Official MINI/iPod Adapter Review

[Update: Matthew was kind enough to substantially update his review with another day's worth of use behind him. Skip down to the end of this article for the update portion.]

For all of you patiently awaiting the official iPod adapter here is the first review of the actual MINI version of the product.

Installation:
The entire process was very painless at about 2 hours. (Bare in mind that this was their very first official 'consumer' install they have ever done aside from the demo MINI so they did spend time to make sure it was just right.) My guess is that it could be done in less than an hour if the glovebox & centre console area are already cleared. Wanted to do the install myself, but there isn't an install manual with the kit like many other oem parts.

The cable is just a bit over 62 cm from the interior glovebox gasket to the beginning of the dock module. Sadly, this isn't long enough to put my ipod in it's usual resting place below the e-brake.

I'm still searching for that perfect passthrough mount that has a 'dock' connected to it so i don't have to clasp & unplug the cable every time i leave the car. Something like the Belkin or PowerSupport models for the cup holder but with a rigid dock connector, something that can be mounted on the Centre Console Pillar screws, or something with super-strong suction cups.

Display:
Like it's BMW sibling, the MINI Interface system displays 'MINI' in the iPod screen when connected & 'Do not disconnect' when it's in use. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news to my fellow iPod Photo users, but you won't see any of your favorite album cover, song, or track information as with normal operation. (Perhaps the only defense for the AUX cable…which is still usable with the interface kit installed.)

There is a clause in the Manual that does say: 'Future firmware updates for your iPod or iPod mini may affect the features and functions described in this manual.' So one would hope that more features perhaps would be supported as opposed to functionality taken away every time we update the iPod…

Operation:
There is a definitely noticeable time delay as the system scans through your playlists when the iPod is first plugged in. (My standard motoring playlist has 203 songs & takes over a minute and a half to scan) You may avoid this by not removing the iPod as you depart; but that is highly inadvisable if you usually keep it in plain view & don't have a lockable glovebox of the 2005 models.

I'd also like to mention that quite often the iPod won't be recognized if plugged in after the radio is turned on. (Just as with the computer, the iPod isn't hot-swappable so be sure the radio is off before you remove it.)

As with the BMW interface, the MINI kit also requires that you name your 5 playlists starting with 'MINI1….MINI2', & so on. You do however, have the ability to add to additional text, such as 'MINI3-Motoring_Tunes' or 'MINI5_CanyonRun'.

One interesting feature is that when in RND or random mode (which shuffles your current iPod playlist) you can't fast forward through the current song, but rather skip through tracks which gains speed in increments of 10 (not exponentially by powers of ten alla Charles & Ray) as you hold the fast forward button down. So if on track 5, it'll go to 15…25…35 etc.

When not using RND mode, you can fast forward through a song as normal & skip tracks with a single click too. I don't have any feelings about this as any songs with unfortunate or extraordinarily long intros can be set to start at a certain time frame in iTunes. (Be sure to recopy them to your playlist when doing so from the computer's library.)

Those of you who like to listen to your MINI's stereo while detailing will be happy to know that the MINI Interface kit does work for 20 minutes without the key in the ignition.

Conclusion:
All things considered, I fully agree with Gabe's review in that though limited in function; there are definite benefits to being able to keep your eyes on the road & hands on the wheel. This is the best interface thus far for those who have the Multi-Function Steering Wheel. I'd liken it to having a 5 CD changer, but with less delay for track access & 100s of songs per CD.

*Special thanks to Long Beach MINI for offering this as the grand-prize for this year's Poker Rally. (They not only gave away the interface kit, but also a mini iPod to go with it & free installation)

-Matthew [2003 SLKGRN-MC]

[Update]

Here's an update on yesterday's findings:

The Connection with AUX port looks as follows:

When first going to the MINI this morning, I tried using the dock. The iPod Photo connected as expected with the “MINI” screen, but no sound was present (probably due to line out on dock). The MFSW controls were activating the iPod as i could clearly hear it accessing it when advancing tracks. However, after testing it & turning the radio off, it failed to go back to the main menu! It wasn't until the iPod was plugged back into the Desktop G4 that it reverted to the menu screen.

(Dock : Bad, Cable: Good)

Next, the dock-cable was used directly, but discovered that it wasn't quite in all the way as shown here:

The iPod now worked as before, allowing control from both MFSW & click wheel; showing all track, album, & album art info! Thinking that this loose connection was the key to “new functionality,” i snapped the connector all the way in. But no change, everything still worked without any skipping or delay in song management.

Here is the iPod resting very precariously on the cupholder with Boost Radio in plain view playing a song chosen with the MFSW:

*note the radio display says: CD 2-09 which indicating Playlist 2 and song #9 out of 10. Special thanks to my buddy Jay who brought the fancy click wheel cover back for me from Japan a 1+years ago; for my 2G iPod :-)

Hmmmm….i know what you're thinking: “Speedo Wheel” instead of Tach wheel eh? (Apologies for the grainy photo; couldn't get external light source mounted for this one..)

This next photo show a manual change of songs with the iPod: As i've skipped through songs 1-3 on the iPod, the display updates on the Boost Radio & lands on Song 4 in synchrony.

Now to control the iPod with both MTFSW & Click Wheel:

1. 1st the iPod was plugged in & the radio turned on.

2. The Playlist “MINI2_Hitz” is chosen via radio preset button #2 & the 1st song starts playing.

3. The song is skipped to the next one (#2) with the MFSW, so i know the iPod is synced.

(The screen won't change, but rather stays as in picture above. I went through the hierarchy to find that it had been changed miraculously to the right playlist & song!)

4. As i dig deeper into the hierarchy, the ipod shows that it's playing the correct song chosen.

5. Now I click once more on the iPod button to reveal the Song Info. Correct again :-) From now on, the iPod stays on this Track Info screen & updates as i skip songs on the MFSW.

6. When I click on iPod Button again, the full album art shows as usual for a few seconds, then goes back to the previous screen.

*Note all the photos had the Backlight turned on with no sleep from the settings menu. Otherwise the screen will go dark according to the Backlight settings. Unlike accessing the iPod normally, the Backlight won't turn on when any changes are made with the MFSW. Thus i've chosen to turn “Backlight Timer Off” since the iPod is being charged while plugged into the MINI.

*On the occasions when i do get the standard “MINI” screen, touching the click wheel only activates the Backlight if the timer is set & hold slider deactivated.

7. I can still click further & access the Song timing/advance and the Rating screen too; which all revert back to the Track Info Screen as usual.

8. No other Playlists other than the “MINIx” ones where accessed as the manual specifically says to make only 5 Presets & name them accordingly.

Not sure if i've confused myself and everyone else more or less, but i'm happy to see that my findings weren't just a fluke.

-Matthew