Left Column

[Americonium]

Well, I've done it. I don't know where I read it, but someone had. So with no pictures, I disassembled the MC antenna, installed the Sirius antenna, re-assembled the MC antenna, ran all the wires, and now, I have a Mini Cooper with a PNP with no visible antenna, and I'm very happy. If you have a OEM Nav setup, this will not work for you. If you don't know how to use hand tools, this mod is not for you. If you don't know how to solder, this mod is not for you. If you don't know how to use a dremel skillfully, this mod is not for you.

Follow the instructions on Mini2.com for dropping the roof cover. The antenna is held on by a large nut. I used pliers to loosen it, then unscrewed it with my fingers. It's not on very tight, due to the fact that it's fairly low torque. Unplug the antenna and the booster. Remove the antenna. There are four torx screws on the bottom. The tool I have has 99-62 etched onto it, but I don't believe that is the size of it. Remove the four screws. Slowly separate the base from the plastic housing. The base has the booster circuit card installed in it.

Now, here's where it gets hairy. I have an Audiovox SIRPNP-2 with the Silver dollar sized antenna with no nylon lead. Because my antenna may differ from yours, you may not want to attempt this mod. Notice I'm trying to talk you out of this at every step? I just don't want to be held responsible for you following my directions.

The sticker comes right off. There are six more screws on the bottom of this antenna, and lo and behold, they are the same size as the torx on the Mini. Remove all six, and pry the lid off of the antenna. The circuit card and antenna are one, and they come right out. Get some solder wicking, and remove the solder from the mini-rf cable, and pull if off of the circuit card. Pull the cable through the base of the antenna, and re-solder it to the antenna. With a dremel, or other small, precise cutting tool, you will have to make room for the antenna circuit board. Be careful that you don't heat up the base or remove too much plastic. You don't want a window in your antenna base. With a small amount of adhesive, attach the antenna circuit to the base of the MC antenna base. Test fit the cover, then remove a little more antenna cover.

Once your antenna fits well, use a dab of silicone to seal around where you removed the plastic. Re-attach the antenna base, and re-assemble your Mini Cooper bits.

This is not so much a how-to guide as it is a proof-of that this method works. I still need to drive the car home from work to see if I have any new drop out areas, but I suspect that it will work as well, if not better than, it used to.

Thank you for reading this post. I didn't take any pictures, and for this I apologize. I am pretty sure I will be doing it again in the near future, so I will take pictures of that.....

Thanks,

Abe