hey everyone...i am looking for opinions from those who ordered their minis with the HIFI pkg. how do you like it? is it worth the money, or is the money better spent on aftermarket speakers? i have been several times to my local mini dealership and none of the cars on the lot have this option, so any comments are appreciated.

 

it's worth it unless you plan on spending much more than $550 on aftermarket stuffs.

I've spent much more - but then it sounds like i've spent much more.

This topic has pretty much been beaten to death.

I know you said your local dealer has no hifi car in stock but you really should hear yourself. it's very subjective.

here are a few threads on MINI2 to help you. they've been talking about it longer than us:

http://www.mini2.com/forum/search.php?searchid=3549169

a pretty long thread on nam talking about it:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ght=HIFI+worth

 

I ordered the HiFi option on my 2007 MCS, and like the sound very much.

 

I am very satisfied with my HI FI upgrade, Dont overdrive it. It also gets better with age.

 

In a word, yes. It would be better with a subwoofer, but at moderate volume levels, it is fine for me.

 

I listened to both the standard and the HiFi systems at my dealership before ordering. At the time, the standard one sounded better and that's what I ordered. Then I read about the the HiFi system needing to be broken in and sounding better with time. I changed my order to the HiFi.

If I decide it doesn't meet my expectations after a few months, I'll upgrade the speakers but use the included HiFi amp.

 

I find the tire and other road noises so loud that it doesn't matter what the HIFI sounds like. Seems like the first audio upgrade to the MINI needs to be sound deadening with Dynomat or something similar.

 

I would REALLY try and find one close to you with the Hifi in it so you can hear it for yourself. Maybe another NAM member close to you has one or something.

At first I thought anyone who spent money on a "high end" factory stereo was out of their mind. Then I heard the factory Mini system compared to the Hifi, and decided it was worth the $550 to me, as it sounded MUCH better. Certainly not as good as aftermarket, but you can easily spend $550 on 1 or 2 nice pairs of aftermarket speakers, and you would still have 1 or 2 pairs left to replace, so in the end it could cost much more to upgrade.

Bottom line is hear it for yourself before you decide. It made a believer out of me! Now I just have to wait for it to get here!!!

 

I have several complaints about the upgrade. When i was at the dealership listening to the system, i did so with the car off, windows up, and roof closed. it sounded good to me so i ordered it.
I usually drive with the roof open, causing me to need to turn up the volume quite a bit. I find that the high frequencies are often distorted. I usually end up having to turn it down.
I mostly feel that i spent $550 on the front A pillars. If i were to do it again, i would try to locate the part number of the pillars, order those, and then do a 4 channel amp for a front 3 way set like the focals that everyone is talking about and a set of 6x9 midbass speakers for the rear. not willing to lose the boot for a sub. it would be more than $550 but it would sound a heck of a lot better than it does now.
If i did not like to blast music, did not have /use a sunroof, and always drove with the windows closed, the system would be fine for me.

The following statements are not about the HiFi upgrade.
By the way, the auto sound adjust really sucks. i hate it. i dont know why you cannot turn it off. settings go from 1 to 6 and mine is at 1.
Also, what is the deal with RANDOM for the CD? why does it not randomly select a song when you tell it to skip the track? That is really lame. I guess the Ipod adapter does the same thing....that really sucks.

 

I like the hi-fi upgrade and will leave it alone.

 

I think the HiFi gives good sound for a modest price, and is easier to upgrade. The downside of course is the initial $ hit. I think it sounds very good at moderate levels. If you adjust the fader a little (3 or 4 on the setting) to the rear, it's much better (and louder). It really depends on the type of music you listen to, and the sound you desire. For some people, a factory stereo (regardless of manufacturer and cost) is never going to suffice.

Adding speakers is gonna cost what it's gonna cost for either stereo. Without the HiFi, you're really going to need an amp; and that can be difficult to wire because you essentially have to take the console apart. You can upgrade the speakers on the factory amp if you like, or you can add an amp via the factory connection in the boot (see the how-to thread).

The HiFi also gives you tweeters in the A pillars. If you wanted to add them, you'ld have to buy the new pillars and (probably) run the wires.

Nobody can answer "is it worth it?" for anyone but themselves. For me it was worth it.