I have looked Hi and Lo for info on this on this site and if it is here i can't find it.

The Dealership is going to charge me $480 to add the ipod adapter.
I spoke to another shop and they said that the mini wiring is very complicated and that I should go to mini, not someplace like car toys.

Every car i have ever owned has had the wiring messed up and i want to avoid that with this car. Is the dealer my only choice?!

 

I'm just going to order the ipod adapter from OutMotoring for $40.

http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...pod_mp3_hookup

 

I've had the ipod interface with my old car for a few years now and like being able to control in through the stereo without having to worry about charging.

outmotoring has 2 options
1 for $255 http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...interface.html

and 1 for for $169
http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...interface.html

but like most car owners i fear my electrical system. anyone ever hooked one of these up to a harmon karden? is it fairly straitforward or will i need to take a break to hit things?

 

If you purchase the Aux port for around 40 to 50 bucks it plugs into the back the stereo unit as long as you do not have the 6 CD changer. There is no wires to change. You will need to remove the dash down tubes, and pull out the stereo unit to access the plug. The port I purchased came with instructions. It took a couple hours to install. The instructions had the port mounted in the glove box but I snaked the cable down below the stereo and mounted it in the drop down panel right above the center tray.

With the Aux port you plug the Ipod in through the head phone jack. The only control you will have through the cars controls is volume. Also to charge the Ipod you will need to buy a car 12V to usb adapter I found one for 5 bucks on Ebay with free shipping. It is nice compact and chrome, looks sweet.

The dealer is offering an adapter that plugs into the "apple" port on the Ipod. This will allow changing songs for the steering wheel controls and also will charge the Ipod whenever it is plugged in. The ipod could stay in the glove box out of sight.

So 50 bucks or so, a couple hours getting to know your car. And having your Ipod in a cup holder with cables hooked to it. Or 500.00 for the abilty to change songs through the steering whell controls.

Hope this helped

 

here's the I-Pod interface factory install instructions. Others have said this install took them about 2 hours first time around but having done it once they felt they could do it a second time in about 45 minutes. It is just a little more involved then installing the aux-port which is your alternate and I've also linked that instruction so you can see the similarity

IPod adapter: http://www.minimania.com/pdfile/NMI4...Gen3_INSTR.pdf

Aux port: http://www.minimania.com/pdfile/NMI7647_INSTR.pdf

 

I have an 06 and the stereo does not have an Aux input, just single cd and radio. So would buying the aux kit work on my system? I'd love to have my ipod hooked up and don't mind having seperate controls.

 

Yes the aux input will allow you to hook a cable 'tween the IPod earphone jack and the radio

It is a simple install . . . for someone that has done it b4, 10 minutes.

 

Acutally, you do not need to remove anything to install the Aux port, all you have to do is pull the knee bolster down and reach around the back of the stereo. And you can have the 6 CD changer AND the Aux port. I do.

$40 vs anything more than $40, I choose to set my play list before I drive, and let it go until I can stop and change the playlist. The massive cost difference isn't worth the slight difference in convenience.

 

Thanks for the link Capt!

The aux port is all well and good but it's just not what i want. I want the interface and am willing to pay the extra for it, over the life of the car the price is worth it

that's why we all spend hundreds of dollars on mp3 players, it's much cheaper to carry a cd wallet than to buy an ipod.(much cheaper to buy a saturn than a mini too, they both get you there)

So, if i can throw that car pod in my glove compartment, never worry about charge or forgetting to not leave it on the seat when i leave the top down, not having to try and reach for it when 3 super depressing songs in a row come on when i'm having a bad day it's worth it.

 

The '06 will support installing both the AUX input and the iPod interface at the same time, as long as you don't have the CD changer.

I have both in my car, and I think I've only used the AUX input once in almost five years. The iPod interface is great, though - I've got an old 5G iPod that's taken up permanent residence in my glovebox as a car jukebox.

 

I used the DICE ipod adapter in my R53 and it worked perfect! it was nice being able to change the songs from my steering wheel controls

 

Sounds like I'll be getting a $40 kit then. But what input on the stereo itself (not the physical input) would I turn to? Does the Aux input not show up until something is plugged into it? The only modes available currently are CD, FM, and AM, no Aux.

 

Once you've installed the AUX adapter, it shows up as a mode on the stereo. Likewise, when you install the iPod adapter, it shows up on the list of modes as a CD changer.

 

I installed both the iPod and the aux in my '06. I also installed Ian Cullen's unit at the same time. I think it took me about 2 1/2 hours total. I had the iPod in the glove box and just left it in there set to shuffle. The aux adapter was in the parcel shelf(a great mod for the R53). I used the aux on long trips when I wanted to listen to podcasts and be able to pick and choose. The iPod in the glove box was dedicated to the car and never came out.
I don't consider myself particularly mechanically inclined but the directions were easy to follow.
Annette

 

Thanks for that info! Time to order...
Next after that is finding some good headrest monitors for the kids for long trips

 

You're welcome. I just double-checked, and even without anything connected to the AUX or Ipod interface connections, my MODE switch toggles me through radio, CD, CD Changer and AUX, so those modes show up when the interfaces are present, whether or not anything is actually connected to them.

 

stumbled upon the 17 page discussion about the Dice Ipod adapter which is only $170 from mini mania and $120 from amazon.

the discussion is a bit old but gives some good input

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d-adaptor.html

 

A question please. I have an 04 MINI. I installed the factory aux in cable that plugs in behind the radio which I use with a portable XM radio. For acouple of years now I have had no problems. lately while using the XM radio it will kick out and revert to the radio. I cannot get the aux in to display back on the radio unless I unplug the xm cable and then plug it back in. Sometimes this works and sometimes it does not. Any ideas?

 

How are you powering the XM receiver? I've heard problems where the power connection to an accessory develops a ground loop, causing the radio to briefly stop recognizing that there's an accessory attached to the AUX input.

 

You need to use a ground loop isolator, like this: http://www.amazon.com/GROUND-LOOP-IS...4495308&sr=1-3

 

I'm not getting any static or white noise when the xm does work. And why would the problem show up after 2 years? Will try another power cord and the ground loop isolator.

 

had to get door lock fixed today so i asked the repair guy about the oem ipod adapter. He said it was terrible. Didn't show song titles and you had to relable playlists and all kinds of ridiculousness

may go with the dice system or may just go with the $40 aux connector everyone suggests