Call me crazy: Nutty stereo upgrade via dealer (w/pics!)

[Edge]

Well, it has started. This morning I dropped off Mr. OEM at my dealership, in order to have major auditory surgery performed.

First, a little history:

When I was in the process of ordering my MINI around December of 2004, one of the things I read about on MotoringFile was the new Digital POWER SoundModul (DPSM) OEM stereo upgrade option, created by German Hi-Fi specialist AUDIO MOBIL. However, at the time, it was only announced and available in Europe.

It "sounded" great (on paper), and I was very interested. So I asked my dealer about it. They had never heard of it, since MINIUSA (at the time) had not released any information or details on it, or whether it would ever be available in the USA.

One of the key points of the DPSM is that it is not available if you have the factory Harman/Kardon stereo option. Why? Well, it turns out that when you specify the H/K with your MINI, it requires a completely different wiring harness compared to the standard Boost radio system. This wiring harness connects all of the speakers to the H/K amplifier that is installed into your right-side boot pocket. The Boost radio system has all of the speakers wired directly to the head unit (and that is what the DPSM upgrade expects).

Anyway, listening to music is very important to me, and I also prefer quality over quantity (volume)... although getting both at the same time is even better.

Without any confirmation that I would ever be able to obtain (or even hear) the DPSM here in the United States, I "played it safe" and ordered my MINI with the H/K stereo.

Fast forward about 4 or 5 months later, and sure enough, MINIUSA announces the official release of the DPSM in the US, installable at any MINI dealership.

Bummer. Oh well, I said to myself... it's so expensive and rare that I'll probably never hear one anyway.

Less than a year after that, one of my fellow DCMM club members, Irishcow, had it installed in her MINI. And I got a chance to sample it... and it ruined me. It's so much louder, and it's just as clear, if not clearer sound than the Harman/Kardon. Leaps and bounds ahead. All this, with the same OEM appearance, same head unit, no additional interior space required and no serious theft risk!

My philosophy with my MINI has always been "nothing but OEM", unless I want something that is simply not available as an "official" part.

So ever since that fateful day that I heard Irishcow's DPSM, I have wanted it... badly. I even contacted the dealership that she had install it, begging them to please consider the upgrade, even though it would be much more complex since I have the H/K. I talked to them since they were the only dealership in the area to have installed the DPSM yet. Their quote? 55 labor hours. Ouch - seemed ridiculous, more like a "we don't really want to hassle with this, so here's a go away quote".

I didn't give up. After much time and conversation with my own dealership, including them doing a few DPSM installs of their own, they agreed to take on the challenge. My long history and good relationship with them gives me confidence that they will only charge me for the actual work needed. They haven't even given me a solid quote, because there are some unknowns - nobody has done this before!

So the car is in the shop now. Here are the steps they are taking, broken out a bit:

1. Strip the entire interior of the car - DONE! (see pics)
2. Completely remove the Harman/Kardon parts - DONE!
3. STOP here - I will be working with a fellow DCMM member (PGT) to install B-Quiet soundproofing on the entire floor and sides of the car (and behind the wheel wells - after hearing of dave's good results) - DONE! (see pics)
4. Completely remove main factory wiring harness(es) - (finally started July 2!) DONE!
   
5. Install the appropriate "standard" wiring harness(es) (as though I had not ordered H/K) DONE!
6. Install the DPSM kit - DONE! TESTED & WORKING!!!
7. Reassemble the entire interior of the car - DONE!

It could be there for 2 weeks, it could be there for 4... my only deadline is that I want to have the car back in time for MOTD! (EDIT: that never happened though, far from it - hah!)

OK, so this may be pure insanity... but to me, the DPSM is the JCW version of the OEM MINI stereo options, and when coupled with extra soundproofing, I am very excited about it!

I want to stay OEM, I want the dealer to do all of the work (other than the soundproofing), since I don't trust myself with dismantling and reassembling the MINI interior... and I want warranty coverage of the DPSM afterwards.

Stay "tuned", I'm sure I'll have some interesting stripped interior pics to share when we get to the soundproofing stage.

Yes, I'm crazy... but I'm not the only one who thinks the DPSM is awesome!

Anybody interested in buying a complete set of Harman/Kardon parts?

[mmatarella]

Wish you could've put a time lapse camera in the car.

[Edge]

Originally Posted by mmatarella

Wish you could've put a time lapse camera in the car.

LOL yeah that would have been great... maybe I should swing by the dealership again soon and drop off my digital camera, asking them to take pictures along the way.

[Yucca Patrol]

Yes, absolute PURE insanity!

But I love the dedication it takes!

[GBMINI]

It should be possible to redo the wiring without ripping out the H/K harness and putting in a "normal" one. It would be much simpler that way too.

I could go into more details, but if you and the dealership are set to go the way you are (ignoring cost), there's no need for me to muddy the waters.

Good luck with the install, hope you love the results

[Edge]

Originally Posted by GBMINI

It should be possible to redo the wiring without ripping out the H/K harness and putting in a "normal" one. It would be much simpler that way too.

I wondered that, but part of my problem is that I want to maintain full warranty support... and the only way that's likely to happen is to have it done the "official" way, not hacking the wiring harness. Not to mention that I want to ensure I get full 100% performance from the system!

Originally Posted by GBMINI

I could go into more details, but if you and the dealership are set to go the way you are (ignoring cost), there's no need for me to muddy the waters.

Well, cost is somewhat of a factor, because I'm keeping them honest on part prices (comparing with other OEM part sources), and they are also giving me the proper labor discount that my club membership provides. No, it won't be cheap, but I suspect it will be as cheap as an "official" install can be. They're putting their best tech on it, and he knows the car inside and out, so who better to trust with it than him?

Originally Posted by GBMINI

Good luck with the install, hope you love the results

Thanks - I hope so too, and I'm quite sure I will... especially after the listening break-in time (what was it, 30 hours?).

[PGT]

Call me crazy

Tu es muy loco!

[Jeremy1026]

Originally Posted by PGT

Tu es muy loco!

Si Si! Muyismo! (I believe the suffix 'ismo' in spanish is like saying very very much so. I remember its something along those lines)

[Edge]

Minor update: Sound deadening materials from B-Quiet arrived today... 80 pounds worth (100 sq. ft of Ultimate, 54 sq. ft of Vcomp)! Just waiting for steps 1 through 5 to be completed. As of last Thursday, the dealer had assessed the job and put the parts on order. I'll be calling tomorrow to see if the parts have arrived and if they have begun the work.

[Edge]

Update: Got a call from the SA yesterday morning to say that the parts were in, and that they would start the work last night (on the night shift - their head tech is working nights now)... haven't heard from them today, but I don't expect to hear much until next week anyway.

One of the interesting things the SA talked about is the difficulty they are having on where to put the parts while the car is being worked on - they can't leave my MINI in the bay the entire time it's there, as they will need it for other MINIs! I suggested asking the parts department if they could spare some space to put all of my interior parts. Heh... just as long as they don't lose any of the parts in the process!

[Scavenger]

WOW MAN!!! It's really happening! The DPSM comes with its own sound deadening mats, are you also going to use those, or just stay strictly with the B-quiet material? 80 pounds is a lot of weight! The stock 'S' exhaust system weighs roughly 40 lbs.!!!

I don't know if you remember, but I studied the install instructions for all the various MINI audio systems and the H/K definitely makes major changes to the stock harness (mostly with taps ) anyways, what you're doing, which is reverting back to the stock harness is definitely the best way. I'm looking forward to hearing it when you get "Mr. OEM" back

[Edge]

Originally Posted by Scavenger

WOW MAN!!! It's really happening! The DPSM comes with its own sound deadening mats, are you also going to use those, or just stay strictly with the B-quiet material?

I plan on leaving the standard DPSM sound deadening mats in place, and simply adding to them with the additional B-quiet stuff wherever it seems to make some sense. I am also considering asking the dealer how hard it is to take the headliner out... if it's not too bad, I'll have them take that out for me too, and probably get Dent Wizard to remove the dents on the roof... and then we'll deaden the ceiling too!

Originally Posted by Scavenger

80 pounds is a lot of weight! The stock 'S' exhaust system weighs roughly 40 lbs.!!!

Well, 80 pounds purchased doesn't automatically mean 80 pounds installed... we might not use all of the material - I'd rather have too much than not enough!

Originally Posted by Scavenger

I don't know if you remember, but I studied the install instructions for all the various MINI audio systems and the H/K definitely makes major changes to the stock harness (mostly with taps ) anyways, what you're doing, which is reverting back to the stock harness is definitely the best way.

Yeah, I wanted to do it the "right" way too.

Originally Posted by Scavenger

I'm looking forward to hearing it when you get "Mr. OEM" back

You and me both! The best part is, it will get better and better until after the 30 hours of break-in time is completed!

