I would like to add Bluetooth and possibly also alarm to a 2006 MINI Cooper S JCW with Nav.

While I know what I want, I'm unsure of how best to get it, I would really appreciate any advice, especially from those that have first hand experience with any of this.

First and most difficult decision is which Bluetooth parts to order. I have found three options so far, and I'm not at all sure which way to go.

The official Universal Hands-Free Kit available from MINI dealers is probably the safest option. It lists for $1250, I have seen it discounted to $1000, perhaps I can get it a little cheaper if I look and ask around. Other than being the most expensive option, I'm a little worried about the many permutations if I don't have the dealer install it, and also not sure if it is using the latest and greatest components. This is listed on every MINI dealership's Accessories web page, apparently these are all hosted centrally by MINI, though some dealers choose to show discounted pricing and some sell them at list price. Detailed description is here: http://bridger.us/mini/howto/universal_handsfree.pdf

Bimmernav and european auto source offer a kit that mostly has the same functionality. They emphasize that they are using only the latest and greatest components, which is good, though there are some aspects in which the integration is not as complete, as in there being a separate pairing button that has to be added to the car, where the dealer kit uses the steering wheel button and the Nav screen for pairing. The cost is lower at $850. Detailed descriptions are here: http://www.bimmernav.com/store/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=119{23}145 http://www.europeanautosource.com/pr...roducts_id=657

Then there is the Alarm System, listed at $202 plus $80 for a Light Switch replacement from dealers and discounted to as little as $160 plus $80, it is a lot more affordable. In this case the price seems OK to me (though paying less still would of course be better), I'm not sure how well it works and whether it is worth it though, anyone that has it care to comment?

Finally, there is the question of installation. My local MINI dealership is quoting $600 for installing Bluetooth and also $600 for installing Alarm. While the Bluetooth installation is a bit complicated, the Alarm is supposed to be prewired, so that cost seems a bit excessive. Perhaps some of the dealers that discount the parts would discount the install also, I have not asked, I could call about four dealerships within driving distance to find out. A cost of about $3k for everything at a dealer may be the safest choice though also the priciest.

There is a local service shop, German Motor Specialist, which comes very highly recommended, so I asked them about installing this stuff. Unlike my local MINI dealership, they are not quoting a fixed price for the installation, they are telling me their hourly rate and estimating hours. If things go well, the install may be less than at a dealer, though it's complicated enough where it may be so many hours that the cost could end up about the same. Unlike the MINI dealership they are not eager to sell parts, they can order the official MINI parts, though they do not discount parts only selling them at list price, they would rather I find buy and bring parts, then just charge me for the labor.

I don't know if there are other reputable places to get such things installed, since it's electronics I'm wondering if perhaps someone specializing in audio may be able to do it well for less, I'm also considering having some insulation added to the doors around the speakers, which would probably be best done by an audio specialist.

Bottom line, I would welcome any and all advice regarding what to get or not, where and how to have it installed, and especially any first hand experience with this equipment and/or reputable installers of such equipment in norther California.

 

I need to clarify & correct a few things for you:It doesn't. I have it... but I later upgraded the microphone and the Bluetooth module (i.e. the "brain") to much newer versions, bought from another vendor.Not true - the dealer kit does NOT use the steering wheel buttons for pairing. It still requires a separate pairing button, just like the other two kits (hint: all 3 use the exact same OEM Bluetooth module, just different generations of it). The steering wheel only has 2 of the 3 buttons required - the pairing/voice prompt button is the missing one. There are therefore two ways you can obtain the pairing button with the OEM kit:

1. A separate keypad (included with the kit... it has ALL of the Bluetooth buttons, but you really only need to use that missing pairing/voice prompt button)
2. The OEM armrest phone dock. The OEM kit includes all of the hardware (except the phone-specific adapter) to install the phone dock into your OEM armrest. Don't have the OEM armrest? Then you have to get that to use this feature (not included with the kit).

