Hi Gang,
Well, I think I am ready to make a plunge into the satellite radio world. I have started researching, and while I am sure there are many reviews, as I am sure this question has been asked before, I just have to get my fellow MINI owners' opinions.

Which is the better service, XM or Sirius? I read something here that XM tends to repeat their playlist..??? Someone told me they are 80% of the market... thus better selection.

The other tricky thing is that I have the HK, the Sat Navigation, the Aux Input(for my iPod), and the MFSW all installed. What is my best option in terms of equipment? To get one of these portable type thingies, or a new head unit. I don't want to loose any of the current functionality. I know I don't want one of these things that transmits thru FM to the radio. The sound quality is horrible in New York, as the radio spectrum is quite full. I tried this with my iPod before and I would not recomend it to anyone.

Please bear in mind that I am not a car audio expert, and crossovers, pre-amps, sub-hyper mega blah blah's are all foreign terms to me.

Thanks,
Nando

ps. I went to this car stereo guy and asked him about setting up the thing, and he quoted me $450 for the XM Commander installed, thru the Aux Input. I know he is trying to rip me off.

 

I installed XMDirect into my MCS and am very happy with it. It is a clean and simple install directly to your existing radio (mine is also HK). The MFSW still works with the XM. I haven't tuned to a local station since I installed XM. The only negative is XMDirect isn't portable. I occasionally drive a different vehicle and am forced to listen to local radio.

 

I think this will not work for me since I have the Sat. Navigation. The XM Direct says that it will work with Sta Nav "ready" Minis. I am assuming that the system will not work with the Satellite Navigation installed...

 

DrDave,
Which XM unit did you install? On the XM website there is the basic module ($100) and then the MINI specific model ($299) I would like to install it so that XM is seemless and I don't have a silly little separate dispaly.

Do I have to use the MINI specific interface or can I just use the basic module?

 

The XMDirect kit that I and a friend purchased was the $300 kit.