Anyone know of a good MP3 player with a good display? I am looking to get one for my MCS (I'm getting the '03 which will come with the MP3 plug-in option) and want somethign easy to use while driving.

Jealous of all you in your Mini's...

 

If you're a Mac owner, look into the iPod. Well designed, good interface, and (now) interfaces with both Mac & Windows computers. Never seen it used on a PC; but my son loves his on our Mac's. I plan to "borrow" it occasionally for the MINI!

 

Not a Mac user (PC network admin for my job). Thanks for the reply.

Happy motoring!

 

although I don't have one, I've read reports about a new one made by Archon... 20 gigs. I thinks that's the largest yet.

 

Not too sure, I'm looking myseld, but I saw a Rio 20GB this weekend. Kind of bulky so it was on the cheap side, but who needs a SMALL MP3 if it's being used for a car, even a mini?!
-CS

 

Your best option is just to get an in car player that will double as a standard cd player as well as an mp3 player. You can fit hours on an 800mb cd, when you encode the mp3s at 320kbps. I have a portable one and it can get quite messy when trying to connect it to a stock system. Try looking at www.crutchfield.com. I linked to a Clarion but they have plenty more.

Cheers

 

Yeah, I've ben looking at the Archon, myself. It's smaller than an old walkman (remember cassets?), and it will hold more music than I currently own. Imagine being able to listen to ANYTHING. Heh heh heh...

That's why I'm REALLLY hoping that my Sept. Buld MCS gets the upgraded head unit with the aux port. I know it's supposed to, but other 2003 changes have been pushed back, so I'm waiting for confirmation.

_________________
Lean, Mean, British Green, MINI Cooper 'S' Machine! (Parked at Southampton Docks)

 

Check this out! Official news from MINI2. This may be a euro-only potion, but it looks like an interesting one!

http://www.mini2.com/news/news.php?id=134

 

Good news for PC types who covet the IPod. There is a PC version coming. You will still need a FireWire connection

 

I have an Archos Jukebox Recorder 20 in my MCS. Since I don't have the aux input on the 2002 audio head unit, I bought a box from blitzsafe that hooks up to the changer wires in the back of the car and ran an RCA-mini phono cable to the front of the car.

I just bought my wife a 20GB IPOD for her birthday. Its a MUCH nicer unit than the Archos. If you by the PC version of the IPOD or you buy XPLAY from Mediafour you can hook it up to your firewire enabled PC. The display on the IPOD is twice the size of the Archos and the controls are awesome. Its also smaller than the Archos and more expensive for the same size drive. I'd buy an IPOD if I had to do it again.

 

what is the "MP3 plug-in option?" I haven't seen this listed anywhere.

 

All new 2003 models (after Sept. build) have a slighty modified radio with a mp3 jack that you can plug stuff in to. Lots more things to add now. :smile: Happy Motoring

 

Creative Labs have just released the Zen which is a competitor to the IPod. Looks very cool, I have a Nomad Jukebox 6GB which apart from being a bit slow has fantastic sound quality.

I will probably invest in the Zen (current price $350 for 20Gb) when I get my 2003.

 

This is the coolest mp3 player for a car I have ever seen, but it is a bit expensive. The interface works through the headunit and it does text to voice over your stereo for navigation through your music.

I recently read on the forum on this site (you'll need to look around a bit to find it) that they are now going to support the MINI standard single CD headunit. There were even some pictures of the install in the MINI.

Check out this site:
PhatNoise

This is the voice interface stuff:
http://www.phatnoise.com/technology/ssa.php

This is the forum message I was referring to before:
Forum

_________________
She's here and she's RED. I think I'm in love...

 

IPOD is your only answer. 20GB holds more than you need. W/ 160kbps, you can keep 4000-5000 songs. Cool look, easy surf the music and windows adaptation is great. I am using it and it is great. The only problem is the connection, you need an aux jack. If your mini does not have, the solution is a Radio Frequency Modulator.

 

you can use the ipod with a pc now....check out apple.com and they sell the ipod with software for the pc...the only thing is you need a firewire(ieee)port...hope this helps

 

Hey Gang,

Who is now using the iPOD in an 03 MINI? How easy was the Hookup? Did the dealer have to do it? What is the sound quality like? If it works well, why would you EVER get a CD changer?

CHEERS

 

I haven't bought it yet so I can't say for sure that it plugs right in, but I am going to buy this cd/mp3 changer. No need to worry about gaudy faces that way.

Alpine CD/MP3 changer on Crutchfield

Then I can burn all my music onto mp3 CD's. Six disks of mp3's is a lot of music!
I believe that the cd changer from BMW is Alpine, so I don't anticipate any problems. (fingers crossed)

 

I picked up my MC last week and asked the dealer about the jack that was supposed to be included in 2003's for MP3 players. Apparently in doesn't really exist! They told me that i have to take off the back panel where the hookup for the cd-changer resides and buy an adapter that would allow me to use the cd-changer hookup as a plug-in. Has anyone had a different experience?

 

Hey Marinesci... did your dealer have any information on the specifics for the adaptor needed? I was hoping to be able to plug my iPod in for my initial ride home later this month, but it sounds from your experience that this may not happen. Please keep this board posted if you come accross any new information!

 

The most highly recommended adapter is the ones from blitzsafe. basicly the adapter is about $60. then you need the wires to get from the rear of the car to the front and the final adapter to your ipod (or other device). So it looks like we have to pay about $100 for something that we were expecting to already have. Not what you wanted to hear but it's the only solid information i've been told. If there is an auxillary port in the back of the radio (forget about getting to it without taking the radio out of the dash) no one has been able to find and/or identify it. Eventually there's supposed to be a kit that the dealer can install an adapter between the radio and put the auxillary port in the glove box. However, the timing of when this option will be avialable is still up in the air. I think the lesson hear is that if the option isn't already available (actually in the cars in the showroom) at the time you order, then don't count on it being there when your car arrives. There's a large discussion on the aux input at mini2.com
Getting the necessary adapter to the car cd-changer cable is alittle tricky also. Your best bet is to go to a car audio store near to a mini dealership. Alternatively the adapter for all BMW's will work instead of the MINI specific one as they are apparently identical except for the product codes. I would suggest that you wait until your MINI arrives and ask your dealer then. For myself it looks like i'll be buying the adapter and the installation "appears" trivial.
Good luck, joe

 

I have a 2003 and I have YET to find the Aux jack!!!!!! Can anyone help??

 

Apparantly there i a jack but for some reason they have not created a adapter for it. This is apparantly located in he back of the unit but nothing will plug into it. They are (hpefully0 working on getting the adapter out foro Spring

(fingers crossed) we bought iPods just for the mini and was really excited to hear anout the aux input bu if there's no adapter what's the use?

 

i've got my ipod waiting for a blitzsafe adapter!

 

Personally i plan to get the sony mex-1hd head unit on my car. Its got a built in hard drive so no need to muck around with all this ipod stuff.

http://www.infinitecaraudio.com/cgi-...talogno=MEX1HD

Its a bit expensive, but its only money right?! Tho its only just came out i think, so prices may come down. any thoughts on it?