I was flipping through my Motoring Gear catalog and I came across the price for the CD changer. OMG!!! $700 some dollars for a 6 disc changer? For $150 you could get an iPod that holds the same amount of music and plug it into the AUX port!

Did any of you R56 folks get this? If any of you did I am sure you have a good reason and I respect your decision.

Thanks.

 

Maybe since the Mini is sort of retro, they decided to charge 1980's proces for a CD changer!

I skipped this option on the order I just placed. Too much for too little value.

For $150, the iPod will hold a lot more than 6 CDs and you don't give up the secret compartment.

 

I considered the CD changer, but can't swallow the $700, especially since my previous car has 12 CD changer that cost less than that when I brought 10 years ago. So I researched IPod and MP3 and decided on MP3 CD was all I needed.

That CD Changer is a rip off (and we haven't even take into account the installation cost )

 

I skipped this too. The CD changer supports MP3 CDs as well. Still not worth the high price though.

 

I didn't even consider the CD changer as I very rarely listen to CD's. Even so, seeing that price just pissed me off. I know MINI/BMW charges an arm and a leg for most options/accessories, but that's way overboard.

 

They really should have included it for a minimal charge if you got the audio package on the 07s ... but since I was paying a chunk for the audio package (which I have a slight amount of regret on now) I definitely didn't want to plunk down more for the CD changer ...

 

I know what you mean. I purchased my MINI off the lot and it came with the audio package. I'd never have specced it had I ordered.

 

I listen to radio mostly, but if i feel the need to listen to some prerecorded music, MP3's in a CD is sufficient for me.

 

I got mine with the 8 track tape player option. It was only $500. Sounds great too! (I may upgrade to cassette when I save up some cash).

 

I couldn't afford such lavish items. I had to stick with the standard 4 track player.

 

I put a DVD player in the changer's mounting spot and hardwired it to the aux input jack. It has it's own additional input jacks, so my Ipod and XM still connect through it to the stock head unit. It means I have an extra remote in the car to control it, but one DVD worth of MP3s is almost as much as 6 CDs, right?

It helps that the unit was just at $100, which is a lot less expensive than the changer. Heck, I've got enough left over to buy a nice screen and Nav unit for it for less than the stock changer still.

 

Actually one CD holds 700mb, about 14 CDs of mp3 music. A DVD holds 4.7gb, almost 7 times that, or about 100 CDs in mp3 format. The trick is finding what you want to play, not storing it.

 

Dealer price for cargo net for my old A4 (MY 2000) - $420. Good for a laugh, at least.

 

Absolutely get the Ipod, or go with the $500 USB/bluetooth option. That way you can load up your music on a memory stick and leave it in the USB slot. CDs are of the past IMO.

 

I'm putting a phonograph in mine!!