I finally got around to installing my Zune 8GB in my Mini Cooper. The car already had a 1/8″ audio auxiliary jack into the stereo, and for a while I have been using that to connect to my Zune. But I really wanted to be able to use the dock plug from the Zune so that I could plug in the dock and be done. Well it took a few pieces and parts but I think I ended up with a pretty good solution.

First I purchased a first generation Zune Home AV Kit and a Scoshe USB12 Car Charger. The Zune kit from Buy.com was only $24.99 plus $6 for the USB charging adapter. This was much cheaper than the second generation docking station and comes with a remote. I thought I would take the Zune dock apart and figure out a way to mount it, but after getting the dock apart I realized that the board that Zune plugs into is just about the same size as the dock so there was not much of a point in pulling it apart.

Next I needed a way to mount the dock in my car. I wanted to be able to see the Zune screen so I found a spot over top left drink holder. I chopped up a old car dock from my Dell music player to fit into the drink holder used a hot glue gun to glue the dock to the rubber insert. Next I ran the USB cable under the dash into a add-on circuit that I wired into my fuse box. I ran the 1/8″ stereo plug under the dash into the back of the stereo.

If you have a 1/8″ input into your car stereo and are looking for a way to dock your Zune this is a great option in my opinion. I have yet to see a FM Car Adapter work all that well, and with the Zune headphone jack on the bottom, it makes it difficult to see the Zune screen while it is plugged in.