After a long search for a GPS/Radio combination antenna, I have finally found the perfect combo antenna for aftermarket (or OEM for that matter) GPS owners. The Calearo Shark Twin Sat (7727007) http://www.calearoam.com/a_154_IT_454_1.html Okay, technically it is a "Shark Fin" antenna but if I post Shark Fin you might think OEM. IMO this antenna is too small to be called "Shark"...too little...too MINI! The darn thing is only L=2 3/8" X W=1 3/4" X H=1 15/16". The audio shop owner told me Calearo is the best antenna in Europe and several auto manufactures use them as OEM. I order mine and it should be in next week or so. Oh and he will have a body shop paint it to match my car. I will post some pics and do a full writeup later. I just thought some of you would like to know about this as I have seen several people looking for a new antenna. They even have just AM/FM for you convert folks that want to get rid of the whip antenna. Here is a pic from the Calearo website.

 

Thanks for the info, keep us updated. I'm looking forward to see how the Guppy fin looks on a MINI.

 

Looks like the same antenna that is on my wife's '07 Passat wagon. All three run through that.

 

Schweet! Thanks...

 

Could be as they make a lot of OEM antenne for european cars. You might start looking in the salvage yards

 

Update;
Sorry it took so long but work has be busy. I couldn't get to the shop for a while but long story short...I picked it up this week and the paint matched the car perfect. The antenna is the exact same size as the hole left from the old one, so no cutting and the base is about the same footprint. The antenna requires an adapter from the Mini to the antenna connector, which the shop had in stock. I have to order another adapter for the "Phantom Power" lead as the one he gave me did not work. (For whatever reason, some antenna don't use a regular 12v power directly to the antenna, they use a Phantom lead that looks like it connects to the shield of the cable. Maybe someone who knows more about this can chime in...) The adapter he gave me didn't fit and it would install directly to the back of the radio. You would have to disconnect the white power lead and attach the one from the adapter. For the Mini this wouldn't work anyway as you would disconnect the power lead to the antenna amp and which would also render the diversity antenna useless (as far as I can tell). There is a new adapter that I will have the shop order, which connects at the antenna. This way the antenna amp and diversity antenna will still work and you won't have to remove the head unit at all. I will post the part numbers from the catalog when I know everything works. I will also post pics when I figure out how to attach photos to my post.

I am sure my description isn't real clear so if you have any questions, let me know.

P.S. Next up is a "how to" for the Craven Speed CAI expansion port; using the factory air inlet at the front of the car.

 

Okay, here are a few pics...

 

Frodo,

How did this turn out? I bought my wife an '04 Cooper S with the GPS system and the radio reception is awful! Is this a viable solution to her problem?

 

Sorry this took so long to respond, we've moved from Texas to California and it's been surreal. I got this resolved.......I bought the car used and a Harmon Kardan Drive + Play had been put in it. I found the antenna coax coiled. I re-routed it and..........BINGO.......there is radio life out there after all. Oh yeah, good news for me, since we got here (California) she decided a bigger car suited her better, so she gave me the MINI.

Life is good and the weather here is fantastic!

Cheers!