[jpv]

Hi Guys/Girls, ordered my new MC today and twitching away until delivery in August.
Choice of extras was easy until it came to audio and how to fit my soon to be purchased 15GB iPod. Scanned the groups and have learned lots but still a couple of issues that I need to know before I can make a final decision.
So far have ordered Wave, MFSW and CD (don’t really want to change these options unless I have to).
a) To create an aux input at the back of the stereo do I have to perform any permanent damage to anything (ie CD changer connection).
b) What is the Blitzsafe thing.
c) Anyone know how well the iTrip works, particularly the reception quality?
d) Want to control both my iPod and CD player from the MFSW. Can this be done with the SWI-V as it says "The SWI-V converts the steering wheel radio buttons to 'DUAL' multipurpose controls" or must I use SWI-X and then how? See http://www.go2pac.com/products/swi.htm.
d) If I switch between my iPod and CD am I going to get volume level problems (ie one louder than the other)?
d) Still a bit confused by the basics of car audio. What exactly is the head unit - if you remove this what is left. If I removed the Boost and Wave HU's would I have exactly the same stuff left.
e) Do most car stereos have similar remote control mechanisms and are these mostly IR or standard connectors at the back or both?
If anyone can answer any (or all) of these questions I would be deeply and eternally grateful.
Cheers, John.

[olerud400]

PM mikeythemini,

he has everything you could need, including advice
he helped me immeasurably with my stuff.

http://www.newministuff.co.uk/products.htm

Adam

[GBMINI]

We don't have Wave over here - but I thought I read that Wave did not have the AUX input? Maybe I am wrong.

The 2003 Boost (at least here in US) has some pins which can be wired to a cable to give an AUX input which you could connect your iPod to. One day the cable will be available from your local dealership!
The MFSW will control volume of iPod - because it controls volume of everything - but it won't control track, etc.
It might be possible to use the SWI-V to control the iPod via remote while still controlling volume - but I don't see MINI or BMW listed for it.

If the Wave does not have AUX in, you could use the Blitzsafe adaptor to provide an AUX input instead of (or as well as) the CD changer ... but I think you would be better to choose the Boost.

No idea what iTrip is - not available in USA.

You will probably have some volume differences when switching sources - you will probably find some going between CD and radio, or even between different CDs. Many aftermarket stereos allow you to compensate for different input volumes but I don't think the stock MINI units have any such feature.

A head unit ("HU") is the "music creating" bit of your car stereo - it is the whole Wave or Boost unit. It has the radio receiver, CD (or cassette) player, user controls and amplifiers.
It sends signals which go to the speakers so you can hear the music.
If you remove the Boost or Wave head unit, all you have left is wires and speakers.

Special case is the Harmon Kardon upgrade, which takes the output of the Boost head unit and further amplifies and manipulates it before sending it to the speakers.

Many aftermarket car stereos have IR remotes but they all have their own special signals - a Sony remote won't control an Alpine stereo. Also some manufacturers do have special IR signals!
The SWI-X works by receiving the codes from the MFSW and then transmitting IR signals which you taught it using the remote that came with the new stereo (eg: press button on steering wheel, press button to mimic on remote).
The SWI-X has an IR "eye" which needs to be pointed at the stereo for this to work.
Some stereos have a rear connector for remotes; MikeyTheMini is THE MAN to tell you about adaptors to go from the MFSW directly into these connectors.


Summary:
If you plan to buy a new stereo (Alpine, Sony, Kenwood, whatever) then buy the cheapest stock system you can (Wave?).
If you plan to stick with the stock system, consider upgrading to Boost or even the Harmon Kardon system.

[bkwalker]

get the AUX input... its a fail safe option and is cheap too
by the way the iTrip should be available in the USA, i just ordered an itrip for my S because i dont have an AUX input, but the AUX from what i hear is the way to do it...

the iTrip is the only option i had, ive heard it is really good reception considering its a FM transmitter, this is because it has digital tuning, so u get no fade on fade off.. it also doesn't require batteries, it gets its power (very small amout) from the ipod, and u can charge ur ipod at the same time as playing it also...

great product, but once again, the AUX would suit u best in my opinion.

[jpv]

Sorry meant too say it was the Boost I was getting (was late and tired!).
iTrip site for those that are interested:
http://www.griffintechnology.com/pro...ip/index.html#
Thanks for the excellent replies, you’ve all really helped loads and I think at last I nearly understand! I shall also be getting into contact with mikeythemini closer to the arrival of my MC.
Will look into fitting AUX to the back of Boost (which my dealer said wasn't possible!).
Might wait a while for Infra-red dock for iPOD
http://www.envestco2.com/macwhispers...ves/000066.php (link from jebjeb post) and then fit the SWI-X/switch combo.

Last questions:
1) If I got a switch (single pole double throw) could I place this after the MFSW and then switch between controlling the Boost stereo and the SWI-X connected to iPod? If switched to the iPod would their be anyway of keeping the volume controls going to the Boost (or does the Boost only take the full signal and act on that internally, ie no inputs for individual controls).
2) If the above doesn't work how about this idea:
Split the signal coming from the MFSW so goes directly to Boost and SWI-X (would I need a special splitter for this or could I directly wire it to both). Setup the SWI-X to only send signals to iPod when a combination of the unused 6'th button is pressed and one of the others together (or followed by one of the others). Hence the ability to control both Boost and iPod independently. Does this sound feasible and a good solution? Can you use combinations of buttons with the SWI-X?
Cheers again, John.

