Do I get a Delphi receiver or go with the Blizsafe?
What is the difference? Does the Blitzsafe just need and antenna?

Thanks
Jim
2002 Red Mini checked top

 

Not sure about your connection with Delphi receiver OR Blitzsafe. I was under the impression they worked together.

1)Update your head unit
You will need either a later '03 or up HU in order to put an AUX jack in. This AUX jack works great for the aftermarket systems. Gives good sound too. As far as the updated HU coming with the CD changer capability, I'm less certain. I'm also not sure if the '02's had CD changer capability or not. And if you did get and updated HU and your car is CD changer ready, I'm not for sure then if the HU/CD changer connectors are compatible in that manner. My '04 came with the CD changer connectors as part of the build. It was an easy hookup.

2) Portable XM or Sirius.
With and '02 you're gonna have to use an FM modulator if you do NOT have a tape deck. If you have a tape deck, you can play the Satrad thru it using a tape connector.

3)Factory XM or Sirius
I say factory XM because some folks are able to put the XM tuner in their trunk and use the Blitzsafe adapter hooked up to the CD changer and the UPDATED HU will display "XM". I used a factory OEM Sirius tuner connected to my CD changer and the HU displays "Sirius".

There are a number of options. You will have to decide what you want from the end product to determine what you will need up front.

jerij

_________________
04 Mini Cooper S
97 Ford Ranger Splash
85 RX7 GSL-SE (X2)
74 AMC Gremlin
67 Chevrolet Chevelle

 

Do yourself a huge favor,consider the XM's ability to be removed and used in your house or on the beach.One monthly fee and the option to use the delphi system in your home or work can't be beat.My 2 cents.! :smile:

 

Just to try and clear some things up:

1. You do not need to update your headunit. The stock headunit in the 02 will work fine with either of the Sat radios, it might not be as clean of an install, but it works fine.

2. Getting the sound from either system to the headunit is the only difficult part. Regardless of what system you buy you will need "something" in-between the headunit and the Sat radio to make the transition. Your options:
a. Tape Deck converter - Poor choice, lots of wires hanging, cumbersome and just plan ugly. Most owners didn't order their cars with the tape player.

b. RF Modulators - Wireless transmitter, various number of channels (88.1,88.3,88.5,88.7 and some with 107.1 etc) There are 2 types of these that I have seen. Type 1 powers the radio unit and provides an input for the sound, type 2 just provides an input for the sound.

c. FM Modulator - hide it under the dash, powers the unit and provides an input for the sound. Uses the antenna connections as the means of getting sound to the headunit. It locks out the stock antenna feeds while in use.

d. Blitzsafe Adapter - Small unit fit's in the trunk on passenger side, connects to the factory wire CD Changer hookups located there. There are a few models that will work with the MINI, providing 1 or more means of connecting external devices (xm, iPod, MP3 etc). They have, 1/8th inch inputs and RCA style inputs.

3. Factory unit – (factory unit is installed at the dealership) is the Sirius Brand. It will integrate better with the MINI because MINI choose to align themselves with Sirius, as most European car makers have. But the XM will also work with the headunit display on newer headunits, Check the M2 thread titled, “XM vs. Sirius. Which is best” http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=44183

4. There are 2 providers of Satellite Radio, 3 different brands of standalone receivers and 4 or 5 different types of Sat radios. Sirius or XM Radio are your provider choices, Sirius, Delphi, and Audiovox all make standalone units, and Delphi seems to be making the largest number of types of units with the SkyFi, Roady, and XM Commander.

My story and Pics:
I have a MCS July 02 build, after researching I went with the Delphi Roady, it just worked better for me. The size is better for the MINI, the display is orange (but it can be changed to 5 different colors), the display is better then the Delphi SkyFi, and it has more features then the SkyFi, and it costs less ($119.99) plus it had a mail off Home Kit for free. The antenna has a lower profile and smaller footprint, then the others.

I initially hooked it up using the RF Modulator, but battery life and sound quality made me change to the FM Modulator. Much better!

Install: After checking where everyone else mounts their unit, after trying out a few different locations I fab’d a mount that comes off my Euro shelf and follows the curve of the dash and puts the unit where I can see it and work the buttons while driving without having to make big head movements or look down. I also installed an additional 12 volt power outlet and then finally the FM Mod in my Euroshelf, so everything is in the same area. You will need to pick up both the male and female antenna adapters, since the MINI uses eurospec connections, if you go with the FM modulators.

First install location, clean, hidden and hard to use


Final Location up where it can be seen be the user


Sorry so long but I hope this helps with your question.

 

I have the Delphia SkyFi, a FM modulator and the adapter piece.

Your answers were great.

I'll let you know what I do.
I like the way yours fits in that space.

Thanks.
Jim

 

Blitzsafe is supposed to be coming out this quarter with an adapter that goes in the boot (I imagine the CD changer plug) and allows connection of the Delphi SkyFi. BONUS: the song/channel info displays on the head unit and is controllable by the multifunction steering wheel! The most clean and useful solution I can imagine, what with getting the info on the head unit and being able to take the SkyFi with you.

 

The aftermarkets are cool,
but the OEM is....oh.....so......SWEET!

jerij

 

Hey Xm can do that!

Check out this link, XM Fan

I must confess, I read this many months ago, and haven't re-read it

 

Here is Nick Presley's MINI check out Section 5 center picture.

XM in a MINI, and the radio shows XM

 

>>Hey Xm can do that! :lol

Not with Jim's car, it's an '02....

jerij

 

>>>>Hey Xm can do that! :lol
>>
>>Not with Jim's car, it's an '02....
>>
>>jerij
>>
Since the 02 headunit does not have all the features of the 03/04 (no aux input) are you saying that with an 02 headunit and Sirius he will get the text displayed? If so I'll conceed the point.

