murmini - MINI Cooper Blog: Installing an iPod in Your MINI

Installing an iPod in Your MINI

murmini — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 10:52:00 -0500

With the incredible storage capability of the iPod and some nifty deign and engineering from Dension the process of installing your ‘tunes’ in your mini is quite straightforward.

"Installing an iPod in Your MINI" by murmini

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 20:30:47 -0500

Should be under the dash on a US model on the drivers side. It does have a black plastic cover so you will have to flip that open to access it.

"Installing an iPod in Your MINI" by jlambrecht@sbcglobal.net

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 09:31:11 -0400

where is the obd connection port located on a 2004 John Cooper Works mini? I didn’t see it under the driver’s side dash. Thanks

"Installing an iPod in Your MINI" by Randy K

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 13:33:18 -0400

Worked perfectly… now to order that mount.

Thanks for the directions! -Randy

"Installing an iPod in Your MINI" by murmini

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 12:00:34 -0400

The software version required to display song/artist on the MINI head unit is v2B.B2. You also need to make sure that the IceLink Plus is in the correct mode. There are two: one where its controlled by the iPod itself, the other mode is where the head unit has control – that is the one you want. It’s a bit of a game with the MINI head unit but I just went out and changed mine back and forth and will do the best I can to describe how. You need to press 6 on the head unit. Hold it down for a few seconds and eventually, you will see a small menu on the IceLink – using the MINI Next/Previous track buttons, you can scroll through this menu. When you see SETUP, press and hold the Next button on the MINI and it should enter the SETUP menu… again scroll through it as described before and you will see Text Display. Make sure it is on. Its frustrating as the unit sometimes reads your button entry as ‘next’ instead of ‘do this’. You may also find the MINI head unit “M” button can do this too. So you make sure Text Display is “ON”. Now disconnect the iPod from the cradle and when you re-insert it, the head unit should have control. I know its a bit flakey, but it does work. If you need the Dension manuals, they are available here.

One very important note is that your head unit MUST be one manufactured after Jan 2005 or it will NOT display text. To check the date. Turn the ignition on, then turn the radio off, turn the radio back on and now hold the ‘M’ button down for about 10 – 12 sec. The radio will display its serial number, now use the far right button marked ”-” on the radio and the next number displayed is the firmware XX YR XX. The middle pair of numbers is the year. To the best f my knowledge, the radio firmware can not be updated. I hope this helps, please let me know.

"Installing an iPod in Your MINI" by Randy K

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 08:39:50 -0400

I’ve removed my aftermarket Alpine unit and intend to sell it on eBay. In the interim I have moved back to stock have a IceLink Plus unit connected to the factory headunit. I am very pleased with the setup.

How do you enable the song artist and title on the MINI display? What firmware levels are required to support this? I never looked into this aspect of the unit before.

I have been using the IceLink with the cradle laying in the cup holder. I’m going pick up the ProClip holder this week.

Nice clean install Murray… Thanks for the write up.

-Randy

"Installing an iPod in Your MINI" by murmini

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 09:37:53 -0400

The ice-link lite that I original used connected to the Mini i-Bus by plugging the two (one audio/control and one power) connectors from the rear wiring harnes to the ice-link adapter. There was a cable (12 pin) that ran to the front of the car and in turn connected with the ice-link PC board. When I upgraded to the ice-link plus, they provided me with a cable that simply connected between the 12 pin and the mini wiring harness connectors thus eliminating the box. Is it the mini wiring harness connector pin-outs that you are looking for?

"Installing an iPod in Your MINI" by erik

Thu, 13 Apr 2006 07:10:23 -0400

Hello Do you have the pinning of the 12 pin micro molex connector on the icelink lite? Brgds erik

"Installing an iPod in Your MINI" by giacomo

Mon, 06 Feb 2006 08:58:51 -0500

I use the Dension unit also and love it. When I went to Boston to get my daughter's Cooper I took it along and installed it in her car for the 3200 mile journey home. I use the ProClip.