I have searched but all the options and changes are confusing me more.
I'm looking to install sirius (not xm) and I want to know what my options are and what i need. I have an 04 MCS with HK if any of that matters.
I'm not concerned with keeping the stock look, so if adding one of those roadie displays is required, that's fine. Actually, I kinda like the idea of being able to take it into the house or office too without having to pay for additional receiver fees.

So for satellite in the 04 MCS, what do i need to get???

And to confuse things more... i also have an iPod currently hooked up using the BMW Aux Adapter!

TIA!

 

I have an alpine system (aftermarket) so I cant tell you if the install is the same, HOWEVER last week I was at the dealer and noticed that they are not installing/supporting sirius radio...might I suggest you try your local dealer. I am pretty sure it will hardware the same way the XM would so it shouldnt be such an ordeal to retrofit the stock HK system with sirius.

Jack

 

I thought that was for 05's? I thought the 04's and below were sirius ready?

 

Well then it should be that much simpler. I would have them do it unless you are at leasta somewhat experienced. When it says Sirius ready it means that the module and etc are "plug n play" but they are not present. They need to be added. As far as the part numbers etc I personally dont know that info, but again the parts department at the dealer copuld probably tell you what you need in the even that you want to install and set it up yourself.

 

Ya, i'm not looking for a new stock radio or anything. I'm looking for whatever is needed to ADD sirius radio to my current system and I plan on doing it myself of having a local shop work on it if its too complicated. I won't pay the dealer to install anything.
So if i get something like the Sirius Roadie, or the Blaupunkt or Audiovox version, what is needed to install this in my 04 with HK and ipod?

 

D2mini,


I recently added sirius to my radio. It is rather simple. First you must decide if you want in dash or plug n play. There are a couple after market head units that play sirius, and MINI offers something also, pricy from what I hear. I have a "Sporster", very similiar to the roady and delphi systems. There are about 3 or 4 of these types of units available. Make sure you purchase or it somes with the auto cradle. This contains the antennea, docking cradle, power cable. This unit (and I think the others) can be "installed" by tuning your FM radio to a certain station and the unit "broadcasts" the satelite signal to your stock head unit. The downside is the extra FM wire from the satelite unit that produces an limited interupted sound. I haven't had really any clarity issues going this route, but the install is not clean. I plan on buying the aux input which will allow me to change stations with the MFSW.

There is a thread somewhere on here where I talked with some others about install issues and somewhere else there are pictures that someone took of their wiring. I used those instructions to run my wires through the car, hiding them. I do have some pics, but due to the holidays, they are not on here yet. Hopefully soon

Butch

 

Thanks Butch.
Is it possible to hardwire the system? I'm never happy with fm modulators. Right now my ipod is hardwired using the bmw aux jack and belkin auto kit and I'd like to have a similiar set up for the sirius.

 

You are not going to be able to use a plug n play or the in dash unit (when available) if you have your ipod plugged into the AUX jack.

However, if your AUX jack was easily accessible, you could unplug the ipod and plug the Sirius plug n play into the AUX jack, and keep doing that depending on what you wanted to listen to, Sirius or IPOD. But you can't have both plugged in at the same time.

There is also a way to hardwire the power to the Sirius directly to the fuse box without using the cig adaptor, but any installerl knows how to do that.

 

ok, so lets say i buy the Sirius Sportster auto kit.

What do i do now? Am i hooking up to something in the trunk? Is there instructions somewhere?

 

so no one has Sirius hardwired?

 

OK, I'll jump in. There are really only a *few* threads on this in the first 2 pages, and if you already know you don't like FM modulators, I'm sure you're capable of a stab at searching.

Since you have the BMW kit for your ipod, you'll need to install the Aux-in port for your stock radio (from dealer). You'll also need a 1/8" to 1/8" male to male stereo audio cable to connect your unit to the aux-in port (from Radio Shack). You'll also need to route the antenna from the front of the car to the rear roof. There are a myriad of mounting options from Panavise, Pro-fit, ProClip USA, etc (from online retailer).

 

Ya, like i said, i already searched and it just made me more confused.



Ya, like i said, I already have the ipod hooked up using the BMW Aux port. And the male to male cable.



Thanks.


Ok, so basically i'm just going to have my car stereo installer buddy help me out. He said it's no problem.

 

OK Here is the word on Sirius. You have several choices:

1) Pay your mini dealer to have it added to your factory radio. Yes its now avaliable for the 05 hardtop models. This will allow controll of Sirius through the factory radio.

