hey guys. need some help. i havent personally seen the back of the stock head unit on the R53 (HK if it matters). i removed my stock antenna, because it was dumb looking and in doing so, basically disabled my stock radio antenna. needless to say, my radio reception sucks.

im sure with a few ebay adapters, i can get from the head unit to this neat window antenna that I would like to use. question is, which pieces do i need?

** window antenna **
http://www.ebay.com/itm/320925760994...84.m1436.l2649

available adapters ive found:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/360157195885...84.m1436.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/110648043030...84.m1436.l2649
http://www.ebay.com/itm/190492718568...84.m1436.l2649

reckon any of those will work? Thanks in advance!

 

You try a stubby yet?
Might be easier than reinventing the wheel....the thing that complicates it a bit is the mini has an signal amp buried in the car (might be drivers side rear, not sure) that is powered by the cable...power is fed up the cable from the radio.....
At one point i thought only 2005+ mini's had diversity antennas ( one on the roof, one in the glass going by realoem), but lately, i'm not sure about it.
The adaptors you posted (the mini one) is to connect the stock antenna to an aftermatket head unit...not what you want...._

 

no on the stubby. my OE antenna is Gone. de-soldered and removed. there are a couple of wires for the sirius antenna, and a couple more for the regular antenna (i think). 4 total.

i dont have the antenna in the glass. i think that was for the minis with the GP spoiler.

i need to connect an aftermarket antenna to the stock head unit. ill take pics of my stock antenna tomorrow. its like none ive ever seen: some round-ish looking deal, kinda like a big ugly tear drop.

 

Nope the ROOF antenna is for AM and the rear glass one is for FM.
http://parts.miniofsouthatlanta.com/...size/76011.jpg

#7 is the GLASS (FM) side and 6 the the roof (AM) antenna.

You might have messed something up (shorted wires) when you pulled the AM antenna off. Open the side panel and try disconnecting it from the BOX.

 

you sure? that for all cars and all audio systems?

seems like if those top antennas were just AM antennas, then people wouldnt even bother to put a "stubby" on there: they would just take the thing off bc nobody listens to AM radio.! lol. at least not in any car ive ever been in.

i dont think i shorted any wires, i did one at a time and taped them off as i did so. again, ill take detailed pics of the antenna i removed. it obviously has circuits for the sirius, but also has a PCB board that looks like a basic antenna that the 2 black wires went to. its possible that the entire thing powered some amplifier for the FM antenna as well.

after i lose my job (end of march, a-holes ran the company into the ground, but i wont rant on that) im going to take off those 2 back panels (anyone have a DIY?) and use some more of my Gmat to make the mini quieter. i will also look into this mystery box you speak of.

 

just pull the back access panel and grab a flashlight. I THINK you can see it from there. I have removed my stubby and still get FM signal.

As far as I know it's the same for ALL of the R53's