And I have a MINI w/ BT coming in about 4 weeks.. week 39.
So - I'll update the board.

 

I picked up my car 9.26.07 and there is no USB port (99% certain). I didn't actually stick my fat head down there with a flashlight, but I felt all around there and I can only feel the aux port. My car was a week 34 or 35 build (8.25.07).

 

Yes, it now appears that MINI USA is intentionally keeping the USB ports out of the 2007 MY US-bound MINIs even though the rest of the world have been able to get them since last August. Isn't MINI USA just great!

I guess that since MINI USA doesn't have much new stuff to announce for the 2008 models (since the auto stop/start and regenerative braking features aren't coming to the USA), they are holding on to every little thing they can that will make the 08 cars seem more special than the 07's.

Can't say as I blame them. However, what makes me mad is that nearly every (if not every) other car manufacturer is already selling their 08 models and with MINI we have to wait until Jan or Feb of next year to get them. In prior years MINI always seemed to have the next model year cars available by October or November of the prior year. The only reason I can think of as to why they're holding off so long is because of the new Clubman model introduction.

Also... We've been looking at quite a few different cars to purchase besides the MINI and nearly all of them are now offering some kind of USB port (and iPod adapter for MUCH cheaper!). MINI really needs to get with it in this department IMHO.

We're also finding that the MINI is quite a bit more expensive than its similarly equipped competition. The base-model MINI is very competitive, but the MINI's options are WAY over priced ($2,000 for leather seats??? Come on now!). Once you start adding options onto the MINI to make it compare with the other cars, the MINI's price tag reaches far beyond the competition's. I guess this is to be expected since the MINI is a BMW after all.

 

would other cars be as fun as the MINI though? it sucks that the USB port doesnt come in the later 07s even though pretty much everything else is... But it sounds like the USB doesnt play the ipod anymore than the AUX in anyway. It would be nice for charging various things though but i guess i will have to opt for the MINI Ipod dock..

 

From the mini2.com forums, it looks like the usb port did the same thing as the ipod interface, except the cost was only $80 for one cable rather than $500 for a special system. I'm hoping for a retrofit, but I'm not that optimistic...

 

@jmdor,

True, but you also have to take into consideration that you have to purchase the $600 Bluetooth Prep package in order to get the USB port (and that price could potentially go up for the 08 model). Thus, there's a bit more than the $80-$100 USB to iPod adapter price to factor into the equation. Still cheaper than the current iPod adapter for sure though (considering you get Bluetooth functionality and the $200 arm rest with it).

 

I've got the bluetooth prep package, but I bet a retrofit would cost easily as much as the current $500 ipod package (which doesn't seem to work so well, as far as I can tell from the list). I'm going to stick with the aux-in and a belkin or monster car kit for now.

 

I'm absolutely loving the iPod adapter in our nav equipped MINI. It works awesome and looks absolutely terrific on the nav display!

To me, it only appears that the folks who have thousands of songs an hundreds of playlists are the ones who are having the problems with the adapter. I don't store music on my iPod that way (that's what iTunes and the PC are for IMHO) and so it works wonderfully for me. Even though I have an 80 GB iPod Classic, I mainly use it for storing videos on and only ever keep around a max of 500 songs on it as that's more music than I can listen to in a month of Sundays. I'll probably just end up filling up my old 1st generation 4GB iPod Nano with music and leaving it in the car permanently (only taking it out when I want to refresh the songs on it - maybe once a month at the most).

While I admit that the iPod adapter is ludicrously overpriced (BMW/MINI should be absolutely ashamed of themselves), it does work very well indeed and is a great addition to the MINI as long as you understand its limitations (which there are none for me since I don't ever use my iPods in a way that would exceed those limitations). I'd certainly get it again.

 

gaaaa.... Now you're making me think that maybe I should get that installed!! Do you think it's a big pain to plug in and take out your iPod out of the secret storage all the time?

 

Nope. It's super simple. All you do is press on the secret comparment's door, it pops open, and you unplug your iPod. Very easy and fast!

However, you might find it easier to just get a hold of an old iPod and leave it in the MINI permanently so that you don't even have to bother doing that. The iPod adapter powers the iPod, turns it on and off automatically with your car and so it works great for doing just this. Heck you can even find an old rubbish iPod on eBay for pennies on the dollar that has a broken screen and/or dead battery as you'd never need those features if you're leaving it in the MINI all the time.

Also, another benefit to leaving it in the car all the time is that you don't have to wait for the iPod adapter to load your music info each time you plug it in. I currently have less than 500 songs on my iPod and so I don't even notice the time it takes to load (mear seconds). However, I guess it would be slower if you had thousands of songs and/or lots of playlists.

Although... I don't know how well the iPod would hold up to the heat/cold of your car depending upon where you live (i.e. Death Valley or the South Pole) and so that could be something you might need to consider as well.

While I've only had my iPod adapter for two short days, I'm loving it so far.

 

Thanks TOM, that's a great idea! I can't believe I hadn't thought of that- and since it looks like new r56's won't be seeing the built-in iPod option for a few weeks, I may need to put that to use.

