Does anyone know what kind of inputs are on the back of the NAV screen in the 07 Convertible?

I would like to hook up a DVD in dash receiver and route it directly to the NAV screen removing the NAV computer if need be.

I just chatted with Crutchfield and they don't have the specs on the NAV screen.

 

None!

You have to use aftermarket adapters (which run anywhere from around $275 to $1,000) in order to fit a video input into the 1st gen MINI's nav system. Just do a search on these forums and you'll find LOTS of information from folks who have already done it (like me ).

 

Actually, there's an OEM video adapter too (the same one used for the rear camera setup). This might be a preferable alternative to aftermarket, although not necessarily cheapest.

 

You mean this one:

MINI Video Input

 

(I of course realized that you knew of (and used) the OEM solution... but your post only said "aftermarket" so I felt it relevant. )

 

This is one of those rare cases where the OEM accessory actually costs less than aftermarket, although it has to be ordered from overseas (I bought mine from newministuff). However, for aux video input I don't consider it preferable to aftermarket. The OEM unit was designed to be plug and play for the OEM front and rear camera wire harnesses, and you'd have to splice in connectors for other video input. The aftermarket units have standard RCA video connectors and also offer adjustable brightness/contrast/hue which the OEM lacks.

 

thanks everyone, the links have been helpful. One thing though is still unclear to me...is the navigation computer disabled in these scenarios or is there a bypass switch to allow the original NAV to work?

 

The nav will still work in the background, but you can't view the nav map while you're feeding in a video input. Normally, there's a manual switch (some kits offer a video input sensing relay that will automatically make the switch) that will "flip" the nav display into video mode and then back out to "normal" nav mode.

 

Makes sense. I was just curious more than anything. I will likely never use the original NAV computer but you should never say never.

My MINI's NAV and the system computer info it displays just may be the worst in the industry and I will probably use my Garmin if I need directions. Such a cool car and such a horrible navigation system...

Any suggestions on a new head DVD head unit with orange display?

 

For many years I've compared various Garmin and TomTom nav units side-by-side with the BMW/MINI OEM nav system and the OEM system ALWAYS comes out on top as far as routing and guidance direction goes. Sure, the Garmin/TomTom units may look better (with their cool 3D graphics) and have lots of nifty features, but the OEM unit actually routes and gives guided directions MUCH better. When I'm in an unfamiliar area and I'm really pressed to get somewhere, I'll take the OEM system over a portable unit any day. This has been proven to me time-and-time again in the areas I drive in.

Don't get me wrong as I'm a HUGE Garmin fan (always have been), but the OEM nav system is pretty darn good at what it does and so you shouldn't be so quick to judge/knock it.

 

Sure time may tell, but my experience has been very bit different so far. I've had extensive use with NAV systems over the last seven years. My beef with the MINI NAV as compared to the Garmin is the following:

the time it takes to enter an address is 4 to 5 times longer than my touchscreen Garmin

it is VERY time consuming to pan the map in the MINI, very easy in the Garmin, just slide your finger.

graphics are subpar (as you mentioned)

points of interest are much easier to disply and navigate to in the Garmin.

times MINI has led me to wrong address- 1 (car is only 1 1/2 week old)
times Garmin had led me to wrong address- 0

In the Garmin, you can change the voice to an Australian Women, I find that very nice

Now all that said, I sprang for one of the more expensive Garmin units, because I did not want to mess with a slow processor.

My favorite NAV is a toss up between my current BMW 525 I-Drive (an unbelievably powerful unit) and my old Lexus, (although, the only way to enter an address destination while moving was through the Voice commands)

Hey to each his own right?

 

Very true.

I won't argue about the Garmin unit doing all that stuff better (as it certainly does!). My point is simply that the MINI system (at least in my experiences) actually routes better and gives better guidance directions than the Garmin units do.

Thus, when I really need to get somewhere in an area that I don't know, I prefer the way that the MINI system routes me there (turns, lane changes, etc.). Both systems use the same NavTeq map data (although the 2007-2 map data offered in the MINI system is newer than the latest Garmin "2008" offerings - i.e. Garmin uses older map data even though they label their maps as being a "2008" version - I believe it's as old as 2005-2 or 2006-1) and so they should be very similar on their routing. However, the systems use different routing algorithms and so there will be differences in the routes offered for sure.

I also prefer that my nav systems NOT speak street names. It's a cool feature for sure, but when navigating, it is much easier to understand "turn left in 400 feet" than it is to understand "turn left on Main Street" when you are in unfamiliar territory (i.e. how do I know the next street is actually Main street???). You can however turn that feature off in the Garmin units though.

Again, I really like the Garmin units, but I like my MINI's nav system as well. Oh, and BTW, you can indeed change the voice in the MINI's nav system as well. It takes a small firmware hack to do it, but it can be done (as well as changing map colors, adding custom vehicle icons, customizing the user interface, etc., etc.). It's all done with freely available software called NavTweak and NavSpeak.

 

interesting, very interesting. how the heck did you find that out?!?

As a test I'm going to try the address in the Garmin that failed in the MINI and we'll compare apples to apples.

