Vehicle is a 2004 MCS hardtop, or R53 if you prefer. Radio is stock head unit with built in CD player. Car also has the OE MINI 6-disc CD changer mounted in the trunk. This audio system in the car is "NOT" the Harmon Kardon system.

The rear CD player worked great up until a trip we took last year in the car. Now it always shows "NO CD INSTALLED" on the head unit face when I wanted to play one of the rear CD's in there. Well, all 6 CD's are loaded and installed in the magazine. I am not going to get another rear CD changer, they are too expensive, and I don't even know if the one I have can be fixed. It also takes up some space in the boot.....I kinda wish it still worked, not many MINI's had this option from what I have researched.

So my question is this, can I take the rear CD changer electrical connector in the rear of the head unit out and put an AUX connector in it's place and have that input work without a lot of trouble or re-coding of the car and the audio system? I can store a lot more music on an Ipad or my phone than 6 CD's can hold.....

Anyone have any input on this for me? Or do I just have to use single CD's in the front head unit?

First picture shows 6-disc changer in right side of trunk. Second pic shows an AUX input jack with USB port as well. I don't think a USB input can work, so I can get just the little 3.5mm AUX input jack assembly for my car. Picture is just for reference

Bryan

 

You should be able to add the aux input with the cd changer still hooked up, but you might have to swap the aux wires/pins to the existing plug in the back of the radio. The aux with USB pictured isn't for the first gen MINI's so I don't think it will work. You can use the OEM cable or a good generic from amazon for about a third of the price.

Here's a link to the factory installation instructions: https://www.bavauto.com/media/import...ges/INS383.pdf

You can also try to reset your cd changer by removing all cd's from the cartridge, re-inserting, and letting the changer go through its thing of reading the cartridge. After it finishes with all 6 slots, re-insert the cd's and try the changer. I recently had the same problem on a 2003 Mercedes with the same factory Alpine changer as the MINI and this corrected it.

 

Yea, I know that the AUX input pictured above will not work in my car....even though the seller said it would.....I found that out last year when I bought it and tried to make it work....someone here in the forum told me it was for a second Gen MINI......

I have tried all procedures to get the CD changer to work again.....nothing worked for me....I'll try your procedure and see if it will reboot......

Bryan

 

Looking again at the 2nd gen aux, it looks like you can probably move the 3 wires for the audio to the existing plug in your radio just leave the USB non-functioning. The USB might be able to be rewired to just provide power for charging, but it's hard to say without taking apart the housing to check it out.

 

I found this AUX input last night.....it's priced right to take a chance on it not working....and it's from the USA instead of overseas....

http://www.ebay.com/itm/351454956660...84.m1423.l2649

Bryan

 

You still might have to swap the pins over to your factory plug so check out steps 10 and 11 in the MINI instructions I linked to for details. You'll just have to figure out the wiring on the aux with a multi-meter.

 

I went out and tried the CD changer reset that you posted above, still nothing.... I still get the message on the head unit telling me that CD's are not installed when there's actually 4 of them in there in spaces 1-4.... so I think it's basically dead.

I'm going to try that aux unit I posted above and follow the instructions that you posted as well.

We'll see what happens, thanks

Bryan

 

https://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coo...p3_hookup.html

IMPORTANT** This does not work with any 02 MINI's that have the factory radio installed, sorry! ALSO, does NOT work on any year Gen 1 MINI with the stock Cassette deck OR the 6 CD changer installed (if you unplug the CD changer it will work though)!!

this is the MINI item ..... $40

I've installed a few of these over the years. Takes longer to decide where to mount than it does to hook it up. Unplug the 'CD changer' and plug this in the same place . . .

 

So just to clear up my quickly written post, you put the completely empty cartridge back into the cd changer, let it read all 6 slots, then ejected the cartridge, added cd's, then re-inserted and still are getting the no cd's installed message?

 

Yes, still get the same message as before after following your instructions

Bryan

 

Thanks, that's what I read also was to install the auxiliary wire connector in place of the CD changer connector

Bryan

 

You'll have to transfer the wires from the new aux connector to the existing connector on the back of the radio since it also has wires for the factory NAV. Also, the aux in and cd changer use different pins on the back of the radio so the aux, NAV, and CD changer should all work after the pin transfer (assuming you ever get the cd changer to read the discs).

 

My R53 does not have the NAV system....so what I have read, all I have to do is unplug the rear CD changer and plug the new AUX connector in it's place and it "should" work......I hope

Bryan

 

Got it mixed up with the R52

 

yea...I get these 2 cars mixed up as well sometimes

Thanks for yer help.....just waiting on the AUX cable to arrive now.....will keep you informed of what happens

Bryan

 

You won't even have to unplug the CD changer. The aux plugs into a different location (connector C). Some people with dextrous hands and fingers said they were able to reach around the back of the radio and plug it in without taking the radio out.

 

Thanks rkw, when the auxiliary piece comes in, I'll try to plug it into the rear of the radio. My hands ain't what they used to be

Bryan

 

Just to update this thread, I installed that little $9 eBay AUX cable today in the R53.....had to pull the radio head unit out, plugged the cable into the proper socket in the rear of the radio, and I now have an AUX cable that works ......going through the MODE button, it also says AUX on the LED readout......and as rkw stated, the CD changer connector does not have to be removed....the AUX connector plugs in right next to it in the appropriate cavity in the radio

Thanks for all the help & input

Bryan

 

thanks for the after action report

they help . . .