The perfect iPod install?

Posted on by Ian C.

When I first bought my iPod for use during MINI Takes The States I just used an AUX input (easy to install in the parking lot in Monterey!) and kept the iPod in one of the front cupholders.
But now with the Alpine HU in GPMINI, I don’t need to touch the iPod any more so I moved it to the glovebox – but connecting/disconnecting that plug behind it is tricky when there’s not much wire to play with (and I didn’t want to fill the glovebox with wire).

So I ordered an iPod dock, part of the “iRide” from MINI Mania, and it’s provided the perfect iPod install for me! I already had a glovebox organizer, so I bought the dock alone (with sleeve for my 5G 60GB video iPod) but you can also order it pre-installed to a glovebox organizer. However, installation is easy – the dock comes with a template to drill three holes in the organizer, and includes the screws too!

So now it’s easy to remove/reconnect the iPod, and it’s a great looking install too!

DPSM

Posted on by Ian C.

I heard a DPSM installation today (it’s actually the second time I’ve heard one – but the first was very unimpressive, there must have been something wrong!)

MINI friend Keith (MisterMINI on MINI2) had the DPSM installed in his MCS at MINI of Peabody and I happened to be there yesterday to see some of the early install work (basically all panels in the car get removed), and today when the install was finished … and WOW it sounds incredible!
There’s much too much volume available – my ears rung for an hour after leaning in to listen … we basically shut the doors, opened the hatch, stood about 6ft away and were almost literally blown away!

The DPSM speakers provide excellent bass and higher frequencies both in the doors and in the rear position – much better than the stock system or the H/K (which puts bass only to the rear, and highs only to the doors); this comparison pic of the DPSM rear speaker and the removed stock 6×9″ gives you an idea of the abilities of the new system (you can see that the rear speaker has a small co-axial tweeter which helps it give the highs):

The DPSM harness is amazing – they didn’t compromise on wire gauge, and the amp is more impressive than the H/K one too, although it sits in the same location:


Keith – I’m looking forward to a report when you’ve tried it out for a while 🙂

Meanwhile, GP friend George is struggling to fit the DPSM into his GP – the problem there is that the rear 6×9 speaker positions are lost to the luggage bar, so George has to figure some other way to install those huge new speakers! Maybe my aftermarket choice for GPMINI wasn’t the best one after all!

UPDATE:
George has completed the DPSM install in his GP and contrary to MINI USA opinion it does work (of course!). He eventually installed the huge rear speakers into the GP rear storage area (where the rear seats go in a regular MINI) – they fit fine and should have enough air volume to work well. George cut into the underside of the storage cover, enough to remove the solid part but not damage the carpet, then used foam to seal the speakers against the underside – the speakers will be driving through the carpet, but that should be fine for low frequencies.