Navigation & Audio Auxiliary Input
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,692
Likes: 2
Depends on the year and model. I know the upgraded HK stereo on the later models has an AUX plug available from MINI or places like Outmotoring, but I BELIEVE that the older models and the basic head unit on the Cooper does NOT. You can always replace the head unit however, with one that has an external AUX input.
Not sure what that means about pre-wired for Sirius - I just used the FM transmitter on my Sirius receiver and it sounds great - my AUX input is still clear to use with my iRiver MP3 player that way.
Not sure what that means about pre-wired for Sirius - I just used the FM transmitter on my Sirius receiver and it sounds great - my AUX input is still clear to use with my iRiver MP3 player that way.
6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,692
Likes: 2
The 2008 is a SECOND GENERATION MINI - he posted in 1st Gen, so the assumption is that it's a 2006 or earlier. Good to know that MINI bought a clue and put the AUX input in as a standard item in the 2nd Gen model though...
Coordinator :: Alabama Motoring Society & South East
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 10,170
Likes: 2
From: Burning-Ham Alabama
The standard aux input only costs about $40 and is a very easy DIY project. I'd avoid the much more expensive iPod interface and just go with the aux inmput.
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 456
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From: Westminster, CO
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Yeah, how are you supposed to skip to the next song when your mp3 player is in the glove box? I never figured out the logic behind that.
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6th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,692
Likes: 2
Why not just use a $6 stereo cable and keep the player itself in the center console? You should be able to close the glove box lid with the cable protruding - I do it with my Garmin GPS power cable, which is permanently wired and stored in the glove box.
4th Gear
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 456
Likes: 0
From: Westminster, CO
Short trips I'm fine with my MP3 CD's. Long trips, I'll throw the ipod on a dock, probably with the cable like you suggest. Eventually I hope to go with a Dice unit, though I still have a bunch of questions about it. Way down on the mod priority list though.
That, or you just unscrew the Aux in from the glovebox, and thread that cable whereever you want to plug in your Aux in...
OEM ipod
Pro - recharges ipod, control by MFSW
Con - MINI specific playlists (MINI1 - MINI5, MINI6 is all)
Aux-in
Pro - control w/ipod, any 3.5mm plug for aux in
Con - control w/ipod, no recharging (I use a Belkin dock)
Pro - recharges ipod, control by MFSW
Con - MINI specific playlists (MINI1 - MINI5, MINI6 is all)
Aux-in
Pro - control w/ipod, any 3.5mm plug for aux in
Con - control w/ipod
, no recharging (I use a Belkin dock)
Wanderer
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 426
Likes: 0
From: St. Louis, Missouri
HK Drive+Play
I use the AUX input in tandem with a Harmon Kardon Drive + Play. All together it was about $80 when i got it. The drive+play has a display screen and seperate remote module. Im a big fan and theres lot of information on the forums about this particular device. It also charges the iPod.
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 138
Likes: 0
Thanks
Don't know first hand, but here's a post from someone who apparently knows.
So according to this button 6 will play all your ipod songs.
So according to this button 6 will play all your ipod songs.
FWIW, I have the MINI, dealer-installed iPod adaptor, and it works fine but is indeed limited. You have to make playlists named MINI1, MINI2, MINI3, MINI4, and MINI5. These numbers correspond the the first 5 buttons on your radio (I have the H/K). Button 6 is reserved for simply playing everything on the iPod.
With the MFSW you can go back and forth from track to track using the arrow buttons. If your MINI playlists are long, then this can take a while, so in practice we have found that we create short playlists and typically keep them to a single album or musician. We rarely drive more than 45 minutes at a time, so this works well and replaces the functionality of a CD changer. For longer drives, we'd probably make longer playlists.
One disappointment is that the head unit display simply says TRACK 05 (or whatever number) and does not identify the name of the artist, album, or song as the iPod does, and as the radio does for stations that broadcast that information. When I had it installed, the SA at the dealer warned me that some iPods (or head units?) will display the information and others won't, and that there was no guarantee mine would or would not. Perhaps this is the upgrade anticipated for the rumored early 2006 release of the next generation iPod adaptor...
With the MFSW you can go back and forth from track to track using the arrow buttons. If your MINI playlists are long, then this can take a while, so in practice we have found that we create short playlists and typically keep them to a single album or musician. We rarely drive more than 45 minutes at a time, so this works well and replaces the functionality of a CD changer. For longer drives, we'd probably make longer playlists.
One disappointment is that the head unit display simply says TRACK 05 (or whatever number) and does not identify the name of the artist, album, or song as the iPod does, and as the radio does for stations that broadcast that information. When I had it installed, the SA at the dealer warned me that some iPods (or head units?) will display the information and others won't, and that there was no guarantee mine would or would not. Perhaps this is the upgrade anticipated for the rumored early 2006 release of the next generation iPod adaptor...
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