[Benfrain]

Hello all,

Just got a Union Jack roof from Idlegear and need to get it fitted to my 05 Cooper S. It would seem senible to remove the roof aerial before doing this. So my question is...

How does the aerial come off. I have searched and found a couple of threads about it on the older models but not sure if it is the same for the facelift ones.

Anyone done this who can offer a quick step by step guide?

Thanks in advance - Ben

[alexpalex]

Quote: Originally Posted by Benfrain

Hello all,

Just got a Union Jack roof from Idlegear and need to get it fitted to my 05 Cooper S. It would seem senible to remove the roof aerial before doing this. So my question is...

How does the aerial come off. I have searched and found a couple of threads about it on the older models but not sure if it is the same for the facelift ones.

Anyone done this who can offer a quick step by step guide?

Thanks in advance - Ben

You will need to remove the interior head lining, or at least loosen and drop down the rear portion. There is a nut on the inside of the roof that needs removing, and then the black plastic aerial blob will be removable.

It is a real pain in the @rse to do, so I would suggest making a template from the outside and cut it carefully out of the roof decal itself.

All our roof kits come with the whole already cut, as this is a real problem otherwise.

[Benfrain]

Bugger! Wish I'd had it fitted by the dealer now!

[Benfrain]

OK, I am going to attempt this shortly so if anyone has any guidance it would br greatly appreciated.

I am presuming from the post above that it isn't possible to simply twist the aerial mount of from above? I only ask as if there is a bolt below it may be possible to twist it off?

Failing that, how do you go about actually pulling the roof liner off? Does the seal simply pull off?

[Benfrain]

Wow, all the help was great

Well, in case anyone searches in future I will tell you how far I got.

The seal around the boot just pulls away, then you need to stick your hand in at the top between the roof and roof linerand gently pull away the roof liner.
You will hear a plastic retainment device 'pop' out of place (which you can easily see by looking between roof and liner) and the liner is then quite a bit looser.
Now you need to thread a socket wrench in as flat as possible (unsure of actual size, about 1" though) and then turn it so that it extends up into the cavity where the aerial mount is bolted through.
Turn the socket lever to the left to unscrew the retainment nut
Once you have felt it 'go' you can switch the socket wrench for your hand and unscrew the retainment bolt off by hand
You are now left with a loose aerial base on the roof which can be lifted up a couple of inches to allow the decal to be better fitted
Unfortunately this is where my nerve left me and I didn't get as far as disconnecting the aerial wires. Perhaps another user could add details of that part for completely removing the aerial

[racinguy]

Unfortunatly I know how to remove the antenna base. My 05 Mini Cooper Classic was one month old when my wife was entering the underground parking and the automatic door closed as she drove thru. Luckly only very small scatch approx 1/2 inch long. The result was total destruction of the plastic base of the antenna. The mast simply unscrews from the base. After waiting 3 weeks for one to arrive from the home land, I ike you took on the great undertaking of dropping down the headliner Not fun at all. As I recall the wiring to the base is approx 5-8 inches long. The plugins are mounted to the roof closer to the rear hatch. So simply unplug the connector and remove antenna base. I added some silicon lubricant to the bottom or the base ( on the rubber gasket) to ensure a good seal. For me the most difficult part was removing the interior side panel clips without damaging them or the panel.