Any reason why not get it? Its 80 dollars less than icelink and will work with the nav, at least thats my understanding. Can someone give me more information?

Oh yeah, its an 03 MCS, no HK.

Thanks

 

I have it and I'm happy with it. The downside is there's no ID3 tags so you can't see what songs you are playing in the display. Also you only get 5 playlist with the oem factory one. If you no problems with that, then go ahead and get the factory one.
I'm not sure if Icelink will fix those problems since you have a nav system.

 

My understanding (correct me if I am wrong) is that with the factory unit you do not have any control directly from the iPod. You are limited to 5 play lists that must be named MINI1* thru MINI5* plus MINI6 which is the entire iPOD Library. You can unplug the iPod, select a play list other than MINI* and then plug the iPOD back in.

 

There's also a quirky trick with video capable (5th Gen) ipods to control the ipod from the ipod directly as well as the MFSW.

 

I have a question for you all...How easy is it to install the ipod adaptor ordered from MINI? I know there is that rectangular spot in the glove box, which I assume is where it goes. If anyone knows about it, that would be great.

 

I'm happy with the factory adapter. It's in the glove box year round.

I set up the five play lists to the different types of music I like. True, you can't go to one specific song or one specific album unless you set it up as one of the five play lists, but that doesn't bother me.

 

Official BMW/iPod adapter
http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/07/...ector_reviewed

ICE-Link Plus iPod Adapter
http://www.motoringfile.com/2005/04/..._plus_reviewed

Both of these reviews are very well done.

 

for the money, BMW gets my money.

 

I have the factory adapter that I removed when I upgraded the head unit.

To the above listed "issues" with the BMW adapter I will add that if you are a sound fanatic using the Ipod through the bus adapter (charging connector) adds a little hum over using it through the line-out ear phone plug.

The BMW adapter also requires that you cut the factory wiring harness which made hooking up an aftermarket head a little tricky since I could not find any of the BMW wiring ends at local shops.

I don't want to get the thing sent back with the harness all hacked up so I am willing to sell mine for $100 to anyone that is confident they can do the install themselves (since it's been installed once you can't just follow the directions exactly) or (for $100 + 6 pack) someone who lived close enough that they would come over and do the install at my house and I'll show them what has to be done differently.

 

If you lived closer, i would take you up on the offer. I was looking at the instructions and not sure how i feel about hacking things up, last time i did that on my jeep, my defrost still doesnt work on the back window.

 

I have A factory I pod unit. When I name my playlist and go to play in in the mini for example . MINI1 Guido's Rock,which I name it. I turn on the HK uniot,hit preset #1 on the radio. Just show the track# being played. Should it display my Playlist Name on the LCD. Maybe I am doing saomething
wrong. According to the Factory Mini Manual. I named it correct. Anyone please help. Morris IU see you did the naming does it hsow up on your. Is it something the dealer has to set up to accept the naming.



Guido Out

 

Will the OEM adapter work with 2002 radios?

 

I have set up the five playlists on my iPod and when using the thing in the MINI, all you get is the playlist number (1-7) and track number. The additional identifiers you type in on your computer when setting up the playlist are - I believe - only shown on iTunes and not in the head unit.

There are really TWO additional playlists that will show up on your headunit - pressing preset 6 lets you play the WHOLE iPod. Also, you can see playlist 7 when you pause a track on the iPod (before attaching it), turn it off, and then attach it. Going to iPod Mode then starts playing the iPod where you left off, and it will continue in order of tracks from where you started it in this fashion. This is a great way to zero in on a desired area of your playlist. It is also great for loooong Podcasts or audio books that you want immediate access to and will listen to for a while during motoring without worry about flipping through the tracks.

Bill

 

Yep. Have had mine for almost a year.

 

My 5th Gen iPod works great with the iPod interface. Controls from headunit & MFSW works too.

 

wow. i'm glad i just got the auxiliary input instead.

 

AUX input is fine (and cheap) but you can't hide the iPod and still have control to change tracks etc. I'm using AUX while holding out for a perfect solution, although the DICE adapter seems like it may be as close as we're going to get using the stock HU.

