Hi there all...

Happy Holidays to everyone! I did a few quick searches on iPod and such and didn't have any luck.

After having our MINI since August, we finally got around to getting an iPod to go with our 'new' MINI and it's factory iPod adapter. Does anyone know if an iPod we will work the standard radio? It seems to want to work with a CD changer... does it work with the standard radio?

Thanks so much!!

sbp

 

The standard stero will see the iPod as a series of CD's. You have to create playlists on your iPod, and they have to be named MINI1, MINI2, MINI3, etc. Up to five if I recall correctly.

After you've done that, turn off your car stereo, and plug the iPod into the adapter. Turn on the stereo. Push the "Mode" button and now the stereo taps into the iPod. By pushing the radio preset buttons 1 through 5, you will bring up different playlists. To shuffle, tap the RND button once.

 

Thanks for the quick response Gromit - but I've tried all sorts of turning the iPod and stereo on/off in various sequences. I do have the playlists setup as MINI1, MINI2, MINI3, etc. Our standard radio is not a changer, it just accepts a single CD at a time. When I am in CD mode with the iPod attached, all I get is "no cd". That's it.

I wonder if the MINI dealership didn't install the adapter correctly?

 

there should be a zillion threads on ipods and adapters in the Navigation/Audio forum, I think

 

The 'standard' head unit is all you need. If it doesn't recognize the ipod, it's likely that it was installed incorrectly. Click here for a list of ipod adapter threads in Navigation/Audio forum.
According to Gabe, it's the second mode.

 

Sounds like an installaion problem. I have the OEM iPod adaptor fitted to my Harmon Kardon factory stereo. It should work with your standard factory stereo as long as it was built on or after September 2002.

 

Thread moved to Navigation & Audio

 

I just realized I created playlists MINI1-MINI6... does anyone think that could cause the "no CD" problem?

I've never pulled a head unit out of any of the cars I've owned so I doubt I'll be doing that to my wife's 'new' MINI...

Am I stuck with going to the dealership for this one? Yeesh...

sbp

p.s. anyone have a PDF version of the MINI iPod manual?

 

This won't help with the "no CD" problem, but if you want your playlist names to be a little more descriptive than "MINI1" or "MINI2", remember that the playlist only has to **start with** "MINI" and a number. So instead of "MINI1", you can name it "MINI1 - Beatles", or "MINI1_Instrumentals", or anything like that. It makes it easy to keep track of the playlists in iTunes.

And when I want to temporarily take a playlist "out of the rotation", I change the first part of the playlist title to "MINIx" and re-synch the iPod.

 

I just added a playlist called "MINI6" to my iPod, and put the iPod back in the car. Everything still worked fine, so your problem is looking more and more like a connection issue.

With the "MINI6" playlist on the iPod, pressing '6' on the radio still plays the entire contents of the iPod, rather than the "MINI6" playlist. So, it looks like preset '6' is hardwired to play the entire iPod, and it doesn't matter whether or not you have a "MINI6" playlist or not.

 

When you connect the iPod the adapter do you see MINI pop up on the screen? If not, do you notice if the iPod is charging? If your iPod is charging then it is at least getting power from the car. So that is one good sign. The next is to make sure you have the latest software for your iPod. I had a similiar problem with my iPod and when I first connected it it worked for so long but then I made my playlists and it wouldn't work at all. After I upgraded my iTunes and the firmware on the iPod it's been working fine ever since.

 

MINI never appears on the iPod's screen and the iPod does not appear to receiving a charge from the car..

i sent an e-mail to our motoring advisor today but haven't received an answer yet... i'll call the service department tomorrow...

thanks for all the advice everyone!

 

Sounds like a connection problem between the interface and the head unit. It is not that difficult to pull the head unit out enough to troubleshoot. The factory Ipod instructions take you through it, just go backwards.

 

If you are not receiving the "MINI" screen prompt in your iPod upon hooking it up in the connector, then there is an issue with the physical connection of the adaptor, or the adaptor itself could be bad/defective.

If the dealer installed it, let them deal with it under warranty.

 

Also, have you tried a different iPod, just for kicks?

 

unfortunately... it is the only iPod i have at the moment... our first iPod... 4GB nano...

i will be able to try my brother's over the weekend though...

have an appointment at morristown mini on tuesday at noon... earliest they could take me.. they only do brakes and oil changes on saturdays...

i'll let everyone know what happens... thanks again!!

sbp

 

just a quick follow up to say that it was a dealer installation issue... they said they found "loose" wires...

iPod nano works well now... at least for the day that it has been working... nice

 

That's funny. I installed the OEM myself; I don't see how wires could be "loose" as they connect using an adapter/plug!

Anyway, congrats! I know the OEM ipod kit may not be the best one available, but it is better than not having one (or even an aux connection)...

 

you said that the OEM ipod kit is not the best available... I will be looking to install one in an 2007 MCS soon. What do you recommned?

 

I don't know if they updated the OEM kit for 2007 or not. But I think the most folks here think that the DICE adapter is probably one of the best. But there are many other threads in this forum discussing that topic (including some helpful vendors giving good advice...)

 

There's nothing for the MY07 MINI yet (fiber optic), but there will be one soon.

 

Tom, Would you have any updates on either an iPOD and/or BlueTooth solution for an R56? ... I realize that I may be asking to soon however I'm not sure how long the development cycle is....

 

R56 models are Fiber Optic, the DICE kit is not compatible. There will be a solution soon though.

 

Tom, any updates on iPOD Bluetooth or both for the R56?

 

Nothing yet - we are still developing on the older models at this time.