Okay, I just got my MINI a little over a week ago. I am going to get a 30 gb iPod.

Here's my specs: HK Stereo, no CD changer, MF Steering Wheel

What I want to be able to do:
1) Listen to the songs on my iPod
2) control the iPod through the MultiFunction steering wheel
3) See the song that's playing on the HK Head Unit.


Is all this possible, and if so, what's the best solution for me?

Thanks in advance!!

Rach

 

I think, the easiest is the BMW iPod adaptor. or the ice link. If oyu search you will see there are lots of threads on this topic.

 

I have the ICE link and it works well, I have the same set up as you, but I can't read the songs on the stock deck. People say since my car is an 04 it can't read it, but 05 and 06 work perfect.
M

 

I too am looking for an ipod solution. I just took a look at the ICE interface and it appears to only work in cars with factory GPS. Is that correct?

Another system I have been looking at is the Blitszsafe interface. This connects to the CD changer harness in the trunk of the car, but my 2006 MCS doesn't seem to have a harness. Does anyone know if the harness has been eliminated on 2006 models?

 

Yeah, I've been leaning toward the ICE... can I control the iPod with the MFSW with the ICE tho?

 

I have the Ice Link from Dension and it works great. http://www.murmini.com/articles/2006...alling-an-ipod

 

I don't think the year matters. I've not seen a solution posted that would allow for full control of the iPod through the steering wheel AND full song and/or artist text on the stock deck... not without playlists and/or a different HU...

I've given up on this, I simply use the aux input and place my iPod in one of the small 'cup' holders... it's within reach and I can (somewhat) see the album/artist info...

 

1) The BMW/Mini solution is an utter waste of time. You CANNOT see any information regarding the song other than where it is in the playlist - and this gets silly once you exceed 99 songs in any one list. Track 1 in Playlist 1 is signified at CD-1-01. Thats it - no information. Track 99 is CD-1-99, Track 100 is CD-1-01 (exactly the same as track 1), if you have several hundred (thousand) songs to deal with, it is pathetic. Secondly you cannot look at the iPod to tell what is playing. It simply says 'MINI'. utterly helpless.

2) The ICE solution is better - except it truncates the name of the track - or at least the one I tried did - to ten characters - So something like Paul Okenfold Live in Paris is displayed as PAUL OAKEN and thats it ! You can control the iPod to an extent - ie next/previous track, and a couple of funky double/held presses are available. But really its fairly rubbish.

3) The AUX in - this is my prefered solution - costs $40, installs in about ten mnutes, simply plays through the stereo. A nice cradle to put the iPod in a handy position ($40 or so) and you are all set - full iPod control through the iPod, great sound quality through a direct connect.

If you are attending the SSOCMCC meet next sunday, take a look and listen to mine before you buy !

 

Sweet, Max, I would definitley like to take a look at yours.

Also, thanks for the post with the step by step install, very helpful!

 

Keith:

It's there. In the passenger side boot compartment. Probably taped to another cable running along the bottom of the compartment. You may need a flashlight to find it and have to fish around a bit - but it's there.

 

ditto....

 

I've had the ICE for a few months and it works ok. Some thoughts on the product:

The novelty of titles on the HU wore off fairly quickly for me. I usually can hear one or 2 notes and know what is playing.My wife likes it though because she now knows what exactly it is I am playing. from my wife.

Text on HU will not aid you in looking through your collection. Only the song that is playing will display so it is useless for searching. (I only mention this because in some of the early threads, some people wanted this.)

I have NAV and your supposed to be able to "send" the text to your NAV or HU or both at the same time but no matter what, I am only able to send it to both except for some freakish occurances where I get my maps and text on the HU....

ICE comes with its own built in AUX port so you can pop an XM/Sirus portable if you like. I have XM but had to use a ground loop isolator because of a problem with whine/static at times.

I WAS having a problem with a horrible hiss coming from my sound at times when I would hit a bump or have some sort of vibration in the cabin. I did the install myself so what appears to have been happening was that the shakes and bumps were moving the cables from the connectors slightly, but enough to disrupt my sound. I finally "secured" the install and made any cable movement impossible and have been without hiss for about 2 or 3 weeks.

