I recently bought a used 2004 Cooper S and it came with a Harmon Kardon head unit with a factory installed iPod adapter. I noticed on the MINI brochure that the head unit supports Sirius, but am not sure if I can have both the iPod and Sirius at the same time.

I would prefer that Sirius be integrated into the head unit so that I can control the radio from my steering wheel. I read on some threads that dealer installs can be pretty steep, but I might have to save up and fork over the cash to have a clean integrated install.

I apologize if this has already been answered in a thread somewhere. I looked through several threads but it didn't answer my specific question.

 

The OEM SIRIUS receiver depends on the CD-changer cable (that runs to the back of the car) in order to talk to the head unit. I don't have the OEM iPod adapter, but I'm pretty sure it also connects to the CD-changer port on the head unit. This then disconnects the pre-wired CD-changer cable, which would make disconnect OEM SIRIUS receiver.

So as it stands, you can't have both...

However, if you're willing to get creative, I'm sure you could make it work. See, the OEM SIRIUS receiver has a "pass-through" capability. The idea is that you can still have a CD-changer connected after the SIRIUS receiver. I would be willing to bet that you could connect the OEM iPod adapter into the OEM SIRIUS reciever's pass-through port, and use both.

The main catch is that the cable for the OEM iPod is short, it's only designed to connect from the head unit to the glovebox, not from the boot of the car all the way up to the front. Perhaps you could fabricate or buy some kind of "extension" cable to run the cable to the front... or perhaps you could just hook up the iPod in the boot and leave it there, instead of the glovebox...

In any case, there are also other alternatives out there (like the Dension ice>Link Plus) that also utilize the CD changer connector, and come with a cable long enough to run from the boot to the front.

 

Menhir, FWIW, the head unit is the same on all the cars. The HK system consists of different speakers and an amp.

 

I wish that were true. In my case my amp blew out and in trying to by-pass the HU there's barely any sound produced. The looks of HU are the same, but the curcuitry isn't. This HU must receive signals for the HK amp. (Of course I have 1st or 2nd gen amp. The current version 7 or 8. HK hasn't got it right yet. For those of you w/ no problems consider yourself lucky. Again "in my case."

 

Hmmmm... per REAL OEM, the head units are identical, and I recently swapped an '06 into my '04 with no issues...
I'd guess your issue is with the wiring harness designed for the Amp vs. the HU.

 

Thanks so much to all of you for the suggestions and concerns...

Edge, My iPod adapter cable seems to be a bit different from other installs in that it does not go in the glove compartment. The cable comes out of the back of the head unit and ends right behind the cupholder area beneath the toggle switches (pretty short cable length). As such, when I connect my iPod, I need to place my iPod in the empty space behind the cupholders. Thanks to OutMotoring.com, I was able to get the much needed OEM rubber trays so my iPod is secure there.

But I will definitely check into the Sirius pass-through option - hopefully that works. The iPod adapter is awesome, but the Sirius connection will be icing on the cake if I can get both to work.