[daz78]

Hi,

I've been searching all the forums but cannot seem to find an answer.

Back in July we've bought an 03 Cooper S in Indy Blue for my wife. It's got leather, sunroof, and the chilli pack. It's a great little car but has one major problem - it's got a stupid Boost Cassette player at the front and a cd changer at the back. I cannot see why a 2003 car will have a cassette player installed!

We've considered upgrading the stereo to an aftermaker one, or getting a BMW original cd headunit which plays MP3s. The problems with an aftermarket is mostly making it more of a target to thieves, and the illumination not exactly matching the dash - which leaves us with the BMW headunit option.

I was told that the MP3 boost headunits have a kind of flat and wide volume knob rather then thin and long, but found similar units which did not play mp3s.

So can anyone please provide the part numbers of the Boost CD players which play MP3s? Any any details how to recognise them (such as built date, stickers, etc)

Thanks a lot! Looking forward to attend a meet in summer

Darren

[slim_boy_fat]

I'm in a similar position to yourself, but i dont have the CD changer!!

I hate after market head units and would rather get one that look OE, any info would be greatly recieved.

[oldnell]

The earlier units are all made by Alpine. Later units may be Seimens VDO or Alpine.

Alpine Boost CD


Seimens VDO Boost CD


Darren, as you have the Boost radio/cassette you should be OK to just swap over the head units. If you had the Wave version, you'd need an extra £30 cable.

Hope this helps

Oli

[daz78]

Hi Oldnell,

thanks for your help and photos! Much appreciated.

Just one more question - so can I assume that any Boost cd which looks like the VDO model plays mp3s?

thanks again and happy new year

Darren

[oldnell]

Hi there

I'm almost certain the answer to your question is yes. I have one I bought through eBay and I haven't managed to make it play MP3 CDs. Then again, I actually bought it to go along with a Dension 300 to play MP3 from a USB memory stick, so haven't bothered to try very hard.

Also, be aware that having an MP3 capable head unit won't let you play MP3 CDs via your CD changer.

Finally, the MP3 capability on this unit does not extend to giving you track titles. You just get a folder number and track number, which is not really very good at all.

Hope this helps

Oli

[slim_boy_fat]

Can i assume either would slot straight in and be operated via the MFSW?

[DaFlake]

Oli is close...

They are not new and old but rather two different models that do two different things. The top radio is mad by Alpine and is sold mainly to the USA market. This unit is still being put in cars (cabrios) going to the USA. It is a boost unit and the 2004+ version of it will play MP3.

The second radio is a Siemens VDO model which will do the same as above but has one extra feature. It will also decode TMC here in Europe allowing us with NAV to get traffic updates on our systems. The USA market does not have TMC so there is no need for the more expensive radio.

If you have boost, either of these radios will fit right in with no code or cables needed. However, as Oli mentioned, you will need a wave to boost converter if you have a Wave (round pin). Any OEM radio will work with the steering buttons. You will also need to make sure the headunit is a 2004+ to play MP3's (either model), the older version will not do it.

Lastly, the best place to get the parts you might need is...

NewMINIStuff.com

[daz78]

Quote: Originally Posted by oldnell (original)

Hi there

I'm almost certain the answer to your question is yes. I have one I bought through eBay and I haven't managed to make it play MP3 CDs. Then again, I actually bought it to go along with a Dension 300 to play MP3 from a USB memory stick, so haven't bothered to try very hard.

Also, be aware that having an MP3 capable head unit won't let you play MP3 CDs via your CD changer.

Finally, the MP3 capability on this unit does not extend to giving you track titles. You just get a folder number and track number, which is not really very good at all.

Hope this helps

Oli

Hi Oli,

This Dension 300 sounds interesting (just looked around on the net for it). Will it work with the radio casette (it's a Boost) whilst retaining the MFSW controls, or does it need a CD Boost to work?

MP3s off a USB stick is far better for me then using cds. I don't mind loosing the cd changer, as I can fit that in my E46 bmw and gain some more space in the Mini's boot

[oldnell]

Hi Darren

I thought the Dension might temp you.

Here's my honest opinion of the Dension.

It's not for everyone. The navigation is a little fiddly. On my previous MP3-capable CD player I had folder up and down buttons as well as the usual previous and next track buttons and have found the Dension a backward step.

The manual is absolutely dreadful. It is one of those manuals that is only useful if you already know how it works.

The volume level is a bit low on mine and I know I'm not the only one who's made this observation.

However, it's still a brilliantly clever piece of kit. The support guys responded to my questions over a weekend when I had an issue with the optional Bluetooth phone bit and sent me new firmware.

Mikey at NewMINIStuff.com is definitely the place to get this stuff from. It's where I bought mine from and he'll make sure you get the right bits for your car and will upload the correct configuration for you (well he did for me, anyway). I would also check with Mikey whether you'll get scrolling text with the head unit you have, otherwise navigating the songs is going to be a pain.

It will work with your existing head unit and will work through the MFSW. As for mounting the USB socket, I found the best plan was to take the cable through the grille that is just below the toggle-switch bank. That way it's out of sight and you don't need to damage the fascia by drilling a hole.

Personally, I took the opportunity to buy the oddments tray retrofit kit from my dealer (it was only about £5) as you'll be dismantling that bit of the dashboard anyway to fit a new stereo or the Dension unit. I'd definitely recommend doing this as you have a pre-facelift car and the oddments tray is a nice extra.

RealOEM.COM * BMW R50 One 1.6i RETROFIT F ODDMENTS TRAY CENTER CONSOLE

Losing the CD changer would not be a problem. As you say, the extra boot space would probably be more use!

Cheers

Oli

[daz78]

Again,

Thanks to everyone for all the feedback on this. I did some more reasearch and I think I have finally found the correct part numbers for the Boost CD player (headunit) which also plays MP3.

Part Number 6512 4154934-01 (June 2005) - New shape but non MP3
Siemens VDO, Part Number 6512 6941367-01 (Aug 2004) MP3 Capable
Siemens VDO, Part Number 6512 9115661-01 (Sep 2006) MP3 Capable

I have also found pictures of the Boost and Wave cassette players, which hopefully can be used for people to identify which system they have installed. (Boost is the one with the split screen whilst Wave has one screen)

Hope someone finds this useful

Darren

[oldnell]

Interesting.

Mine is 6512 6963737-01 (12 04 = Dec 2004) and from what I can tell, it *isn't* MP3 capable. I just assumed that anything made by VDO was. I'll do some more testing, as I'd just assumed it was something about my burning software that the player didn't like.

Thanks

Oli