I really want to have a CD Changer in my new Mini. I just can not see paying the price that the dealer wants plus installation.
Has anyone out there had a CD Changer installed at a Car Audio store? If so which one. I went by one today with no luck. Any help you can give would be very appreciated.
I have awhile before KPMINI actually gets here I just wanted to see if this is possible or if I want it then I have to get it through the Dealer.

- KP

 

im running the Blitzsafe adapter and an Alpine changer.

check out: www.logjamelectronics.com

very good service and very fast too.

 

I bought mine on ebay, but crutchfield sells the same unit....I forget the brand,but it is a generic brand that makes cd changers to match the OEM specs.....installing myself was a breeze as the 04's come prewired in the boot...not sure about other years....the OEM headunit recognizes it and runs it perfectly...and I installed it with a velcro strap rather than drilling and screwing in brackets

 

Have you thought about getting an Ipod adapter instead of a CD changer?

Less money (if you already have an Ipod), holds lot's more music.

Several options on putting in adapters too. I have the factory adapter in the glove box and it works well for me.

 

and thre it is ....cds are history. a changer would be better than fumbling around the passenger seat for another. but; an ipod is truley the way to go . ah some day .

 

Thanks for all the help. As I do not have an iPod, I do not think that is an option right now. I will just wait until I really want it. I have not had a working CD player in almost 2 years and have over 100 CD's, that was why I wanted the changer. I feel that I will get one eventually.
Again thanks for all the help, now I am sure that I will not get it at the dealer.

- KP

 

Buy the changer from CLASSIC MINI (which sells MINI parts dirt cheap) and install it yourself.

 

Seconded! For the price of the changer, you can get an ipod and an aux input, load up your 100 CDs and never fumble for/scratch/load/unload/curse the lost boot space/etc.
I said I'd never have a use for one, but got one as a present and LOVE it.

 

The '06 head unit will play MP3 disks. Rip your CDs to MP3s and put about 17 albums on one disk.
The display for MP3 playback sux, but no worse than the CD changer.

 

Gyro...would the fidelity be pretty equal listening to the CD transcribed to an MP3 disk as it would if the actual CD is directly in the CD player (or changer)?

 

KPMINI...just make sure that the CD changer you buy is meant to be controlled by the HU in your car....even if Alpine makes the MINI's HU, I do not think you can put in easily any Alpine changer as it must be meant for that specific HU.....also, if you are thinking of installing it yourself, it is easy if your MINI is pre-wired for it...there should be two little connectors wrapped in black cloth tape wrapped around wires in the passenger side cubby in the boot....if the connectors are not there, then any installation by you or by professionals will be problemtic

 

^^ im not Gyro, but i can answer that... if your speakers can reproduce
refined note you will be able to tell instantly. i personally don't like MP3's
sound but i like its convenience. my commuter can playback MP3 files
so with the steering controls, it's basically the same as having an ipod.

btw, the Alpine changer can playback MP3's, but can not callup
titles... and you can only skip tracks, not folders.

 

I would go with the MP3's as well. In fact, I just ripped my first MP3 CD last night and played it today. I think the quality is just as good as a CD (I ripped it at a slower speed) and definitely more convenient. I was going to play around with it some more to see if I could get a better display besides 01-001, 01-002, etc. But by the sounds of it, that may be the best I can get. It would also be nice to skip folders.

 

The install is super easy with the factory changer and you can do it in less than 15 minutes.

I may be willing to sell you my changer as I am not sure what I am going to do. It has been removed for a month or so. It has the brackets and all and I will decide and let you know if you are interested. I think it will be right up your alley price wise if I do.

I'll let you know in the next few days what I decide (only inf you are interested).

chris

 

+1 on the "buy the parts from Classic and do it yourself" option. I just did my Sirius in this fashion (it plugs into the same cable as the CD changer) and it couldn't have been easier. The parts will run you about $500. And if you don't think you can do it yourself, have an audio guy do it. My Sirius got done in under half an hour for $75 as opposed to the $600 the dealership wanted!

 

It depends on a few factors.
First of all, rip the MP3s with a bitrate of at least 128k (128k will get you about 17 albums per disk, higher bitrates will get you less).
Secondly, the type of music might make a difference. Some classical music with a wide dynamic range might be noticably different from a CD (just as some say the CDs are noticably different from vinyl).

The reality is that a stock car system along with an on road listening environment just isn't the highest fidelity to begin with. I've heard MP3s that sounded like garbage but I blame whatever ripper was used to create them. I use Musicmatch Jukebox at 128k and my MP3s sound as good in the car as a CD in the car. I know there are other good rippers, but I can't comment on which ones are or aren't.

 

I Use creative Media source for my ripping and the quality is great, just have not broken down to get an ipod or other MP3 player yet. Now I just make an mp3 disk and when I get sick of it I burn a new one. You can pack a lot of tunes on one disk. Right now I am up to 183 GB of MP3's, and that is after the 12GB of Grateful Dead concerts I deleted.

 

The MP3 CDs ive burned sound awesome, i have a power mac G5 and i use toast to burn MP3s, if you use a PC im sure they have the equivalent of toast for windows!