 

Really? Care to share? :-)

 

hacking up the harness??
how?

I installed mine myself and it took less than an hour as indicated by the BMW/MINI instructions... completely plug and play... no cutting at all..
Works great too... I'm ok with the 5 playlists... 4 for the wife and one for me... hahaha

-e

 

I have the OEM iPod adapter, and I've noticed that every 20 minutes, when the iPod's flash buffer is exhausted and it accesses its hard drive to pull in new music data, I can hear a high-pitched squeal through the speakers. It's most noticeable at high volumes, but since I play classical music 90% of the time, and therefore have to keep the volume up, it's pretty grating -- especially since I paid so much for a supposedly perfect, digital experience.

Is this normal? Or did the installers forget to shield something when they installed it?

 

Eric that's weird what you're experiencing... i followed the instructions as per BMW/MINI and it seems to work without any hiccups (or screeches).

Our iPod is a 3G 20GB wih the latest firmware for what it's worth.
The car is an 06MCS with the H/K stereo upgrade.

 

After plugging in the 5th Gen iPod, wait for 5-10 seconds. Then press and hold the menu button, till the iPod responds with it's menu. IIRC.

I never do it however.

Steve

 

Mine's dealer-installed, so I'd expect they knew what they were doing, but it's possible they made a mistake in haste. My iPod is a 3G/40GB model, and it's plugged into the stock stereo in my 2005 MC. I'm coming up on my one-year service appointment, so I'll ask then, but I bet they'll just say there's nothing they can do.

Anyone else who has noticed such a sound, please chime in here! I'd love to know if mine is an isolated experience. Again, the reason I noticed it may be that I listen to classical music that has to be played at very high volumes.

 

Very true. Kids can watch Avatar and listen through the stereo, even. However, I can't always get this to work. Anyone else can? I'd love hints.

 

I successfully installed my OEM iPod adapter after studying the multiple versions of the installation instructions that have been published. Contrary to the version 1 procedure dated November 2004, NO cutting of wires is necessary. The newer procedure that Mini has out isn’t extremely informative since it is totally based on drawings without accompanying verbiage. Hopefully, these photos will help out:

The first step to installation is making sure that things are safe by disconnecting the ground lead on your battery. If you keep track of your mileage, you will want to write down the reading since it will be erased when you remove the power.

After disconnecting the negative terminal and taping it up, remove the glove compartment by unscrewing the torx screws on the top lip, rear center, and left and right sides. Once it is free, disconnect the terminal on the light switch.

On the driver’s side, pull down on the knee bolster so that it swings down out of the way of the screws on the vertical tubes.

The torx screws on the vertical tubes can now removed and the tubes pulled down and to the sides enough to expose the screws on the radio. Unscrew the radio and pull out of the dash.

Unscrew that plastic **** holding the wiring bundle, unclip the wiring harness, and remove the antenna connector. Remove the radio.

You should now be looking at this:





You will have to remove three wires from the harness and replace them with like-colored wires from the iPod adapter.

First, remove the blue clip as shown here:




With a flat jeweler’s screwdriver, press it onto the terminal and pull the wire out. You will be removing the brown, the red, and the white/yellow wires. If you have any doubt as to which ones to remove, refer to the wires in the iPod adapter. They are the same colors.

After you remove the wires, the terminal positions with the arrows will be empty:



Take the wires you removed and insert them into the connector supplied with the kit as shown in the above photo.





Now insert the wires from the kit into the empty spaces on the factory harness. Make sure that colors correspond with their original positions.
Remove the white terminal from the factory harness and replace it with the terminal on the kit. The original terminal is to be left unterminated.





Take the connector that you inserted the wires into and plug it into the connector on the adapter kit.

Follow the instructions for connecting the adapter shown from step 8 onward in this document: http://new.minimania.com/images/inst...ctions_new.pdf

MAKE SURE that you snake the cable through the hole in the glove compartment before you reinstall it. The first time I didn’t, and had to pull everything apart again to do it properly.