MFSW control.

Access to ALL your playlists.

Some older IPODS will be touchy. I have a 3rd generation which pauses after I turn the car off and then can only be started after you hit fast forward, which then starts the next track. You will also lose some other functions with older models but thats my fault for spending my money on my mini and not a new IPOD...


I also have the BMW IPOD kit for my wifes BMW (fairly close to the MINI factory connector) and I don't really like it. You are limited to 5 or 6 playlists, which have to be named exactly in a certain manner or you will get nothing to play. Offers MFSW control though.



I may seem a bit critical but I still vote for the DICE for price and function.

 

 

The HK Drive & Play is the best solution I could come up with. It works great.

See my reply on this thread:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=53009

 

I have the Aux input installed and the jack drilled in on my parcel shelf. If I simply plug my ipod (my daughter's ipod-mini that she's giving me) into the Aux, what is the best way to power it?

If I get the ICE or some other cable, how to install that and where to buy and how much?

 

Rachael-


I could have sworn I posted a similar answer to this before, but here goes:

If you have the stock radio/CD, you can play MP3 discs. I do it. I have the entire Beatles library on ONE CD. From "Meet the Beatles" to "Let it Be", on one disc. I can put that disc into my CD and set it on RND and let it play for weeks, before it finally starts to repeat itself.

I do not need to carry an iPod or plug it in or anything else. I just leave the disc in and drive.

Drawbacks: I cannot see any more info than "TRK001-005" Frankly, I don't care. I know all the songs anyway, but even if I don't, why do I need to see the track info for songs that I ripped? (and why do you?)

So, I get 13 albums worth of tunes on one disc. I can do the same with more discs. In a standard 10 disc slim-line wallet, I can have 130 albums worth of tunes. At 14 songs average per album, I can get 1820 songs stored. And if I need more, I can rip them (which is the equivalent of downloading them from iTunes, but without the cost. I already have these CD's, I am NOT violating copyright by transfering them to a medium I can play in my car)

Having said all of that, has anyone found a CD wallet for the visor that fits a MINI's visor?

 

If you already have an iPod - you're halfway there. I would highly recommend the DICE kit:

DICE iPod Integration Kit for Mini Cooper
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=314

 

+1. It does everything that the original post asked for.


-Paul!

 

Umberto... i have a third generation ipod connected to my h/k headunit via aux input. I use the sik imp (http://sik.com/imp.php) to retrieve the line-out signal and to charge the ipod. I used an add-a-circuit from autozone and tapped into the driver's side fuse panel to add a hidden cigarette lighter socket.

One end of the imp plugs into the ipod's dock connector, the other end has a mini stereo jack making the line level audio signal available and also a firewire port for charging.

 

* pre 4/2005 Minis with and Boost Audio systems do not have ID3 text support. Minis with Navigation will offer ID3 text display.

What does "Boost Audio system" mean? The HK system?

in regards to ID3, does this allow for scrolling text and if not what if the song title or artist name is longer than the display?

I don't see a 'browse by artist' option, not available?

thanks!

 

I use the 'Belkin Auto Kit for iPod With Dock Connector'. It charges the iPod and uses the audio out connector at the bottom instead of the headphone jack and this will get you better audio quality. You simply plug in the audio cable from your aux port into the Belkin charger and connector its cable to the iPod. Your iPod will automatically pause when you turn off the ignition, and turn it off after 30 seconds or something. I like it...

http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...Dock_Connector

 

Boost are CD-based systems. You will see Artist, Album and Song Title in your display. the DICE does not have a browse by artist feature - but the iPod remains completely unlocked so you can browse via the Clickwheel as well.

 

Tom, where does the DICE model you're selling connect? I've seen some that connect to the changer connection in the trunk, but a couple that connect behind the head unit.

Thanks

 

well guess I'm beat - 04' = no text on head unit. Oh well.....

 

The iPod Clickwheel is fully unlocked and the text still displays on the iPod - unlike the MINI iPod kit.