I use my iPod in my car everyday through the AUX jack. I didn't order the iPod interface when I bought my car, but I was just looking at the kit to install it. Is it really worth it to have the iPod hooked up by USB rather than the AUX jack? Will I really notice a difference for all that money and work?

Thanks!

 

First of all if you do not have the USB port in your car then then you can not have it hooked up that way it is cost prohibitive at over $1500.

If you have the USB port and do not have the "Y-Cable" then you need the cable. If you live in the USA then it is part of the package and you should ask your dealer for it. if you live outside the USA then the cable is an extra cost item

With out the USB por tyour option is to install the iPod Kit and have it plugged into the cableing that is behind the secret compartment. This goes directly to the radio and allows the radio to act as the interface. You no longer have control of the iPod from the screen on the iPod.

If you install the kit yourself you will still need to take it to the dealer to have them program the car to know that it is there.

Sound wise there are people that will tell you it sounds better and then there are others that tell you it will not. That is a very subjective thing.

 

Do you mean the OEM Bluetooth/USB option? Is that available as kit? Or, are you talking about a 3rd party option?

The OEM option would give you a readout of the track playing (more useful on the NAV) and control of Next/Previous from the MFSW.

You can get the same sound quality without the option if you use a dock port to 3.5mm connector, or use an Apple Universal Dock. With the Dock, you can use a 3.5mm to 3.5mm cable to the AUX and get the audio from the dock port (better than using the headphone jack). You can also connect a cigarette lighter USB charger. I use the Universal Dock in my 2007 because the USB option was not available then.

 

I don't have the USB port. I was thinking about this:
http://www.newministuff.com/new/shop...uctshow&id=671

But, converting British Pounds to USD, that's roughly $620 USD plus shipping and everything.

In all the years I've owned an iPod, and loved everything made by Apple, I honestly didn't know there was a dock connector to 3.5mm. I looked online for one of those and most are around $20 or less.

I like the dock on the cup holder, but I like to be able to just look at my iPod to change the songs, so I keep mine on the dash behind the steering wheel, and the AUX cable run through the dash.

$620 or $20. Hmm. I think my question is answered. Plus the iPod screen is a lot prettier than the radio screen (IMO).

 

I don't have a USB port in my 2008 MCS, only the AUX line in.

When you get the dealer to install the factory iPod interface option, it doesn't change your AUX input area. The radio is tricked into thinking this is a CD Changer and that's how it's accessed through the input selector.

I love the iPod interface. Cost was about $400 total with labor to have it installed in the secret compartment. You never have to fiddle with the iPod itself as it charges it up as you drive, etc. You access it from the steering wheel and see the songs/playlists on the center console display, which is perfect

The one HUGE flaw (to me anyway) of the Mini Factory iPod interface is the way it handles RANDOM playing of songs. It has a shuffle option, but then if you hit the "next" button on during random play, it plays the next song, literally the next song from the SAME artist in order. It doesn't play the next random song. It's a pain, but that's how they strangely designed the software interface. (A work around is to click the random off and then on twice to get a true next random song.)

Happy motoring.

 

What dealer did you use? MINI of Mountain View quoted over $600 sometime ago.

How many songs do you have in your iPod? Any problem with it not listing all of them, as reported by others? I wonder if they improved it?

 

Hello all. I have a 09 MCS with the upgraded stereo/iPod interface. I have noticed that the iPod will randomly disconnect and/or not charge. I also have to continuously reselect the RDM option to "shuffle" my songs after turning the car off and back on. Is anyone else having these issues? Any movement of the iPod also seems to change the sound levels (noticable drop of volume). I may be dealing with a simple short or faulty Y-connector, but wanted to see if others are experiencing this.

 

I got the MINI OEM ipod boost kit for about $250 and installed it the morning after getting the car. Install took 2.5 hours to figure out how to get the secret compartment out. If I did it again, I would just pull the insert out from the secret compartment, but leave the compartment in the dash. I thought the wire was too short and I'd have to get deeper to plug the unit in. Not the case- the wire parts are doubled over and under lots of tape, and gets 'transformed' into the right plug for the boost kit. Even the dealer install sheet didn't mention this. I could do the install again in 20 minutes- just don't forget to route the ipod cable through before you snap it into the dash.

I negotiated the software setup (to enable the unit) into the actual purchasing the car, but I haven't been back to program it yet.

 

This is a dealer programing option only they have to hook up a computer to the car and add to the current programing to activate it.

 

They intended to charge me $90 for the programming if I had not negotiated it as a condition of sale. I thought this was kind of high, but if they also update your car to the latest firmware, it sounds more fair.

Still, I've done this same mod on other cars, and what amounts to plugging in a cd changer does not require a trip to the dealer. The equivalent kit for a toyota is about half the $250 I paid for the OEM mini/bmw kit. But certainly less than $600 for the Gateway 500 mentioned in this thread.
Mine is called the 'Most Interface' with p/n 65 11 0 035 959.

I'm looking forward to turning it on so I can reply weather it was 'worth it' or not.

