I don't want to replace the head unit because I really like the radio controls on the steering wheel. I enjoy good sound but I'm not a car stereo nut. I don't need a lot of volume or base. If I upgrade the existing speakers, will the sound significantly improve. I've been looking at Polk, Pioneer, and Alpine. Would upgrading speakers alone be worth it?

 

I don't know, but it would great to find out.

 

I doubt it. Mini probably uses one or moire of the speakers you mentioned as standard wquipment anyway. I'm not sure why I keep hearing about the audio system in the Mini. The standard one sounded fine to me. The rush comes from the car not the sound system. There to much ambient noise to spend significant bucks on the sound system.

 

I know that the system puts out only 15 watts per chanel. Upgrading speakers would work a little but without an amp the sound will not improve to much. I did upgrade and installed an amp . It sounds much better. All for under $500.00.

 

>>I know that the system puts out only 15 watts per chanel. Upgrading speakers would work a little but without an amp the sound will not improve to much. I did upgrade and installed an amp . It sounds much better. All for under $500.00.

_________________
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NoBull60. Thanks for your help. (Everybody else too!). When you upgraded with adding an amp, did you keep the same head unit?

 

About about half way throught the process of upgrading my MCS stereo system.

I upgraded the head unit to the Alpine CDA-7894. There IS an add-on ($175) that allows you to still be able to use your steering wheel controls. Works fine for me!

I have also added a amp. My next project is to upgrade the speakers. I've looked at the current speakers in the MINI... they are total garbage. Definitely need to upgrade them.

 

I changed the rear speakers for MB Quarts and got dramatically better sound quality. I plan to replace the fronts too ...

Even if you want a new head unit, I think you would want to change the speakers too, so why not do them first and see what you think of the improvement?

 

"MB quarts"? Where do I find those?

 

http://www.crutchfield.com or http://www.sounddomain.com are both good places to shop for audio parts. You can even plug in your car and they will auto-advise you which products to use (ie which ones fit).

As for keeping the steering wheel controls with an aftermarket headunit, there is device made by PAC called SWI-X. It wires into the steering wheel and send a IR blast to your new headunit. The new headunit must be controlable by IR (infa red) remote. VERY cool. I have one sitting on my work bench (along with my new headunit, speakers, amps, sub, caps, etc) awaiting the arrival of my MCS (looks like saturday the 14th according to car shipping people). I will be doing a complete tear out and redo of the stock stereo near the end of the month. Look for a FULL write up with pictures on this install. Now if anyone could just give me a concrete lead on what harness to use. First I hear BMW 3-series style harness. Now I'm hearing 5-series. I'd really like to keep from just hacking the stock harness. We'll see.....

R