A few of the minis i have looked at 08 onwards only seem to have an aux socket and no USB is the sound quality using this connection any good? I realise i would have to control the music from the ipod but i would just put it on shuffle and leave it anyway. Also can the dealers retro fit the usb or some other method of getting full control of the ipod from the steering wheel controls.

Thanks

Mine is an 09 and i use that socket for my iphone, only downer is i have to switch track on the phone itself, not the integrated controls.

If you use a 3.5mm jack to jack ie headphones out on iPod to aux in on Mini, sound not bad but volume on iPod needs to be high as the headphone socket is regulated/limited so as not to damage your ears.
What you need is an Apple dock lead to 3.5mm jack. The sound reproduction is much better. You can buy them for about £3 on eBay. I've just bought two and they work fine.
Our Mini is a 10 reg and we get all the track info in the radio display using this method and the radio function buttons on the steering wheel operate the iPod as well ie volume, change track etc.
Hope that helps.

If you use a 3.5mm jack to jack ie headphones out on iPod to aux in on Mini, sound not bad but volume on iPod needs to be high as the headphone socket is regulated/limited so as not to damage your ears.
What you need is an Apple dock lead to 3.5mm jack. The sound reproduction is much better. You can buy them for about £3 on eBay. I've just bought two and they work fine.
Our Mini is a 10 reg and we get all the track info in the radio display using this method and the radio function buttons on the steering wheel operate the iPod as well ie volume, change track etc.
Hope that helps.

So you have an apple connection on one end and then a 3.5mm jack on the other and this allows the steering wheel controls to control the ipod? If this is the case you have just solved my problem do you have a picture of the cable concerned? You arent using a usb connection at all? Sorry for all the questions but the car is having the dash out this week for another job and if i am going to have to shell out for the bmw interface it will be better to do it now but maybe i dont need this? Sorry for all the questions but its for the wife and if it isnt right im not liking the look of the camp bed in the garage lol

I can get a cable like you descibe from maplins for about £15 so will give it a go tomorrow before i speak to mini

Cheers guys

Hi fatminiman,
Search on eBay for this item number: 140529316021

or this description.

USB 3.5mm AUX Audio/Charger Cable iPod/iPhone 4 3G 3GS.

It is a dual purpose lead. Not only does it give you music out via the 3.5mm jack but the USB plug charges the iPod/iPhone as well.

I've bought 2. One for the wife's iPod to use in the house and one for my iPhone 4. They both work perfectly. £2.95 inc p&p. Very quick despatch. If you ordered one tonight you'd probably get it Wednesday.

We've got a mini 2010 Cooper S fitted with Boost CD/radio and MFSW with volume control and cruise control (if that makes any difference)?
The buttons on the steering wheel will increase and decrease volume and change tracks.
The 2 line display below the speedo shows either album info or track. I think you can also select volume, genre and shuffle. You can also skip tracks with the arrow buttons on the radio controls.
Hope that helps - good luck.

Hi fatminiman,
Having considered my post, I think I may have given you a bum steer. I got a bit confused as I have a Sony and an iPod. It's my Sony MP3 player when plugged in the USB port that gives all the functionality and integration but the lead I mentioned for the iPod does give superior sound performance as compared to the headphones jack and it will let you charge it as well. Still worth it for £3 IMO.
Sorry if it raised your hopes falsely.

No probs having been quoted a massive amount to have the proper mini ipod dock installed (over £600) i will have to just buy a new mp3 player and leave it on shuffle. To be honest im not that impressed with Itunes software anyway so will go shopping today thanks for all your advice anyway. The thought of reloading all my music into itunes to put it on an ipod isnt my idea of a great way to spend the next three weeks lol so the wife will just have to live with it.