thanks i already finished installing :D it works great

 

Tom,

I have a 07' MCS which has a "secret"/Second glovebox for the CD Changer just above the normal glovebox.

From what I'm seeing the DICE works with <06' and requires a trunk installl or strapping to a out of sight place under the dash.

What is the solution of >07'?

 

Just to confirm, you have the R56, correct? If so, you will either need the MINI or mObridge kit since the newer models are fiber-optic.

 

Yes It is a R56

Looked at your website and this appears to be what I would need
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...oducts_id=1653

At a highlevel what is the installation?

 

That's the correct kit, installation is the same as the BMW/MINI kit in which it connects to the back of the radio. Your MINI will need activation from the dealership afterwards if you are not currently equipped with a CD Changer.

 

I put in a silverline about 11 months ago for a 1st gen ipod touch. I recently upgraded to a 2nd generation touch, and it works fine except it gives a message that it won't charge. Is there a fix for this?

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by tgs91
Yes It is a R56

Looked at your website and this appears to be what I would need
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...oducts_id=1653

At a highlevel what is the installation?

That's the correct kit, installation is the same as the BMW/MINI kit in which it connects to the back of the radio. Your MINI will need activation from the dealership afterwards if you are not currently equipped with a CD Changer.

Thanks Tom, appreciated. At $500 plus activation this is a little down on my list of mods

 

You'll need the new USB-compliant charging cable to restore the charging feature:

DICE iPod Dock Connector Cable w/ USB Charging
http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=232

 

Will this cable still charge my old ipod or will I need to switch cables?

 

Cable will work on the previous generation iPods also.

 

I have had my DICE installed for about two months now and I have been loving it for the most part. There are, however, a few quirky little issues that I have that become pretty annoying at times. I imagine these issues have been addressed in the forum before now, but I don't have time to read through 42 pages of information to find my specific problems. Please forgive me.

Initially, the DICE worked like a charm...as I expected it to. After a few days the text stopped scrolling. I contacted DICE and they walked me through a fix of the problem by completely unplugging the DICE as well as resetting my iPod. Unfortunately it didn't fix it for very long. I tried their fix several more times over the next couple of days and it finally has stayed fixed and I have scrolling text to this day. Problem/annoyance solved.

My next annoyance is the fact that I have to shut off the random feature on the head unit each and every time I shut the car off. If I don't, my iPod automatically gets set to the "repeat one song" mode. As much as I love my music, I don't want to repeat the one song over and over again. I love using the random feature, in fact, I use it 95% of the time I use my iPod and DICE. I just wish I could leave it on and not worry about going into the repeat mode. The folks at DICE told me that I needed to turn random off each time I shut off the car. Is that the only solution?

Annoyance #3. Sometimes (I'd say 75% of the time) when I start my '07 MCS Convertible the iPod starts up and begins playing where it left off, but only for a few short seconds before the iPod stops and the head unit displays either the text "Paused" or "Stopped". Is there any workaround other than cycling through the mode on my head unit to get back to the DICE?

Annoyance #4 (final annoyance). The other 25% of the time that the DICE doesn't stop or pause shortly after starting the car, it continues to play from where it left off. The issue here is when I go to change anything, including artist, playlist, random (see annoyance #2). The head unit flashes the text "CD CHECK" very briefly with no change as a result of pressing the buttons on the head unit aside from advancing the track. Again, my workaround involves cycling through the mode on the head unit to get back to the DICE.

Any information would be helpful and much appreciated.

 

Great detailed post. Have you contacted DICE directly for some answers?

 

Aside from the first two issues (scrolling text and random), I haven't. I will do just that. In the meantime, if anyone else has any information, I'd be happy to hear about it.

 

This can happen if the module was not initialized properly - this is achieved by a battery reset.

Perform the following steps:

1. Disconnect iPod from cable
2. Remove battery cables, negative first
3. Touch battery cable terminals together (away from battery) for +5 seconds, a small spark is normal as this is stored power draining from the system.
4. Allow cables to remain disconnected for about 5-7 minutes
5. Reconnect battery cables onto battery, negative last.
6. Reboot iPod by pressing on MENU and CENTER buttons for +5 seconds and then reconnecting to the DICE cable after the reboot process is completed.

Let me know if these steps correct the problem.

 

Tom, Thanks , I finally had a chance to install the replacement DICE unit you arranged for me down here in VA. Works great. Thanks for all of the help. You guys and the guys at DICE are really great to deal with! Gary

 

With any luck tomorrow I will be the proud owner of an 06 mc. One small problem is it does not have ipod hookups and I consider that a necessity. I could have it installed at the dealership but why?

I am a car novice. Im pretty good with electronics and such but have never tackled any major type of audio before. My dad plans on helping. He is really good with cars but has never installed audio before.

I guess my question is: how difficult will this thing be to install? Honestly. Are the directions idiot proof? On a scale of 1-10 what would be the difficulty rating? Any other information would be great.

