I've been sifting through the forums here and on the other sites for a while now, and I'm only getting more confused! All I want is the following:

1. play ipod through mini head unit (boost, non HK, non NAV, no cd changer)
2. control ipod with MFSW.
3. see track playing on head unit and ipod.
4. not spend an arm and a leg.

My Mini dealer quoted $150.00 for the official mini adaptor plus $100.00 for install. $250.00 for a couple pieces of wire and plugs??? Plus, from what I can gather, you don't get to see what's playin on the ipod or the head unit? Just says mini on the ipod.

Blitzsafe: Can you see what's playing on the head unit? Control w/ MFSW? Cost??? $95.00??? is that right?

Icelink: I'm pretty sure you see what's playing, and you control w/ MFSW. Cost: $150.00 ?? I think.

I'll install whatever adaptor myself, so the install isn't an option. I just don't know which to go with? Any help???? PLEASE???

 

There is a new one coming soon from Monster (Monster Cable) called the iCruze. Looks like it will allow you to see the track info on the stock head unit, and can control some functions from the steering wheel.

I think it gets released this month.

 

Dension also just announced an upgraded version of the iceLink that goes on sale on December 1st. It will let you do a LOT more control of the iPod than the previous version and give song info to the stereo too.

Here's a link:
http://www.dension.com/main.php?pageid=50&topid=42

It's looking like what I'm going to install in my car!

 

isn't that thing $399.99 ????

I don't understand. I know the development is one thing, but that's highway robbery. I'm about 1 second from returning the ipod and dropping the whole thing altogether.

 

What is the price of the ice-link plus? This appears to be the one I have been waiting for.:smile:

 

I don't know. I guess we're all in the same boat here. Nobody knows what to buy. Good part is, it seams the companies are scrambling to fill the market with adaptors. Hopefully as the competition grows, the price will go down, and MINI will poduce an adaptor that does what the aftermarket stuff does.

 

In the press release it says the icelink plus is $199, thats not too bad, you get quite a bit of functionality for a decent price, IMHO. That is the one I am going to pick up. Says they will start shipping in early December! I wish they would get a group buy going that would be saweeeeet

 

here here for the group buy I guess that's the route I'm going too. It's a shame that BMW and ipod team up and make a big deal about it, but the truth is the aftermarket stuff has made it possible for quite a while now, and the product that mini puts out doesn't even compete for about the same money????

 

Won't display on Mini Head unit. The icelink plus. Saw it on Mini2. Doesn't anyone get it? Engineers/designers don't understand the most basic wants and desires?

Paul

 

Give up your iPod??? Easy now - that's crazy talk! I'd just as soon return the MINI and get my old Jetta back! And that ain't happening either!

Seriously, it is tough to retrofit the stereo to do these few new things it was never intended to do.

No price listed yet for the iceLink Plus, but it won't be $400. That would kill sales bigtime.

I can survive with my Monster radio transmitter for a little while longer till the market offers me the product I want at a price I like.

 

What I want to know, is: with all of the new gadgetry out there, and almost everything being usb interface (afterall, it's "Universal Serial Bus"), why don't all mid to high end cars come with a usb port already installed somewhere??? That way, no matter what kind of player you have, you just plug it in and go? I know there's more involved than just that, but with all that the stereos can do today, and all that the mp3 players can do, why aren't the manufacturers implementing mp3 ready jacks into their cars? This baffels me. I guess it took a while for cd players to be implemented. We're all just in that "transitional" stage.

Continuing to rant the devices all have one thing in common, regardless of brand, and that's that they are all just audio output devices. They all just output an audio signal. The control part is where it gets tricky. But come on, the headlights level when descending or ascending a hill, the engine departs from the chassis in the event of a head on collision, there are what, 26 computers already in a MINI, the steering wheel already controls the basic functions of the head unit, then theres DSC, and the airbags etc. etc. etc. We can't get a stinking wire that plugs into an mp3 player to play through the stereo for under $200.00???? What gives...

The preceeding rant was just that. I still love MINI, and i'm not giving up the ipod either. I just want the functionality now!

 

I'm so in for a group buy if we could get one. But yah, the Ice Link Plus looks like the hands down winner! Let's try to get a group buy!

 

I have the icel-link in my 05 MCS and LOVE it. I also have a spare one from my BMW X5 (same as Mini) if anyone is interested. easy to install in the Mini and works flawlessly.
murmin

 

so does the icelink allow control through the steering wheel (MFSW)? And, does it display on the head unit? Those are my only 2 criteria now.???

 

The iceLink does allows basic control through the MFSW (volume and track skip ahead/back). The new version, iceLink plus, was just announced and it is supposed to allow more control through the MFSW as well as song/band info on the head unit of selected stereos. The list of which stereos hadn't been posted on their site when I last saw it Tuesday or Wednesday.

Here's a link to the Plus unit:
http://www.dension.com/main.php?pageid=50&topid=42

And the Monster iCruze is supposed to do advanced control and head unit display also. It has also just been announced recently and not fully detailed or on sale yet. Here's a link:
http://www.monstercable.com/press/pr..._11_icruze.asp


So, it's going to be a little bit of a wait to see which one does what and does it better, but I think it will be worth it. Both of these sound very cool.

 

According to another thread on Mini2, they will not display on the stock head. As they don't support cd text.



Paul

 

This is all wrong, it has nothing to do with whether it supports CD text or not. See the article and comments at MotoringFile.

-mike

Note: This is to say that yes, the iPod adapter will display text on the MINI OEM head unit. It will be possible after a firmware update to the icelink plus which is to come out around Christmas time. MotoringFile really should be required reading for everyone here before they go spouting off misinformation.

 

Please accept my humble apoligies. I hadn't checked all the forums and verified the info at three sources.

Paul

 

if the stock head unit displays current song title and artist on the radio stations that broadcast that signal, I would hope that the ipod adaptor could do similar.

That's the problem. Too many forums, and too many different people stating what the devices can and cannot do. Looks like I'm waiting for the official release of the icelink plus like everyone else. I bet we see it really soon. I'd imagine they'd want to get it on the market so that folks could get them as Christmas presents?? I'd love to see one in my stocking...

 

Thank you all for the helpful information. It's great that this info is about a year old and I am just now looking to find the adapter for my MINI. I'm sick of the standard AUX input. You gotta love NAM for all the helpful info. It's a great place - great MINI community.

Thanks again for all the helpful info. As a result, I am going to pick up the Dension Icelink Plus.

 

Get an Alpine HU and their iPod interface. Cheapest HU is $250 + $100 for the iPod link (yes, that does seem a little much).

Alpine HU should work with the MFSW and thereby be able to control the iPod.

When I get my MINI, I'll probably get the CDA-9855 + iPod interface. The CDA-9855 is pretty cool in that it allows custom colors, so you can match your MINI lighting.