I've seen threads about people having trouble with the latest gen iPhone or Ipods and their MINI's ipod adapter. I think I'm having the opposite problem: my 60GB ipod photo is still going strong, but doesn't seem to be recognized by my new MINI. When I connect it using the cable provided as part of the Convenience Package, the ipod gets power and charges, and I can listen to the audio through the "AUX" input, but it's never detected as an ipod, which means not only do I not see song info on the display, but I can't control it using the steering wheel or radio buttons.

I've tried alternating turning on the car first or the ipod first, reseting the ipod, all to no avail. The only thing I can think of is trying to use the ipod as a hard drive. I have plugged my wife's newer ipod classic into the radio, and it makes the HK sound system shine. Just trying to find a way to get my tunes into my incredibly fun new ride. Anyone out there have any advice or suggestions? Having just bought a new car, I'd hate to have to go buy a new ipod right away, too!

Thanks in advance.

 

It's your iPod. I have an old 60gb iPod photo as well. It's not designed to interface through the dock connector.

 

The MINI interface is finicky about iPods. I have a 30GB iPod Video, and the system recognizes it and provides an interface - but it doesn't charge the iPod while playing, and for some reason, it runs the battery down pretty quickly.

I finally just got an in-car iPod charger, and I use the audio patch cable if I want to listen to iPod tunes, ignoring the USB port entirely.

Spridget

 

Thanks for the feedback, guys. It just seemed odd to me that MINI took the time to build a list of phones that are compatible with the Bluetooth integration, but didn't do the same for ipods if they aren't all compatible. And while I understand that future-proofing integration with a company like Apple, that will change their interfaces on occasion can't be guaranteed, I'm still scratching my head on how an older generation device that has and has had integration with other interfaces couldn't be supported.

Oh well...

 

The iPod 60GB photo was originally introduced as USB or Firewire compatible. Not only does the MINI interface have some tweaks with older model iPods, so do most computers. My iPod 60GB for some reason won't connect to my computer via USB, Apple has informed me this is a normal issue and to use the Firewire cable. So, it could be a combination of iPod and Car. I just got a new 2011 MC with bluetooth and iPod interface. The car won't recognize my iPod 60GB Photo in USB mode. My older 2003 MINI with glove box integration did just fine, but something about this being USB now and not direct to the stereo is messing up. Oh well, my phone works fine.