I have an iPod adapter that came with my R58 but I don't know what people use for their music sources with the Gen3 Minis. Do they come with an adapter too? I realize not many people use iPods anymore. Can you put music on a USB stick and just plug it in. I would think a USB memory stick would take HiDef audio files (I have a lot) and I assume the Mini will play them. My iPod won't accept those transfers from my iTunes Music, I have to dumb them down to 250kbps. Thanks in advance.

 

I have the MINI Connected Infotainment system in my 2015 F56 base Cooper. This is the system with the larger screen and Navigation.

I have the latest iPod Touch 7th generation 128GB model. The MINI's USB port recognizes the iPod Touch and is fully compatible from the Infotainment Media interface. Everything on the iPod is available and works through the Media menus - Music, Playlists, Podcasts, and album art.

Alternately, I can plug in a USB flash drive and the Media interface immediately recognizes it, along with the album art. For the USB drive I just copied the iTunes folders from my Windows PC. The folder organization is artist->album->songs.

When using a USB flash drive, the Music Collection option is available to import the music to the MINI Connected hard drive. The Music Collection cannot import from the iPod.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

Thanks. Will the Mini Connected Hard Drive play high definition music files? I have a lot of ALAC 96k albums in my iTunes on my Mac. Those should transfer to a USB drive. The iPod Touch won't play them so I have to reduce the bitrate when I add them from the Mac.

 

It's annoying that there is no hard copy of the MINI Connected system, but there is an online manual using the MINI Motoring Guide. Once you enter your VIN, all your owner's manuals are available online, including the Infotainment manual. Unfortunately, you cannot download a PDF as far as I know.

On my Windows PC, the iTunes files are AAC with file extension .m4a. Mine are bit rate 256 kbps, and they play fine from both the USB drive or iPod, and store fine on the hard drive.

The online manual says this about bit rate: "Depending on the configuration of the audio files, e.g., bit rates greater than 256 kbit/s or the number of different compression technologies, the files may not play back correctly in each case. "

This is what it says about importing music to the hard drive:

"Suitable devices: USB mass storage devices, such as USB flash drives or MP3 players with a USB interface.
Unsuitable devices: USB hard drives, USB hubs, USB memory card readers with multiple inserts, HFS-formatted USB devices, Apple iPod/iPhone, MTP devices.
File systems: popular file systems for USB devices are supported. FAT 32 is the recommended format."

 

My iTunes will transfer Apple Lossless AAC files to the iPod Touch and they play fine, they're like 800kbps give or take. And it'll transfer the 96kHz HiDef files to the iPod it just won't play 'em. My LG V30 phone plays 'em just fine. I'll try transferring some to a USB stick and see if they'll play on my 2014 Coupe.