Navigation & Audio Call me crazy: Nutty stereo upgrade via dealer (w/pics!)
#1
Call me crazy: Nutty stereo upgrade via dealer (w/pics!)
Well, it has started. This morning I dropped off Mr. OEM at my dealership, in order to have major auditory surgery performed.
First, a little history:
When I was in the process of ordering my MINI around December of 2004, one of the things I read about on MotoringFile was the new Digital POWER SoundModul (DPSM) OEM stereo upgrade option, created by German Hi-Fi specialist AUDIO MOBIL. However, at the time, it was only announced and available in Europe.
It "sounded" great (on paper), and I was very interested. So I asked my dealer about it. They had never heard of it, since MINIUSA (at the time) had not released any information or details on it, or whether it would ever be available in the USA.
One of the key points of the DPSM is that it is not available if you have the factory Harman/Kardon stereo option. Why? Well, it turns out that when you specify the H/K with your MINI, it requires a completely different wiring harness compared to the standard Boost radio system. This wiring harness connects all of the speakers to the H/K amplifier that is installed into your right-side boot pocket. The Boost radio system has all of the speakers wired directly to the head unit (and that is what the DPSM upgrade expects).
Anyway, listening to music is very important to me, and I also prefer quality over quantity (volume)... although getting both at the same time is even better.
Without any confirmation that I would ever be able to obtain (or even hear) the DPSM here in the United States, I "played it safe" and ordered my MINI with the H/K stereo.
Fast forward about 4 or 5 months later, and sure enough, MINIUSA announces the official release of the DPSM in the US, installable at any MINI dealership.
Bummer. Oh well, I said to myself... it's so expensive and rare that I'll probably never hear one anyway.
Less than a year after that, one of my fellow DCMM club members, Irishcow, had it installed in her MINI. And I got a chance to sample it... and it ruined me. It's so much louder, and it's just as clear, if not clearer sound than the Harman/Kardon. Leaps and bounds ahead. All this, with the same OEM appearance, same head unit, no additional interior space required and no serious theft risk!
My philosophy with my MINI has always been "nothing but OEM", unless I want something that is simply not available as an "official" part.
So ever since that fateful day that I heard Irishcow's DPSM, I have wanted it... badly. I even contacted the dealership that she had install it, begging them to please consider the upgrade, even though it would be much more complex since I have the H/K. I talked to them since they were the only dealership in the area to have installed the DPSM yet. Their quote? 55 labor hours. Ouch - seemed ridiculous, more like a "we don't really want to hassle with this, so here's a go away quote".
I didn't give up. After much time and conversation with my own dealership, including them doing a few DPSM installs of their own, they agreed to take on the challenge. My long history and good relationship with them gives me confidence that they will only charge me for the actual work needed. They haven't even given me a solid quote, because there are some unknowns - nobody has done this before!
So the car is in the shop now. Here are the steps they are taking, broken out a bit:
OK, so this may be pure insanity... but to me, the DPSM is the JCW version of the OEM MINI stereo options, and when coupled with extra soundproofing, I am very excited about it!
I want to stay OEM, I want the dealer to do all of the work (other than the soundproofing), since I don't trust myself with dismantling and reassembling the MINI interior... and I want warranty coverage of the DPSM afterwards.
Stay "tuned", I'm sure I'll have some interesting stripped interior pics to share when we get to the soundproofing stage.
Yes, I'm crazy... but I'm not the only one who thinks the DPSM is awesome!
Anybody interested in buying a complete set of Harman/Kardon parts?
First, a little history:
When I was in the process of ordering my MINI around December of 2004, one of the things I read about on MotoringFile was the new Digital POWER SoundModul (DPSM) OEM stereo upgrade option, created by German Hi-Fi specialist AUDIO MOBIL. However, at the time, it was only announced and available in Europe.
It "sounded" great (on paper), and I was very interested. So I asked my dealer about it. They had never heard of it, since MINIUSA (at the time) had not released any information or details on it, or whether it would ever be available in the USA.
