My used '09 Mini did not come with a cable to connect ipod to dash, but has USB and audio jacks. Dealer wants $80+ for cable. WOW! Found Kenwood KCA iP 200, looks the same, online for under $10. Will this work? Other recommendations? Thanks.

 

is it just iPod to AUX? should work just fine. I thought the dealer one was to sync it to the radio of whatever it does and control it from that... But if you want to just play it through the AUX its much simpler

 

Complain more, it's supposed to be with car at delivery

 

i thought it came with a package?. Plus its a used car

 

You should be able to get an regular headphone-jack-style audio cable for $10. It'll work just fine. The MINI cable does allow the iPod to synch with the stereo but frankly, sometimes that's more of a detriment than a benefit.

 

Not sure where you purchased the car but if the car has the USB then it should have come with the cable.

If you bought from a MINI dealer then talk to your SA and explain that if you do not get one they have lost a recurring customer and your next purchase will be from somewhere else.

If it was not a MIN dealer you are sort of out of luck if yo are not willing to pay for the OEM part.

But as others have said here. the OEM cable is the only way to get the iPod control thru the radio. If you do not car about that then there are two ways to hook the iPod to the AUX In Jack.

1. Using the head phone jack via a double male ended stereo 1/8" jack cable

2. Using a iPod doc port to 1/8" stereo audio cable.

At that point you can also use a USB Stick for music if you would like.

EDIT: for got one thing - If you live in Canada the OEM cable was not part of the car and was an extra cost item. BTW if they only want a little over $80.00 US dollars that is not a bad price. When these first came out they were $105.00 US dollars.

 

This is a longshot, but did you look in the secret compartment?

 

Thanks- and I did look in the secret compartment.

 

Thanks. Good to know. Already have headphone cable. Will try to get USB one if I can find one cheaper.

 

The USB cable from the dealer is more than just a cable. It has electronics in it that are designed for the MINI. It is a MINI part. Not available at Amazon.

If you want to control the iPod/iPhone with the multi-function steering wheel controls, you need this cable. If your MINI has the NAV, it is also useful to view and select songs.

If you don't care about any of that, you can get audio from the iPod to the AUX input with a dock to 3.5mm connector.

It is less desirable to use the headphone jack as the sound quality is better with the dock connector.

My MCS came out before the USB connection was available. I use an Apple Universal Dock, USB car charger, and a 3.5mm to 3.5mm audio cable from the dock's audio out to the AUX. This charges my iPhone and gives me audio from the dock port on the iPhone.

 

+1, the Kenwood cable is tested and known not to work in this thread.

 

FYI mine was in the glove box. double check...

 

My understanding is that there are various cables with different part numbers and different functions.
First there is the Bmw Part # 61120440796 which will allow you to scan and play all the tunes form the steering wheel controls. It will also allow you to charge older ipods ...touch 2G etc but not the iphone 3g and 3gs (these have a 5v charging system).

For this you need the latestest cable which number I've forgotten but you can get it from any BMW/Mini Dealer or Ebay for $100 but even this only charges the 3G not the 3Gs ..they are coming up with a new cable in September....

If you just want to play in the car and not charge the cable # 61120440796 can be bought on ebay for $16...there is also an adapter that you can buy that will allow this to charge the latest phones....

Here ....http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...=STRK:MEWAX:IT but it is quite big.... 2"X1 1/2"...
Good luck

 

There are only two parts the old one and the new one. The new one came out in August 2009

This is the new part number and will allow charging in some cars. There is nothing newer. EDIT: my statment here is incorrect the new part numbmer ends in 812, sorry for the mistatke

Edit: latest P/N is 61 12 0 440 812 but this doe not work in all cars only in some.

Not totaly true. But there are some adapters that can assist in making the 796 y-cable charge some 3gs but not all.

See this post for details on why the 3gs does not charge in all cars.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...06-post23.html

as stated in that thread I have only tested 2008 and 2009 cars. I have not yet had a chance to test or had available to test a 2010 car.

 

There is a new Y cable that supposedly fixes this chaging problem. The PN is 61 12 0 440 812, and superceeds the previous PN of 61 12 0 440 796.

Check that part number and ask your dealer.....

 

Greg You are right I got the numbers mixed up but it still does not work for all cars as the 2008 and 2009 cars will only output up to 450ma of current. This is NOT enought to charge a standard iPhone. The iPhone requires up to 1500ma or more that 3 times as much current as the MINI will provide.

 

Got a question...why does the sound come out better from the dock then from the headphone jack to the aux in? i didn't realize this...was using my ipod headphone jack to the aux in and sound was crappy. then i was thinking how to mount it and tried using the dock and presto chango..the sound went way way better. can someone please tell me why? thanks