Going to buy this US car. Mfg date 07/03 with factory navigation system. will this be a new DVD based system?

Honestly. i'd rather not have the nav being a car audio person. They tell me a head unit upgrade is pretty much out of the question, unless you wanted to through big dough at it.

was even thinking about an iPod adapter, but looks like those do not work with the nav system either.

 

Well, I'm not 100% positive but I thought I read in some previous post that they switched from the CD based NAV to DVD based sometime in 05/03 so yours is likely to be a DVD based unit. You can easily check by looking under the passenger seat at the face plate on the unit. If it is a DVD unit it should say DVD on the face somewhere.

This article has a bit more on it.

http://www.x5world.com/showarticle-59.html

Even though the site is for BMW, they use the same unit.

If you are thinking of pulling the unit out, I might be interested in it.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=11518
This might work with ipod adaptor, or you could at leat have a direct connection to the HU, I use the aux input for my XM and like the sound quality, but want MFSW controls. Aux is cheaper, but less convient. Good luck perfecting your MINI

 

AUX works for me, but I thought the H/K w/Nav system didn't have an AUX input?

so how possible is it to completely swap the Nav out? I guess with enough money anything is possible.

 

It does have it, I had all three in a Jan 2003 build Cooper...

 

Your car has the factory Nav?

 

My Cooper had factory Nav, and HK, and the Aux jack and they all worked. However I no longer own that car.

 

Actually let me rephrase the original post a bit. There's a connection on the radio for the Aux jack to be connected to. Like every MINI, they don't come from the factory with the Aux jack, you have to install Aux or get it installed.

But it can be done and it's not anymore difficult than done on a car without HK and/or Nav.

 

If its a DVD Nav you can use the iPod a adapter as well - we have it on an 05. We did not have it on the 03 CD Nav but as others have said you should be able to do with the aux (and I think its likely the iPod adapter would be an option as well).

Also, I don't see why upgrading the audio would be more of an issue in a Nav car - the HU looks like you can simply remove/replace it?

 

My install guy said it was not possible to change the deck on on a car with the nav. I'd rather change the deck than bother with the AUX input.

 

Does he know Minis? I'm just wondering 'cause that was true on an E46 with nav since it was built in the dash differently, but in the Mini the headunit is mounted seperately (and the nav brain is under the seat). He could be right of course, it just appears to be set up in such a way that the HU could be swapped.

 

His concern is probably because he doesn't know what units the Nav can and will mute when it provides audio prompts. Contact Mike over at newministuff.co.uk he can tell you exactly what will and won't work with Nav...

 

It's the DVD unit. There is a DVD in the glove compartment. I don't see the Nav unit under either of the front seats - is it under the back seat?

I can't even figure out how to turn the Nav off at night yet. Owners manual says to refer to the Nav owners manual which I don't have.

I'd really like to use the iPod adapter if it works. I don't have a CD changer either.

 

If you slide the front passenger seat all the way forward you should see the Nav system in the floor.

As for turning it "off" they best you can do is to blank the screen which I believe is in the settings menu when you back completely out of the Nav program. (sorry I can't be more specific it's been almost a year since I've played with the Nav system) Should be a selection to turn the screen off...