My radio has quit.It says disabled on the screen.Can I simply replace it with another r from a parted out Mini?
What years will fit a 2002?

Thx..

 

Although I don't have the experience to diagnose your issue.
I did just replaced mine in my 04 R53 with a nice, super clean, 05 OEM head unit ($25) found at a local Pull-A-Part yard.
It looks and sounds great. Not sure why sounds so much better than my original. However, I chose to look specifically for an 05 head unit. I've heard that some early and pre-facelift models may balk at the older (radio) head units or need to be programmed to the car. Not sure how true this is - but I'm pretty sure your '02 can accept a OEM head unit up to 06 (?)

Best of luck. I hope someone can help sort it out...

 

I believe the radios in the early cars have a code to input like Hondas. Not positive though.

 

From what I gather. Someone here on NAM posted hearing that the required coding may have been abandoned around the 2004 facelift model.
Not knowing; I went with a late 2005/2006 just to be safe.
Worked with no issues and the darn thing even plays MP3 CDs!....Does anyone still use those things btw?

 

Any radio from a 1st gen up to a 2006 hardtop or 2008 convertible (R52 or R52 S) should work, but the issue could be something other than the radio itself. I’ve read the early radios have a code, but all are supposed to have another way of unlocking the radio automatically by communication through the canbus. When a radio is powered up but can’t communicate with the car it disables itself so the problem could also be a bad connection or a faulty accessory connected to it.

If it were my car I would start by checking and cleaning the contacts of the radio harness and unplug any other accessories like a cd changer, iPod or Bluetooth adapter, etc. as I heard a bad accessory can cause communication problems throughout the car. Since you have a 2002 I would also check the manuals you have for the car to see if a radio code card was included.

If it still doesn’t work, I would look for a later model radio which had the most updates and options, preferably with the ability to return if it doesn’t solve the problem. I think the MP3 CD reading capability, or just text display, started around March or May of 2005 so I would go for at least the last half of 2005 and newer. The production date is on the radio label and a lot of the radios I’ve seen for sale include a picture of it.

If you’re considering an aftermarket radio, it’s important to know whether you have the standard or HK system as it’s not easy getting a non-factory radio to work with the HK system.

 

My pre-face lift '04 JCW radio died and I replaced with an '06 version for the CD/MP3 reasons...plug and play no issues and I even have Harman Kardon.

 

+1 ^ thats what i did.