...Surprised this kind of thread hasn't been done here yet...(and sorry if it has and I somehow missed it).

While I've seen various HU installs scattered around this forum at random, I'm thinking it would be great if they could all be collected in one thread, so someone (like me ), who's thinking of jumping off that cliff and replacing their dreaded "Boost" units, can easily peruse what the various aftermarket HU offerings actually look like installed on our MINIs. Thanks in advance to anyone at all who volunteers their pics of their prized installs!

Peace...

 

Agreed, I'm looking down this avenue as well as I don't want to pay $160+ just to hook-up my iphone/ipod.
I'd be better off selling the factory head for $100-150 and installing a nice $200 unit that does everything I want and then some.
My car has factory sat radio but I'm not going to turn it back on.

 

I'll post pics of my Alpine this evening.

 

You can hook up your ipod/iphone for $40...http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...pod_mp3_hookup

 

Pioneer DEH-P710BT (though the pic looks bad, it is actually a new unit)
I bought it on Amazon for a little over $200. It is a discontinued unit, but it has the USB ports on the back (most of the new ones only have them in the front which I think is dumb).

I have the ipod hooked up in the glove, an extra USB port for flash drives, bluetooth hands free calls (and it can do bluetooth audio) and it is also HD radio ready...

I was able to tie it into the steering wheel using the PAC SWI-PS module... Easy install - just make sure you tie in the AM amplifier or you will lose all AM radio reception...

In my opinion, a huge difference in sound, and I haven't even touched the speakers yet...

 

Brillant post. As soon as we get more on here i think this should become a sticky.

 

Alpine CDA-9887, showing some of the illumination options. sorry for the crummy pics... Its a pretty capable unit, with EQ and time alignment options, remote, etc. Got it on sale not too long ago for $250. Install was easy.

 

Sorry for the bad pic, it is of the cravenspeed short shifter, but you can see the Pioneer Premier HU, I've had it since '06.



Time for a change... looking at them Clarions... specifically DRZ9255

 

This is the one I have



It looks great in the car. I'm anxious to post up pictures of everything in my car, but it's all about 80% done right now. I don't have the trim pieces on around the head unit yet.

I'm going to set a custom color this weekend so it matches the interior perfectly too.

 

They all look good! I really like that Alpine. Does the red lighting match the MINI's red lighting? (Couldn't tell from the pics.) That Clarion DRZ will be overkill in the (noisy) MINI...not to mention, it screams "steal the whole car"!

 

hahaha the car cas 5% tints all around, and 20% on the front windshield...

Overkill?? Like everything car-related... "too much is barely enough"

 

Actually, its the amber that matches well. I'll take another pic that shows instrument lighting so you can compare. I suspect that other Alpine HU have the same illumination options.

 

Thanks! I'm specifically looking at the cheaper CDA-105, unless I can find a CDA-9887 real cheap. On the 105, the clear buttons can only be switched from blue to red. The rest of the buttons are always red, and the display is always blue-ish white.

 

inexpensive and fits my needs


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has rear USB (which i wanted so i could connect to items in my undertray), front aux-in, ipod connectivity and control via the USB, and all the typical headunit features. no bluetooth though. also, it has a ****, which i found some headunits do not have.

 

I'm also wondering about the timed key-off feature (where the factory radio can be used for about 20 minutes with no key). Is this a function of the stock "Boost" radio, meaning it would not be possible with an aftermarket unit, or is it a function of "BC-1" in the car?

 

for those with aftermarket headunits, please note whethor or not you have it working with your MFSW controls. And if so, which adapter did you go with, how easy was install and how reliable has it been

 

I am going to go with the AXXESS ASWC (http://www.axxessinterface.com/pdf/ASWC_Flyer2.pdf, http://retailer.installationexcellence.com/productfeatures.aspx?retailerid=1273&productid=232 30&sid=D1EA641C-0671-4365-8F80-8A4114101CDA), when I find out if this works with the MINI and an Alpine HU. Its cheaper than the PAC-SWI and supposed to be easier to install and upgrade.

 

The PAC Audio SWI-PS was easy to install and program. The one downside to it (and I found it to be true in my 2006 Pathfinder as well because I used it in that car too) is that sometimes the volume button will move the headunit volume up or down a couple of clicks even if you just tap it... Kind of annoying but you get used to it. Other than that it is golden. Very easy install - only hard part was finding the correct wire in the correct bundle of wires in the ignition column.

 

Like Mr. Jasey, mine was cheap and does exactly what I want. IPhone docking station, plus rear aux input so I can run another iPod as well. No cd player, but I have switched to digital music anyway. I bought the additional bluetooth adapter and it can work with steering wheel controls. I don't have a MFSW, so I don't use this option.


Closed


Open with my iPhone docked. Had to modify the install a little because of the MINI's dash design, but was very easy and completely reversible.

 

Fatherdeth, I was looking at that Dual for the dock feature as well, its cheap enough that if I don't like it I can donate to a homeless shelter and buy something else
Also, does it work well with pandora on the iphone?
How was the sound quality and volume after you installed it compared to the stock head unit?

 

It is about the same quality, if not a little better. Sounds really good. And as long as you are in a 3G area, Pandora works and sounds awesome. I just got back off a trip from VA to FL and Pandora was great!!! For the price, the quality is nice, plus it's different.

 

That's pretty innovative. Does it allow you any other lighting options than the dreadful ghetto-blue?

 

Nope, you can't change the color. The LCD screen is black though and the lettering is white. The blue color on the buttons and dials isn't that bad.

 

After long deliberation (and waiting for a sale), I just pulled the trigger on a Alpine CDA-105 with the Alpine 445 Powerpack amp. I'll post w/ pics when installed (as you might tell, I'm not in a big hurry). I've already installed Polk db 6.5 components in the front and Polk db 6x9 coax's in the rear. Now I'm trying to decide on the final step: a sub. Right now I'm leaning toward an Infinity Basslink (with an extended warrantee ).

FWIW, my objective for this car is definitely "mid-fi". I've "grown" a bit away from high-end car audio stuff. I'm basically trying to create my own version of what I feel the stock system should have been...

 

*cough* Stealthbox *cough*