***RESOLVED*** 03' UK MCS with HK and Sat Nav, want to get TMC to work?

[S33BBY]

On my 2006 Cooper, TMC works 'out of the box' and the sat nav voice is fine when it is enabled. You may know this already though...

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by F355GTS

Flakemeister,

I think you will still need a Euro head unit, my UK pre '05 Head unit was Alpine and did not support TMC, plugged in the later one (not sure of make, no markings) and it worked first time, well as soon as I selected RDS-TMC.

As it happens I find myself close to you on Saturday July 8th. We are meeting with some friends at Hockenheim services and going onto Switzerland. I could bring my Head unit for you to try, time is a bit tight so if your car could be ready with the current head unit removed it would be a 5 minute job to test it then you would know that an investment in one is good or bad, for the sound it is a fairly simple job to rewire, I'm going to speak to Mike at Newminiparts about making a simple kit for those that need it, sadly can't leave the head unit with you as we are then going to Italy for two weeks and returning a different way.

Rakey

I'll do that, I'll get some pics together and write a procedure

F355GTS,

Thanks for the offer, but unfortunately I am in the process of a move. On July 3rd I will be moving to Grafenwoeher Germany, about 3 hours east. Like you, I have the Alpine unit that does not support TMC. I am currently bidding on a radio on e-bay, but I might have better luck going to the dealer for one. The good news is that it worked. I have wanted to try a new HU for some time, but have been so busy that I haven't had a chance. Having someone confirm this just makes me want to get one even more.

[ceegee]

Hi,

any news on the pin placement of the audio interface?
To get TMC, I also swapped the old "Boost" radio of my '03 MCS with an eBay acquired 7/2005 Boost-unit and lost the nav-voice as well (I have H/K). It doesn't bother me that much, but I'd prefer to get the voice back even though I rarely use it. It's just the matter of having the full functionality and possibility, you know...

Christian

[F355GTS]

Christian

I'm going to redo it on ours and take pics along the way then post it in the DIY bit but basically this is what to do

you will need
2 x 2.5 metres .5mm sq cable ideally Yellow/Red and Yellow/Brown but any two colours will do
2 x Inline conenctors that are fully insulated
connector, pins for Head unit

disconnect battery
remove r/h seat (disconnect the 2 or 3 connectors underneath)

Undo the plate holding the Nav DVD/Computer and turn it over. remove the blue connector from the rear and then approx 100mm from the plug cut the Yellow/Red and Yellow/Brown wires. tape up the ends that continue into the loom to avoid any shorting. Join your two new wires to the 100mm wires coming from the Blue plug. reconnect the blue plug to the Nav computer

Pull the door seal away from the plastic cover and then lever the plastic cover away towards the centre of the car

Trace the large bunch of wires going into the sill, you will find a rubber grommet that slides into the edge of the plastic tray, you need to make a small extra hole in this to take your 2 wires out and into the cill. Route these wires forward and on a rhd car up and across above the pedals (ensure they are well secured) and route them to the back of the head unit

refit the Sill trim and Nav unit and replace the seat (don't forget to reconnect the 2 or 3 plugs underneath (this must be done before reconnecting the battery or you will get an airbag warning light and need a dealer to reset)

You need to connect the Yellow/Red to pin 5 and Yellow/Brown to Pin 11 of pin C as per the attached diagram.

reconnect battery

To get the pins/connectors I'd contact New Mini Stuff or maybe a more local car audio shop, the pins on the head unit are very small and you will need the correct fitting to make it work

Lastly all the volmue functions shoudl work inc Nav volume in screen settings, adjustment via head unit volume control (whether on or off) and you can set the muting level on the head unit within the HK menu

[DaFlake]

Mark,

I got a radio via EBay and will be getting it within the next few days. I was reading your instructions and I am a bit confused. Currently my US Boost radio provides Nav voice via radio. I know of the two leads (provide Nav voice to radio) from installing my Icelink as I accidentally didn't move them the first time. I guess what I am saying is that can't you just move the connectors rather than run a whole new wire?

If they are also used for TMC, what about simply jumping them to the other connector rather than running another wire?

Will

[ceegee]

Hey Mark,

thank you very much for the thourough description! This is very much appreciated. Sounds like some harder work to do but I think it's feasible. I'm waiting for some DIY pictures though :-) Thanks again, I'll try soon.

Christian

[F355GTS]

Flakemaster ,I think you will not need to modify the wires as your car is an '06 not an '03, if you don't get sound then shout!
Christian, No problem, hopefully i will do pics this weekend, shame you are so far away I'd be happy to do it for you, I'm also dropping into our local electrical specialist, Maplins, to see if they do the connectors, I suspect it wouldn't be viable for Mike to get involved, if they do them I'll send them over

[S33BBY]

Mike can do anything.

Best of luck.

[DaFlake]

Quote: Originally Posted by F355GTS

Flakemaster ,I think you will not need to modify the wires as your car is an '06 not an '03, if you don't get sound then shout!
Christian, No problem, hopefully i will do pics this weekend, shame you are so far away I'd be happy to do it for you, I'm also dropping into our local electrical specialist, Maplins, to see if they do the connectors, I suspect it wouldn't be viable for Mike to get involved, if they do them I'll send them over

I'l keep you posted. Hopefully it will get here today.

[DaFlake]

I am here to report that in my 06 it was a simple plug and play!

[S33BBY]

Great news.

[F355GTS]

Flakemeister, that is very good news

S33BBY, I've e-mailed Mike

[DaFlake]

Yes, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it worked without any modification. Especially after I was told by the dealer that I would need a different harness. I guess the new specs still haven't made their way to them yet. Either way, I am getting all traffic reports and distances from me. Very nice to have here in Europe.

[NICKB_MCS]

hi all

this is great news as i have a 05 head unit with MCS 03 HK and i now have TMC but no voice.

from what i can understand the 2 wires you cut are the + and - for the sound from the nav?

would it be possable to follow the wires and see where they go, would they not go to the head unit already but perhaps to diffrent pins?

if they dont go to the head unit, maybe they go somewhere a bit more accessable

ie not having to remove the seat and nav? (this is my lazyness coming through )

keep up the good work!

Nick

[F355GTS]

Nick

I tried to find an easier way too , the wires go to the HK amp in the boot and in the end it was easier to remove the seat than the rear panel etc. I'in touch with Mike to see if he can provide a simple fix ie wires with the right plugs/ connectors etc etc, will let you know when he gets back to me

Happy to help if required