[mikeythemini]

Well I have tried with the R56, I have got a plug & play fibre optic ipod interface that has great potential - but I just can't do it. The Mini needs programming by a Mini dealer before it will work, & the dealers have said programming for their ipod adaptor or mine can take anything from an hour to a couple of days . What a pity when the inteface can be fitted in 15 mins
I will just have to stick to the icelink lite for the R56

[realevil]

Is this the Denison Gateway 500?

I had hoped it would just work as a CD changer... does that need coding too?

:-( Dont make me buy an Ipod!!!

[mikeythemini]

cd changer also needs coding

[realevil]

Do Denison know about this? Surely if you cannot do it, its very unlikely anyone else will be able to. Or do they assume that everyone has access to a Mini computer system!

[CC07ERS]

This must be a first then Mikey ?

[realevil]

So does this mean the only way to control an Ipod from the MFSW/Boost Radio is via the official Mini Ipod kit?

But if the car had a CD changer you could swap that for the Ipod link Mikey?

I wonder if dealers offer CD Changer prep?

[mikeythemini]

If the car had a changer then yes the gateway would work

[mikeythemini]

It really ****** me off they way they have done this - firstly making it so you cant change the stereo should you want something decent, then locking the software to stop you adding things - especially when the software is so bad the dealers are having trouble even adding genuine Mini parts
This alone will stop me ever buying another Mini - the one I have got is for keeps

[mini-phantom]

Quote: Originally Posted by realevil (original)

I wonder if dealers offer CD Changer prep?

I have mine with a CD Changer prep but no CD changer installed so it is possible.

[envy]

Shame

BMW de-engineering their own technology. I guess they thought that everyone should only use a BMW Sound System, and BMW Accessories.

Boost system was poor compared to others, Hi-FI OK, but not great, no ICELink/Dension, No Aftermarket sound systems.

Well at least we can mod the speakers

[memnon]

I don't understand why uploading a piece of firmware is such a hit and miss affair.

Is the procedure that complicated that many dealers get it wrong or is the nature of the connection
(slow serial line) together with the size of the file that generate the fail rate?

In any case, I totally agree that this sucks, I was really hoping of getting a third party solution
for connecting my iPod with the Boost system I have ordered.

memnon.

[d9hug]

Out of interest does the ipod kit need to be present to update the firmware?

[realevil]

The Mini dealer I just got my car from have offered me the official IPod kit for £175 all in (they screwed up slightly delivery of my car, and now it has 1 or two small rattles so I complained, mentioned i might want the Ipod kit and they offered it to me at that price).

Is it worth going for? I appreciate its Ipod only, but is it worse than the solution you were going to offer Mikey?

I have heard some negative comments (mainly around startup speed) about it, but I wonder if all devices like this are a bit slow at first whilst it 'inspects' the media on the device.

[MINIMANIAUK]

Looks like BMW/MINI are protecting their aftermarket sales!! If they have made the Hi Fi /ipod so difficult makes me wonder how they have protected the engine ECU from remaps.
On the earlier car MINI made some changes for no obvious reason other than cause the aftermarket supplier grief.
Chin up mate - the aftermarket is good at fighting back ,perhaps a new tailored dash with the standard DIN fitment? or center console? in boot amp /cd/ipod with remote control?
Oh yeah........warranty tactics

[CC07ERS]

I thaught that all Minis came with cd changer prep as standard ?

[TheBigNewt]

Quote: Originally Posted by CC07ERS (original)

I thaught that all Minis came with cd changer prep as standard ?

You're only gonna know if you plug something into the cd changer port in back and see if the cd changer option comes up in the audio options. Either way it's just going to be a connection, similar to the aux-in port you already have. To control the iPod you need the software, and only the dealers have access to that. The entire ipod/Mini interface deal was poorly thought out and WAY overpriced. One guy who got it with the Nav, his dealer could not install the program after over a week, had to get a new unit put in, and now he's afraid to try again. If you have the Nav forget the iPod connector until they get it figured out.

[ned78]

All R56 MINIs do come with CD Changer Prep as standard.

[mikeythemini]

Yes they all come with cd prep - but it is turned off in the stereo

[Purple Dave]

[quote=TheBigNewt;3031002]You're only gonna know if you plug something into the cd changer port in back and see if the cd changer option comes up in the audio options. Either way it's just going to be a connection, similar to the aux-in port you already have. To control the iPod you need the software, and only the dealers have access to that. The entire ipod/Mini interface deal was poorly thought out and WAY overpriced. One guy who got it with the Nav, his dealer could not install the program after over a week, had to get a new unit put in, and now he's afraid to try again. If you have the Nav forget the iPod connector until they get it figured out.[/QUOTE]

I think it must be a US problem because I have nav and ipod and have done since beginning of Jan. Works fine and the dealer didn't have too much trouble with it and it was his first install.

According to my dealer all new BMW's are having trouble with software coding. For no apparent reason it can fail after a couple of hours and needs restarting. My sat nav update took 2 days due to system crashes - but accoeding to the dealer thats not unusual on a new BMW

[Coffeeman]

I've been told that Sirius for the U.S. also needs coding by the dealer.