I recently bought a new Clubman with the Hi-Fi option and I'm getting ready to install some audio upgrades. This is my first MINI and my first post to NAM, but I have reviewed the forum to learn what I can before posting. Here is what I understand regarding the R55 hi-fi system:

1.) The head unit's four output channels appear at the X10266 connector at speaker level. These connections give a fairly flat response down to about 80Hz then rolloff at about 3dB/octave. The amp does all the filtering for the speakers.

2.) In prior years, the head unit's control settings traveled as data on the k-bus, but this is no longer the case. The head unit now passes all audio, including balance, fader, tone and volume as analog signals to the amp.

3.) The factory amp has 8 output channels. All speakers have a dedicated output except the front midrange and tweeter, which are in parallel and share a channel.

4.) The overall R55 CAN bus requires that the factory amp remains installed in order to keep the network intact for diagnostics and dealer maintenance.

I plan to replace the factory speakers, reroute the audio signals from the head unit to new amps, and also install a subwoofer. Before I start designing, can one of the experts let me know if the above information correct?

Thank you in advance for your help.

 

Signal at this connector is Speaker level
In my car there is not roll off. Only the base system has roll off and that is only on the rears channels. So this doe not affect you.

This is partially true. I beleive that the balance, fader and volume done by the head unit. Tone is aslo done at the head unit but there is some manipulation alos done by the amp. Speed volume is done inthe amp for instance.

This is true. But i have never been able to get the outputs wattages they say it puts out. Outputs are as follows:

Rear Woofers x2
Rear Tweeters X2
Front Woofers X2
Front Mids/Tweeters x2

This has been reported once but has never been reconfirmed. But as this is a total computer system it seems to me that if they try to do upgrades and one of them is for the amp and it can not do the updgrade to the amp module then the upgrade will fail.

Well there you have it. Good luck with your adventure.

FYI, I have changed all the speakers in my car now and there is a deffinate benifit to doing that first. My suggestion would be to cahnge the speakers out and do some listening test before adding an amp and sub woofer.

 

A number of folks have taken the route suggested by my good friend and fellow adventurer schatzy62, which is to replace the speakers first, and then add a sub (the OEM speakers really are poo).