When we picked our MINI last night, I was surprised to find that this interface is placed in middle of what was going to be some great storage (i.e. secret compartment). Not only does it take up most of the space, but it looks like they took out the plastic compartment liner. So now you can see to the back of the dash.

So does anybody have a suggestion on how to relocate this thing?

I haven't looked at it too closely, but at the minimum I would expect to:

1) Find an appropriate spot to relocate (under the passenger seat?)

2) Re-route and extend power, radio connection, and iPod interface.

3) Re-install OEM compartment liner.

If anyone has done this, I would like to hear what challenges they encountered or suggestions they may have. Of course, if anyone things that I'm biting off more than I can chew, I'd be happy to hear that as well. Thanks in advance!

 

I am not so sure they should of removed the liner.

Check the instructions here

 

Thanks for the info! I'll be taking these with me to the dealer and have them fix it properly. From what I can make out, they didn't install the module deep enough to allow the storage tray to be installed appropriately. This probably explains why the interface cable is going through the glove box. Thanks again for the shop manual docs!

 

There is a factory IPOD STOWAGE BOX FOR STORAGE COMPARTMENT
PART # 65150428922, that is what they should have installed at the dealer. If I were you I would take my car to the dealer and I would write them up to MINI headquarters, so MINI knows which dealers are doing that kind of
work.

 

May be a bit late, but the pic below shows how my dealer installed the Ipod adapter, and the "box" was already installed from the factory.

 

Is the Ipod itself sitting in a tray to keep it from moving around in your storage compartment? It was hard for me to see exactly what I'm looking at in your photo. And did they make any modifications other than providing a hole for the Ipod connector to come into that compartment?

 

Thanks for the comments, links and photos on this thread. I talked to the accessories guy at my dealer and he is going to rectify the issue. He has ordered the part and when it comes in he's giving me a loaner for the day, even though he believes it would only be a 15 minute fix.

Here's a picture of the current install. I'm hoping it looks like Tharkun's pic after the install...

 

Sorry for being slow again............just took some better pics, hope they help.
We have the 80 gig Ipod and have it one of the Iskin protectors (link below) the Iskin just happens to make the
Ipod the right size that once connected to Skeeter it stays in place, with no movement at all.
Skeeter arrived from the factory with the little black box in place, seems dealers nick ya for $10
if you don't have it, all the installer did was feed the wires thru the top.

http://www.iskin.com/

 

That is a very poor install, if they charge extra for the "black box" they should have made it clear that it was an option.

 

I agree. The Sales Manager's been alerted and I'll be talking to him directly when I drop the car off. Why the installer or my MA would actually think that was acceptable is beyond me.

 

Since they made the offer of a loaner, seems like they may have realized the error and are at least making an attempt to make you happy. Hope all ends well, and I would take the Ipod along with and do a test, could save a return trip again.

 

BTW, It looks like your iPod is painted and has a clear case. Is this right? If so, how did you get it painted?

FYI... I have a 30 GB U2 Video iPod. Of course, I would upgrade to the iPod Touch if they could get the RAM to 64 GB. Maybe next year...

 

The Ipod has one of the iSkin Claro slims on it to change the color to purple along with added protection from scratches.
They are available on the same site as the iSkin, link is in other post.

 

Thanks. The extra photos helped me figure it out. In the original, I couldn't see that you had a clip on the back from the Iskin. I think the $10 part is an Ipod insert that holds the Ipod still in the secret compartment.

 

You could be correct, all I have to go by is the one that the parts department had at my dealer and it was just like the one that was in Skeeter so passed on it. That is the way the description on their web page describes it, when I asked about the "special mounting position" they suggested velcro.

 

Hey Tharkun,

Our band new iPod adapter install looks just like yours (it was installed at the VPC). However, I've been under the impression that it was installed up-side-down...

From what I've read, I thought that the little rubber pad (shown in your photos) is supposed to be on the bottom of the compartment and not on the top. It is there to stop the iPod from sliding around inside the compartment. I was going to complain about this the next time our new MINI was in for service, but now I see your's is the exact same way.

Any ideas/comments???

 

Our IPOD adapter set up (also installed at VPC) came with the rubber pad installed on the bottom of the compartment, and it does help the IPOD to not slide around.

 

Hmm...

I kind of figured that. It looks like both our's and Tharkun's were installed up-side-down.

Idiots!

Thanks for the reply.

 

We finally got our tray installed by the dealer on Wednesday. We had it back about an hour after we dropped it off at the service bay. Our install has the rubber on the bottom of the tray.

 

D'oh!

This is very frustrating. You'd think that this wouldn't happen with a VDC install. One of the reasons I opted to have our iPod adapter installed at the VDC is because I figured that they would have more experience with the installs (after doing so many). Apparently not!

I'm really hoping that the fix is as simple as removing the cubbie and then putting it back in right-side-up. However, I can imagine that it's going to require a whole new cubbie be ordered in order to have the cuts put in the proper location. Oy!!!

 

Ya they installed it upside down and I have not bothered to go back and have it changed, and mine was installed at the dealer. So it seems it does not matter where one has it installed, it is a 50/50 thing of having it wrong.

 

Go figure...

Well, I'm going to ask my dealer to correct the install as I keep hearing my iPod nano slide around in the secret compartment. If the rubber pad was on the bottom (as it should be), I'm sure that wouldn't be happening.

Thanks for the info.

 

Mine was actually installed in the glove compartment instead of the secret compartment. I can't be bothered to go back and have it installed correctly.

 

I asked my MA about this and apparently the VDC used to install the adapters in the glove box (this happened to Gabe over at MotoringFile.com with his new MINI). However, they've now switched over to installing them in the secret compartment. I just wish they were smart enough to know which way was right-side-up though.

I really don't want to be bothered by taking our new car in to get this fixed either, but with as much money as they screwed us over for on this thing, you can be darn sure that I'm not going to let them get away with it. Hell, for the profit they made on us, they should send someone to our houses in order to fix the darn thing!

 

Compared to the install for roverlandpark, I guess having it installed upsdie down is minor.

The Iskin case does keep the Ipod from any movement, but the next time Skeeter is back in the shop, I'll have them install it correctly.............just expecting what I paid for.