MINI

This article is about the BMW MINI. It is intended to wikify and consolidate information found in the forums at http://northamericanmotoring.com/ and http://mini2.com/.

If this article gains interest and grows sufficiently, it could "graduate" from Wikia Scratchpad, or (better?) get its own site (e.g. http://wiki.northamericanmotoring.com/ or http://northamericanmotoring.com/wiki/).

Audio systems

 * head unit (make/model?)
 * CD drive
 * volume knob
 * steering-wheel controls
 * Bluetooth module
 * (2008 MCS) The Bluetooth module's MAC address starts with "00:0E:9F," which indicates that it is manufactured by TEMIC Speech Dialog Systems (SDS) . There is a registered domain name "temic-sds.com" but the name does not resolve to an IP address, so there no web site to see at that address.  The car's Bluetooth device has a device name like "MINInnnnn" where n is a decimal digit.
 * Hands-Free Profile
 * Phone Book Access Profile
 * USB jack
 * what version of USB is implemented?
 * supported USB peripherals:
 * USB mass storage device class
 * iPod (for iPod control but not audio data transfer)
 * speedometer LCD display
 * tachometer LCD display
 * amplifier?
 * speakers (size, impedance, efficiency?)
 * Harman Kardon (HK)
 * front:
 * rear:
 * non-HK
 * front:
 * rear:

Questions

 * Is the firmware upgradable? (Nav version: yes, but what about cars without the nav option?)
 * What operating system is running all this?

Gripes
Incidentally, this section makes a case for the open source model of software development. (BMW is reportedly moving in this direction with their involvement in the Moblin project.)


 * no elapsed time display for MP3s
 * use case: user wants to listen to book on tape via car while driving, via iPod otherwise, but currently can't know where to start when transitioning to iPod (please don't suggest playing audio through the AUX port)
 * can't play some MP3s
 * can't play Ogg files
 * Ogg and Vorbis are licensed as free software so this capability could be added by BMW/MINI with no licensing costs
 * head unit difficult or impossible to upgrade using aftermarket hardware
 * some mobile phones crash the car's Bluetooth module

Wishlist
(… in addition to resolving the above gripes)

This section makes a case for open source.


 * With the addition of a GPS Bluetooth/USB receiver (or even a cell tower ID and database of tower locations) and a local copy of the FCC's FM radio database, how about have the car automatically set the radio's pre-set station buttons?

Bluetooth profiles with potential applicability

 * Audio/Video Remote Control Profile: control the car's head unit using a (conceivable) cell phone or MID that implements this protocol
 * General Audio/Video Distribution Profile, File Transfer Profile (FTP): play audio files accessed over Bluetooth
 * LAN Access Profile: make the car play Internet radio over the tethered phone's 3G connection

Sales
As of May 2008, many U.S. dealers are reluctant to sell MINI Coopers below MSRP, but they have done so.

Glossary
These these terms are used in the forums.
 * JCW
 * John Cooper Works


 * R50
 * MINI Cooper circa 2003


 * R53
 * MINI Cooper S circa 2003


 * R56
 * MINI Coopers (including "S"?) circa 2007?