Does anyone know specifically what month the OEM Sirius option went from the replacement antenna base (the glossy black unit that looks like the factory antenna) to the magnet wart and if there are any compatibility issues when installing the prior unit on later cars?

Any help on this will be greatly appreciated.

 

I was told the second half of '06. I got the wart.....

 

I installed one from my soon to be mother n laws 04 MCS to my fiance's 06 MCS. Went right in with no problems.

Just make sure you tighten down the ground connector that the SIRIUS case bolts to.

 

Stephen - do you have a picture of the install? Did the Sirius antenna mount totally flush on the '06 roof?

I can't get my Sirius antenna/receiver to work together and the antenna base mounts on the roof with a slight gap (between the bottom and the roof), that doesn't seem right.

Did you run into these problems?

 

They switched antennas sometime in late 06. I had mine installed in late October and literally got the VERY last old-style antenna that Classic had - it was actually one that had been opened, used, and then removed from their customer's car, but I wanted it because they told me they were discontinuing that style and going to the stick-on kind. I know for a time period they were selling NO antennas, because they weren't sure how it was going to work, just that the old kind was being discontinued. I did not do my own install, but the guy who did it did remark to me that the antenna was a bear; he had a hard time getting the bolt tightened down right without stripping it.

Edit: My mini is a 9/06 build, if that helps.

 

MLWagner 79 -

Mine is also a 9/06 build. So I assume Sirius radio is working with your head-unit now? Do you happen to have the part number of the receiver that is installed in yours?

There are a few different receivers Mini used over the years and I think there is a compatibility issue with my receiver and the glossy antenna.

 

It works just fine, and has since day 1. Like I said, the only thing the installer mentioned was that the antenna was a pain...he had to re-thread it at one point because he'd stripped part of it. I also would say it doesn't sit absolutely perfectly flush, but to the naked eye not looking for an imperfection, it's not unnoticeable.

Going to check on part number (hopefully it's on there somewhere)...

 

Okay, the P/N must be on the back side which is fastened to the wall of the car I can't find it. I'll dig around in my paperwork and see if it's in there somewhere.

Edit: Blessed be the pack rat...

Antenna PN: 84 11 0 150 524
Receiver PN: 84 11 0 150 534

Hopefully that helps you!

 

Thanks!

You're using the antenna that's listed for cars "up to 6/04" (according to my information). Mine is P/No - 84 11 0 393 780 which is listed for cars "7/04 and on". We're using the same receiver.

 

Well, that would explain it...but really, they all should work together, I can't imagine what the problem is.

 

I installed my Sirius in May of '06 and it is the glossy one with both radio and Sirius in one. It was a chore to install, and yes it does have the gap underneath it between the ant. and the roof. I am glad I have this ant. because the magnetic style on the roof of my truck caused a rust spot.

 

To those of you who did get this to work...

Did you have NAV in your car? The issue is, my dealer is telling me that the install won't work unless I had NAV. They're also telling me that this particular antenna (the glossy base) and that receiver never worked together, that's why MINI switched to the magnet wart. Is this true?

Basically, I'm out $600, all the parts are installed, just that SIRIUS radio doesn't work.

Any advice?

 

Did some more research and actually I'm mistaken...

Sirius was never compatible with NAV systems until after 10/06. Sorry about that.

 

Technically, that's not true either. It's not the receiver that was incompatible, just the OEM antenna... because you couldn't swap out the GPS antenna.

Case in point - me! I have a 2005 MCS which has both the factory Nav AND the OEM SIRIUS receiver. I simply had to use an aftermarket SIRIUS antenna instead (TERK, in my case).

They later did make a different version of the OEM BMW/MINI SIRIUS receiver, but the only real difference was switching over to a single antenna connector, instead of the double antenna connector. I suspect this was done at the same time they switched antennas, as the "wart" style of antennas only require a single connector.

The part number of the "single" connector SIRIUS receiver is 65 12 0 398 141.

 

Edge-

Have you seen the actual single-connector receiver unit? Where is the connector on the unit so you can identify the different receivers quickly?

 

Yes, of course I've seen it... I have one.

The single antenna connector is in the same place as the double antenna connector on the original unit. There's just one connector instead of two.

If you still aren't sure, use the part numbers (printed on the label)... which should clarify it immediately.

That being said, you don't have to swap out receivers to use a single connector antenna with your double connector receiver. Adapters exist which allow you to connect the two - I used to use one with my setup until I switched to the single connector receiver. It was made by TERK (same company that makes the antenna that I use).

Here:

TERK Single to Dual Input Splitter