Which aftermarket head units have OEM style appearance?

[rkw]

I am planning to upgrade the head unit of a non-HK system. I want a high quality unit that draws no attention to itself and truly blends into the MINI center console. Ideally, it would look as though it might have come with the car from the factory. Thus:

1. simple, understated appearance
2. all dark matte finish with no shiny controls or trim
3. compatible night illumination

I'd like to know about units that MINI owners have found to blend well with the car's interior. After searching through the web, these are some of the better matches I have found so far:

Nakamichi CD300/CD400/CD500

http://www.nakamichi.com/pfv/ICE/CDPlayer/CD400.htm
These have that generic plain OEM look (from any car maker), which is what I want. I found some positive comments about their performance on the web. Nakamichi car audio is not currently distributed in the US but the products can be found online with some effort.

Blaupunkt Bremen CD72

http://www.blaupunktusa.com/Blaupunk...men%20CD72.htm
This is a very sophisticated hi-end unit that was at the top of the Blaupunkt range several years ago (now discontinued but can be found online). All of Blaupunkt's current models seem include silver trim, which I don't want. The CD72 includes such features as a microphone for tailoring a car's acoustics and compensating for noise, It does not have quite an OEM look as Nakamichi, but its plain, dark face should blend into a MINI console pretty well (at least when it's off). However, I'm not so sure about night illumination color selectability (it seems to have red but not amber available).

I would be grateful for any other suggestions from MINI2 members.

[Baggers]

The Nakamichi looks very nice.

For some more ideas, have you looked through the 'Head unit gallery' sticky thread at the top of this forum?

[Hat]

this one matches very nicely - Pioneer DEH-P77MP. it has a lovely retro look to it without all the flashy graphics, the row of chrome buttons match the chrome toggles in the car & it has a brushed finish which goes lovely with the anthracite interior trim. the night illumination is white so although it doesn't match the car, it doesn;t clash with it either.

[venox22]

Go for 1 one the Alpine range, i had the same problem when i wanted to change my HU, on the 9831, 9855 you can change the colour of the illumination to suit the car, i went for the Alpine 9831R and Alpine Ipod interface, v impressed

[hugh1]

In addition to it's reputation for high quality, the Nakamichi wins the MINI OEM look alike contest hands down !!!

DRAWBACKS:
Availability in the US
Pricey
cd 400 doesn't play mp3
cd 500 does but is $599 (pricey)
if it's hard to find in the first place, what about warranty repairs if necessary
interface with MFSW ???

The head unit gallery (stickey) on this Forum shows one or two acceptable looking models like the JVC KDG G612 or the Pioneer above which I've only found on sites in UK/Europe. Again... what about warranty? Wll Pioneer or JVC in the US service it?

I hope that like me, RKW is at least considering the best thing would be to retain the oem head unit, and just buy better speakers than the oem's or add an amplifier to support the best quality speakers available...a topic for another thread.

[Squire]

that Nakamichi looks terrible, it looks like some cheap old head unit you would get standard with a rusty old ford

[hugh1]

Sorry Squire but we must agree to disagree.

Please take a look at this owners Nak installed. Looks closer to OEM than anything else I've seen.

http://www.northamericanmotoring.com...achmentid=3068

Hugh

[SteveM3]

Quote: Originally Posted by rkw

Blaupunkt Bremen CD72[indent]http://www.blaupunktusa.com/Blaupunk...men%20CD72.htm
This is a very sophisticated hi-end unit that was at the top of the Blaupunkt range several years ago (now discontinued but can be found online). All of Blaupunkt's current models seem include silver trim, which I don't want. The CD72 includes such features as a microphone for tailoring a car's acoustics and compensating for noise, It does not have quite an OEM look as Nakamichi, but its plain, dark face should blend into a MINI console pretty well (at least when it's off). However, I'm not so sure about night illumination color selectability (it seems to have red but not amber available).

I would be grateful for any other suggestions from MINI2 members.

I used to have one, you are correct about the colours. I now have a Bremen CD74 and that
has 4,096 colours to chose from so you can get an exact match.

[Cooper54]

Quote: Originally Posted by Squire

that Nakamichi looks terrible, it looks like some cheap old head unit you would get standard with a rusty old ford

I agree looks nasty but the build and sound quality are awesome

[Bianchiboy]

Quote: Originally Posted by Squire

that Nakamichi looks terrible, it looks like some cheap old head unit you would get standard with a rusty old ford

Here's a picture of aforementioned head unit in my rusty old Ford.
If I want pretty I'll stick a picture of Heidi Klum on the dashboard. As it is, I prefer great sound to flashing lights. I once had a head unit (top of the range Kenwood) with leaping dolphins on the display. I changed it for the Nakamichi. Enough said.

[Baggers]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bianchiboy

Here's a picture of aforementioned head unit in my rusty old Ford.
If I want pretty I'll stick a picture of Heidi Klum on the dashboard. As it is, I prefer great sound to flashing lights. I once had a head unit (top of the range Kenwood) with leaping dolphins on the display. I changed it for the Nakamichi. Enough said.

Couldn't agree more, the Nakamichi looks good in the MINI. I prefer a simple look & orange illumination.

On another note, where did you get the floor mats? Did they come with the metal plates, or did you add these yourself?

[hugh1]

[quote=Bianchiboy]Here's a picture of aforementioned head unit in my rusty old Ford.


What am I not getting here?

[Bianchiboy]

[quote=hugh1]

Quote: Originally Posted by Bianchiboy

Here's a picture of aforementioned head unit in my rusty old Ford.


What am I not getting here?

That a rusty old Ford is as close to my shiny new Mini as a Nakamichi headunit is to a standard headunit! Guess I should have used the "roll eyes" smilie during my sarcastic introduction!

Quote: Originally Posted by Baggers

On another note, where did you get the floor mats? Did they come with the metal plates, or did you add these yourself?

They are standard mats with Momo T200 Grids that I fixed on using the supplied allen bolts. 20 minutes measuring and fitting and you too could be the envy of your friends!

[LMB]

Nakamichi if you've not got a MFSW.

Clarion are also worth a look. There are two I would recommend, the 748 and 848. Of the two the 748 is my pick as it's cheaper and is 24bit.



These can be had from our very our MikeytheMini:
https://www.newministuff.com/new/sho...ductshow&id=66
https://www.newministuff.com/new/sho...ductshow&id=67

[hugh1]

Hey BianchiBoy:

My Duh! Thanks for the clarification...

But I gotta tell ya', that Naki looks PRETTY DARN GOOD to me...

I wish they were more readily available in the states.

Hugh