i'm looking for an aux capable MINI head unit and i was wondering if you can tell from the following pictures if it is or not? the person who has it doesn't know for sure and i don't want to take a chance buying it... what do you think?

 

Judging by the age (November 02), I'd guess the answer is no... but I'm not the expert on exactly when they changed features on the OEM stereo, so I'll leave it to others for a final opinion.

A quick search of the part number (6921965) on realoem.com did not reveal it as a part number for U.S. or Euro cars, but I DID find a part number that was only ONE digit off (6921966). It was used in manufacturing from 09/2002 until 03/2003, so it only had an "up to date" life of 7 months, before being replaced by a newer model.

 

I'd disagree. I was already driving my car in November 02 and the AUX input works fine on Alice.

 

that's what worries me (the nov 2) marking. i'm pretty sure that the 03 model year would have started by then, but i want to be sure.

 

Hey, if I'm wrong, great... it was just a supposition... maybe the Aux input works on ALL the factory MINI headunits? Maybe the differences were for other things like MP3 support.

 

is your car an 03?

EDIT: i see in your sig that it is.

 

That Nov 02 is a big sticking point... It should work, Agro is proof that it is, but I've heard of a few November builds that the Aux didn't work in. My guess is that you're probably ok, but there's no way to know for sure unless you try it....

As for the difference, it's something internal in the radio. HU's from before the switchover don't even see the AUX jack when it's connected so there's no way to select it.

EDIT- Corrected bad info...

 

I have a head unit at work (from a Jan '03 build) that definitely works with the AUX input ... I'll try to remember to look at the labels.
If your "SW=50" & "HW=44" match mine, they are the same unit.

But I'd bet that this does work with the AUX input.

The label indicates the head unit was built in November - so it likely went into at least a December '02 car if not later.
I agree a few cars *built* in October/November '02 might have got stuck with leftover stock from before the update, but those would probably have had head unit build dates of August '02 or earlier.

 

OK.
My '03 HU is also 02 November and SW=50, HW=44. The only significant difference is the build date is one week later (KW=46/02) but with the same s/w & h/w spec I think the one you are looking at has to be AUX compatible too.

 

The cutover build date (for the car, not necessarily the HU) is September 02. Cars after this date should work with the AUX input. I found this out the hard way, it was only after pulling my dash apart and plugging into the back of my HU did I finally realize my car (build date June 02) would not work. Since this head unit that you have posted shows a build date AFTER the cutoff of September, I'm willing to bet it works. The Sep 02 build cutoff date is in the paperwork from BMW/MINI when you purchase the AUX cable.

Also look at how much the seller may want for it... it may be more cost effective to put an aftermarket stereo in your dash that is already equipped with the AUX input, rather than purchase this head unit plus the cost of the AUX cable. That's the route I took. But if you're striving for the all-stock look in your interior, maybe that solution isn't as attractive to you. Just something to think about...