H/K Head Unit doesn't work. Options?
 

Howdy Folks

So I bought my 2003 Mini S used a couple months ago with 96K miles on it, and I enjoy the car. My only real complaint is that, while it has the H/K sound system, the CD player doesn't work and there's no Aux out.

So I looked into adding an aux outlet and its about $50. I figured I might as well just buy a new head unit, getting an aux out and a working CD player, which I can find for $80. But I'm now seeing tons of threads about integration with the amp being a problem. I'm not a big sound system guy, so I can't seem to find a definitive answer.

Are people just being picky about the quality of the sound, or will it flat out not work with an aftermarket H/U? I do enjoy the sound quality now, I just miss listening to something other than the radio. How bad would the sound be if I just swap the thing out, and worry about a new amp later when I have the money?

I saw someone link an integration thing from england, but I'm not spending $60 to get a cheap head unit to work.

Thanks in advance.

IMO your best bet is to get another OEM head unit. Without the 'integration thing' you lose your steering wheel controls. The issue with the HK is the amp, which can go out, and has all the wiring run through it.

Weeeeell poop. Thanks for the help, I don't want to lose the steering wheel controls, I love those. The dealer is probably going to charge a fortune for a new oem head unit though, do you know how much they run?

I'm looking through their website and they don't seem to have one, I'll have to call them in the morning. I DO however see that they offer an aux input you can add for $39, which is cheaper than the one on minimania.com. No pictures though. Is this basically the same thing, plugs into the back and adds a jack somewhere in the car?

OEM headunits come up regularly on eBay at reasonable prices. A new one from the dealer is something like $700.

It looks like minimania is reselling the OEM aux input.

And.... Your 2003 HU may not support AUX. They didn't add it until late 03.

I thought it was ~Aug 02 that it supported Aux-in. I know an Apr'02 built unit didn't.

To the OP, as was said, you can get a used OEM HU for a reasonable price - less than $100 most likely.

Thanks folks, this is helpful info. I know its an 03, but don't know the build date. Is there somewhere I could find that? I was hoping that having the H/K system would mean it was late enough to avoid that, but that's not a given.

Also, if the head unit of a specific time frame doesn't support Aux, but I buy a new OEM head unit, will that support it? Are there certain model numbers I should look for? Or is the whole system screwed.

The build date of your car is on the tag with the VIN, on the door jamb.

If your car was built 2003 or later, an aux cable may work on your current headunit. So if it works and you don't care that much about the CD, you can skip replacing the headunit.

All headunits support aux except for very early ones (before 2003). The newer headunits (from about mid-2005 onwards) also play mp3 CD discs and has ability to display title/artist with some aftermarket iPod adapters.

The model numbers didn't change, just the functionality. :rolleyes:
That said, any 2003 HU should work for you. FYI, the '05+ units have larger, knurled volume knobs, and play MP3s, whereas the earlier units do not.

Your car's build date is on the door jam, the HU build date is on the top (or is it bottom?) of the unit.

Brilliant! I never thought to actually look on the stupid car for the build date, that's just too easy.

Ok, so if I have a car built after aug 02 I can just get the aux in adapter. If its built before then, and I buy another 03 head unit it should work with the car and the H/K stuff, and the cd player will work. And then I could buy the Aux-in and it would work with the new head unit. Its a step more than I had originally intended, I had hoped for one or the other, but if that's the only way to do it at least it will work.

Or I could buy an 05 plus h/u, which is a little nicer. Or replace the h/u and amp with aftermarket, as long as I buy an aftermarket interface adaptor so that the steering wheel controls will work.

Do I have to do anything to the h/u to "program" it that my car is an H/K set up? I've never replaced a head unit, was kind of hoping I could just cut, swap, and solder some cables...

Just swap out the H/Us. No programming or rewiring needed as the H/U will automatically see there's a H/K amp and configure itself appropriately. I've done this before with a friend's 04 when we put in an 06 H/U. Worked great and he got the MP3 supported he wanted with his H/K.

Not true, I have tried to install two kits on 03 HUs that did not have AUX. They started adding it mid year of 03. You can try it (cheap anyway) but it will depend on your build date. If it was early it will likely have it.

And yes, OEM HU swapouts are straight forward in the USA as we all got boost units. :wink:

You may as well just get the aux cable and try it. Either it will work on your current headunit, or you'll use it on the replacement headunit.

The 'info' varies. From this thread, it's claimed (by the venerable Ian Cull) than a Jan '03 works, and Agro claimed success with a Nov '02 build. So I guess it's hit and miss. :sad:

Note - when it comes to the amp, things get tricky. The wiring goes through the HK amp, and the speakers are of a non-standard impedance (2ohm?), so if you swap the amp you may need to do a re-wire for the stereo harness. Lots of threads on that around here.
Bottom line, if you're not an audiophile, OEM is easy (and cheap unless the HK amp goes out.)

Got my info from Mikey and also from a friend that works for BMW... Not sure that I believe that an 02 would work. The radio must have been replaced at some point. I have never gotten an 02 to work.

Either way, it is worth a try and as pointed out you can get a new radio on EBay for pretty cheap. :thumbsup:

And survey says, built in may 03! I'm happy, gonna get the aux adapter from mini and leave the h/u alone for now. Thanks for all the advice.

Good Luck...