I have a couple questions about the 05 MC and the possibilities of adding an aftermarket sirius radio tuner to the stock head unit. I have not been able to find what I want on this site (or any other for that matter) and this is not a simple addition of a portable tuner or the OEM kit offered by MINI/BMW.



Questions:



1.) Who makes the stock HU in the MC?

2.) Does the OEM Sirius kit replace the HU or does it simply consist of a hidden tuner box and a replacement antenna?



The reason I ask is that I am looking at adding a generic sirius tuner box and antenna. (Like this: http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Pioneer-SIRIUS-Satellite-Radio-Tuner-SIRPNR1-/sem/rpsm/oid/116501/rpem/ccd/productDetail.do ) I want to do this because it would be about one fourth the cost of the official kit and would still read through the head unit (thus no extra crap on the dash). Has anyone actually done this? Thanks in advance.

 

Not sure about #1 but believe it to be made by Alpine. As for #2, the OEM Sirius tuner is a separate box that connects to the stock head unit via the CD changer cable that runs from the H/U to the rear of the MINI (right rear side). On a hardtop the Sirius tuner goes in the left rear compartment. There is a cable in the installation kit that connects the Sirius tuner to the changer cable on the right side. Three parts in the kit - tuner w/ bracket, crossover cable (to the changer cable), and the replacement antenna.

 

If the oem deck is made by alpine then couldn't you just buy this:

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-Api9LBe...=alpine+sirius

[size=3][font=Times New Roman]for $100 and it would function identical to the oem kit? The only advantage the oem kit would have is the sirius antenna is incorporated into the fm/am antenna (hardly worth 300 dollars for me). Someone correct me if I am wrong please. Has anyone done this? I could not find anything about it online but want to put sirius in a mini but can't stomich paying upwards of 500 dollars for it.[/font][/size]

 

It is made by Alpine but I would be surprised if standard Alpine accessories would just plug right in though.



I'm curious as to why you would not want to have the built-in Sirius that the official kit will give you?

 

The ALP-1 is an AI Net component and will not work with the stock HU...only aftermarket AI-NET ready Alpine HU's.

Your options with stock HU are the Mini OEM sirius tuner box/antenna or an after market portable such as the Starmate or Sportster. These can output to your deck via RCA (if you have aux in), FM transmitter, or tape adapter.

 

The stock HU is made by Alpine but has BMW/MINI specific connectors in the back and runs BMW/MINI specific software and is not compatible with the off the shelf Alpine stuff...

A few people have used Blitzsafe adapters to connect XM and Sirius tuners to the stock HU, it works however there is still a diminished level of functionality you'll have to settle for, more thatn what you would experience with the OEM kit... But it can be done...

 

Hmmm... Leave it to BMW/MINI to make something proprietary just to make an extra buck. I don't want the OEM kit because it is ridiculously overpriced. The external sirius tuner boxes sell for $99 and can usually be found on sale for $80 or so. Why does BMW/MINI have to be so greedy? The profit on that kit must be around 500%

 

Well I'll disagree with you on the proprietary part... Doing things like that isn't a BMW/MINI exclusive, a lot of manufacturers do that...

However, I've been recently looking around at new vehicles to replace our non-MINI car and have been surprised at the price difference for things like OEM Sirius and bluetooth kits. OEM Chrysler Sirius... $200 dealer installed... $195 when factory installed PLUS a 1 year subscription... I got 30 days from MINI. OEM Chrysler Bluetooth $400 dealer installed $350 factory installed. Audi wants the same or slightly less for their stuff... Then you go to MINI... wow!

 

I think you can get the official Sirius kit from Classic MINI's parts dept for close to $200 IIRC. They are an advertiser here and their number is listed on teh advertisers page. Mention this site and I think they have a 10% discount, maybe more.

You could also get the XM Direct for the MINI for about $150.00.

Both kits are pretty easy to install.