i'm getting my mini with the navigation system installed. i was wondering if anyone knows wether it has video inputs of some kid so i could hook up a dvd player to it?
thanks

 

sorry man- there are no inputs that i know of. Unfortunately, the BMW nav system is CD-rom based, therefore lagging far behind the competition. If there was a way to switch the nav system to something such as an Alpine DVD based system, then you would be in buisness. A system like that can accept regular DVD's and play them onscreen. If you ask around, i bet there is probably a way to change nav systems w/o having to change the screen.

 

thanks for the input buddy!! so is there a separate cd rom drive for the nav system?? and does that mean i'd be able to play files on cd with an autorun on them??
I'll ask around car audio places in town and see what they say.
Thanks again

 

I too am getting the navigation system, so let me know how your quest for the DVD works out, that would be really cool for road trips and stuff.

 

Huh? The Mini NAV system although BMW has been DVD based for sometime. Any Mini with the Mark IV or newer is. And there are several inputs for audio available, plugs right in to the back of the unit circa $39 from the dealer (not installed)

 

dbert4 - you must have found this thread via search. If you look at all of the preceding posts, they were made in 2002... at that time, the MINI Nav system was CD-based only.

You have managed to resurrect a VERY old thread though - almost 4 1/2 years dormant! Heh.

 

there is a thread on mini2. let me see if I can find it. He hooked up into the rear video feed: much easier but not available while in motion. as is law. but you could hook into the front camera feed with some more work

 

That was most likely me and here's the link:

MINI Video Input

 

It was you indeed. A well done job, for the sake of experimentation. Unfortunatley misunderstood. Thanks for posting!

 

Thanks for the support!

BTW, I've had the video setup in my MINI for going on two years now, and to this day, I think I've only ever used it once or twice (although the car only has 6K miles on it so I don't drive it very often). Thus, it's not a very practicle mod. However, as I mentioned in my original write-up, I only did it just to see if I could.

Now, the backup camera on the other hand.... That one is totally AMAZING and was worth every single penny and minute that I spent on it. Still one of the best mods on my MINI to this day IMHO.

Take care...

-- MIKE

 

Care to elaborate? Useful for parking, or what?
TIA

 

Mike, I could imagine maybe popping in a DVD when eating or on a camping trip, but there were alot of angry people who really didnt have any reason to be. how is your backup cam mounted?

 

Yes, the camera is VERY useful for parking.

Most folks argue that the MINI is so small that there isn't a need for a reverse camera (and that the idea of it is just plain silly). However, I'll tell you first-hand that until you've actually driven a MINI with a reverse camera, you have absolutely no idea what you've been missing.

I park my MINI in a garage and I have to back it in due to the way that the garage is set up. The rear-view camera really helps with pulling the MINI into the garage (quickly and safely) and it makes it so that I can pull it within millimeters of the back wall without ever having to worry about actually hitting the wall or not being backed in far enough. Also, I can't count the number of times it has prevented me from running over toys, etc., that have been left out in the driveway.

However, one of the best things about it is reversing the car at nighttime. The OEM MINI reverse camera has some really cool filter on it making it so that the camera can see very well in really low light situations (such as in the evening). Thus, even when it's hard for me to see behind the car at night (and my tinted rear windows don't make matters any easier here), the camera makes the surroundings show up clear as day (the same holds true on really bright days when you are backing into a very dark shaded area - you can actually see the camera flip into a different filter mode when it hits the dark patch and everything gets really bright and clear on the screen). It's absolutely amazing!


As for how the camera is mounted... I'm using the OEM MINI rearview camera and so it has a factory fit and finish to its installation. The camera is actually mounted in the handle of the rear hatch. It looks great and you'd never even know it was there unless you really knew where to look for it. All the details (including pictures) can be found in my write-up here:

MINI Rear Camera Review

-- MIKE

 

The OEM rear camera is fantastic for parallel parking. I frequently parallel park into tight spaces on San Francisco streets. The camera shows the edge of the bumper, and I can confidently backup to less than an inch of the car in back as I'm maneuvering into the space.

The other situation where it is very useful is backing out of a space in a parking lot, especially when your view may be blocked by SUVs on either side. You can easily see not only what is behind you, but also cars approaching from the side because of the camera's wide angle view.

I originally got the camera because I have a convertible with its limited rear visibility, and needless to say it is especially useful for me. However I am very much sold on the feature in general. If a rear camera is available on any of my future cars, I will get it.

 

I use my DVD player about once a month when I find myself waiting in a parking lot for some stupid reason for something. I hate waiting, might as well watch something entertaining.