I went to Best Buy to enquire about getting the new sony color screen head unit installed in my MINI, and the service person said they can not install them cause they dont have mounting brackets that fits the MINI. Is this true? If so how do I get it installed? Also most importantly, does anyone know if I replace my head unit, if the NAV sound will still play, or do I need to leave the factory head unit in for that?

 

Hello. Are you talking about the regular Din sized headunit that has the LCD screen? Or the in dash motorized 7" monitor? Well, either way they can be installed in the Mini, no problem. If the guy said it can't be done then that probably means they haven't done one and don't know how. I would go elsewhere. My fiancee and I just finished installing an entire system, panasonic headunit, mb quart mids and highs and we built a ported fiberglass enclosure for the Kicker L5 solobaric sub in a 02' Cooper S......we didn't run into a single problem or hang up. It was a standard install. Out here in Chicago, the guys at Best Buys and Circuit City are known for doing half assed installs that leave a lot to be desired. Also I know Snoy has their most basic line of products at these locations. So there could be better stuff out there for your Mini. Also, the MECP certification that a lot of people think so highly of is kind of a joke. I've seen guys come straight from the schooling with their MECP Certs and not even know how to build a standard box. So I wasn't to surprised to hear that they say it can't be done, they don't have the bracket... what shop can't get a bracket or make their own? As for your Nav system...I am not sure but I can ask Eric when he gets home. I know they are pretty versitile system and I am sure it has it's own brain that wouldn't be effected by the radio. At times an extra speaker can be mounted somewhere discreet and that just plays the Nav voice. With our Alpine GPS system if we had the volume up high and the ladys voice kicked in, it just about scared the crap out of us. That's why we had it set up so it had it's own volume. Well, I hope some of this helped a little. I have been around car audio shops for more than a few years now and I know there is a lot of bullsh!t in this industry. Take your Mini someplace that has worked on one before and someplace that is confident. Take care, Marni :smile:

 

Hello again....I just assumed the Nav system was Alpine becuase I know the stock radio was an Alpine. Anyone out there know for sure?

 

you're trying to install the sony 5HDI i think? it's a regular cd player with a TFT color display (but not a screen that comes out right?)


My first warning about having a new head installed at CC or BB is to ask if they have the wiring harness for this car. Most places do not, Crutchfield included (as of a few weeks ago). Yes you can install into the car without a wiring harness using wiretaps, but why cut into the car if you don't have to? If you insist on using them I would also take in the online guides for removing the headunit, even then i would pray :smile: I think swapping the head is the easiest stereo thing to deal with in the car, but i still would not trust the installers at those places sorry just my opinion.

As far as what you need, you need a wiring harness, fascia adaptor (to fill in the trim gap) and antenna adaptor. To be honest I bet CC or BB have the fascia and antenna adaptor as the one i used looked pretty generic. They probably don't have the wiring harness.

My suggestion is to find a local stereo shop with a decent reputation and talk to them about your options. See if they can get the wiring harness before having them splice into the factory wiring. You can buy the wiring harness at http://www.logjamelectronics.com or you can also get it from where i got mine Formby Electronics in the UK. I can give you contact info if you need it, but Mike at Formby sold me all three items for about $45 which is about right.

You can also try Crutchfield.com again, and see if they have the wiring harness--they sell that headunit for list price which you really shouldn't pay, i've seen it for 750-800 online but it's kinda iffy having a local shop install something you buy online.