I found this @ www.neocaraudio.com/prod-ion.html

Has anyone tried this yet??? connects direclty to the OEM car stereo.

It looks like a great solution... able to use the controls on the s/w, the head unit, and the ipod itself to select songs and control the volume.

Hit me back w/any 411...all you crazy Mini Freaks.

 

Hi RAW_MCS,

Since I seen your post, I have took the plunge, I purchased, and installed this unit in my MINI.

I must say I really like this unit. To me, it seems better than the official MINI IPod adaptor, and on par if not a little better than the Ice-Link.

Pros:
-Cheaper than both the MINI adaptor and the Ice-Link.
-Easy installation. I didn't have to remove the radio head unit to install it.
-Track control with factory radio/steering wheel controls.
-Control IPod with the IPod in Direct Mode.
-Control preset playlists on the factory radio in Playlist Mode.
-Has an extra AUX port on the adaptor to hook up an alternate audio source at the same time your IPod is hooked up.

Cons:
-No ID3 tags.
-Have to flip a toogle switch on the adaptor to switch between Playlist Mode and Direct Mode. That could combersome if the adaptor is in the glovebox or installed under the dash.
-If you already have a CD Changer in the trunk, you have to disconnect it. (But who cares really? What does one need a CD Changer for if you have an IPod hooked up instead?)

Installation:
It took about 3 minutes to connect it all up in my trunk to test the unit out before I started running wires. Once I tested it and found that it worked, I disconnected it and started the installation. I connected a cable to the CD Changer pre-wire that is located on the right side of the trunk behind the removable panel. Note, I have heard that all cars do not have this pre-wired CD Changer connection. If you don't have it you may have to purchase this wire from your MINI Dealer and attach it to the back of your head unit.

I then ran the cable under the rear seat and down along the right side of the car and inserted it into the glovebox from behind the glovebox. I decided not to remove the rear interior panels to run the cable. I will do that later. I hear it is couple of hours of work.

I hooked up the adaptor in the glovebox, connected the IPod cable, and ran that cable out the back of the glovebox then down to the center console under the toggle switches. I connected the IPod and was done.

Usage:
At all times I have next track and previous track capabilities from the Radio and s/w.

In Direct Mode, I have access to the IPod on Disk 6 on the radio. I have full control of the IPod from the IPod in this mode.

In Playlist Mode, I have no access to the IPod from the IPod. Disk 1 to 5 is the first 5 playlists on the IPod. You can predefine which playlists get associated with the disk numbers by starting the playlist names with BMW1 to BMW5. Playlist names like BMW3-Favorites is a valid playlist name. Disk 6 is the entire library. Most, if not all radio controls work with these playlists. For example selecting RDM on the radio switches the playlist to random mode.

I find the audio quality exceptional, even with the base factory radio. I hear no electronic feedback and it is clear and crisp.

If you never wanted to control the IPod from the IPod, you could have the whole thing in the trunk and never have to run any wires anywhere.

I recommend this product to anyone who at least has the pre-wired CD Changer cable. As you can see, it has better features than the factory IPod adaptor from MINI, and seems to me, on par with the Dension, except for maybe 05 MINIs. I hear the 05s can display ID3 tags in the head unit with the Ice-Link.

Hope this helps,
Shel

 

Hi Shel ...Thanx for the follow up on installation! I ordered mine last week but it's been on back order, i called @ the begining of this week and was told it just came in and should be here w/in a couple 'o days!!! I'm glad you're happy w/it, being the only one i could find w/ s/w controls (and i love using those - left hand on the wheel switching channels or songs - right hand shifting) i had to get this 1. all the more love for my '04 MCS.

 

Just wanted to add my Neo/iPod experience:
I wanted to use my iPod mini in my '03 MCS +NAV and with space being what it is I couldn't bare any more time with the belkin TuneBase and Griffin iTrip, not to mention sound quality.

I tried to research iPod adaptors and found it very confusing. Frankly if I could have found anyone competent anywhere in town I would have paid a ridiculous amount of money to have someone else find/order/install any iPod adaptor. One high-end audio shop had not even heard of most of these iPod adaptors. Very frustrating.
I finally ordered the Neo iOn SP from here for the following reasons:
1. I was able to explicitly select my model, year, and navigation in choosing an adaptor. This kind of website interface inspires confidence and relaxes folks like me.
2. Connecting straight to radio - I didn't want to run cable from hatch back to front. (Web site said: "This adapter connects the iPod to the Mini Cooper's factory radio.")
3. price was high, but still inline with other option costs (dealer adaptor is a lot less I think but travel to and fro and time off work seemed almost prohibitive. Other options claimed not to work with NAV systems)

What happened? First it took a long time to fulfill my order. I don't have a problem with that - seems all these outfits are back ordered nowadays - in fact they didn't even charge my CC until they sent it which is nice. Only problem for me was that they didn't notify me about what was going on. For a while I was starting to think they had not received my order at all.

So I got the package - how exciting :-)

Warning number one - check every corner of the box. All I saw was two cables. I was expecting a bulky box to plug in the iPod cable into as well. I thought they had forgotten to send me that part and was not looking for ward to calling them Monday to ***** them out. In desperation I checked the box again and sure enough there was the *little* adaptor after all. Check the BOX completely!
Warning number two - I know I ordered a Neo iOn SP, but what I got was a Dension ice>Link: Plus, complete with branded user manual and quick start guide.
Warning number three - I specifically wanted an adaptor that plugged into the head unit, so that I wouldn't have to run the cable from the hatch. Of course even though the web site says thats what I was ordering, they sent me the hatch one instead.
Installation:
I finally got the courage to just do it myself. Happy to report it all works very well. Only think I would have done differently is to check if it was rear/hatch connector, since I unnecessarily removed the two down columns and the radio. On the plus side I learned that there is absolutely nothing to it.
Ps. While I was in the dash I got to tighten all loose screws along the way :-/
So what's the big deal? The only issue I can see is in routing the cable back to the front of the car and deciding your ipod's final resting place. That was a SERIOUS pia. I connected in the right-hatch spare area, went down inside that plastic compartment, then under the rear seat, down by the floor and up into the glove box. Otherwise the installing ice: Link was easy, I love it.