2) Go to Best Buy, Circuit City, Tweeter, Sound Advice...and buy a Sirius plug and play system. Run it through wireless FM modulation. The new Sirius Plug and Play system is what you will use to pick the channel with. The factory head unit (& Steering wheel control) is how you adjust volume.

2a) Even better do everything in 2 but add the dealer installed aux input. If you already have the aux input taken up by an IPod then get a AV switcher. This way you can push a button to select an input...Sirius or Ipod


3) Replace your radio with a Clarion head. I pick Clarion cuz it matches the Mini red dash perfectly. Then get the Clarion Sirius Box $79. and your good to go.

3a) Get the Clarion radio and still get a Sirius JVC plug and play. Plug it in thru the clarion aux input. I will explain the reason for this choice later. keep reading...

4) Soundgate make a sirius adapter $99 that works with the mini. Plugs into the head unit and makes sirius work with a Kenwood tuner box $79.


5) live without Sirius and never know the love of great music programed by the best in the industry.

Pluy and Play vs. Direct control

Many people prefer the look of a factory dash. or prefer to cotroll sirius thru the head unit. I am here to show you the plug and play. Understand I have had both.
The function of the plug and play is better.
Its larger display
Channel preview. Yes you can see what is playing on another channel while still listing to that Eminem tune.
Song seek - Tell it what your favorite 20 songs are and it will alert you when they play. Even if your listing to traffic and weather.
O'yea you can take it in the house.

Well now the downside to the plug and play - there big. A large display and big buttons mean a large unit. The upside - the best function there is.

Now its just personal choice. Me I have the JVC plug and play installed to my passinger down tube. Its pluged into the aux input. Next year I will get a touch screen with navigation. I get lost alot. The radio will be Sirius ready but I will keep my Plug and play. I like the way it works.

Now if you think you dont need Sirius radio...Go adead buy it...Its returnable if you hate it. But you wont!

 

I have a JVC PNP unit that I got for X-mas. I have ordered a bracket to install it to the passenger downtube.

I thought that I could plug it directly into my head unit, but from the post above it sounds like I need an adapter for aux input? How much does this cost and can it be self installed easily?

 

It's not absolutely necessary to have the aux input to use a PNP unit, but your overall installation would be easier to control and would sound much better. Most of the PNP units come with an RF 'transmitter' that broadcasts the satellite radio output on an unused FM channel. Problem is, the process of remodulating the audio into an FM signal then demodulating it in the headunit takes away some of the overall fidelity. Also, in rather saturated FM radio markets, it's damn near impossible to find a totally unused channel; this causes distortion as your PNP and the local channel fight for the channel space.

Adding the aux input (less that 40 bux from Classic) is very easy except in some cases when you have the Nav option. Using the aux input for the PNP allows you to have the best possible fidelity, you now have only to select aux for the PNP unit instead of switching to another preset on the radio, plus the aux input will have separate tone control setting memories as well as level control that remains set even if you change the tone settings for another input source (CD or radio).

 

Thanks Greatbear!

I have a panavise mount and the MINI aux input ordered from Classic.

I'll work on getting the antenna mounted somewhere and start considering how I want to hard wire the power for this. . . .

 

Since I don't use the space under the AC controls, I mounted my Sirius Shuttle PNP unit there.

The upside, it's visible, yet out of the way.

The downside, I've lost the use of the two small cupholders as the mount sits right on them. The cigarette lighter is always in use because the Shuttle is plugged into it, and blocks access to it. Plus my wife has weakened the secure mounting that I had by constantly unplugging the Aux connection so she can plug in her iPod.

I've added an additional power outlet in the parcel shelf, which is a much better place anyway for us. Plus my antenna is mounted on the dashboard and works quite well. Honestly I've found that the radio performs just as well with the antenna on the dash of the MINI as the one in our Subaru which has the antenna mounted on the roof. (I've got other issues with the install in the Subaru, but since I paid $100 for the unit and installation I can't complain too much about it...)

 

My PNP3 unit is mounted directly on top of the lighter enabling me to use both small cup holders, although the unit comes right up to the edge of the holders.

 

Can you guys with PNP headunits post pictures of how they look installed please? :smile:

 

I will be installing my JVC pnp kit as soon as Classic MINI gets me aux input to me. I'll take pics.


I am installing it using the panavise in-dash mount that will place the unit just to the right of the stock headunit. IT should be a nice and clean install.

I am planning on adding some auxillary power outlets in the parcel shelf to keep all of my gadgets running. . .

 

Here's my Audiovox Shuttle PnP unit