Is there any system that allows you to connect your iPod directly to the stock head unit while retaining the ability to use the menus and screens on the iPod. I have a new iPod video with over 1000 songs and growing, and I would really like to be able to select the artists, songs, albums, or genres through the iPod rather than use the limited functions permitted with the factory interface. I may be asking too much. Any ideas out there?

 

auxiliary audio input - $40, easy install, and it sounds great!

 

Check out: http://www.mp3yourcar.com/default.asp

I know nothing about this unit or the company behind it - but it appears to do what you want. I have been doing a lot of searching for iPod interfaces and have not found the "perfect" setup - all seem to have strengths and weaknesses. One thing I have found in several places is a caution that if you use the auxiliary input make sure you use a line output signal - not the output from the headphone jack on the iPod. (I can do this with the Belken power plug that came with the FM transmitter set I tried and gave up on.)

 

Dension Ice Link Plus has a mode that will let you use the Ipod interface. Although driving and using it is not a great idea. Just create a playlist.

 

I have the ipod adapter from the dealer and it works great although it has one quirk that i'm going to bring up with the dealer. Sometimes it'll let me use the menus on the ipod itself and sometimes it won't. Even if i leave it plugged in all the time, sometimes it'll keep the screen locked for some reason. Still, i love it becuase instead of carrying a ton of cd cases, i just have my one little ipod! It's still worth it though, and the sound is unbeatable!

 

I recently bought the Icelink for my '06 MCS w/ HK upgrade. It has all the features you are looking for. I think the year and make of your head unit is key to what will work. The Icelink is pricey, not too bad to install. But like the Ipod w/Itunes, there is a learning curve. In my opinion, nothing with an "I" in front of it is user friendly until you get it all figured out. I got most of my questions answered in NAM.

All in all, I'm happy with it. Here's a the link. http://www.mp3yourcar.com/

 

You can do this on the iPod. Just put it in "Songs" shuffle mode in the Settings Menu, then browse to any playlist, artist, or album title you want to listen to randomly shuffled, and press Play. When I'm in the car, 90% of the time I just play the My Top Rated playlist on random shuffle.

 

I want to thank everyone for their input. I will try Red Pig's suggestion, but I will probably get the Neo iON unit and sell my factory interface. For anyone else who is interested, I will post my results and comments.

 

Any reason why? I'm running my iPod from the headphone output with no problems. If it is a "sounds better" issue, all I can say is I'm happy with my $35 aux cable/stock head unit set up. If it will harm my MINI or my iPod though, I'd like to know.

 

Hey thanks....A buddy of mine and I have been trying to figure this out at work.

At least it's nice to know you don't lose this function with the Icelink.

 

jdjeff58 wrote: "All in all, I'm happy with it. Here's a the link. http://www.mp3yourcar.com/ "

NOTE: This link in not to the Dension Ice Link Site but to the MP3 Your Car site which features the Neo iON iPod connector that I mentioned in my post.

The Ice Link link is: http://www.densionusa.com/

 

No mention of damage to your iPOD or head unit - but since the earphone jack output is an amplified signal it is very easy to induce distortion in the final output from the head unit - depending on your volume level settings. Using a line output from the iPOD or other attached device should result in cleaner sound.

 

I just bought mine from mp3yourcar 3 weeks ago.

The two are made by the same company and perform the same functions. Their (mp3yourcar) site also has undergone some changes in the past week. Icelink merely refers to the interface. Neo iON is made by Dension and mp3yourcar sells it as such. It's the same thing.

When I fire mine up....Dension Icelink Plus ver. 2b2 is on my ipod screen. Hope this helps.

 

i have the 'official' ipod link - when you first plug it in it says CD7 and plays whatever directory you are currently in - if i need to pick an artist/genre/etc. i do it before i plug it in and just use this - i try not to change much beyond skipping songs while i'm driving (whether CD or iPod)

 

I'm sure you got a Dension iceLink - but the Neo iON is a different unit. It has DIP switches to set the car make and model, it does not display MP3 info on the head unit, and it costs $150. It is similar to the MINI iPod interface but it keeps the iPod display and switches active.

 

That's because you have to get part# 50020 (vehicles with GPS/NAV or DSP). This is the part# I ordered, installed, and have been using for the past 3 weeks. This unit displays text and there are no dip switches. Cost is $199. Dension is the manufacture, mp3yourcar is the re-seller.

I recommend you call mp3yourcar.com (800-505-0931) because you are obviously having trouble believing me.

 

Sometimes the display menu and controls on the iPod work with my factory interface and sometimes they do not. I am still trying to figure out why. If I can get it to do this when I want, I will keep the unit. Otherwise, I will install the NEO iON.

Does anyone have any clues or suggestions?

 

I hadn't heard of that before - the factory interface is supposed to 'lock' the ipod controls, so your little bug is a feature. Definitely not user selectable.

 

i have a question for you regarding this. i loathe the dennison interface that appears on the ipod when you want to control it, when i looked at the neo iON it appeared from their materials that they just use the standard iPod UI. is that true?

 

If you shift the Dension IceLink+ into iPod mode (instead of Dension mode) you have full contol of your iPod and the screen on the iPod is the default text/size of the iPod - not the miniscule Dension font. We've always left our IceLink in iPod mode for that reason.