[Neeshil]

Just letting you guys know that I successfully got my iPod installed in my mini with the 2003 stereo.

I used a CD-Rom connector cable and a $2.50 3.5mm stereo plug from **** Smith Electronics, a bit of solder and hey presto.

Hardest bit was soldering.

So yes, the 2003 mini stereo DOES have AUX port (contrary to what all the service people claimed).

I will post more details on the procedure if you guys want it.

Neeshil

[bkwalker]

hey neeshil,

do you think you could describe how you connected your ipod a little more?

ive got a 2002 cooper s, (not sure if i have the AUX port... where is it located so i can check it out...

and what do u mean by a CD-Rom connector cable... what is that? i am not very informed on electronics too much haha

do you put the cd-rom connector cable into the AUX port and then solder the stereo plug to the CD-drom connector cable?

thanks!
ive been trying to solve this problem for a long time!!! just hope ive got the AUX port!

[Darryl]

Good work Neeshill.

Much appreciated if you could post some further details

[Neeshil]

Ok, basically I looked at the AUX topics in the ICE forums on this board.

I may put some info/pics up on my website in next few days to help but here goes...

Summarised as follows:

- Check the instrucitions in the DIY FAQ's on Mini2 for removal of Centre Tubing and Removal of Stereo. (I got some hex keys for this)

- Get a CD-Rom connector cable. Put simply this is inside your PC and is what goes from the back of the CD-Rom to your Sound card. These can be gotten froma computer shop for negligible cost (mine were free, but I can't see it being more than $2-$5) (The reason for CD-Rom connector cable is the plugs fit securely into the AUX port on back of Head Unit (HU).

- Get a 3.5mm stereo plug (male or female depending on what you want) I got male. from DickSmith Electronics or similar. ($2.50 for gold plug)

- CD-Rom connector cable has 1 row of 4 pins. We need 2 rows for the connection to the back of Aux. ie AUX port has 2 rows of 6 pins. (12 pins total). We use pins 3 and 4 (row 1 for AUX-Left+ AUX-Right+) and also Pin 10 which is on row 2 (for AUX L/R -). So 3 pins total used.

So just pretend there are 4 wires on the cable. Red, White, Yellow, Black. Black will not be used. (Or whichever one you want)

So basically what you do is rip one of the plugs off one end of the connector. So now you have connector at one end and free wires at the other.

At the free wire end solder on the 3.5mm plug. I used Red and White for L/R and Yellow for L/R-.

So now we have one end with a stereo plug and one end with a connector plug.

All we have to do is pull the yellow wire out of the connector plug and put it into the second connector plug (which we took off other end). So now we have 1 stereo plug on one end, and 2 connector plugs on other end.

Plug this in to back of stereo. Test it out (plug iPod in, press Play and press MODE twice (Radio -> CD-> AUX) and it should work. Feed the wire through behind stereo and down behind the stereo/AC/toggle switches down to carpet at bottom, and replace everything.

And presto there you go!

Hope that all makes sense! If you want me to clarify anything just ask

[bkwalker]

wow!
thats awesome!
thanks for all the details.. now i just gotta make sure ive got that AUX port! haha

cheers!

[Neeshil]

Yeah I forgot to mention make sure you have the AUX port on the HU. I think all sept 2002 builds and after have it.

Best way to check is hold down M when you turn on stereo. It will start scanning, keep it pressed. Then it will come with serial number.

Press + or - button and it should bring up SV xxxxx 41 or SV xxxx 50. If it is 50 then you are in luck. 41 is older version which doesn't have it. (or so it appears from the other topic in the forums)

Just make sure you don't press any other buttons in this mode as it can change settings.

Neeshil

[Neeshil]

Also CD-Rom connector cable = CD-Rom AUDIO connector cable, not the data one.

[bkwalker]

ooo i'll check now.. ive got a july build 2002 so i;ll have to see

thanks though

[bkwalker]

yeah no luck for me ive got the 41 which is too early

oh well...
thanks for the help anyway

[Neeshil]

Grr... what a pain! I think the only alternative is the BlitzSafe adapter which plugs in the boot to the CD-Changer cable and lets you run your ipod throug that.

