For those of you with the auxiliary input jack, how much did your dealer charge for installation? I'm having one put in on Tues. and I want to find out if my dealer's labor charge is fair.

TIA!

 

considering that it takes about 1/2 hour to install yourself,
the aux input is definitely a money maker for the dealer.

 

1/2 hour self install, huh?

Does the input come with instructions? I did a bit of wrenching on my previous car, so I don't have much fear of a DIY project. Also if I purchase one and say "no thanks, I'll install it myself," will they give me the ol' "it'll void your warranty" line?

 

It's a very easy install, all you do is plug it in on the back of your stereo headunit, I havn't done it myself even though I have taken the HU out.

 

look on the mini2 website under the technical faq's.
there's a pretty good install guide for the aux input there.
note: i had to install a ground loop isolator to get
it to work properly when my ipod is powered thru the
cigarette lighter.

 

It took me about 15 minutes. You don't need to disassemble anything-- just reach up behind the head unit and feel for the input jack. The part comes with instructions and a diagram of where it plugs in.

 

I'm picking my MINI up tomorrow, will be doing my first mod at the dealership : ) Going to try at least. Supposedly all you have to do to install the aux input is to reach behind the stereo, and clip it in. Where you install the other end, that's another story.

 

I was reading GreatBear's review from back a few years ago and
i read that the factory HU has separate EQ settings for the Aux
input.

very cool... and easy to install. I might have to get me one.

 

I picked up the aux kit from the dealer last weekend. They wanted 230CDN to install. I did it at home in 40 minutes.

Save yourself some cash and do it yourself.

there's a great DIY guide for it at the mini2.com site.

 

i ended up ordering mine from www.outmotoring.com today!


now I need to buy me a MP3 player.... yeh yeh, im a little slow with
these new gadgets... Im looking at the Creative one... what do you guys
think? I like the 4band EQ.

 

I installed mine in just a few minutes the day I got my MINI. Some time later the head unit was replaced under warrenty. The dealer told me, installing the aux. myself was no problem. It did not affect the warranty.

 

Definitely install it yourself! The dealer charge for this work is absolutely insane. Plus, you can install the jack in a useful, accessible location instead of inside the glovebox. I think the best setup is to get the parcel shelf as well, and install both at the same time. The mounting screws at the top of the parcel shelf are definitely a pain to align, but still not worth $100+ profit for the dealer. If you hit any snags, we're all here to help out! :smile:

 

Just got back from the store. I got the Creative one, but not the
one in the picture. It's the one with 512MB, but has direct from
CD recording capabilities and voicerecording capabilities. It has
a FM radio too... just in case I do use it as a portable on occasion.
:smile:

 

Aux install: 1 min
Pull knee bolster. Stick hand behind stereo, feel for pins. Grab aux input. Stick in stereo.

Parcel Shelf: 10 min (plus 30 min to remove knee bolster )
Follow directions on other websites...

I'm going to mount the aux input in the plate that came with the shelf kit.

 

yep yep yep. I did the same thing this weekend.

unless you're extremely lazy or super rich, this is something you can do yourself. this is probaby the 2nd easiest mod done after installing a GbT in your glove compartment

I'm a bit of a klutz, but following the how-to guides posted on the motoringfile.com site I was able to do the car alarm, euro parcel shelf and the aux audio install in about 2.5 hours.

for the aux audio install itself I just reached behind the left support column and plugged the cable in. took the excess cable and just tucked it under the mat inside the euro shelf and mounted the other end on the access plate.

total time spent on the aux audio cable install itself was probably like 15 minutes. the long part being about 10 minutes to drill the plastic plate and mount it on the euro shelf.

 

Just got my factory AuxJack from www.outmotoring.com very quick and super great service. they are my favorite store.
order some t-shirts too, while you're at it.

Im gonna install it tonight. My CreativeZEN is doing great too...got about 75songs, can probably go another 40 on the small 512Mb. My wife wants
to get one so I think I might give her mine and get me the 1G one later on.
The 4BandEQ on this thing is awesome!

 

Thanks for the advice.

My dealer gave me a price of $200 installed.
Um, yeah...I'll take one, hold the install fellas.

I got home, popped off the bolster, plugged it in, works like a charm.

My next question - where did you folks mount yours?

 

Ran the wire straight down through one of the vents in the center. Plugged in my XM, go to go.

 

I drilled my Aux in to the back of the parcel shelf so it is not at all visible and my MP3 player or my cassette player just sits on the shelf next to the Aux .....if you do drill it into the back of the parcel shelf, the thickness of the plastic doesn't allow the Aux's mounting plate to be used which is OK as there is enough of the Aux input's thread sticking thru to screw the retaining nut on

 

I got done installing mine as well today. It took me a while cause I had
to first remove the EuroParcel shelf (which also has the BassLink gain
control on it..), then I moved my Piaa540 activation sw to a better
location (another unrelated project ive been wanting to do), then I
pulled my back muscle while I was under the steering column and
was in pain for like 10min (aw schit was it painful), then removed
my 12v meter which is under the switch box, then finally got the aux
jack harness connected, and holes drilled in the same vent area
as TheOldMan under the sw box. :smile: I like that generic looking aux
jack hidden on my car too. turned out real nice.

will take pictures later. I tried it out and works great!
the ZEN's 5 band EQ works out great too (not 4band as mentioned
above).

 

Not true in my case. Either yours came with shorter screws, or we mounted ours in different locations, or one of us has a newer, updated parcel shelf...

I mounted mine on the back of the parcel shelf, about two inches up and in from the bottom right corner. No photo yet.

 

One possibility for the plastic being too thick:

Supposedly, the 10mm drill bit is supposed to the the same diameter as the aux jack - this means that the aux jack does not get sandwiched between the metal plate and plastic, but only the metal plate. I'm not too sure how correct this is! Haven't drilled the blanking plate yet.

 

Yes, that's correct. That's probably the difference. The small screws on either side anchor the plate to the plastic, and the hole in the middle should be drilled wide enough to allow the cable jack to screw directly to the metal plate.

 

MINI Woodbridge wanted about $160 for the part with installation. After seeing the instructions online before I took delivery, I figured I'd do it myself. Ordered the part from Coopersport.ca when they opened, and installed it yesterday in 20 minutes. My only problem was figuring out which way the plug fit (it is upside down from what I was trying); that would've saved me 5 minutes right there.

 

here's where i installed mine (below switch box)



here's the center console with ZEN. I clipped it to the MINIFini cupholder
bracket.


Close up of ZEN...