[Damo]

Quote: Originally Posted by mc_stl

Hi all,
So if I'm ordering my car soon (next week), is it a mistake to get the HK upgrade speakers when I plan to upgrade the head unit to something that will play MP3s? I don't own an ipod and I was planning on burning whatever I want to disc. 700mb cd's work fine for me, though I may also down the road consider something that takes more of a keg/hard drive.

If I go to joe car installer locally (St. Louis, USA) am I likely to get confused looks when I say, 'hey please make the new unit play nice with the HK Amp and the MFSW' ?

I realize you usually pay more for factory stereo equipment, but the chance to have th HK system designed right into the car from the get-go is hard to pass up, and $550US doesn't seem too expensive if you're getting the amp and 8 speakers.

Thanks--apologies if these questions are redundant. I'm searching more as we speak.

MC

There is no problem getting the HK stuff to work with an aftermarket head unit so long as you do one thing...

...speak to mikeythemini @ www.newministuff.co.uk so he can make sure you get the correct things sent directly to you

[mikeythemini]

Thanks Damo
To be honest if you are going aftermarket with the stereo I would go aftermarket with the amp & speakers, but if you do opt for the HK, you will need the HK enabler & we can combine this with a mfsw adaptor (beware though as most USA stereos are not MFSW compatible)

[Wiggy]

Quote: Originally Posted by mikeythemini

Good idea but no reponse
I will post a few for you
Clarion 648

Mike.......out of curiosity is this mine????

[mikeythemini]

Think it was, can't see the chick flik cd though,

[Wiggy]

Quote: Originally Posted by mikeythemini

Think it was, can't see the chick flik cd though,

ha ha ha......thought it was as soon as i saw it!!! rcognised the dash option combo i need to get out more...............lol............ although the carpets dirty must have been slackin on the cleanin dept!

[S33BBY]

Quote: Originally Posted by mc_stl

I realize you usually pay more for factory stereo equipment, but the chance to have th HK system designed right into the car from the get-go is hard to pass up, and $550US doesn't seem too expensive if you're getting the amp and 8 speakers.

Just a point about the HK system... I don't have it on my One at the moment. I have an aftermarket system (Alpine headunit and Phoenix Gold speakers) and it sounds brilliant. A friend recently bought a new MINI and opted for the HK. To me, it sounded extremely good (better than my setup, though I suspect with an amp, mine would be better), and so I will be putting it on my new Cooper. I know that others do not think it's great, and perhaps if you're a true audiophile, it's not, but I really liked the sound, the fact that you do not have to "modify" the car, and the fact that it's not too badly priced.

[Brian G.]

Here is a picture of my recently installed Alpine CDA-9857.



Brian G.
RG/S MCS

[mc_stl]

Spoke to my MA today, he said all their head units play mp3s...
is it likely they've upgraded the head unit in the '06 or am I being fed a line of bull. Do I take a cd down there to check?

I had assumed that the base OEM cd player would be a bit of an improvement over the one I have now, which is about 7 years old. I guessed it would probably play burned CDs with varying degrees of readability and it wouldn't play straight .mp3 files -- have to upgrade for that.


*Cool. I hung out with a floor demo and really played with the H/K before I placed my order. CD player was great..played every type of disc I had, home-burned, data with just 750MB of .mp3s, standard...all sounded great. I won't have to upgrade unless someday I want more bass or something.

cheers all

[hugh1]

Hey Brian:

Good luck with your new head unit !!! It looks great.

Did you install it yourself ? New speakers too? Amplifier? Is it sync-ing up with the mfsw (assuming you have one) to your satisfaction? Same question re: iPod? Is it displaying titles ok? How's the am and fm reception?

You might have guessed I'm interested in a 9857 myself. Please write a mini review. Thanks.

[Brian G.]

Quote: Originally Posted by hugh1

Did you install it yourself ? New speakers too? Amplifier? Is it sync-ing up with the mfsw (assuming you have one) to your satisfaction? Same question re: iPod? Is it displaying titles ok? How's the am and fm reception?

I'll answer to the best of my knowledge...

I installed it myself, I left the factory speakers in place, and no amplifier. I got the MFSW wiring harness from www.newministuff.com so the controls on the steering wheel work. Things on the iPod work pretty good, and the title display is actually pretty nice. There are a couple of modes to pick from, the one I use is one that alternates the artist and album on the first line, and shows the track name on the second line.

The iPod interface still has some quirks that I find are very strange.

