My dad has a '02 MCS with the Boost Radio installed (CD53).

As his birthday is in less than a month i decided to buy him a solution for making his iPhone connect to the Stereo.
After som searching around the web, i found out that it was possible to make a cable yourself by following a guide like this: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...input-diy.html

After ordering the parts that i needed i found out that it wasn't possible to use a cable like that with a Radio made before 09/02 (Even some '03 seems to have the same problem). They simply don't have the AUX function although they have the same connections on the back.

But today looking thru the papers of MCS my dad had laying in his office i saw that there was an "instruction book" for a Wave Radio, so i got the idea that the Stereo maybe was changed by the former owner (The car is bought 2.hand).

So after my curiosity i went out in the car and check the Serial Number (SN) and the Software Version (SV).
SN:11124589
SV: 48-01 41

Therefore i hoped that somebody in here could tell me if the Radio is compatible with the AUX input cable??

I've read a lot about other solutions to making an AUX input for the '02 Radios, but i haven't got a real answer yet.
Is it possible to connect the AUX input cable (of course after rearranging the pins)
To the CD Changer port in the back of the radio .

Sorry for my bad English, I'm from Denmark and i'm only 17 years old

 

Hi Kristian,
The easiest way to tell is the manufacturing date of the unit, which is on a sticker on the bottom of the unit. I believe Euro cars came with a 'Wave' unit as standard, but with an option for 'Boost', and US cars came with a 'Boost' unit standard, so a 'Wave' manual wouldn't indicate the functionality of the unit - the older US models don't accommodate Aux-in, either.
On the positive side, at least in the US you can get a newer head unit for fairly cheap.
Good luck!

 

Kristian,

Find and 04/06 radio (Boost) and you will be certain it will work. Also, if you find one with a fat flat ****, this is the model that can handle TMC if you have NAV.

 

Thanks i will try to take a look at the back of radio the next time i visit him!
Maybe you're right about the radios, i just got curious because there wasn't a manual for the Boost Radio.

 

I Know that that's the easy solution, but those radios are hard to find cheap here in Northern Europe, so i think that must be the last way to do it.
If my Cable doesn't work i think i would just sell it and buy a Blitzsafe unit or a Dension IceLink Gateway

Does any one know if there is harness pulled for a CD-Changer in the back although the car wasn't fitted with one from the factory?
I'm asking because i saw a thread on a BMW-forum, that it was possible to cut off the plug and solder on a 1/8" Jack. The thread was also made for the Alpine CD53 (like the Boost Radio)

 

It should be fitted with the wiring, but I believe I've heard of some early car owner's saying it wasn't there. You can check in the rear passenger cubby. There is a pic in my gallery. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...49/ppuser/7385

 

Superb!
How does the plug itself look like? How many pins? which shape? which wire colors?

If i can't get the homemade cable to work, can i then buy this adapter: http://www.gromaudio.com/store/aux_a...m-aux-bmw.html and make it work?

 

They are out there! I bought mine in Germany using a German forum. You just have to look.

 

As i really don't believe very much in getting the DIY cable to work , i have found out that i have 3 solutions:

1: Find a cheap 2.hand Boost Radio (Produced after 2003, to be sure)
2: Buy the Grom AUX Input kit http://www.carputer-shop.co.uk/aux-i...3f935fac4d64e0 (Which is the solution that has turned me most on yet! )
3: Buy a 2.hand CD-changer and use this mod http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1537420 (As the Mini uses the same CD-changer as BMW e46's, E39's and E53's it's quite easy to get them as 2.hand parts)

 

In the picture, it's on the bottom in the middle, taped with white masking tape to the bundle of black wires. The connector is male, black and rectangular, 6 pin IIRC. It's the only unattached connector back there.
For the price, you should be able to get a replacement head unit.

 

Thanks a lot!
It's just way easier to find a CD-changer than a Boost radio, especially if it has to be cheap... I have seen CD-changers go for as low as 30£