Can anyone recommend size or specific models that fit in the HK a Pillars. I have the regular boost system and I would like to do a component upgrade with amp for the fronts. I want to use the HK Pillars but I can't find any info about other brands that will fit. Can some one that has done this let everyone know where they got the pillars and what tweeters or component set they used. I have thoroughly searched the threads on here. Thanks in advance.

 

Check out Integral Audios site. They provide new A pillars for those cars with the boast system, including amazing replacements for all the front speakers and a high quality amp. All is especially designed for the MINI.

 

I am looking for info just on the aftermarket tweeters that people have been able to fit in the HK holes then I will consider the rest of the components.

I have a budget of about 600 to 1000 for fronts (woofer, mid and tweeters), amp and sub.

The integral system is 1500 for just the fronts and amp then they want another 1150 for a staggering total of 2,650.00 in my opinion.

I am sure its great but way more than I have to spend.

I'm kind of surprised there are so few replies.
I am sure many people must have done this by now.

Thanks for taking the time to make the suggestion though.
I really do appreciate it.

 

Im looking for new A-pillars also. Have you done any of your upgrades yet? I have some stuff that I barely used that will fit in your mini. I am actually in the middle of making my own a pillars with a fiberglass pod but most tweeters should fit.

 

I would love to know which tweeters fit and also which tweeter for the pillars, 4 inch Mid for the doors and 6 1/2 inch woofer combos they may have used.

I haven't done any of my upgrades yet. I was hoping to get some suggestions from people about specific tweeters that would fit the HK A-Pillars but to my surprise I didn't really get any answers. I'm sure many people must have done this by now but they probably just haven't seen this thread yet.

I know the integral system is probably wonderful but its way out of my budget.

 

Sadly, I think the lace of replies to your questions, and to mine (in another post) is because members get things worked out and then have no reason to check back in, therefore we will rarely hear from anyone who has figured things out.

My installer said most tweeters will fit just fine, for what it's worth. I'm about to order 3 1/2" speakers and tweeters. I'll find out if they fit when the installer tries to put them in. If they don't, I'll have to order something else.

 

Sorry Jeff, didn't see this before responding to your other post. Fitment is the least of your worries, but to answer the question: no tweeters other than ours are going to be a snap fit, so it just comes down to the installers ability to make them work. Ours are a snap fit because we designed our own injection molded fascia to work with the MINI A-pillar mount. It isn't a standard size or configuration, so no aftermarket tweeter is going to just fit right in. The same is true of the midrange and midwoofer locations. Auto manufacturers for the most part no longer adhere to any of the standards that they used to.

 

Thanks Kevin, appreciate your response.

It's frustrating to not be able to afford your Soundstage system, but I have good reason to not go that route other than just $$$. I'm planning on trading in my mini in two years and I will not want to pay to uninstall your upgrade.

Your system is a no brainer, it's ready to install, and is designed for my car. The cost, at least before the subwoofer, is reasonable considering what you include, especially considering that it's designed from the ground up for me.

In my case, I have an extra amplifier, so installing two free air subs and powering them with the amp is an extremely cost effective way of getting some bass in my car for less than $300 and with a minimal amount of disruption.

Thanks to your other post I'm cancelling my midranges, too much tweeter.

 

Nice when I get my New GP this will be the first thing I do.

 

I've fitted a-pillar tweeters in my 2/12 BOOST MCS in the UK.

I already had the OEM (BMW) tweeters in the grey plastic pillars from a previous '09 MCS and wanted to re-use them with my new cream (N18) interior since their effect IMO is incredible v-f-m.

If you buy via MINI you get the cream HK trims with HK tweeters that push/snap-fit into them.

I wasn't sure that HK tweeters weren't 2ohms to match the HK amp output (and no-one else could or would offer info) so I took a gamble and bought the OEM cream HK trims (without HK tweeters) from NewMiniStuff in UK (he ships to America) and used his exactly-the-same-but-4ohm OEM (BMW) push/snap-fit tweeters to fit into the HK-badged trims that I'd bought from him, then fitted as normal.

I thought originally that these would match the 4ohm OEM speakers in the door better since this was part of the now-unavailable (why?) non-HK Gen2 BOOST hi-fi upgrade and I haven't been disappointed. (Plus they were better v-f-m...) He does offer a more expensive Clarion push/snap-fit upgrade which I haven't heard but have a gut feeling/suspect that they might be a little 'too treble sensitive' though I can't substantiate this...

Without appearing 'smug' mine work well. I haven't heard of anyone else doing this on any forum US or UK but someone else 'must've'.

Get in touch with Mikey at NewMiniStuff. He's a long way away but I know you won't be disappointed.

 

I totally understand, and am sympathetic regarding the cost. This system brings serious enjoyment to people's lives, and I sincerely want every MINI owner to have one. If I could deliver the same quality at a lower price I would. Trust me, I spend countless hours trying to wring every bit of excess cost out of these systems while simultaneously improving them.

A couple thoughts/recommendations:

1) These systems are designed to be removed to be suitable for leased vehicles. There are very few consumable parts, and we have had numerous customers remove and re-install in new MINI's, or remove and simply sell - they hold their value extremely well.

