I sold my 2004 Cooper S and finally received my 2008 Cooper S convertible. I installed XM Direct into the coupe and retained it to install in the new convertible. Where is the plug that runs a CD changer (this is where I installed it in the prior car) in the convertible? And, where has anyone with XM installed your antenna?

 

The cable is on the passenger side just behind the rear seat. It can be tough to find but its there behind a panel and taped to the side of the car. I installed the antenna right next to the am/fm antenna. Ran the wire underneath the little box that holds the am/fm antenna and into the car that way.

 

Thanks. I spent the day working on the install and found the wire bundle. I installed the XMDirect box to the interior panel on the passenger side rear and the Blitzsafe box is behind the panel near the wiring bundle. I ended up mounting the antenna on the rear passenger side quarter panel above the taillight.

 

Nice car by the way. I love BRG cabs with palomino/camel/biege/tan interior.

A no payment, used car was in my budget, so I could not be picky. Got a 2006 red S[not] cabriolet.

But would have loved to find a MINI S BRG cab for $20k.

 

Thanks. My first choice in 2004 was BRG but there weren't any to be found and I didn't want to wait on an order. I was more patient this time.

 

Dr. Dave - do you have the factory iPod adapter option also? I have been trying to research the ability to add the blitzsafe and xm to my cabrio, but the iPod adapter seems (?) to use the head units nomenclature for a cd changer for the playlists on the iPod adapter. I would love to add xm - my wife has it in her car and I've grown to like it....

 

My 2008 has the auxillary input in the glovebox but I am not using it (I don't own an ipod). I installed the Blitzsafe into the factory wiring for the CD changer and everything appears to be working (I haven't driven it since installing it yesterday).

 

I drove the car to work this morning and the XM does not tune in while driving. I guess that I need to relocate my antenna away from the back of the car.

 

So which XM Direct did you buy, and from where? I'd love to install in my 2008 Sidewalk. I'm a big XM fan... would love as many details as you're willing to share about installation and how it works.

 

I bought one years ago similar to the one in this link:
http://store.xmfanstore.com/xmdirect.html

I needed a little guidance locating the factory wiring but the installation wasn't too difficult (except that I need to move the antenna). You can PM me for more details.

 

I finally have the XM antenna in the right spot. It didn't work at the base of the windshield next to the cowl vent so I moved it to the top of the windshield next to the AM/FM antenna. I had to use the original sticky pad since that piece is plastic. So far, not as many dropped signals.

 

What did you do with the wire? I put mine on the back above one of the tail lights, and it seems to work fine there.

I went ahead and installed my XM MyFi, which sits nicely in one of the cup holders, held up by the power adapter. Think I'll stay with that for awhile at least.

However, I would like to hear how the Direct works with the radio, such as, does it display stations and song titles on the digital display, etc.? And which one at the above link did you buy... there are so many versions.

 

My dealer suggested placing the antenna on the dash, right in front of the window, about 6 inches from the door opening (running the wire along the gap between the window and the dash). Not only is installation drop-dead easy there, it works great. Problem solved for me and it doesn't spoil the looks of the outside of the car.