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Navigation & Audio Poll: MINI iPod adaptor vs ICE>Link Plus

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  #1  
Old 01-11-2005 | 03:11 PM
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Poll: MINI iPod adaptor vs ICE>Link Plus

I have an 04 MC and am torn between the two. So I am conducting a poll of USERS of either the official iPod adaptor or the ICE>Link Plus. Please state your preferences and why?
 
  #2  
Old 01-11-2005 | 03:17 PM
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Originally Posted by RaiderZA
I have an 04 MC and am torn between the two. So I am conducting a poll of USERS of either the official iPod adaptor or the ICE>Link Plus. Please state your preferences and why?
I have the BMW one on order with mine. I want everything through one connection. I'm not sure if the ICE>Link Plus did that or not.

By the way, durring the Apple Keynote today there was mention that BMW is working on another iPod interface. Here's a link. http://macintouch.com/mwsf2005keynote.html Scroll down to the iPod section and you'll see it.

Brad
 
  #3  
Old 01-11-2005 | 07:36 PM
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Ice-lLink

I have an Ice-Link in my 05 MCS JCW and love it. Proclip holds the cradle on right down-tube. Installed the entire thing in less that 20 mins. Connected to rear CD player wiring loom connectors and ran cable up to front under rear seta and then under plactic vallance under door. Up behinmd glove box to iPod cradle... Works 100%
Murmin
 
  #4  
Old 01-12-2005 | 10:05 AM
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Originally Posted by nerd
By the way, durring the Apple Keynote today there was mention that BMW is working on another iPod interface. Here's a link. http://macintouch.com/mwsf2005keynote.html Scroll down to the iPod section and you'll see it.

Brad
I wonder if this new version will have the ID3 tag??
 
  #5  
Old 01-27-2005 | 11:03 AM
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Just trying to keep this up to date.


I have an ipod coming in about 5 days and I'm trying to decide in which direction to take my car stereo.

Anyone else have a tough time deciding between blitzsafe - icelink - or the official bmw/mini version?
 
  #6  
Old 01-28-2005 | 12:51 PM
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I am in the same boat. I have had my iPod since Xmas, and stll haven't decided on an adaptor for the MINI. I am leaning towards ICE>LINK Plus only because I can install it w/o cutting wires as needed for the Official MINI adaptor. Plus i can run the cable from the boot to my armrest storage.
Then again, the MINI adaptor is OEM, and has none of the compatability glitches ICE>LINK has.

Hell, I don't know
 
  #7  
Old 01-28-2005 | 01:05 PM
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Hadn't heard of any issues with the Ice Link...?
 
  #8  
Old 01-28-2005 | 01:13 PM
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I'd like to actually upgrade the head unit on my '04 (HK & NAV) rather than connect an iPod. Any one do this by chance? (Just want to stick in a 10hr+ CD and see the ID3 tags to boot...)


MINI Steve
 
  #9  
Old 01-30-2005 | 12:58 PM
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What's up with the new firmware? Does it support the ID tags yet?
 
  #10  
Old 01-30-2005 | 01:30 PM
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Originally Posted by SoCalSam
Hadn't heard of any issues with the Ice Link...?
Lots of problems with the new IceLink Plus, although from what I can tell they seem to be more common with the HK stereo. There's a thread here and another on MINI2 about it...

While I have neither right now, I'm inclined to go with the IceLink provided they get the system working reliably.... and figure out the ID3 tag issue...
 
  #11  
Old 01-31-2005 | 06:47 AM
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I got the Ice Link Plus last week, and love it! They seem to have the issues ironed out with their latest firmware release. And with it mounted on the right downtube, it's just as easy to glance at the iPod to see what song is playing as it would be to look at the head unit. Maybe even easier, since the text would have to scroll on the head unit because it's only a one line display. So, the lack of the text display doesn't bother me at all.
I installed it myself also, very easy. The one that connected to the cd changer in the back was on backorder, and I didn't want to wait, so I had them send me the one that connects directly to the head unit. I was a little nervous about doing it myself, but it was really easy, anyone could do it.
 
  #12  
Old 01-31-2005 | 08:00 AM
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I just installed the Ipod Interface Adapter myself yesterday. So far, everything works great. I purchased it from outmotoring.com for $149 (plus shipping). I can't speak about the Ice Link but this solution works for me. I know the titles of 99% of the 700+ songs I have (so far) on my iPod and don't want the distraction of having to look at the iPod screen every time the song changes. With the Mini iPod adaptor the iPod stays in the glove box and gets charged while it's hooked up.

The installation made me nervous, having not installed a car radio since 1979 in a 76' Duster, but if you take your time and follow the "official" instructions, it really isn't too bad. It took me a Sunday afternoon to complete the process. Instructions can be found at: http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/12/...l_instructions

I used instructions on how to remove the Head Unit from a post someone offered who installed the AUX cable: http://mini.uglydoris.com/archives/000028.html

Good Luck with your decision
MD

 
  #13  
Old 01-31-2005 | 08:23 AM
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Wow, the fact that it took a Sunday afternoon to install made me even more glad that I spent the extra 50 bucks for the Ice Link Plus. The install took me 20 minutes. I work during the week and my wife works on the weekends, so I don't have a Sunday afternoon to work on anything, since my weekends are spent watching my 3 yr old and 1 yr old.
 
  #14  
Old 01-31-2005 | 08:23 PM
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Originally Posted by MCJoe
Wow, the fact that it took a Sunday afternoon to install made me even more glad that I spent the extra 50 bucks for the Ice Link Plus. The install took me 20 minutes. I work during the week and my wife works on the weekends, so I don't have a Sunday afternoon to work on anything, since my weekends are spent watching my 3 yr old and 1 yr old.
I have a ten-year-old and an eight-year-old which I watched all day Saturday while my wife took a well deserved break at a spa. I enjoyed very much the time spent in my garage with the Cooper. I guess it's all a matter of perspective. Whatever floats your boat mate.

MD
 
  #15  
Old 02-06-2005 | 12:56 PM
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I decided to go with the "official" interface and ordered one from Brian at Classic. His price was so good that I went ahead and ordered the Aux Input as well; the total $ was very close to list price for the iPod interface alone. Redundant ? Yeah, maybe. But with cold weather I'm not gonna leave my iPod in the glovebox overnight. And for a quick trip to the store I can just plug the iPod (or my new iPod Shuffle) in to the Aux In (jack in the cubby below the switchbank) and Go. Had both installed at dealer; they charged me for about 1.5 hours labor.
 
  #16  
Old 02-16-2005 | 02:58 PM
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So is it more difficult to hook up the iPod interface than the Aux?
A friend just got an iPod and is looking for the 'best' solution. Trying to determine the differences between the ICE-link, Blitzsafe and OEM iPod interfaces...
 
  #17  
Old 02-16-2005 | 04:13 PM
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I have an Ice>Link Plus coming tomorrow and hope to install it this weekend. I chose the I>L because it was a radio end hookup without splicing and it allows for control from the head unit and the ipod itself. I tend to pick songs on the fly and being locked into playlists wouldn't work for me. From what I understand the Mini adapter locks out the ipod and limits you to a fixed number of playlists (I've even heard it limits the number of songs in each playlist). That would take way more planning than I capable of. I'm hoping the id3 tags are in the works, that would be cool, but not all that useful. I haven't seen install pictures for an '05 MCSC dash. I hope it all goes well.
 
  #18  
Old 03-07-2005 | 09:29 PM
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What's the latest in this ever-evolving debate?

I just received an iPod as a wedding gift and can't decide among the contenders.

Thanks,
Mike
 
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