Can anyone help me find tips / instructions for installing a ipod interface?

Planning on routing the ipod cable to the dash seam just behind the right side of the steering wheel. Need to know how to open up the panels and connect the unit to the back of the stereo.

Never opened up the dash panels on the MINI. Need help. Don't want to break anything.

 

Have you tried crutchfield.com where did you buy the adapter?

 

Haven't bought it yet. Leaning toward the DICE interface.

 

No reviews that I've seen. 6 reviews on the USA spec brand. Crutchfield usually has very good instructions and tech support.

 

The interface I use plugs into the CD changer plug in the back by your amp. It's located in the compartment in the rear passenger side. I ran my wires along the passenger side, concealing them in the trim and coming out underneath the toggle panel in the front middle.

If you do a search for iPod/iPhone interface install, I'm sure you'll get a step by step with pictures.

Feel free to pm me with any questions you may have. It's really easy!

Chad

 

Hey fellow Motorers, Im looking for an Ipod set up to go in my 05 Cooper S. BUT, I DONT want to control it through my factory stereo. I want to be able to just control it through my Ipod(while have it still be able to charge obviously). The adapters that I have seen online all have to be controlled through the stereo. Does anyone know where I might be able to find one of these?? My brother has one for his 04 scion XA, but I cant remember the brand it

 

I'm leaning toward the DICE interface for MINI. The unit can be controlled from either the stereo and/or the ipod/iphone.

 

I have this one in my car and it works great. You can control it through your steering wheel controls and on the iPod / iPhone itself.

http://cgi.ebay.com/2002-2006-Mini-C...item1c12198fc1

Chad

 

CRoth,

How did you hook it up? Into the rear of the radio? It indicates that there is a connection in the trunk--location?

I have a kit in now but it does not allow control from the steering wheel and iTouch.

Thanks

 

Cigarman,

My car has the HK sound system. I dont have a cd changer but the car was wired for it already. The hook-ups may be the same with non-HK systems as well. If you open the compartment on the passenger rear side of the car to access the taillight, you will see a bundle of wires with connectors. Look closely and you should see a connector that is not connected and capped off. If I remember correctly, it's a 10 pin connector but I'm not sure on that. This is the connector that your iPod / iPhone interface will plug into.

After plugging it in, it's just a matter of removing trim, tucking wires, routing and reading trim. You will be controlling your device through your steering wheel controls when the HU is set to control the cd changer. The display will read Disc 01 or something like that.

 

Croth,
I recently purchaced this same unit it plugged it in, but theres still not option to select for the cd changer. Do i need to activate it somehow?

 

Make sure all of your connections are good first. The reason why I say this is I had a problem with my connection at the rear connector that was fixed by simply unplugging and replugging the connector.

All you should have to do is push the mode button on tge HU or on your steering wheel until your display reads something like CD 1-49. That's what mine is reading right now in this function.

When I had a problem with the rear connection, this stopped appearing as a function. It sounds like you're experiencing the same thing.

Let me know how it works out. Good luck!

Chad

 

I used the GROM interface for 2 minis. Its pretty easy to do but best of all you can still use the ipod or iphone to choose playlists and songs. Steering wheel controls work.

http://www.gromaudio.com/store/ipod_...interface.html

Relatively cheap, easy to install if tapping wires doesn't scare you. Instructions come with the package.

Lots of info on this site for getting at the radio.

Cheers.

 

croth you were right all i had to do it clean the connection with some electronic cleaner and it works thanks!

 

Great! I'm glad it worked out for you.

I think I need to clean my connection again. I was headed over to Mickey and Mini 6 this morning and all of a sudden, no iPod. It just stopped in the middle of a song. I switched to satellite radio for about 5 minutes and tried it again. It all of a sudden started working fine again and worked fine fir the rest of the day. I think I'll clean mine tomorrow.

I'm glad I could help out! Happy motoring!!!

Chad

 

Any ideas why only the car volume controls, but not the track skip ones, would work with my adapter? Track skip doesn't work for either the radio or steering wheel controls. Everything else works great - I do all the song selection from the iPod itself. My adapter is Grom and I've got it connected to the trunk cables for now. I'm thinking of switching to the connection at the back of the radio to see if that fixes it. Could it be a problem with my head unit? If so, how would I ask the dealer to check? I've got the warranty until Dec.

 

I have an older and a newer model Grom adapter. ( 2 minis ). They were both hooked up to the back of the head unit. The volume and the skip controls work fine from the wheel etc. I know the CD changer plug is pulled and and several other wires are tapped when you install it.

If you hook it up to the head unit all should be fine.

 

anyone tried this adapter yet?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MINI-...ht_2525wt_1011

 

I was going to buy the GROMM ipod kit, but my wife bought me the DICE kit.

I looked back in the right rear trunk area and I can see an AMP for the HK stereo system. I don't see any CD changer cables and cannot get the amp out to access the cables connected to it.

Also a little weary about routing the DICE cable all the way up front. No idea how to remove the panels on the right side to route underneath.

HELP!

 

Folks at Bavarian Soundwerks kindly provided me with installation instructions specific to MINI Cooper and S 2003-2006. Probably took me an hour for full install. It helped to have a door panel tool I got from AutoZone for $10.

I eventually found the wires for the changer. They were tucked in the wire bundle directly under the amp in right rear trunk area.

Tools required:
screwdriver
phillips screwdriver
door panel tool (generic)
Torx drivers: 20, 25, 30
small & medium zip ties
wire cutters (to trip zip ties)
double-sided bonding tape or 3M Dual Lock velcro

I routed the cable from the cd changer connectors under the right side panels simply by prying up the edges all the way up to the passenger floor board, directly above the floorboard light is a groove which I swedged the cable in over to the center console; took about 10 minutes.

I routed the iPod cable behind the steering right side, up the groove in the dash panel. Placement about mid-way allows for easy line-of-sight viewing while driving. I removed the stereo head unit to route the cable behind and over to the DICE interface box.

I mounted the DICE interface box in the passenger floor board area using velcro to allow access and setting changes.

Photos.
http://community.webshots.com/album/579381913SBJMwy