If my research is correct the 02 Mini's do not have the 'stock' ability to connect an AUX jack. Has anyone come up with a neat way to connect either the iPod or iPod mini in an 02 Mini? Or am I out of luck here? I haven't found any thread in Audio section, thanks!

 

I have an Ipod in my 02 MCS. All I did was get their FM plug in for the Ipod, you tune in to 87.3FM I beleive it is, and it will work just as good as if you had the AUX input. It is very clean being that their are no wires to connect to the radio. All you do is add this piece to the ipod. http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL....3.1.2.0.0.1.0 Look towards the bottom.

_________________
02 MCS DS/W MINI Madness 15% pulley, Pilo Intake, Milltek Header with racing cat, Milltek catback exhaust, ported and polished
intake manifold and intercooler air ducts.
JCW Program.
H&R Coilover Kit
Port & Polished Cylinder Head
Ultimate goal=265whp

 

Thanks Coopersdriver, sounds intersting but when I click on the link it takes me to a page that says it's Time'd Out ' and displays nothing. Do you have a sku number or a name for the item you described?
BTW, i tried that approach with an mp3 player I currently have, its not the greatest but it was cheap and convenient at the time. I bought an FM plug in but the quality of the sound was very poor. You say the quality of sound with the Apple FM plug in works just like being hardwired?

 

>>I have an Ipod in my 02 MCS. All I did was get their FM plug in for the Ipod, you tune in to 87.3FM I beleive it is, and it will work just as good as if you had the AUX input. It is very clean being that their are no wires to connect to the radio. All you do is add this piece to the ipod. http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APPL....3.1.2.0.0.1.0 Look towards the bottom.
>>
>>_________________
>>02 MCS DS/W MINI Madness 15% pulley, Pilo Intake, Milltek Header with racing cat, Milltek catback exhaust, ported and polished
>>intake manifold and intercooler air ducts.
>>JCW Program.
>>H&R Coilover Kit
>>Port & Polished Cylinder Head
>>Ultimate goal=265whp



This is a fairly decent, but albeit, less ideal long term solution to hook up an Ipod to your existing '02 MINI factory stereo. The "iTrip" FM wireless transmitter is still subject to occassional interference and poor sound quality....simply said there is no real substitute for an iPod direct cable connection to the head unit.


While the '02 MINI factory stereo has the physical jack in the back for the AUX inout cable, the radio just doesn't support the AUX function as it is non-existent in the stereo's firmware.


May I suggest another alternative? Why not upgrade your '02 factory stereo to either a '03 or '04 MINI factory stereo that supports the AUX direct cable connection? I can't think of any reasons why a newer MINI factory stereo (The stereo is made in Japan by Alpine, BTW) would not work in your '02 MCS, so this is something worth looking into.

I have the MINI Aux input jack hooked up to my '04 MCS HK stereo and the iPod stereo sound quality is simply awesome, much better than the iTrip wireless setups I have heard in other cars.

 

Thanks Cooper4us for that suggestion, I thought that might be an alternative way to go. I will check into that solution next week.
All I have to do now is to find someone interested in buying my 02 HK radio!

 

Many people installed a Blitzsafe adapter that ran from the CD changer harness and gave you RCA inputs to plug the AUX device into. I think they were running just under $100. Maybe your can do a search for Blitzsafe and find some threads on the topic.

 

Thanks minitothemax I will look down that road too!

 

>>Many people installed a Blitzsafe adapter that ran from the CD changer harness and gave you RCA inputs to plug the AUX device into. I think they were running just under $100. Maybe your can do a search for Blitzsafe and find some threads on the topic.

I installed one of these in my 02 and it worked very well. Just had to route a cable up to the front.

 

This is the first I've heard that the AUX kit is incompatible with the 02 headunit. Is this true? So even if I were to get the AUX kit, the headunit doesn't support the AUX input??

 

That's correct sambusik, at least for most of the 02 cars I know of. Mine was ordered in March 02 and delivered in July 02, its possible that 02 cars with a later build date might have the AUX capability but so far everyone I have talked to that has the 02 car does not have that option. But it seams like there are a number of different work arounds at varying price levels so the problem can be solved "one way or another" as Stevie Nicks would say.

 

I literally bought the Mini Aux cable two days ago and as yet have'nt installed it. I have an April 02 build S and wondered that if I actually got my dealer to fit it and it did'nt work can I claim a full refund on labour as well as part????
bummer

 

The ICE-Link adapter by Dension

Worth the money and Highly recommended.

There's an updated version that differs slightly from the one reviewed also now out: http://www.motoringfile.com/2004/04/...s_the_ice-link

 

Thanks Gabe, that's the best overall review of the ICE-Link system I have read, it gives a total picture of what I need to consider, how much it costs and what the installation requires. Thanks!

 

I'm with MINI USA. The '02 Cooper radio head is not compatible with the auxiliary jack kit we offer for the iPod and MP3 players, it will only work with the '03 models on. Please feel free to phone us at (866) ASK.MINI and mention Reference # 200414100060 if you need additional assistance.

 

Thanks Minidivision for the confirmation on the 02 AUX hook up. I have solved the problem by purchasing an 03 head unit really cheap from a guy who is replacing his original 03 HU with an aftermarket HU. Problem solved.
Now, can you do anything for me to get the multi-function steering wheel that I originally ordered with my Mini, but the dealer screwed up the order entry and the car was delivered without the multi-function steering? Just thought I would ask. Thanks for the consideration and thanks for the response on the head unit. :smile: