This is to just prove my friend wrong. He si trying to tell me that you can change the head unit in an r56 MINI. He claims that it can be done and it is a very easy job. I don't care he just won't listen to me so I thought everyone here could shed some light on the subject.

Thanks guys

 

The head unit is integrated into the MINI's computer system. Remove it and dealers will probably refuse to do repairs on the electical system.

 

Physically, the headunit controls are integrated into the speedometer. Here are pics from geeza-r56s' gallery.

At the right are the speedo + headunit combination.


This is the headunit itself after detaching the speedometer:




I suppose you could detach the bottom unit and put an aftermarket headunit in its place. You'd be left with non-functioning buttons and display in the speedo. Even so, I wouldn't call it "a very easy job". The connector and mounting are nonstandard.

 

while you can't remove it...you can add an second HU ...it would go in the secret compartment.

 

Although you can not remove it due to it being an integral part of the cars computer electronics there are things that can be done with it.

rkw shows the actual pieces in his post but if you have enough money you can move it.

In Japan they make kits that move the head unit to the secret compartment and center stack plastics to make it so you can put a standard single or double din head unit in the center stack.

There are threads here in the NAV and Audio Section about this. At last check about a year ago the kits with cabling and plastics delivered to the USA would be about $1400.00 That is a lot of money for a piece of plastic and a few cables.

In the Picture in rkw's post the speedometer and display remove from the headunit/cd player a cable goes from the speedo to the head unit when placed in the secrect compartment.

As miniSQ stated you can add a head unit if you want and place it in the secret compartment. It has been done and there are examples of it here in he NAV and AUDIO Section.

In your statment "you can change the head unit in a R56" it realy depends on what change means

IF chagne means just on an audio function then cahnging to a head unit in the secrect compartment is possible. So your friend would be correct.

IF change means remove and replace with something else then no that can not be done. So your friend would be incorrect.

So I would say you both can be correct.That should settle the disagreement.