So last Saturday I was pretty bored and was trying to figure out what I could do to take up some time. My thoughts slowly wandered to the conclusion that I would install an auiliary input into my 2004 mini cooper. I went down to the dealership and bought one. When I got home I installed it, and made sure I did everything right. Plugged my Ipod in, but wait... no AUX on the radio. I uninstalled and reinstalled it a couple more times, but still nothing. I then called the dealership to see what was up... obviously they didn't know. Then as I was uninstalling it for probably the 5th time, I looked at my head unit and saw that my radio was made in May 2002. Does anybody have any clue why I would have a 2002 radio in my 2004 mini cooper? I ordered this mini straight from the mini store, and am the only owner it has ever had. Why would mini put an older radio in my car without notifying me? And my main question is, what can I do about it that won't cost me several hundred dollars for a new head unit?

Thanks,
John

 

I don't see why an aux in would not work in an '02. You know that the computer software needs to be updated for the thing to work, right?

 

Not true. Simply plugging in the Aux input connector should be all that is necessary for the head unit to recognize it as available. I know because some friends and I have done it. It was in an 05 MC, but regardless, no software update or programming was necessary.

 

ahh, the head units changed after '02 I'm amazed it fit because I thought it was also a hard ware issue, I'd go to the dealer, tell them you have an 04 cooper but an 02 head unit, when they verify thats how it came to you, they can help you, ethier by upgrading software or installing new HU which I suspect they should do for free if your car came with the wrong equpment in the first place.

 

Maybe you already tried this but, after you plugged it into the HU did you hit "Mode" to get it over to "Aux"?

If you need to buy a new HU maybe you can find someone who went to an aftermarket HU and buy theirs (hopefully less expensive than from dealer).

 

Sorry to post off-topic, but how is it that JohnLee107 started a thread and still shows a post-count of Zero?

 

My guess is that when your car first arrived, the dealership happened to be installing an aux input into an '02 car and needed a post-02 head unit. They swapped the unit with yours, playing the odds that you'd never want an aux adapter.

Just a theory.

I'd demand that they replace it with an 04 or newer head unit (on their dime of course).

 

Wow, that's bizarre. Let us know how it turns out! Seems to me you should be entitled to a new head unit.

 

Without a doubt, they owe you a new head unit (push for an '05, so you can play MP3s!)

Motoron - FYI, it's a hardware issue, but internal to the radio. The Aux plugs in just fine to an early '02, but no Aux mode shows up. Just did this a few weeks ago - swapped out an April '02 HU for a later one so she could have the Aux.

 

Thanks-learn something new every day on NAM

 

Yup the 02 thing is correct, no aux with an 02.

BTW, have you checked your glove box for the radio card? IT'll be the white w/blue about credit card size and it'll have your radio SN listed.

Good luck!

 

That happened a while back just after the last upgrade too. Same situation. Some newbie started a thread and the count didnt go up. Weird.

 

Perhaps NAM runs a skip-counting algorithm. If so, Clover now actually has...let's see....5,347,582,421 posts!

 

Just an update. I took in my car yesterday and they replaced my radio with a 2006 radio. They claimed that when they first got my car, the radio had static on it. So they replaced it with a remanufactured 2002 radio. But, it's pretty weird they wouldn't mention it to me. Thanks for all the input.

John

 

Great outcome, glad to hear it. Nice of them to put a reman part from a 2 year old model into your new car pre-delivery

 

Glad to hear it works. Now I wonder what else they didn't mentino and who else this has happened to.

 

kind of strange ... didn't the 02 radios not have AUX inputs to begin with?

 

Glad to hear your dealer made it right for you. Even better news is that IF you decide to add an IceLink+, the ID3 tags will work on your "new" headunit!!

 

No.
It was (and still is) physically possible to hook the aux connection up, just the feature hadn't been set-up in the radio software. The aux becomes incoorporated into the main wire plug into the back of the radio. There isn't a seperate port for the aux it's part of the "large" set of pins where power, speakers, ground etc plug in.

My 02 radio looks the same as the 03 radio I installed, and the same as my son's 04 and wife's 05.

 

Mmmmm...yeah...it had....static...yeah, that's the ticket...yeah it was static, that's what it was...

I still think they took your head unit for someone with an '02 who was getting an aux input installed.

 

You are not alone. I had the same issue in my late 03 Cooper. We installed the aux input and it wouldnt work.. eventually discovered an 02 headunit. I eventually swapped the headunit for the one out of my parents 03 Cooper. Now all is well.

 

No, it's a separate receptacle on the back of the radio. It just doesn't work
on an '02 or early '03 radio. Physically the radios look the same, though.

 

Well technically it's an additional port, it would have to be to put more wires........but it's not a new separate one specific to newer radios, that is prohibiting the installation of the aux kit in this case.

My point is: it is software that doesn't allow the operation of an aux kit with the 02 radio, not a physical limitation.

 

I agree that it is a radio issue. I don't know if it was firmware in the radio
which keeps the AUX from working or if the actual electronics are not
there. I have never seen anything definitive either way.

These statements, however, were incorrect:
The AUX port cable just plugs into a port on the back of the radio. It is a
separate port.

 

Yup poor choice of words on my part: What I was trying to describe is that there isn't a separate area, a lone port, another - away from the others. That was specific to the 03 and newer radios, the same connection location is on the 02 radios. It is incooproated into the same connection area as the power, speakers, etc...

Picture from Bart's page:



I can physically install the aux port in the back of my 02 radio, I know I've done it, and it doesn't work.

Off to visit the G-babies - have a great day everyone!