OEM Minidisc Head Unit

[CCC]

Here's a question for some smart a**e

load a minidisc that has run on Sony MD Walkman, Sony HIFI deck, Kenwood KMD673 and Blaupunkt Dallas with no problems at all.

Load it/them into Mini Alpine (OEM) unit and it chunks away for a moment or to then spits it out and displays 'MD ERROR'.

Does not matter what make of MD used TDK, Maxall or Sony same thing happens. They are not longplay just standard 74 or 80 minute.

Now here's the thing, some of them actually work but not many.

I have a large collection and cannot now use most of them. Other than that it headunit works fine, no problem including changer in boot.

Its really p**ing me off now.

The unit is not new , Oct 2001 and in good condition. I bought is on ebay a few weeks ago for going rate, and installed it at the weekend. The supplier may well be getting it back very soon, but that is an ebay issue and yes buyer beware.

Has anyone had a issue like this? or have I indeed got 'a pig in a poke'?

[monsta]

Quote: Originally Posted by CCC

Here's a question for some smart a**e

load a minidisc that has run on Sony MD Walkman, Sony HIFI deck, Kenwood KMD673 and Blaupunkt Dallas with no problems at all.

Load it/them into Mini Alpine (OEM) unit and it chunks away for a moment or to then spits it out and displays 'MD ERROR'.

Does not matter what make of MD used TDK, Maxall or Sony same thing happens. They are not longplay just standard 74 or 80 minute.

Now here's the thing, some of them actually work but not many.

I have a large collection and cannot now use most of them. Other than that it headunit works fine, no problem including changer in boot.

Its really p**ing me off now.

The unit is not new , Oct 2001 and in good condition. I bought is on ebay a few weeks ago for going rate, and installed it at the weekend. The supplier may well be getting it back very soon, but that is an ebay issue and yes buyer beware.

Has anyone had a issue like this? or have I indeed got 'a pig in a poke'?

Sounds like a faulty unit, I was originally going to suggest that it was a LP disc as you get the same response.

I guess it means that the disc can't be read.

Word of warning, I have recently discovered that the MD unit I bought from MINI2 about 2 years ago wasn't part of the recall back nearer the launch of the MINI and as a result it has been causing flat battery problems.

[CCC]

many thanks for your coments, just about what I thought.
Was not aware of recall issue but don't think that applies here.

Little point in getting it repaired if unit is NFG, as repair will probably out way value of unit I suppose.

cheers
Chris

[russ.mackay]

Sounds like a faulty unit. I had one which worked fine on all my old MDs. You'd be better off with an aftermarket one though. The OEM one is rubbish, No track name display etc.

[CCC]

Well that just about confirms my suspicions.

The only reason I wanted to stay with OEM unit is the integration, ie finish and display colour. Although OEM unit is basic it is unlikely to get nicked as nobody in right mind could be bothered. However how BMW can justify £500+ for this unit is beyond me!

Aftermarket MD headunits are no longer plentiful, effectively only Sony are staying loyal to this format. I find it disappointing as this format is better suited to in car far more than CD or cassette.

In my case there is point having CD headunit as I have OEM CD changer on boot. Am I right in assuming that only Sony will interface to it?


I quite like a Sony MDX-M690 or even MDXF5800 at a push. Does anyone have any experience of these?