Anyone put a non factory CD changer in their MiNi ?
If so which and how did it work out?

 

I bought one from Crutchfield, along with the Blitzsafe adapter it needed. The wiring is already there for it, inside the right hand side cover in the boot. It installed in a few minutes -- plug in the wires and screw the changer's brackets to the side cover -- and has worked fine for six months now.

 

>>Anyone put a non factory CD changer in their MiNi ?
>>If so which and how did it work out?

Yes, it takes about 10 minutes or less to install. Most of the time was screwing it to the existing mounting holes!

ALPINE CD CHANGER CHA-S634: Plays MP3's and CD-R's and can be found on eBay for around $225.

CD MAGAZINE: ALPINE KAE-116C: Extra Cartridges can be bought from Crutchfield for $19.95 + shipping.

Don't forget you also need a Blitzsafe Adaptor ($75-$100)

 

Hmmm...this thread is very interesting to me. I decided to forgo the factory changer but now kind of wish I hadn't. Can an aftermarket changer be controlled by the factory head unit? Or do you have to control it with a add on controller?

Another question I have may give a hint to the level of my ****-ness. Does the aftermarket changer remember where in the song you were when you turn the car off? I had a changer in my Explorer that didn't and it would go back to the beginning of the song when you started the car back up. This became very annoying when you were 15 minutes into an 18 minute long song.

Thanks.

Dan

 

>>Hmmm...this thread is very interesting to me. I decided to forgo the factory changer but now kind of wish I hadn't. Can an aftermarket changer be controlled by the factory head unit? Or do you have to control it with a add on controller?
>>
>>Another question I have may give a hint to the level of my ****-ness. Does the aftermarket changer remember where in the song you were when you turn the car off? I had a changer in my Explorer that didn't and it would go back to the beginning of the song when you started the car back up. This became very annoying when you were 15 minutes into an 18 minute long song.
>>
>>Thanks.
>>
>>Dan
>>

Yes, it's controlled via the factory unit like the factory changer would. This is due to the Blitzsafe control unit. I use the MFSW to control my changer.

re: remembering place
yes!

 

also, Crutchfield carries an OEM style changer for significantly less than OEM, though that ebay price is quite tempting.

oh, and I'm moving this thread to Audio, where it'll be more at home
Cheers,
Ryan

 

I mistakenly put this thread under the main section so I thought I would add it to this thread ....
_____________________________________________

Hey All,

I am looking over aftermarket CD Changers. There are a bunch on ebay at a fairly low price. The main one I keep seeing is the USA SPEC (SCD-B2I)BMW Six disc CD Changer. Has anyone picked this up? I am not familiar with the brand and am worried it will be junk. Also, I would love to hear overall advice for improving the MINI sound system on a smaller budget. I have the H/K upgrade and I like it but, at the same time, it's not blowing me away.

~Steve~

 

does the CD-x sit in the trunk area? (sorry for the newbie question). boot section? do you mean the rear fender plastic housing?

 

>>I mistakenly put this thread under the main section so I thought I would add it to this thread ....
>>__________________________________________ ___
>>
>> Hey All,
>>
>>I am looking over aftermarket CD Changers. There are a bunch on ebay at a fairly low price. The main one I keep seeing is the USA SPEC (SCD-B2I)BMW Six disc CD Changer. Has anyone picked this up? I am not familiar with the brand and am worried it will be junk. Also, I would love to hear overall advice for improving the MINI sound system on a smaller budget. I have the H/K upgrade and I like it but, at the same time, it's not blowing me away.
>>
>>~Steve~
>>


I installed the unit you described (above) today in my 2003 MCS. It's mounted verticle against the left side of the boot. The prewired plugs for it are stashed behind the access panel on that side (under the amp they hid in there). So far with one day of driving it works great. The head unit knows its there the first time its powered up. I have H-Sport springs and Koni's so the ride is a bit stiffer than stock but it hasn't missed a beat so far. The original CD in the head unit works also, hence you can still stuff a new selection in from the front. I purchased this on e-bay at a good price and I'm going back for the same unit for my X-5 (BMW and Mini Coopers all use the same unit/ connection adapter- SCD-B2I).

 

Martel
Welcome to MCO
Being you are a new member here, I suggest you do a search on the subject and you will find all the info you are looking for. This question has been ask a number of times before and if you do a search in the audio forum you will come up with more info than you will want to read, sure you will be be surprised at this. If you have any more questions please ask. Thanks
Charles

_________________
He who throws mud loses ground.

 

By next week I should have a Sony Xplod CDX-T70MX 6 disc changer installed in my MCS with H/K. I will be using a Connects2 interface that I had to buy from mikeythemini (Mini2 username) in England. The only problem so far is getting the damn Sony changer. The changer, while available in England, is next to impossible to find here in the US because Sony's replaced it with a 10 disc model. The only place I could find it was the Refurb Depot in Brooklyn. This changer will play MP3 CDs like the Alpine changer that was previosly mentioned in this thread. Overall I should save about $100 over the Alpine/Blitzsafe combo, but I've had to wait a long time to get the changer. Has anyone else in the US used this changer in their Mini?

Cheers

 

I have seen two changers on ebay - one is $285 and I think it is an aftermarket. The other is $350 and is a BMW. Anyone have experience with either one? Thanks

 

I just bought one of the $285. I believe there is a thread on this site about them. I found it [I installed the unit you described (above) today in my 2003 MCS. It's mounted verticle against the left side of the boot. The prewired plugs for it are stashed behind the access panel on that side (under the amp they hid in there). So far with one day of driving it works great. The head unit knows its there the first time its powered up. I have H-Sport springs and Koni's so the ride is a bit stiffer than stock but it hasn't missed a beat so far. The original CD in the head unit works also, hence you can still stuff a new selection in from the front. I purchased this on e-bay at a good price and I'm going back for the same unit for my X-5 (BMW and Mini Coopers all use the same unit/ connection adapter- SCD-B2I).
_________________

 

if you choose to go aftermaket (ie alpine) make sure to get the blitzsafe (or equivalent) communication adapter for it and use M-bus mode on the changer. otherwise it won't work.