[mmatarella]

Originally Posted by Edge

The best part is, it will get better and better until after the 30 hours of break-in time is completed!

Like break in mileage, you'll be anxious. Put er in the locked garage, hook up a battery charger, and let the stereo run all day and night!

[rkw]

Originally Posted by mmatarella

Put er in the locked garage, hook up a battery charger, and let the stereo run all day and night!

By all reports, you'll be able to roll down your windows, crank up the DPSM, and run it as your home stereo from the garage!

[PGT]

Originally Posted by mmatarella

Like break in mileage, you'll be anxious. Put er in the locked garage, hook up a battery charger, and let the stereo run all day and night!

actually, proper break-in routine for home gear can be done with white noise....tune to a freq between channels on the radio and put the volume at about 60%

[mdsbrain]

Any update for today yet? hehe

[Edge]

Originally Posted by mdsbrain

Any update for today yet? hehe

I wish there was... it turns out that MoS had 2 of their techs out last week (one had a baby... well, his wife did... and the other was sick), so they were short-staffed and didn't get started on it. My hope is that they will begin tonight. I have a call in to my SA for a status update...

[mdsbrain]

Originally Posted by Edge

I wish there was... it turns out that MoS had 2 of their techs out last week (one had a baby... well, his wife did... and the other was sick), so they were short-staffed and didn't get started on it. My hope is that they will begin tonight. I have a call in to my SA for a status update...

You keep saying "night". Do they do service work @ night @ this dealer to keep up with demand?

[Edge]

Originally Posted by mdsbrain

You keep saying "night". Do they do service work @ night @ this dealer to keep up with demand?

MoS now has two shifts for their techs - the regular 8-hour M-F day shift and a 10-hour night shift from Monday through Thursday.

The head tech who will be working on my car (since it is a complex job) is working the night shift lately... so that's why I keep saying night.

[PGT]

yes...two shifts.

[bluzeke]

So MoS has had your car two weeks now and they're really just getting started? Man, at that rate you're gonna be under the gun for the Dragon. What have you been driving for these two weeks? Do you get a MINI loaner when you give them this much business?

I'm hoping you'll get this done so you can be the official soundsource for the Dragon Drive-in.

CARS in DPSM !!!!

[PGT]

we'll have to compare the sound of this system with the one I'm designing from aftermarket parts. It will be interesting to see which is better/cheaper/faster I'm not convinced aftermarket is always better, despite many years in that business. Components specifically tuned for the car always work better.

[Edge]

Originally Posted by bluzeke

So MoS has had your car two weeks now and they're really just getting started? Man, at that rate you're gonna be under the gun for the Dragon.

They know full well about my Dragon plans, and believe me, I am not going to let this one slip... the work HAS started though. We should be at the soundproofing stage by Tuesday or Wednesday of next week (pics to follow!).

Originally Posted by bluzeke

What have you been driving for these two weeks? Do you get a MINI loaner when you give them this much business?

Yep, I have an MCSa loaner. At first, they only had a MCcvt loaner available for me, but I asked them to call me when an MCSa loaner came in, and they did... so I drove out there on a lunch break and swapped cars. Of course, I'd rather have an MC with a manual tranny over an MCSa... but manual loaner & rental cars are very rare.

Originally Posted by bluzeke

I'm hoping you'll get this done so you can be the official soundsource for the Dragon Drive-in.

CARS in DPSM !!!!

LOL - interesting idea... maybe I should raffle off my passenger seat for the movie, if it's not already filled (TBD).

Mind you, I won't have the only MINI at MOTD with DPSM - I know of at least one other - a fellow DCMM member (ssallykat, not Irishcow... Irishcow moved to Switzerland in January), and there will probably be one or two more.

Originally Posted by PGT

we'll have to compare the sound of this system with the one I'm designing from aftermarket parts. It will be interesting to see which is better/cheaper/faster I'm not convinced aftermarket is always better, despite many years in that business. Components specifically tuned for the car always work better.

Yeah, I'll be curious to hear opinions from seasoned car audio experts. Keep in mind though that it won't be a best case scenario until the 30-hour break-in time is complete!

[GBMINI]

Originally Posted by Edge

Mind you, I won't have the only MINI at MOTD with DPSM

Maybe I should bring GPMINI down there

[Edge]

Originally Posted by GBMINI

Maybe I should bring GPMINI down there

You absolutely should!