If, as I suspect, it takes an 03 or newer headunit to get text displayed regardless of which brand of Satellite radio used then the 2 informational posts above show that XM will function the same as the OEM recommended Sirius when it comes to the display.

The only issue I have with the MINI recommended Sirius setup is cost! Seeing quotes from $500 if you buy through Classic to $700 at your local dealer. I've got $170 in my Roady setup, which leaves the extra cash for go fast mods.

 

THAT'S IT!
I'M BUYING A 2004 S AND BE DONE WITH IT!!!

 

>>Here is Nick Presley's MINI check out Section 5 center picture.
>>
>>XM in a MINI, and the radio shows XM
______________________
Very encouraging "how to" w ith photos, BUT I don't see any instructions on how do connect the receiver to the head unit. Am I missing something?

Does this mean that we have to remove the vertical tubes, etc. etc. and pull out the head unit? Stll confused.

 

>>Very encouraging "how to" w ith photos, BUT I don't see any instructions on how do connect the receiver to the head unit. Am I missing something?
>>
>>Does this mean that we have to remove the vertical tubes, etc. etc. and pull out the head unit? Stll confused.

No, the bliztsafe unit makes the connection through the CD Multidisk connector that is already in the rear of the car. There shouldn't be any need to remove the stock HU or downtubes.

 

I have a 2004 MCS with the regular (non-hk) single CD radio, and had the dealer install an Aux input to use with my iPod (I don't think I've ever put a CD into the drive < s &gt

Does this Aux connector installation interfere with the installation of XM Direct at all?
Is the CD Changer wiring always present on the standard head unit?


I'm considering getting an XM Roady for my motorcycle, and if that works out well, I'd likely put XM in one form or another into my MCS.

Thanks in advance.

 

>>>>Very encouraging "how to" w ith photos, BUT I don't see any instructions on how do connect the receiver to the head unit. Am I missing something?
>>>>
>>>>Does this mean that we have to remove the vertical tubes, etc. etc. and pull out the head unit? Stll confused.
>>
>>No, the bliztsafe unit makes the connection through the CD Multidisk connector that is already in the rear of the car. There shouldn't be any need to remove the stock HU or downtubes.
________________________---
I have a 02 MC without the multidisk option. Is this multidisk connector wired in on ALL MINIS regardless of that option?

Even though many have posted on this forum the ease of snaking a wire from the roof and then inside the head panel, I approach this with trepidation as I am not the electrical type of person. If what you say is possible just by making the Blitzsafe connection inside the panel on the right side of the boot with no other wire pulling, that is terrific.

 

When you say "without the multidisk option", do you mean that the actual CD player isn't installed, or is your car a euro spec car? It is my understanding that all US spec cars were built prewired for the multidisk changer in the passenger side rear of the car, even if they didn't order the multidisk player. This is not the case for the Euro spec cars. Should be easy enough to determine prior to ordering the blitzsafe, just have a look.

 

>>Even though many have posted on this forum the ease of snaking a wire from the roof and then inside the head panel, I approach this with trepidation as I am not the electrical type of person. If what you say is possible just by making the Blitzsafe connection inside the panel on the right side of the boot with no other wire pulling, that is terrific.



Well, I just installed mine this weekend and it is pretty easy. There is currently a wire running from the passenger side rear of the car to the radio. I have the H/K system so it was tucked under the H/K module. You just take the masking tape off and bam, there are 2 empty connectors in you hands. The Blitzsafe Module connects to these to wires in the back of the car.

You do have to run the antenna wire as shown on Nick Presley's site http://nickpresley.com/xm/ . It might take a couple of tries to get it in there but you can pull the passenger side trim piece down enough to see where the wire needs to go. You can also tape the antenna wire to a coat hanger and use that as a fish tape. I ended up using a real fish tape but that hurt me a litte as the platic end of the tape got hung on the H/K braket, leaving a few tricky moments to get it free but a coat hanger should not have the same problem. It is a little more difficult with the H/K system as you can't reach in as easily but it is doable. Even with the hang up issue it took me maybe 45 minutes all together. Without the H/K it would be a cinch.


Once you are done and tuck everything back in the door, it works great.

 

I installed the XMCommander in my 2002 MCS.









I ran the antenna wire over the headliner down the drivers side A-pillar (non-sunroof car). I fished the wire from the rear using the opening for the dome light and the clock.

I am not happy with the sound of the FM modulator. I have been looking for a 2003 or newer HU so I can us the AUX input. If I can not find a used 2003 HU unit I will remove my factory CD changer and go with the Blitzsafe P/N MINI XM DMX CMD V.1 for the XMCommander. Since getting XM, I have not listened to a CD or FM radio.

 

I just bought a 2004 MCS with the Harman Kardon unit and when I opened the passenger side compartment in the boot realized there is very little room to mount the XM direct and blitzsafe modules. Has anyone else with this configuation found a solution for this? Will they fit in the compartment?

Separately, I spoke with someone at Blitzsafe yesterday and they confirmed they are still developing the Delphi SkiFi interface and expect to release it very soon. Interestingly the person I spoke with also suggested I check out http://www.radiosandmore.com. I noticed these folks sell an XM Direct receiver with a BMW harness that is supposed to be compatible with the MINI. If that's true, would you still need the Blitzsafe interface?

I own a Delphi SkiFi and am not opposed to buying an XM Direct so that I can have a cleaner install. Any suggestions?

Thanks, Gunnar