 

You guys are losing me. You pay a fortune for the overpriced iPod adapter. It messes up if you have over XX number of songs so you get a separate iPod to leave in the car. If it's so important to you to be able to see the name of the album/song on the screen why don't you just do this: Burn some mp3 CDs. You can get about 15 albums or playlists on each one, cost is next to nothing. End result is the same as paying for the iPod adapter plus the iPod if all you need is 300 songs to play with. And you can burn a bunch of CDs and rotate them as needed. They store in the secret compartment, don't need charging either. Seems to me to do what most people can do with the iPod (I have 6000 songs on mine, 30 playlists at least). And for a lot less $$.

 

AMEN to that!!! And to add, you don't need any cablesm you don't need to plug anythig in, you don't need software revisions on your vehicle.....

What is an "IPOD" anyway???

If you ask me, the "ipod" is the biggest scamI've seen in my lifetime. Just about anything with memory on it can play MP3's today, and most do it cheaper, and as good as this so called IPOD thingy.

 

+1

 

I listen to podcasts that update on a weekly basis. It's much easier for me to sync my iPod than to be continually burning CD's.

 

Very true. I absolutely have no arguments whatsoever against using MP3 CDs (or even MP3 DVDs if you have the nav system). It's just more convenient to use the iPod for me since that's what I'm used to.

The price really does suck (MINI should really be ashamed of themselves for ripping off their customers like that!) and so the MP3 CDs are a great alternative for those folks who don't want to pay out their hard earned cash on the iPod adapter and an iPod.

Personally (while i too don't care for Apple), I like being able to quickly sync the iPod with iTunes instead of having to burn a bunch of new CD each time I want new music. Also, I hate having CDs hanging around in my car. Nothing wrong with any of this, it's just not something I enjoy doing is all.

 

You might actually want to try the CD route before spending $500. It can be automated to be nearly as easy as sync'ing an iPod, since the podcasts live in a single directory, and you can use RW CDs for re-use.

I too have a huge music library (8000+ songs, all legal, thank you), and refuse to pay $500 for incomplete & buggy access. Here's my backup plan. I will have two RW CDs. One will be music, the other podcasts. Each week I will burn a CDs worth of random MP3s, and the latest week's podcasts. This can all be automated. That should handle my commute needs. Fortunately, when it is only me listening, I always listen in complete 100% random mode. The 'next track button' is all I need.

Maybe one day I will explore a retrofit of the USB, once the parts become available. Thanks MiniUSA!

 

Just FYI, One of the mini accessories sites (forget the exact one I got it on) sells a CD holder for the Mini Visor. Holds 8 or 10 cd's on the visor. Neat and out of the way. I have another 20 in the ultra and super top secret compartment!! ;-)

 

How many 8-Tracks are that Birdman???

Seriously though, the REASON why SOME OF US (yourself excluded Birdman) started and contribute to this thread is that none of us want to pay big coin for the adaptor.

So (with no real reason), we are all HOPING that we will get the USB adaptor.

I for one have almost given up on this, and will be getting an $8 doohicky (
http://www.macmall.com/macmall/shop/...%20Accessories ) that connects to my iPod dock port to play through the connector and not the headphone out..

No it doesent charge and no its doesent allow control from the MFSW or HU.
BUT - its only 1/75th the cash.

I prefer that to a solution that costs more than my iPod itself.

Perhaps I will be surprised, perhaps not..

 

I was hoping to go this route until I realized/noticed/read that the USB adaptor is tied to the Bluetooth upgrade which is $600. I don't have a cell phone, so I'd be paying $600 for just the USB port? Curse you MINI! Might as well just get the iPod adapter at that point.

Luckily I am a) not much of an audiophile so the dock->aux cable should do fine and b) will more than likely be listening to the dizamn thing as if it were God's Own CD Changer (by albums, not by playlists on random) so the amount of button fiddling will be at a minimum. So it's the $8 cable of wonder method for me (if I ever make up my mind and order the car, that is).

Personally what I'd really like to have in my secret compartment is a reasonably priced CD changer. ($725 my eye, you cheeky bastiges!)

 

NOTHING reasonable priced will come from MINI in that area for sure. However, (if you don't already know) MINI does have plans on releasing a nice little 6 disc CD changer that goes in the secret compartment at some point. In fact, that was the whole point behind the design of the secret compartment AFAIK.

This is also the reason why the iPod adapter acts like a CD changer. i.e. it mimics being one and uses the car's CD changer interface in order to function.

EDIT: Unless it's already been released and you are saying that MINI is asking $725 for it??? If so, then OUCH! MINI really is unreasonable with their options (and I can only imagine how much the stealers will ask for installing one!).

 

It's right here in the big bad black Motoring Accessories book I procured from the dealer on page 58:

MULTI-DISC CD CHANGER
Tidily mounted behind the dashboard, this 6-disc changer features a serious anti-shock mechanism capable of handling rockier roads without skipping a beat. Designed for full integration with the MINI stereo system, it can read audio CDs and CD-Rs, as well as CDs containing MP3s. And that should be music to your eardrums.
$725!!!! $%#@&

I can see them selling possibly almost one of these. (Now if it was $200 that'd be a different matter. Get one, load it up w/ MP3 CDs, and make Birdman happy.)

 

That is absolutely absurd. You could buy the Ipod interface + a 8gb Nano for less. I suppose for the MP3-phobic this might be the only answer.

 

CrAzY!!! :impatient

 

Hey, thanks for letting me know the CD changer is now available!! I'm going to sell my Ipod and get one!!