground shifting. Heck, even the 'official' aux cable balks at some combinations of players and power adaptors. Using isolation transformers is usually the best solution to peculiar aux-related problems.

 

Wow... I didn't know the HU/Aux was so finicky. I pretty much just use mine for my iPod, which seems to put out enough signal to always trigger it.

Thanks for the rephrasing/clarification!

 

thanks everyone. One question... Shank, you didn't have to use an sort of resistor or anything to get the HU to recognize the aux. input? What is all this talk about a PC board?

 

My local Mini Dealer has the plug in stock... I will do some deconstructive analysis.

 

When I first hooked it up and plugged in my iPod it worked great. However, when I hooked up my iPod to a car charger, then it didn't, and I think that is due to the powersource (cig lighter) and the HU using the same ground (the body of the car).

I have a feeling that the HU sees the Aux connection when it has 2 things.
1. A completed circuit through the audio cable (it is plugged into something)
2. The power/frequency running on that circuit falls between a certain range. Anything above or below causes it to not see it. (hence the need for a ground loop isolator)

I'm not certain on that, but from the plug this in/plug that in testing method, that is what I've come up with.