In the end, for my 2005 JCW MCS with Nav, I ended up going the most expensive route:

• Bought OEM Bluetooth kit from dealer (I did get a small club discount though)
• Had dealer install it (cha-ching!)
• Realized I hated the extra keypad (I didn't have the OEM armrest)
• Bought the OEM armrest from the dealer and had them install it (cha-ching!)
• Had the realer remove the extra Bluetooth keypad and install the armrest dock
• Bought the phone adapter for my phone (only specific phones available - and generally not current ones)
• Later on, decided to upgrade the Bluetooth module & the microphone with much newer versions, purchased from another vendor

So I have the best possible Bluetooth setup for folks with the 1st Gen Nav system. I paid way too much, and I probably would have done it differently next time. Still, the OEM-based kits (including EAS & Bimmernav) are the only way to get full-featured integration with the factory Nav.

Keep in mind that the EAS & Bimmernav kits do NOT include any of the armrest-dock items (as far as I am aware). I believe is how they keep the cost down.

The main benefits of the armrest dock (if you have a compatible phone and it's additional phone adapter as well) are:

• Phone always stays charged (a big plus when you consider that an active Bluetooth connection really puts extra drain on your cell's battery)
• External antenna boost (done via a windshield-mounted antenna that comes with the kit)

As for getting it installed, I don't recall exactly how many hours it took them to do mine, but I believe it did involve removing a bunch of trim to "get at" everything. Even more so due to the armrest pieces.

Bottom line - it's your call... $600 is a lot, but at least you know in advance what the price will be. If you decide to go through a dealership to do it, make sure the price is firm. Watch out for the armrest vs. extra keypad "gotcha"... and understand what the dealer includes or does not include first.

 

You bought the newer versions from which vendor?

If a third button is needed for pairing and voice (as in voice activated dialing?), I guess the question becomes where to put that if not the arm rest.

If I have this all done by the dealer, then I will have them add the arm rest too.

If the dealer kit has older electronics and mic though, I suppose I'd rather save some money and get the newer stuff, but from who?

In that case, my car has space for one more switch in the row with window lock dsc fog, could pairing/voice be wired to another such switch there? I don't think the alarm would put a switch there, since it requires a replacement Light Switch stalk, so what else would go there? How hard is it to get that kind of switch and install it there?

 

In my case, Bimmernav. However, remember that I didn't buy their kit. I just bought those 2 parts (the module and the microphone).Remember, it's not just a 3rd button, it's an entire keypad... which has ALL of the Bluetooth buttons on it, including the ones already on your steering wheel. So basically, you have to get a keypad just to get that extra button, even though you don't need those extra buttons any more.

I think it is designed to be mounted to the inside of one of the downtubes... but you could probably have them mount it inside the glovebox.I couldn't tell you. I don't know which "kit" (Bimmernav or EAS) is better, but I suspect there aren't a whole lot of differences. EAS is a vendor here (and the sponsor of this forum), so they might have more to add about why their kit is better than Bimmernav's.The Bluetooth keypad won't fit in the empty space for that switch. You can buy a "full" switch panel from any dealership. The missing switch is supposed to be for the rear fog light, which you obviously don't have. You could also get the dealer to install it... although it costs more to do that than if you'd simply ordered the rear fog light from the factory!

 

OK, as much as I like the warm fuzzy feeling of only factory parts installed by a dealer, I'm leaning toward going with one of the kits which are more certain to have the latest hardware.

Question then becomes where to get the Alarm System, Light Switch, and also the "full" switch panel. (Anyone know whether the rear fog switch could be wired in place of whatever switch comes with the Bluetooth kits? Suppose I could ask the vendors.) Anyway, for these three parts, should I just buy them from whichever MINI dealer offers the best discount? I've seen 10% to 20% off list, anyone know of a dealer that discounts further? Or are there options for buying MINI accessories and parts other than MINI dealers?

As for getting it all installed, does anyone have recommendations for getting such installs done in northern California?