MINI shows a suggested retail of $149 for the IPOD adapter in the glove box. Does that include installation?
If not, how much did you pay for the whole deal?

My son's 06 Civic has the USB connector in the glove box ($325) and we have not figured out how to control the IPOD except for random albums and can pick tracks from the albums it selected (unless the passenger makes the changes).

Thanks for shedding some light on this.

regards,
Red

 

I just asked my MA today and he quoted $240 installed. He said you have to make playlists for your MINI. You can have 5 different playlists and a 6th one that's just your whole library and works as shuffle (probably what's happening with your son's). Hope that helps.

 

Great explanation! I really appreciate your response.

regards,
Red

 

The Dension ICElink plus is generally considered to be a better option - you don't have to have special playlists and on newer MINIs, you can get it to display track info

 

Is it a DIY install? My MA mentioned that he's going with that option on his MINI, but that the dealership won't install anything but the OEM unit.

 

Is that even still available? The only Densions I could find were the exact same as the MINI option... 5 playlists and a overall shuffle. I thought I remember seeing one that you could browse the whole iPod a while ago though.

 

I just looked on Dension's website and it said it was discontinued in the US. I think my MA said that the one he's interested in isn't available yet or something. I think I might just go with the MINI option. I can probably live without a digital readout of what's playing.

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dension-Ice-Link...QQcmdZViewItem

 

For what I have read, the Dension ICE Link seems to be a real PITA when the thing doesn't work. Some people have reported issues with the adaptor and customer service support from Dension.

I have the OEM MINI iPod adaptor and I like it a lot. Haven't had any issues with it in 16 months since I took delivery of the car and works seamlessly and trasparently with my 4GB iPod Nano. My only caveat with the OEM solution is that it won't display song ID3 tag information in the stereo display.

The main advantage of the Dension adaptor is that it will display id3 tag song info but if memory serves me right, some people were having trouble doing so even after updating the firmware provided by Dension and having the '05+ factory stereo.

I would really investigate the Dension's up and downs before taking the plunge.

People like to badmouth the OEM solution but the fact is that it works very well and without a problem.

I didn't pay a penny for my OEM iPod adaptor. Why? Because this was the third new MINI brought from the same dealership ('05 MCS) so the sales manager threw in the UJ roof flag and the iPod adaptor all for free!

 

I have both the Aux input and the iPod interface.

I like both.

With the Aux input, I have full control of the iPod. I can choose a specific playlist or song, and watch videos.

With the iPod interface, I can only select from 5 playlists I created or play all the songs. But I get control from my steering wheel.

Bottom line, get the MINI iPod interface! It's a really nice thing. I got mine installed at a local audio shop for 45$. It took them less than 1 hour to install it.

 

Looks like I am getting it for free, plus two jackets, floor mats, a model and some other stuff because of a delivery screw up.

The Dealer seems to be a class act. Picking it up Monday. Now I have to buy an IPOD!


regards,
Red

 

I'm sure you all already know this, but just in case you don't...

For under $50 you can get a device that plugs into your iPod that allows it to broadcast at low power over FM radio. Once connected you tune your car stereo to that station and voila - iPod on your stereo.

The one I got plugs into the cigarette lighter (to use less iPod battery) and connects to the headphone jack (so it'll work with any mp3 player). It has 8 FM stations to choose from, in case the default station is taken in your area.

We used it on our last two trips and it worked flawlessly. To me it seemed like a better option than the built-in adapter. Plus, you can move it from car to car.

 

I do not recommend any "wireless" iPod integration that involve tuning to a FM station. These devices seldom work correctly and have have a very short life. Not to mention the seemingly poor sound quality from some of the most popular iPod wireless solutions I have tested. Don't waste your money with this junk.

The iPod adaptor is much, much better because you have a direct cable connection and the fact that it plugs into the iPod's dock port rather than the earphone jack, insures the absolute best, static free, sound quality reproduction possible.

The iPod adaptor also allows full control from the steering wheel buttons and the stereo faceplate. Also the adaptor automatically charges the iPod while it is connected, effectively eliminating the need to have extra cables and power cords cluttering the center console. Also the iPod neatly tucks away in the glove box compartment, away from prying eyes. No one will ever know you have an iPod plugged inside your car.

