So I was surfing the web and I came across this website http://www.visualgarage.com/home.html

What I like about there design is that it actually goes over the existing antenna base! No major modification needed, just unscrew the antenna and put this one on...And they can even color match it to our cars!!

Heres the install instructions: http://www.visualgarage.com/Product_Installation.html

Only problem is they dont have anything available for our Mini's..YET! I sent them an email and Im currently waiting for a response. I was thinking that If I can generate enough interest here (group buy maybe)that would entice them to get this done. Whadyall think?

 

That looks great. Depending on cost, I would be very interested.

 

Count me in

 

Id be interested

 

I have been looking for a shark fin for a while, and here is what I found:

http://bimmian.com/vehicle.htm?veh=MN

I like it because it looks pretty small, and has a somewhat OEM touch to it. They have got many colors that possibly match our paint. Their price is pretty reasonable to me.
Ok, guys, I do NOT work for them. Even their fin looks great, I just don't know they are direct fit or what kind of modification we are looking at. They have no instructions at all, and they didn't reply my email questions....

Anybody has bimmian's fin installed on MINI?

Otherwise new option from visualgarage looks good too!

 

I'm diggin the bimmian shark fin, but I think either one would look great on the MINI. I'd love to know if anyone has tried one out yet and if the reception suffers significantly.

 

The bimmian one doesnt go over the OEM base, so it's not functional. The visualgarage one is designed to go over the OEM one, but it would have to be really large, wouldn't it?

 

Good point. From my understanding the antenna base of 02-04 Cooper's are smaller than the 05-06's. Im wondering if that can be retrofitted to the 05-06 minis. Im going to fint out from my parts dep. Ill let you guys know.

 

bimmian will REPLACE OEM antenna, that's what I like actually.

I saw a MINI installed a VW antenna, I guess it's not too hard to replace OEM antenna base, and it'll leave a hole on roof? Wiring new antenna should be a very easy job. A completely new antenna should have much better reception than any cover/short antenna.

 

Actually, the bimmian is not an antenna. Here's a quote from the website ad.

NOTE: Our shark fin cannot replace a broken OEM shark fin antenna, or act as a cover for one. Our shark fins are non-functional and are made as one solid (no openings) hollow piece. E46 style OEM shark fin antennas come with a rubber seating boot. Our shark fins are not sold with a rubber boot, as...

They are solid and simply adhere to the roof. So where are you going to put your OEM antenna (I have AM, FM and XM in the same base eg)?

The search continues, grasshopper.

 

Ok. So I checked out realoem.com and I found out that there are indeed 2 diff antenna systems for 02-04 and 05-06 Mini's. The base antenna on the 02's are alot smaller than the newer models making it a possiblity that it would work with the visual garage antenna's. Problem is would the older version antenna work with 05-06's since it seems like the wireing harness is completely different.

 

Got a reply from visualgarage. Unfortunately, it doesnt look like its going to work because of clearance issues w/ the hatch opened (it touches slightly according to them) and with the minimal space between the antenna base and the sunroof . I told him that I was willing to send out a 06 antenna base so they can make a better protoytpe but its not looking good.

They did say that an 02-04 antenna base will work because its smaller but w/o the sunroof and it would still touch the hatch when opened

Did some more searching and I found a seller on ebay that sells a functional antenna but there is some wiring involved. Anyone know if this is pretty easy?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...109758967&rd=1