I've use the FM tuner, but I haven't done much other than tune my favorite stations, and I don't listen to AM at all (they might as well let me turn that off.) Since I've had the HU, I've not made a trip out of town to see what the range is.

Quote: Originally Posted by hugh1

You might have guessed I'm interested in a 9857 myself. Please write a mini review. Thanks.

I've got more of a review up at my site. Click here.

Brian G.

[hugh1]

Thanks Brian. I think a lot of MINI2 readers, myself included, will really find your comments helpful !

[LMB]

Quote: Originally Posted by fj0

^^ Press the New Thread icon instead of New Reply when you're in the forum you want to post in.


Here's my Alpine CDA-9853R and KCA-420i;

Now I like that.

[AdirondacksRob]

Quote: Originally Posted by Brian G.

I'll answer to the best of my knowledge...

I installed it myself, I left the factory speakers in place, and no amplifier. I got the MFSW wiring harness from so the controls on the steering wheel work. Things on the iPod work pretty good, and the title display is actually pretty nice. There are a couple of modes to pick from, the one I use is one that alternates the artist and album on the first line, and shows the track name on the second line.

The iPod interface still has some quirks that I find are very strange.

I've use the FM tuner, but I haven't done much other than tune my favorite stations, and I don't listen to AM at all (they might as well let me turn that off.) Since I've had the HU, I've not made a trip out of town to see what the range is.

Brian G.

Brian,

Great post and a great review on your website...I'm sold on the 8957 as my future head unit. Do you have the Harmon Kardon system in that Mini?

If not, do you know if it works well with that setup?

I'm really hoping to order my mini by the end of the summer and want to make sure that I get all the right stuff...so your help is very much appreciated.

My apologies if this has been answered in a previous post everyone...I searched and didn't exactly find the answer I was looking for. Not the it doesn't exist, just that I couldn't find it.

Thanks again and take care.

Rob

[GarryThomas]

Bloupunkit Nashville 35 DAB

[siriato]

Mikey...I enjoy reading your posts...I expect mid-June delivery of my MCS convertible. I order the HK, Ipod connector and satnav. Mini USA tells me that no satellite radio is yet available on the convertible. I will buy this aftermarket. (I guess..)

I am not technically inclined and must admit that I am still baffled at all the choice, etc. My needs are simple: Great sound and fully functionally iPod (which I will use in lieu of CD's...). I am going to stick with the factory sat nav.

I'm looking for simple operation...satellite radio, easy iPod operation with strongly prefered same viewing options as iPod (song, artist, etc.). I guess I will have to mess around with the bluetooth mobile option after the fact.

I know that you are in biz to make money...If there's a way that I can order kit from you and have it installed in US...I'm game. My dealer is in the lower table when it comes to putting together the sound / electronics. Can you help?\
Many thanks.

[hugh1]

I just installed a new alpine 9857 head unit and a PAC-ALP hardwire mfsw interface. My steering wheel remote function is cutting out after it's been on for an hour or so. I surf back and forth wihout any problem between all functions: radio, cd, ipod, change tracks continually. Everything works as it should. Then, without warning it stops takng the signal from the steering wheel although the hu still functions totally.

Then I stop the engine. Immediately restart, and everything is back to normal again. Any ideas?

[saint12661]

Hi,

Does anyone know if an after market head unit will work with my factory fitted sat nav system?

My car is a 2003 Cooper and whilst I know that a current BMW Mini head unit will allow me to use the TMC function on my sat nav, it is also priced at approx £400.00 from the dealer and only offers a single cd and is far from startling in any other areas also!

Any help greatly appreciated.

Peter

[ICTminiMOD]

Quote: Originally Posted by h3nn18

My Pioneer DEH-P7700MP
with Pioneer CD-IB100 (ipod connector)

Hi, I'm wanting to install this same stereo in my mini, just wondering, did you need any type of installation kit/harness to fit it? I've already got the stereo, I had it in a ford focus and it needed a harness to fit in there. Thanks so much.

[S33BBY]

Quote: Originally Posted by saint12661

Does anyone know if an after market head unit will work with my factory fitted sat nav system?

Yep, you just need this.

[S33BBY]

Quote: Originally Posted by ICTminiMOD

Hi, I'm wanting to install this same stereo in my mini, just wondering, did you need any type of installation kit/harness to fit it? I've already got the stereo, I had it in a ford focus and it needed a harness to fit in there. Thanks so much.

You need a fascia, aerial adaptor, and harness adaptor.

http://www.newministuff.com/new/shop...ductshow&id=76