I have the stock spedo and tach on my '05 MCSa. If I buy the Nav system and spedo and tech for above the steering wheel, can I put it in myself? How hard is it and is it even possible? Does anyone have a DIY? I looked on MINI2 and found nothing.

P.S. Please dont suggest an aftermarket GPS cause I like the OEM one!!! lol

TIA,
William

EDIT: Has any one done it and have a success story?

 

You probably haven't found anything because MINI doesnt sell a retrofit kit for it. see http://www.realoem.com/bmw/partgrp.d...21&hg=65&fg=95

 

Thanks

 

I really don't think it would possible. There are so many things that are different on a MINI with NAV versus a MINI without.

 

Really? What are the differences?

 

A few I can think of...

First, I believe there is a different antenna. Second, the whole wiring harness for the speedometer/tachometer would be different for obvious reasons. I am sure there are others.


I bet it would cost a whole lot of time and money to do the swap. But if either is not an issue, then go for it .

 

I am going to give you the response you said you did not want and say go aftermarket. I had a 04 MCS with the factory nav. It was the #1 feature on my list of requirements. It is clean and looks nice, but it is not a great system. The DVD also makes an annoying whine sometimes. I just got a new 06 last week and did not even consider getting nav. I can’t imagine paying even more than the $1700 option price to retrofit one. Plus you loose the cool speedo.

 

Actually, it can be done but it would be and is quite expensive. There are a few that have taken on this endevour and as others said, you would have to replace a few items like speedo, antenna, and the wiring harness as well. As for it not being a great system, it performs what it is supposed to do. I have a Tom Tom as well, and to be honest, all the extras never really get used anyway.

 

When I said not a great system I was thinking more about the lack of a touch screen. Spinning the little **** is not the best set up. It does however get you where you need to go. I enjoyed mine but would not do it again.

 

I feel the same. Although I do enjoy mine currently, if I were to order a MINI again in the future, I would not consider it unless it went under extensive change in the 07 model. You loose too much by having it (digital readout of speed, lack of the large central speedo which I like, inability to have satelite radio, $1200 dollars ) and gain to little. Although I do enjoy the integrated look of it, I personally feel it is not worth it.

 

??? Why do you say that? You can add XM radio since it has nothing to do with Nav.

 

Really? I was told that the satelite for the NAV interferes with XM. Or have I mistaken sirius for XM?

 

XM is easy. You just hook up xmdirect to its own antenna. Xmdirect to Blitsafe. Blitzsafe to the cd change wiring in the boot and your good to go. Neat, clean, all controlled by the HU.

 

If you buy all the components you need to get the oem look and feel will run you about $1700. The same price as the navi in a new car.

 

Site shows what is needed to add Navi to a BMW.
http://www.z4bluetooth.com/BMW_TV_Na...tructions.html

 

Well, you all have convinced me to go after market. I liked the clean look, but I think I'll get over it!

 

Good move. MUCH MUCH better technology, state-of-the-art ... you can get really cool ones now that have traffic built into them so you can avoid the backups. Some even come with BT integrated. You can also get a panavise bracket to bolt it to the downtubes rather than those lame suction cup thingies.

 

Where can I get one of those mounts?

 

Granted, I will go with you there. The interface needs a a lot of work. However, I have a friend that has a touchscreen with her Prius and has had nothing but trouble with it. They have already had two replaced and one she had to pay for. THe cost was just about 1K for that thing... I think I'll stick to the scroll **** for now.

 

http://panavise.com/nf/comm/indash/i...anddatarq=Mini

Google the part #, lots of people sell them. They bolt into the radio screws. Here is a pic with my Magallen on it.

 

How do you figure? You are losing gyros and wheel sensors, so the nav has to guess what postion you are sitting in a stand still. Also, if you hit a long tunnel, you will lose signal thus lose postion where as the BMW NAV can keep up becaruse of the extra technolgy. Not so state of the art if you ask me. Add to that, you saying that you get traffic.... If you are referring to TMC, it is not available yet in the USA. Clear channel is talking about doing it but it will most likely be a fee based subscription unlike here in Europe where it is free. I have both and still prefer my BMW nav to the Tom Tom that I have. Less hassles out of it.

Not better technology, just more bells and whisltes to cover the fact that it is less technology.

 

In a tunnel, agreed but duh, you know where you are so who cares? As to traffic , See http://www.garmin.com/products/nuvi360/

Nuvi use has both traffic and BT.
Pioneer uses XM traffic. XM traffic is now in every major US city, Very cool. I see your in Germany so no satellite radio for you. Thats really too bad because satellite radio rocks.

Yes you pay but you pay for everything in US and its only a couple of bucks a month anyway. Its like a Big Mac and Coke.

 

OEM SIRIUS is not an issue with factory Nav either... you just can't use the OEM antenna with it. It's the exact same scenario as XM (for which an OEM antenna doesn't even exist), there are no electronic conflicts. I have both factory Nav and OEM SIRIUS, so I can attest to it.

 

I found this GPS and PDA adapter kit. I wonder if it will allow for a cross between oem look and aftermarket.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...57&hg=65&fg=50

Although the more I look at it the more I wonder if its what I think it is or not

 

I also found what looks like a Radio Navi retrofit kit. But it keeps mentioning Europe so I don't know.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...74&hg=65&fg=95