[jpv]

and lastly is their the manual for the SWI-X anywhere online?
Cheers, John.

[dco43054]

JPV -
The simple answer is that it is currently possible to plug your iPod directly into your MINI HU with great results. The MFSW controls are not currently possible, but there are some products that look like they are in the offing from both Apple and aftermarket providers that may make it possible in the Fall.

More detailed responses can be found in the posts that those of us who have been around for a while have debated at length. There is a bunch of information, much more than I'd even attempt in one post, on each of them.

Click on the search button and put in your topic. iPod, MFSW, and Aux Input will get you tons of results.You have a couple months to digest it all. Enjoy.

Regards,

Dave

[vespa]

Have you seen my fully integrated MP3 solution?

[mikeythemini]

jpv, so far I havn't found a UK boost player with aux in. But I have 2 aux adaptors that can be added without chopping anything
mike

[Don]

Hi,

I have an iTrip, and it works fine, but not as well as you might get with a wired connection...
I would like to do the same as JPV - I have ordered a Cooper and should get it in August. But I still don't know how I'm gonna do the connection - my dealer hardly knew what MP3 meant... :-)

See you,
Don

[jebjeb]

G'day jpv.

Sounds like you want to do exactly what I want. Well I get my S on the 16th July and I will be working on doing this stuff the next day. If all is successful, you can rest asure that I will have it posted up here with photos as quick as a flash.

Fingers crossed that it works!

Just to do a recap, this is what I plan to do.

- Mount a standard iPod dock (unless the rumored IR dock comes out before then) underneath the toggle switches. Wire a 12v iPod interface directly in so it does not have to be plugged into the cigarette lighter plug

- Get an IR control for the iPod (such as the one I have posted elsewhere)

- Install the AUX input in my Boost CD headunit and connect the iPod dock output

- Put in a switch on the MFSW control wire and have one end continuing along to the headunit and one going to a SWI-X which I will program with the IR commands for controlling the iPod.

And hopefully it will work

Will let you all know.

Jeb

[jebjeb]

Actually I just had a very quick look at the SWI-V and that might make things simpler. Let me have a good look into it.

Jeb

[duncanbanana]

Is there a cable which can be plugged into the back of the standard head unit which provides an auxilary input for example an ipod available from anywhere? Been looking put to no avail , read a post that BMW have started to sell these in the US but when I rang BMW they didnt know what i was talking about . Any ideas?

[jpv]

Hey Jeb, mine not comming to Aug 7th so definatly interested in how your install goes - keep us posted please (especially if you find out any further info on the SWI-V)

DuncanBanana:
If you mean that you have the standard Wave unit that comes with cars in the UK I beleive their is no easy way of creating an Aux input and you should probably look along the lines of the iTrip or purchasing a new head unit - Sorry (The Boost unit on the other hand, allows you to connect anx input)
If you purchased your car in the states then you have a Boost unit as standard and so can fit an Aux socket which can be provided from mikeythemini.
JP.

[jpv]

Don, when you say the iTrip works fine but not as well as a wired connection. Could you be more specific?!? I still have it on the backburner as a possible option.
Cheers JP.

[duncanbanana]

Ive got an Itrip and the Transpod and another similar device (wireless) all rubbish .I have the CD Boost Head Unit and the HK sound system

[duncanbanana]

And Im in the UK.Dont get the Itrip you will be disappointed

[azimmerm]

i used the itrip for about 8 hours before it went up on ebay. It was the biggest piece of garbage i ever used. even when you forget about the fact that i couldn't find a useable station, those annoying configuration tones would play when i had the ipod on random... high pitched beeps aren't pleasant to hear in earphones.
I had slightly better success with the iRock, but it still had the static.
As i understand it there is now a factory aux input kit for your stereo, by far the best way to go! don't waste your money on fm transmitters... i got a cdplayer with an aux input and it is a whole other world.

[jebjeb]

Well I have had a look into the SWI-V. Looks like it could do the job.

Basically it inserts in between the MFSW control wire and keeps it conected to the head unit as well. You set up a button on the steering wheel that makes the SWI-V choose which source it is to control (the hard wired head unit or the IR controled product i.e iPod). The only thing is that it is by default set to control the IR. this means that to control the headunit i.e. to change the volume, you have to press the mode change button and then within 1.5 seconds, press the control you want. It would be nice if you could set it the other way around or keep it fixed to controlling one thing (say when the iPod is not in the car and you are listening to the radio).

However, it does look like the best option as you don't have to stuff around with an external switch or any of the possible problems with power surges or anything techy electrical things that might pop up.

Looks like it worth a go!

[jpv]

Only question I suppose is - will it work for the MFSW in the MC. When I had a look previously (I didn't look very hard) I couldn't see any mention of the MC, allthough I dont see why it would be a problem for them if they made the SWI-X to work with the MC.