One of the key points of the DPSM is that it is not available if you have the factory Harman/Kardon stereo option. Why? Well, it turns out that when you specify the H/K with your MINI, it requires a completely different wiring harness compared to the standard Boost radio system. This wiring harness connects all of the speakers to the H/K amplifier that is installed into your right-side boot pocket. The Boost radio system has all of the speakers wired directly to the head unit (and that is what the DPSM upgrade expects).
Anyway, listening to music is very important to me, and I also prefer quality over quantity (volume)... although getting both at the same time is even better.
Without any confirmation that I would ever be able to obtain (or even hear) the DPSM here in the United States, I "played it safe" and ordered my MINI with the H/K stereo.
Fast forward about 4 or 5 months later, and sure enough, MINIUSA announces the official release of the DPSM in the US, installable at any MINI dealership.
Bummer. Oh well, I said to myself... it's so expensive and rare that I'll probably never hear one anyway.
Less than a year after that, one of my fellow DCMM club members, Irishcow, had it installed in her MINI. And I got a chance to sample it... and it ruined me. It's so much louder, and it's just as clear, if not clearer sound than the Harman/Kardon. Leaps and bounds ahead. All this, with the same OEM appearance, same head unit, no additional interior space required and no serious theft risk!
My philosophy with my MINI has always been "nothing but OEM", unless I want something that is simply not available as an "official" part.
So ever since that fateful day that I heard Irishcow's DPSM, I have wanted it... badly. I even contacted the dealership that she had install it, begging them to please consider the upgrade, even though it would be much more complex since I have the H/K. I talked to them since they were the only dealership in the area to have installed the DPSM yet. Their quote? 55 labor hours. Ouch - seemed ridiculous, more like a "we don't really want to hassle with this, so here's a go away quote".
I didn't give up. After much time and conversation with my own dealership, including them doing a few DPSM installs of their own, they agreed to take on the challenge. My long history and good relationship with them gives me confidence that they will only charge me for the actual work needed. They haven't even given me a solid quote, because there are some unknowns - nobody has done this before!
So the car is in the shop now. Here are the steps they are taking, broken out a bit:
- Strip the entire interior of the car - DONE! (see pics)
- Completely remove the Harman/Kardon parts - DONE!
- STOP here - I will be working with a fellow DCMM member (PGT) to install B-Quiet soundproofing on the entire floor and sides of the car (and behind the wheel wells - after hearing of dave's good results) - DONE! (see pics)
- Completely remove main factory wiring harness(es) - (finally started July 2!) DONE!
- Install the appropriate "standard" wiring harness(es) (as though I had not ordered H/K) DONE!
- Install the DPSM kit - DONE! TESTED & WORKING!!!
- Reassemble the entire interior of the car - DONE!
OK, so this may be pure insanity... but to me, the DPSM is the JCW version of the OEM MINI stereo options, and when coupled with extra soundproofing, I am very excited about it!
I want to stay OEM, I want the dealer to do all of the work (other than the soundproofing), since I don't trust myself with dismantling and reassembling the MINI interior... and I want warranty coverage of the DPSM afterwards.
Stay "tuned", I'm sure I'll have some interesting stripped interior pics to share when we get to the soundproofing stage.
Yes, I'm crazy... but I'm not the only one who thinks the DPSM is awesome!
Anybody interested in buying a complete set of Harman/Kardon parts?
Last edited by Edge; 12-05-2008 at 03:16 PM. Reason: Added link to H/K part sale thread
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It should be possible to redo the wiring without ripping out the H/K harness and putting in a "normal" one. It would be much simpler that way too.
I could go into more details, but if you and the dealership are set to go the way you are (ignoring cost), there's no need for me to muddy the waters.
Good luck with the install, hope you love the results
I could go into more details, but if you and the dealership are set to go the way you are (ignoring cost), there's no need for me to muddy the waters.