 

If your MINI have the factory bluetooth/usb, stop reading now. This is really only of interest to people without.

I finally got the programming done today at MA along with some other warranty work. That took about two hours of just programming- the ECU got updated to the latest version (I had whatever version came in January), then the iPod interface was enabled. It appears in the audio menu as 'cd-changer'.

I had been worried about the charging issue with my iPod Touch 3.0. It initially didn't charge, but after snapping on a 'Scosche Charging Adapter' it charged up from dead just fine. The drawback to this fix is that once the cable and the adapter and the ipod are all snapped together, the unit appears too long to fit the _reduced_size_ secret compartment that comes with the ipod integration kit. It somehow all fit, but I may drill a relief area in the side of the bin to relieve wire pressure.

So my total cost was $250 for the unit, $22 for the adapter, and four hours of time.

The benefits (vs the aux wire) are I never have to mess with charging, the song titles appear on the speedo, the steering wheel controls work the ipod, all the wires are hidden, music plays as soon as the key is inserted, I never have to stop the music to prevent a dead battery, and I got a complimentary car wash.

There have been complaints about the clunky interface, but so far I haven't noticed or even tried it. I like to be able to hit next.... next.... and change playlists only. My smart playlists are sufficiently random right from iTunes, i guess.

 

Anyone ever use iphone 3g or 3gs with the ipod interface? I was wondering if it works. Thanks

 

I can confirm, it works just like the ipod touch did. It does put up a stupid message on the screen if it should go into airplane mode, but you can just ignore it.

I unplugged the ipod touch and the head unit said 'load magazine', and switched over the the FM input. I connected the iphone and removed/inserted the key. It let me select the cd changer icon again from the head unit, and let me play the files off the iphone as well as use the playlist access.

 

And that was an iphone 3g with os 3.0 btw.

 

I bought a griffin auto pilot for $35, and gives u a little more freedom than the standard aux. jack, but oviously not the same integration of oem ipod integration. It lets u charge and play ur ipod with one cable while giving u an extra set of ipod control buttons to control ur ipod. Pretty nice little gizmo for how much it was...

 

Hi. I have the the factory bluetooth/usb for my ipod. The sound through my ipod is HORRIBLE! I have used the cable that came with my '09 Mini and I just plugged it in. For the additional $$$$$$$$$$$$ the sound has to be better than this. Any thoughts as to what I need to do?

The sound is muffled and tinny. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

 

What are the settings on your iPod? Do you have the volume turned all the way up, and the volume limit turned off in the iPod's settings? Is the equalizer function turned off?

 

No to your questions. If I do this, will I need to change the settings when I take my ipod out of the car to listen to it?

 

You will probably need to adjust the volume.

If you listen to your iPod at too high a volume, your mother will need to turn the volume limit back on.

 

I took my g.f.'s retractable stereo cable and tried that, although I have to change the music on the ipod, itself. The sound was great. Should I have the same quality of sound if I change my ipod setting and turn down the volume?

 

I recently bought a peripheral interface (same thing as the DICE). Everything is all hooked up correctly and what not, including the dip pins correctly switched on/ off. My stereo wont recognize the ipod though. Has anyone experienced this? I made sure all the connections were good, which they are, but still no luck.

 

One thing to check is that the harness in the passenger side dash is 'correctly assembled'. The power supply was not mated to the plug from the factory, its backwrapped on the same cable deeper in the dash. You have to cut the tape to free it, then insert it into the harness plug, then insert the full plug into the iPod unit. But if your ipod is charging, this isn't the problem.

Its more likely you thought it was going to autodetect the ipod unit like in every other car manufacturered. I had a toyota before, and you just plug it in and it works. Not the case with the MINI. Have the dealer enable the cd changer connection using their special software.

 

Which exact interface is it ("same as DICE" isn't specific enough), and what model/year car do you have? DICE is only for 1st generation MINI but you posted in the 2nd gen forum.

 

Correct. I already have the rear plug (the one for the cd changer that it overrides) inserted into the interface > inserted into the ipod. The iPod DOES charge, which obviously means its getting the power. It just wont recognize the cd changer as being hooked up/ iPod connected to it.

Sorry, I was too wrapped up in just finding some leads to my search to post my info.
I have an '04 Cooper S (h/k, non-nav) and here is what I have for the interface:
Peripheral iSimple ISBM72


Now as far as having the dealer enabling the cd changer... do they usually charge the $90 or whatever the crap it is to do it? or could it be a complimentary type of thing if I am nice?

I am still getting used to all this Mini stuff since its rather new to me... I am used to VW's and Audi's set-ups.

I am just trying to figure out if I actually need the dealer to enable the cd changer wires to recognize something being connected to it, or if there is something else I am missing. But the directions are rather clear: find the cd changer wires, plug the harness into the interface, set the correct dip pins on the interface to the specific vehicle, plug it into the iPod cable, switch the mode to "CD Changer" and it should recognize it. Its just showing the "No Disc" instead.

 

An '04 does not have the same radio, ecm, harness, etc., since its a first gen car. This thread is only about the second gen cars. Nothing here applies. Sorry.