And I am thinking of buying one of those nice new shiny colored nanos straight from apple. It will be compatible right?

All this car stuff is new to me so sorry if this has been covered before. I am trying to learn as much as possible as fast as possible so I can spoil my new baby.

 

I recently bought an '05 MC convertible. I purchased the DICE unit that mounts behind the stock stereo. I am a clutz. I have eleven thumbs and my idea of a well stocked tool box is having a regular screw driver AND a phillips head. I installed the DICE unit myself. It took me maybe 45 minutes, and probably 20 minutes of that time was spent looking at the connectors on the wiring harness that came with the DICE and repeating "It can't be this easy" while looking for the "Gotcha" that wasn't there. My brain just couldn't accept that it was as easy as unsnapping the stock wiring harness and replacing it with the one that came with the DICE unit.

The trickiest part is getting the stock stereo out of the dash. There are instructions on this site for that. I'll see if I can locate those directions. Its easy, its just knowing where are the little nuts are located.

I've attached a PDF with instructions for removing the stock radio. You'll need a set of allan wrenches and a few other tools that most guys will have around the house.

Trust me, if I can install this thing without setting fire to the house or myself, then anyone can.

 

We'd like to think if you can change your own oil, you can install a DICE kit.

 

We may be in trouble then. jk. I think all is good. Just a little more research and I think I will take the plunge.

How fast is shipping?

edit: Even more important: Which one do I get?? I clicked the link and too many options for my poor brain to handle!

I have an 06 mini cooper (base) with the standard stock radio, no navigation or anything special. I want to install it in the radio. I dont know if this matters but I will be getting one of the brand new ipod nanos.

Also, what other stuff will I need to make this work and to mount it? Do I have to drill into the car? Any helpful tips and tricks would be great.

 

I attached directions for removing the stock radio to my previous post. The directions are pretty detailed with photos.

The DICE unit is about the size of a deck of cards. The wiring harness that comes with the unit really just replaces the stock wiring harness.

You first disconnect both terminals of the battery. This requires a metric socket wrench set, or a crescent wrench, or similar tool.

Once you've done this follow the directions I posted for removing the stock radio. This will require allen wrenches and a screw driver or two.

Once you remove the radio you just disconnect the existing wiring harness, connect the harness that comes with the DICE.

The new wiring harness has a lead that connects to the dice unit. The connector looks a lot like a mouse or keyboard connector. Route this lead/wire from the new wiring harness down through the dash to an accessible place on either side of the console that houses the stock radio, put the radio back in the dash. Before you reassemble the dash/console parts re-attach the battery and verify that the DICE unit is working with your iPod.

To mount the DICE unit I went to Lowes and bought some little pads of velcro that have tape on the other sides. I taped one side to the DICE unit, and the other side to the side of the center console in the footwell of the passenger side of my Mini. The nice thing about putting there and with velcro is that if I need to remove the DICE unit to change switch settings (which I did), its easily accessible and easily removed and remounted.

This is truly an easy install. I have zero skills when it comes to stuff like this. But I had the DICE unit installed in 45 minutes, probably less.

 

If I got the video display adapter

http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=339

would this let me view the playlist, screen display from my ipod touch to my 11/04 installed 05 cabrio mini cooper with HK nav system? I know it wouldn't show up on my radio but if this plays videos would it also play the ipod menu screen, etc?

 

Do you still have the HD radio upgrade for the cooper?

 

I'm not sure if it is just us folks in cabrios that have this problem as I have a 2008 convertible and have the DICE as well. I use random 99.9% of the time and turning it on and off every time I shut off the car/radio just doesn't work for me. I've tried everything, reinstalling it over and over, the battery trick, going through every button permutation I could think of and even got a new module from EAS (Tom and the crew at EAS do have great customer service) and no solution. Since I use random 99.9% of the time and the H/K system is awful (sorry, I've owned various BMWs since the mid-90s and never like 'em), I'm just going ahead and scrapping the entire system and getting an aftermarket HU with native iPod integration along with aftermarket speakers and amp(s). I don't want to come off like a complete naysayer since Tom has been helpful and so many others have had good luck. As everyone else has said, installation is very, very easy and all the other functions work fine. It's just this one thing for me

 

Hello,

Does the DICE work with the latest iPod Touch 2nd gen (late 2008 and all 2009 models) from Apple? The new Touch refuses to work with quite a few older iPod auto interfaces that worked with previous iPods and iPhones ... I'd not be thrilled to buy a new interconnect kit only to discover it doesn't work with new iPods.

Thanks!

 

Did the Random feature get added/enabled in later versions? I have the v1 that was released after the IceLink+ and it has worked well over the years with a few quirks. But the Random feature that is displayed on the H/U never did anything (on either of the two units I have).

Also - will the v1 version (before Silverline or HD radio) work with Gen 2 (or even possibly Gen 3) iPhones - or am I going to need to stick with my iPod video with that version Dice module?