Good luck with the install, hope you love the results
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Minor update: Sound deadening materials from B-Quiet arrived today... 80 pounds worth (100 sq. ft of Ultimate, 54 sq. ft of Vcomp)! Just waiting for steps 1 through 5 to be completed. As of last Thursday, the dealer had assessed the job and put the parts on order. I'll be calling tomorrow to see if the parts have arrived and if they have begun the work.
#10
Update: Got a call from the SA yesterday morning to say that the parts were in, and that they would start the work last night (on the night shift - their head tech is working nights now)... haven't heard from them today, but I don't expect to hear much until next week anyway.
One of the interesting things the SA talked about is the difficulty they are having on where to put the parts while the car is being worked on - they can't leave my MINI in the bay the entire time it's there, as they will need it for other MINIs! I suggested asking the parts department if they could spare some space to put all of my interior parts. Heh... just as long as they don't lose any of the parts in the process!
One of the interesting things the SA talked about is the difficulty they are having on where to put the parts while the car is being worked on - they can't leave my MINI in the bay the entire time it's there, as they will need it for other MINIs! I suggested asking the parts department if they could spare some space to put all of my interior parts. Heh... just as long as they don't lose any of the parts in the process!
#11
WOW MAN!!! It's really happening! The DPSM comes with its own sound deadening mats, are you also going to use those, or just stay strictly with the B-quiet material? 80 pounds is a lot of weight! The stock 'S' exhaust system weighs roughly 40 lbs.!!!
I don't know if you remember, but I studied the install instructions for all the various MINI audio systems and the H/K definitely makes major changes to the stock harness (mostly with taps ) anyways, what you're doing, which is reverting back to the stock harness is definitely the best way. I'm looking forward to hearing it when you get "Mr. OEM" back
I don't know if you remember, but I studied the install instructions for all the various MINI audio systems and the H/K definitely makes major changes to the stock harness (mostly with taps ) anyways, what you're doing, which is reverting back to the stock harness is definitely the best way. I'm looking forward to hearing it when you get "Mr. OEM" back
#12
I don't know if you remember, but I studied the install instructions for all the various MINI audio systems and the H/K definitely makes major changes to the stock harness (mostly with taps ) anyways, what you're doing, which is reverting back to the stock harness is definitely the best way.
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actually, proper break-in routine for home gear can be done with white noise....tune to a freq between channels on the radio and put the volume at about 60%
#17
I wish there was... it turns out that MoS had 2 of their techs out last week (one had a baby... well, his wife did... and the other was sick), so they were short-staffed and didn't get started on it. My hope is that they will begin tonight. I have a call in to my SA for a status update...
#18
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I wish there was... it turns out that MoS had 2 of their techs out last week (one had a baby... well, his wife did... and the other was sick), so they were short-staffed and didn't get started on it. My hope is that they will begin tonight. I have a call in to my SA for a status update...
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The head tech who will be working on my car (since it is a complex job) is working the night shift lately... so that's why I keep saying night.
#21
So MoS has had your car two weeks now and they're really just getting started? Man, at that rate you're gonna be under the gun for the Dragon. What have you been driving for these two weeks? Do you get a MINI loaner when you give them this much business?
I'm hoping you'll get this done so you can be the official soundsource for the Dragon Drive-in.
CARS in DPSM !!!!
I'm hoping you'll get this done so you can be the official soundsource for the Dragon Drive-in.
CARS in DPSM !!!!
#22
we'll have to compare the sound of this system with the one I'm designing from aftermarket parts. It will be interesting to see which is better/cheaper/faster I'm not convinced aftermarket is always better, despite many years in that business. Components specifically tuned for the car always work better.
#23
Mind you, I won't have the only MINI at MOTD with DPSM - I know of at least one other - a fellow DCMM member (ssallykat, not Irishcow... Irishcow moved to Switzerland in January), and there will probably be one or two more.
we'll have to compare the sound of this system with the one I'm designing from aftermarket parts. It will be interesting to see which is better/cheaper/faster I'm not convinced aftermarket is always better, despite many years in that business. Components specifically tuned for the car always work better.
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