Fitting MP3 Head Unit?

[Chris A]

I'm a total newbie at this - I've never fitted any ICE stuff to a car in the past so this may be a stupid question.

I have the standard Radio WAVE/6 CD player and I want to install an MP3 head unit. Will this stop my 6 CD multichanger from working? If not, will it be able to play MP3s off my multichanger disks as well?

Can I just walk into halfords and buy any head unit or do I need to get one which is compatible with my car? Are there any MP3 units available for under £150? Cheapest I've seen is the Sony MP40 I think - is this good?

Thanks in advance for any help and sorry for the silly questions

[ButtonIt]

Check through the FAQ's and do a couple of searches. You may bring up some more info (I'm not a techie). Also, try Mikeythemini at New Mini Spares in the sponsors directory.

If you do buy an aftermarket Head unit you will need the fascia adaptor, wiring adaptor and aerial adaptor in order for it to fit and work properley.

The wiring and fascia adaptors can be readily purchased at any halfords store. (The BMW 5 series wiring adaptor works perfectly fine in the MINI)

[randap]

AFAIK, you can't use an aftermarket HU with the CD changer prep cable, nor can you use an MP3 multichanger with the standard wave / boost HU (I may be wrong on the second point). To play MP3 disks, the player, whether it is a HU or a changer has to be MP3 compatible. You can have a non-MP3 HU with an MP3 changer, but the HU must be able to control MP3 changers and to be any good, display the ID3 tags (name, track title etc.).

It may be that your best option is to get an MP3 HU (I have the Sony MP40 which is great and cheap) and run a new cable to a boot mounted multichanger such as the Sony MP3 compatible unit MINI advertises (I plan to do this at some point even though you can get 14 albums on one CD).

If you want to save money, I'd just get the MP3 HU (you won't miss your changer 'cos you can get so much on a single CD in MP3 format), then wait a while before getting an MP3 changer, or you can get good deals on combos at most car stereo retailers.

P.S. Halfords are expensive - my MP40 cost me £129 almost a year ago.

P.P.S. You can use any HU, providing you can get the appropriate interface cable. Check out NewMiniStuff.com for details on available interface cables and adapters.

[mikeythemini]

"I have the standard Radio WAVE/6 CD player and I want to install an MP3 head unit. Will this stop my 6 CD multichanger from working? If not, will it be able to play MP3s off my multichanger disks as well?"
As said above the mini cd changer won't work with aftermarket radios
"Can I just walk into halfords" EEK "and buy any head unit or do I need to get one which is compatible with my car?" ANy unit will fit but you will need a wave fitting kit.
"Are there any MP3 units available for under £150?"Panasonic MP3 4*50w £119