Today's topic is about the radio antennas on the first Gen MINI Coopers......

My '04 R53 had a little aluminum shorty antenna on it when I got it, and the top of it was missing, so I put an antenna ball on it for the time being.
My '06 R52 had a 9" antenna on it when purchased, but it was so faded and dirty that I wanted a new one

I went to the dealer and asked them what style and length of antenna came on each car....they really could not tell me anything, I think she was new. I asked one of the salesmen there and he pulled out a bunch of antennas from his desk drawer of various sizes. He also had a flexible rubber antenna that he said I could have if I wanted, so I took that one and put it on my R52 JCW car, looks pretty good. (first pic shows antenna installed)

I ordered a couple whip antennas from eBay, one was 9" long, and the other was 16" long, both said that they were correct for first Gen cars. I got both the other day....man that 16" one looks like a fishing pole on the car.....I don't really care for it, so I put the 9" new one on my R53 in place of the broken aluminum one that came on the car. (second pic shows antenna installed)

I'm just curious as to what was supposed to be the "correct" length antenna for these cars. Was the 16" length even offered on the cars?

What is everyone else running on their car?

Last pic shows the new aluminum shorty antenna, the 9", and the 16" fishing pole antennas that I have here now

Bryan

 

Original 16" on my '05 R53. The flexible one on your R52 looks like the Honda S2000/Element/CR-V antenna which was a popular mod.

 

Honda S2000 antenna (part number 39151-S2H-E01) on my 2002 MCS since July 2003. It's around 6.75" in length.

 

So that long 16" fishing pole was the standard length on the cars??

Bryan

 

Yes, they're often replaced to get rid of the radio control car look.

 

I for one love the little boy's remote control racer look. I also like the aerodynamic bent that the antenna took. This thread gives me the idea of a photo shoot next time at the track placing a Bit Char-G remote control on the pavement. This little car cracks me up every time I see her.

 

Thanks for your input guys. I decided to keep the rubber flexible one on the R52, and leave the new 9" one on the R53...... I for one don't care for the looks of the 16" fishing pole one on either car.. I'm not real crazy about the little aluminum antenna either....

Bryan

 

Looks may be too overrated, especially when there is function to consider. But your preference would not hurt our feelings.

Antenna Size Matters

In order for an antenna to be most efficient and give you the strongest received signal possible, it needs to be resonant. A resonant antenna is one where the size of the antenna is matched to the wavelength that it is intended to receive.

 

I run a Stubby Jr. from Cravenspeed, looks great in my opinion.

 

Nothing...no additional screw-on antenna, beside just the base. The radio works just fine.

Mike