2) Removing the rear panels alone is about as much work as installing the rest of the system. And with our kit that part is unnecessary. You are also not going to get the frequency response you are looking for - I've posted in detail about that here on NAM previously.

3) The Soundstage & Subwoofer systems are modular - you can install one now and add the other later, easing the impact to the pocketbook. The only other suggestion I can make re: cost is, FWIW, to consider Paypal's BillMeLater payment option. It is available on checkout on our site. I'm not endorsing credit mind you, and I make nothing off that, I'm just mentioning it as an option.

 

Update:- Thanks to an ikbendennis recent post this pic shows how the OEM 4ohm tweeters push/snap-fit into the a pillar trims. Clarions and HKs should be the same physical fitting. One of the securing tabs is very easy to see at ~12 o'clock.

 

The OEM tweeters will fit into the OEM mounts - that shouldn't be surprising to anyone. It's a proprietary mount, aftermarket tweeters do NOT have this same housing. You could get lucky with a tweeter that happens to have the correct housing OD and a surface mount lip at the correct depth, but no aftermarket tweeter is designed to mount this way. Regardless, mounting tweeters that don't snap-fit isn't that difficult, and fitment/mounting is the very least of the issues. The details of why this is a bad idea have been hashed out ad nauseum on this forum.

 

I heard so many success stories about front and rear channel swapping that I figured I would give it a shot.
Somehow I stumbled upon a pre-made plug from new mini stuff in the UK and figured for 60 dollars to simplify the modification rather than finding the right pin puller I would give it a shot.

So I went to the site and noticed they sold the factory A Pillars in all colors with the HK grills and optional Clarion tweeters or factory HK tweeters with complete in-line harness so the install was plug and play.

I went for the Clarion tweeters in the cream A Pillars and they offer an option where they build the front rear swap into the provided harness so I selected that for an extra 10 pounds or so.

The final price was about 290 US dollars including freight that took about 5 days from the UK.

The result was incredible !

My bass is so drastically improved coming from the rear speakers now that I still have trouble believing it.

The Clarion tweeters in the A Pillars sound awesome too.

I am really thrilled with this upgrade because the sound is awesome now that I have so much more bass and treble.

It seems to have balanced out the sound and I feel that I am getting the full spectrum now. It may not be as great as some of the more expensive systems but for an affordable staged upgrade it is so much better than what I had that I am really happy with it.

I have grown to really like the functionality of the factory boost stereo with the steering wheel controls so this upgrade for less than 300 bucks is such a bargain to me.

I plan to now add a small amp to increase power to the 6x9s to enhance the sound even more when my finances get better.

I like the idea of not taking up my limited cargo space with a subwoofer so I will try to avoid that if I can unless I find a low profile sub for a good price.

 

I have fitted the Pioneer TS-WX77A. It gives the extra kick i wanted (along with the Soundstream SST6.9 at the back )

 

My outcome's essentially the same as sasquatch. I have much the same channel swap and pillar tweeters and IMO they're a really good enhancement to the standard BOOST system raising the sound stage, extending the treble and 'cleaning' the bass.

Four years and three MINIS ago I had a MC and, at the time, the channel swap solution/loom was installed behind the radio. I added the A pillar tweeters which were 4ohm BMW units. Clarion tweeters were a more expensive option then.

Wow, this was a pig to install so it stayed in place when I sold the car although I put the original A pillar plastic trims back in and kept the tweeters and their grey plastic holders.

In my next MCS Mikey's newer channel swap loom was now situated behind the UK passenger/US driver plastic panel in front of the door. A much easier install and he provided the extra leads (free) to use to join the original grey A pillar trims and tweeters up again.

When I replaced this MCS the whole lot went into my new MCS and was only taken out when it was replaced by my current MCS, now an N18. This has cream A pillar trims so the 'old faithful' grey plastics from all three previous fittings had to go.

The only cream options seemed to be OEM HK units from MINI which apparently contained 2ohm HK speakers which I didn't want to use 'cos my original 4ohm BMW units worked so well. Mickey rescued me again and provided new OEM cream HK pillar trims without the tweeters (which MINI dealers couldn't do) and my original OEM BMW 4ohm units are now still in use and still working really well. So of course Integral Audio, my OEM's will fit other OEMs; but not the original OEMs in my case. [Mikey (at NewMINIStuff.com) still provides the 4ohm Clarions that sasquatch endorses, amongst other goodies]

I'm telling this story because firstly, I've had really good value from Mikey's channel swap since it's been reversible enough to take into subsequent cars. Secondly, this is just one example that MINI SAs say 'can't be done' 'cos it's not in their book and they seem not to be equipped to think out of the box in the UK IMO...and I have personal experience of at least one other. Thirdly, d-i-y solutions give me a little more personal pleasure and a greater sense of personal achievement than buying a ready made 'package'; I realise that other's might not always agree but...

 

That looks like its too tight on the side where the airports are to let the sound out. Did you add piping for ports to the front or something ?

It sure does look good in there though.