I will admit the MINI's processor is lightning quick. One you authorize "directions" it's almost immediate.

 

and it was very easy. It was a version for the Mini, so it had factory connectors, and two other video inputs, so you had a total of three channels. One thing to look at is aspect ratio, as the Mini screen isn't 4:3, so the photos I show (my daughter likes to look at slideshows of family pictures) get squished. I guess I could re-render them and then they'd display correctly, but that's a bunch of work I don't want to do. Also, there's space in the Nav computer housing (it's a DIN sized unit in a huge box under the passenger seat) so all the hardware got mounted in there, and I just ran the video input wires myself, and then routed the audio into the Aux port. I think the Nav audio is only mono so you may want to do this as well. Hardest part was running the wires, as the carpet is a biatch to get wires under. But it can be done! The wife was a bit worried when she saw the mess, but now it's all clean and hidden.

Matt

 

It's been known for a long time that Garmin purchases their map data from NavTeq and then reformats it into their own proprietary format after adding in their own custom POIs, etc. to the maps. (TomTom does the same thing with their TeleAtlas maps as well I believe). A LOT of portable GPS software manufacturers (such as Destinator, iGO, iGuidance, Navigon, Route 66, etc.), use proprietary formats and older map data either because it is cheaper for them to buy it that way, or the latest map data just wasn't available when they finalized their products. That gives the BMW/MINI nav systems a big advantage since you can buy the maps DIRECTLY from the map manufacturer and not have to wait around for the nav unit manufacturer to reformat and release them.

It is indeed interesting and you can find lots of information about this sort of stuff just by searching the GpsPasSion.com forums.

And yes... I don't believe that I've ever seen a GPS unit that can recalculate a large route as fast as the BMW/MINI nav unit can. It's speed is indeed amazing. Not to mention the fact that it doesn't have to wait around for a GPS lock in order to calculate a route and begin navigation (since it has dead-reckoning capabilities). It's immediate!

 

mine calculates with a rusty abacus it seems. Dog slow. Any idea if the SW upgrades would speed it up? Or is that only for those blessed with a Mk IV?

Matt

 

Matt, what aftermarket unit did you use?

 

that's a good point, from boot up to being avaible for a destination seems to take a good 30 seconds (maybe more?) with the Garmin.

All the more reason to make sure the video input device has a hard wire switch. Options are good to have.

At this point I'm not sure

1. which video conversion unit to buy, the OEM unit seems a bit tricker even though it's cheaper

2.whether or not to do a DVD player in the glove box or a new DVD head unit. I like the HK system in my MINI but I don't like it that much and the prospect of having to use a remote to change songs (playing MP3's on a DVD player running sound through AUX) does not appeal to me as much a straight sound from a new HU amp directly to the speakers. I completely understand those that need a stealth install, but that is not a factor for me.

 

I was going through the same decision 2 years ago. The most important factor for me was a backup camera for my convertible. I went with OEM because it has a camera that is so well integrated and custom designed for the MINI. However, although the OEM video unit is less expensive than aftermarket, the OEM camera is on the expensive side.

At the time, I researched what was available and the aftermarket unit I liked the best was G-NET. Actually I considered getting it and integrating it with the OEM camera, but I decided to take the safe route on the OEM system that was designed to work together. 2 years ago, the UK exchange rate was much better for buying the OEM unit. Current exchange rate has made the cost difference close enough that I don't think it should be the major factor in your decision.

Whatever you choose for your video unit, I highly recommend adding a rear camera for your convertible. With the rear camera and a Multivex mirror on the passenger side, the rear visibility in my cabrio is actually better than in some of my previous cars. It is fantastic for parallel parking and for backing out of parking stalls when your view is blocked by SUVs on either side. TheOfficeMaven has a writeup on the OEM camera here, and this thread has some installation notes.

 

I don't have a MINI convertible, but I love my OEM backup camera! Even in a MINI, it's still incredibly useful, because when you're parallel parking, it literally allows you to back up your MINI to -less than an inch- of the car behind you without any fear of bumps, scrapes or scratches. That much extra breathing room, even in a very short car, is really nice to have.

It's not cheap by any means, but it's very, very nice.

 

I think it was a NavAndTV2Go or something like that. I got it in the marketplace a couple of years ago. Someone had a thread that listed a bunch of the options, and you could go as low as less than $200 to way over $500. Sorry I'm not much more help here. I was price motivated!

Matt

 

http://tvandnav2go.com/rgb.html

But they have a new unit for BMWs. Call to see if it does Minis as well, as it's the same nav unit.

Matt

 

i know there is a an actual BMW part for the NAV TV unit that is plug and play and it's not cheap. It's an actual tv tuner with video inputs plugs into the nav unit. and on the OSD menu you will see "Television". You can pick that and then turn on whatever device you have. of course audio will have to be a separate hook up into the system.

You used to be able to get the unit from www.navtv.com. They seemed to have revamped their site so you can't see that anymore. I know they had a cheaper solution which was their own solution, but they also offered the actual OEM part as well which was more expensive. I believe it was in the $500+ range closer to the 4 digit side.