I think it is about US$100.

Neeshil

Quote:

Originally posted by bkwalker
yeah no luck for me ive got the 41 which is too early

oh well...
thanks for the help anyway

[FLiPSiDE]

haha well.. i just installed a blitzsafe adaptor
and i have a sept2002 build car..
i'll check my version number when i pick my car up this afternoon and see.. i mite sell off the blitzsafe and give it a go (also saves having the RCA's running from the front 2 rear of the car) and i'd prefer it sez "aux" than cd1-99 looks a little more pro like

thanks for the info

edit - just checked the loan cooper S i have today while my cars in.. its august build and has the 50 so has aux in as well

[Darryl]

Thats my thoughts exactly Flipside, I was going to order a blitzsafe this morning.

The phone installer reckons theres no pinouts on our headunit (Dec 02) but he's wired up the phonekit so it mutes the sound on the H/U when the phones working. The wording phone also displays so I'm presuming he's used some of these pinouts for this.

I'll have to check......

[bkwalker]

FLIPSIDE,

if you're looking to sell your blitzsafe, i think i may be your man...

i have a july build S and i cant hook up the ipod to the AUX, so i have to do the cd changer method, which i actually dont think is too bad, (besides the price of the blitzsafe)
u can conceal the cables pretty well but running them under the back seats and down the carpet line etc...


where abouts did u order your blitzsafe from.. and how much???

cheers

[FLiPSiDE]

i bought mine off someone selling it on mini2 for sale section

checked my deck today, its the older model and the august build car i had today wasnt.. how the hell does that make any sense? bah!


any1 with a mini thinking of or already bought a new headunit? i wanna swap for a newer head unit

[Darryl]

So much for the phone guy saying theres no pinouts etc on the back of the headunit!! he's used pins 6 & 12 on the same block as the Aux input mod (block C?) for the phone muting.

I'll have to chase up some connectors that will slide inro the factory block as this is what the phone installer has done.

[Darryl]

I've hooked up the Aux mod over the weekend on our HK equipped MCS - so much for the Australian BMW tech guys opinion!!

A real no brainer of a mod once you get the correct fittings. We already had the 12 spot plastic block in the back of the headunit that the phone guy had tapped into, I only had to buy some new connectors and slide them into the pinout holes in the block, works a charm - sounds great.

We've now got the Aux wording and the Aux volume level control appearing on the Head Unit when the ipod is connected

FWIW, If you didn't want to do the mod yourself it wouldn't take a local stereo shop much longer than an hour to complete, they'd also have access to all the correct fittings, tools etc... I was lucky I found I had a torx screwdriver in the garage to use to get the HU out.

[Lucinda]

Hey folks,

I've got a Cooper S with a june 2002 build. I've got my Ipod running through an FM modulator I had installed at HiFi Buys, but you can probably have it done at any decent auto audio shop.
The cable hangs down from the behind the stereo. Works perfectly--I have a hidden toggle switch which flips between the modulator and the FM antenna.
I am looking for a good mounting option.

[bkwalker]

hi, ive got a july 2002 build Cooper S also!

i have no idea how to connect my ipod without buying the updated CD player with the AUX port..
\can you tell me about this modulator??

thanks

[^UB^]

Just wondering how u guys are mounting your Ipods in the car!?

I currently just stick it in the cup holder, but it can get a little dangerous looking down that far to browse songs and drive at the same time.

The price for the MINI telephone kit is $227.65 from the dealer, is there a more economical way to do this!? and it would be great if the Ipod can be mounted further up like near the techo so u dont have to stray your eyes too far to operate it.

[Neeshil]

yeah i just use the cup holder. I basically keep mine on random and just reach down and click next each time and cycle through songs.

as you said its a bit dangerous trying to look at it that far down.

I think I saw somewhere holders that grip on to the two posts down either side of the stereo. I think they are meant for pda's but were adjustable. Can't remember where I saw them.

(I think it was linked from somewhere inthe forum... maybe check the ICE section..)