My dealer says it's impossible. I know I could install the radio myself, but I don't want a juryrigged thingie sticking out of the dash if I can help it, and I want the damn unit to work with my steering wheel controls. For two years they told me a retro-fit was on its way; now they say it can't be done. Can it?
E-mail me: j-a-k@earthlink.net

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ius+navigation

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/minide...2003/my_photos

 

I'm movin'on here... First, I need XM (baseball freak); Second, I want the radio installed where the old radio is, Third, I want my steering wheel controls to work.
Your antenna mount looks fabulous, BTW!!! (And isn't it CRAZY that MINI service doesn't have an answer or a workaround for this? They've been super for me on everything else, but they definitely come up empty with the radio/nav.)
And just in passing -- I also have an Audi with nav. The Audi is superior in data -- more satellites -- but the MINI is WAY friendlier. I've gotten facile enough with the MINI nav to change it on the fly -- it's as easy as changing radio stations once you get the hang of it -- but I wouldn't think of it in the Audi.

 

It's not my car. The question has come up several times in the past and I simply remembered where I'd seen the answer.

Good luck!

 

Swinburn, i have XM and Navigation system. it cost about $230 and takes about one half hour to install. The Mini is pre-wired (many posts on how to) two units are installed in the rear panel of the car, add a little XM radio antena and the stock radio controls work great. The sound is fantastic.

 

I have the HK head unit, nav, and a 6 disc cd changer. I added the blitzsafe mini sld-01 unit, along with the xm radio adaptor. The hookups are all located on the right rear of the boot - it's really just plug and play. I routed the antenna behind the plastic molding and out the boot, right behind the nav antenna.

Took less than 30 minutes.

 

Also - the steering wheel controls work with the unit.