Hey guys,
My 2005 MCS (equiped with H/K radio and Navigation) has the long (VW style) antena. I did some searches and found out the 2005 models are not offered with the shark fin style antena. Is there anyway I can put one on?

Peepers

 

The big problem you'll encounter between your '05 and the earlier cars with the shark fin is that the radio antenna was integrated into the right side rear window (it's a grid). Newer cars incorporate the Nav antenna into a base with a conventional whip antenna for the radio. You could put the shark fin in place of your current antenna, but you'll lose the radio antenna, with predictable results. All is not totally lost, since all MINIs also use the rear defroster grid as a radio antenna as well, in a 'diversity tuner' arrangement. Removing the roof antenna completely will not kill all reception, but since the defroster grid is not a very good antenna by itself, your reception will still suffer a noticeable amount.

You can fit the car with an aftermarket 'on-glass' antenna in place of the rooftop one to regain your lost reception.

 

Get a nice stubby and you're almost there.

 

So let me see I got this right
2004’s with Nav got a shark fin antenna. Then in 2005 Mini’s with Nav got the whip style antenna. So couldn’t I just order the shark fin antenna from the dealer for a 2004 model and install it? Will I have any radio reception / navigation reception issues??

 

No navigation issues, no radio reception.
Like dickdavid says "Get a nice stubby and you're almost there" & you are good to go....

 

just take the atenna off of a S2000 or honda Element

 

I don't like the appearance of the stubby antennas. I like the look of the shark fin units. I guess it's a person preference.

So, does anyone know this answer?

Quote:

So couldn’t I just order the shark fin antenna from the dealer for a 2004 model and install it? Will I have any radio reception / navigation reception issues

 

"No navigation issues, no radio reception"
You won't have an antenna for your radio. The shark fin mounts the same as your antenna....

 

OK, let me ask a dumb question? Why won't I have an antenna for the radio? Isn't the shark fin an antenna?

 

Well, you could just look at the second post....

The shark fin houses a GPS antenna ONLY. There is no AM/FM antenna in the MINI shark fin. That's why all of the 2002-2004 MINIs without Nav still have the whip. The whip is the AM/FM antenna.

Vehicles that have the shark fin have the AM/FM antenna in a metallic grid on the rear passenger side window. Which means that if you have a whip antenna currently on your car and you replace it with a shark fin, you will have poor to no AM/FM reception unless you get an aftermarket antenna system that can be applied to a window just like what the 2002-2004 MINIs with Nav currently have...

 

Shark fin solution:
fabricate your own!


Contains the XM Direct antenna and gives reasonable broadcast (AM/FM) reception in town (of course, with XM who would care if you got broadcast radio reception or not?)
phil

 

Care to share the details on how you did this? Is the AM/FM just coming from the rear window as mentioned in post #2? Any pictures of you placing XM direct inside the fin?

Thanks-
Randy

 

Never mind. I came across another thread where you linked to your DIY article. Thanks!

-Randy

 

anyone has the part # for the grid antenna.. i like the shark fin and want to do a retro on my 06 with NAV...