If you really want to go cheap and still have good sound quality, purchase the MINI OEM AUX input jack for around $40 at your parts dept. Then go to radio Shack and get a male to male audio mini connector cable (One end plugs into the earphone jack in the iPod and the other on the AUX jack) and presto! You have excellent CABLE sound quality without the static of the FM iPod transmitters. Once you select "AUX" mode in the stereo, the iPod is ready to play with its own separate treble, bass, fade, balance and volume controls.

The 3 downsides of the AUX Input jack approach are that you can not control the iPod from the steering wheel, you have to have the iPod in direct visibility to be able to control it and you have to have an additional power source if you desire to charge it as it plays.

Whatever solution you choose, stay away from any FM iPod transmitters and stick to either one of the cable solutions suggested here. (That is if you care about sound quality and reliability).

 

My 30 hour round-trip drive from DC to Canada, plus this past weekend's 15 hour DC to Upstate NY drive tell a different story. The thing worked flawlessly, and sound quality was great.

Have you actually used one of these things or are you just regurgitating something that someone else told you? Perhaps your iPod has a bad earphone jack.

If you wanna get soaked for a fancy adapter, be my guest, but my FM doohickey works great.

 

I have used the FM transmitters before and I am not convinced about the sound quality and proness to suffer static.

Nothing beats the sound reproduction that a direct cable connection affords

My iPod adaptor was a frebbie so never spent a penny for it. But even if it hadn't been thrown in as part of the deal, I would have gladly pay for it anyway.

The earphone jack has nothing to do. It is just a fact of iPod "nuts and bolts". the best output sound quality is obtained from the dock port, period.

However to the "naked ear" you may not hear the difference between the dock port sound output and the earphone jack.

I have a 4GB Apple Nano and it has been rock solid. Great little iPod.

Glad to hear you are happy with the FM wireless approach, but then again, I find it to be a "half baked" solution at best.

 

FM modulation cant compare with the frequency on a direct aux or ipod interface.

Ive had three separate fm modulators for my ipods before getting the FActory iPod adapter (and Aux Input). If you have Navigation, this combo works great. I've done this very same mod in my garage. the MINI dealership said I couldnt have both installed. (shrug)

For some people, the FM modulation works just as fine since its really plug and play and offers decent radio performance. Depending on the make and model you chose, the two things i found troublesome were... 1. ipod was not charged and had to connect a separate cig lighter adapter. 2. If driving long distances, there could be interference on various radio stations which require you to change the frequency on your modulator. Not huge hurdles but in the end, i went with the factory approach.

I added the HK speakers to my MINI, so why not go for the high fidelity option

I agree with c4 on the Denision icelink. great when it works, but ive come across a load of problems with other users... IMHO, stability and ease of use ranks higher to me than having ID tags displayed on the headunit.

 

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I agree that the direct-wire is cleaner and more trouble-free, and your two points have merit.

On 1, I didn't have a problem with this because my FM doohickey plugs into the cigarette lighter, so it doesn't rely on the iPod battery. Also, I have a 1-into-2 lighter adapter, so I can have the iPod plugged in as well, so (I assume) it'll run off car power while it's connected like this.

On 2, we drove from DC to northern Ontario, Canada (via Guelph) and back (via Toronto). Over 1600 miles, and we only had to change stations on the FM adapter once. On our trip to Syracuse this past weekend, we didn't have to change stations at all.

Sure, its not as nice as the hard-wired solution, and it's clunkier (we had wires draped over the cupholder), but for $30-ish, it was a quick and easy way to get iPod tunes in the car, and I can move it from car to car.

 

My daughter has a very small transmitter ($50 at Best Buy) that plugs to the bottom of the IPOD, drawing power from it. But around NYC there are very few open stations to zero in on.

Portability (car to car/house) is a big plus, but there is nothing like a direct hookup soundwise..

As far as cost, my Dealer just gave it to me for free, so I can't kick. I will just make up 5 playlists and keep the 6th for shuffling through the rest.

regards,
Red