I did a quick search of the forum and found a couple other folks in my situation, but nothing within the last couple of years. I managed to fracture the the antenna mount, the "bulb" that protrudes from the roof of my 2005 MINI Cooper, into which the antenna screws.

I took it to both my dealer and to a well-regarded local body shop: the dealer wanted $900 (!) to replace the mount, while the body shop wanted half that. :^/ Both asserted that they'd need to remove and reinstall the entire headliner to get at it.

But as I was cleaning out the car to prep it for the repair -- at the local body shop, natch ;^> -- I discovered there's a removable port directly under the antenna mount. What the heck?! Surely that's there so there's access to the antenna? I mean, why would there be a removable port directly under the antenna if not to provide access to the antenna! I've provided a photo of the port as an attachment below so it's clear what I'm referring to.

I'm more confused than anything. The body shop is claiming 2.5 hours to remove the headliner and 2.5 hours to reinstall it, but why would they need to remove the entire headliner when this port/hatch exists? Has anyone opened it up and done the surgery themselves? Or am I off-base, and is removing the hatch only the first step in this repair?

Thanks for any help. Time is of the essence, since my appointment is Monday morning. :^P

Best regards,
Eric Westby

 

Pull that part & the antenna bottom will be looking at you. Not hard at all on your sunroof equipped MINI.

My MINI does not have a sun roof & that piece in the picture is not under the antenna on my car. I paid my dealer something like $200.

On your MINI is should be easy to do. Go for it.

 

Thanks for your speedy reply!

Ahhhhhh, so I got lucky because I have a sun roof? Maybe the estimate they quoted me was for a MINI without that port in the headliner?

Just to follow up though: are you certain that removing the port would provide access to the antenna mount? Might the port only be for, say, accessing the guts of the sunroof motor?

Finally, how would I remove the port? Just stick a flathead screwdriver into the gap between it and the headliner and pry it off? Or is there a trick to it?

 

As I recall it has been a few years, they wanted $400 I moaned so loud they took pity on me.

From what I have read that piece just snaps off. Be careful & gentle, I have never had mine off. If you search for alarm installs you may find a how to that shows how it comes off. Part of the alarm system mounts under there.

Good luck...

 

Just an update since I got such great help here: I showed the body shop the configuration of my sunroof-equipped headliner and they slashed the labor down to 1.5 hours total, so the whole thing cost only $120 for the part and $120 for labor. And as a bonus, I swear my nav system now acquires satellites in 1/4 the time it took before.

@Crashton, thanks again for your replies!

 

Thanks for the update. I'm glad it worked out for you & you saved some money. Better satellite detection is a wonderful bonus.

 

Glad it panned out! Good to know if this ever happens to one of us

 

Are you in Louisville? Body shop called me today asking about a 2005 and how to remove the antenna

 

Anyone know how to get the antenna base off a 2003 MCS with a sunroof?

 

You have to pull down the headliner a bit and that will give you access to the nut that secures the antenna base to the roof. Once that is removed it will simply lift off, just be careful with pulling your headliner and it will go smoothly.