The other day I opened the garage door and I noticed my Antenna was sitting kinda cocked. I immediatley thought someone came by and bent it. Went out to look, put my hand on it and the rubber just crumbled off. It has a nice spring in it , and it straightened back up, but Geeze Louise, rotted off in less than 5 years? I'm afraid to go to the Stealership for this, and the ones I see on-line are never for a 2009 Justa Clubman. They also keep saying things about Bluetooth and Nav, and I have Bluetooth capability but never used it, No Nav and they say the threads are different for each. Anyone else had theirs rot off? I know I'm in Texas, but sheese.

 

The rubber antena is only for AM. The FM antenna is in the rear window glass. The satellite antenna is in the antenna base. Removingthe antenna will have absolutely no effect on bluetooth or any other function except AM radio. The actual antenna "whip" is the same across the models, so you could use one off a hardtop, cabrio, Countryman, etc.

 

Mine did the same thing probably two years ago. Started with a crack in the rubber. I noticed that just recently some pieces have crumbled off, so now I have a gap.

 

We have an '08 Clubman S in Ohio and ours is rotting also.

 

Mine rotted out, I just replaced it with an Alta Stubby...

 

Its common for Fuba antenna units (the OE manufacturer of the antennas.. VW uses them also).

I pulled mine off two days into ownership and replaced it with a e-bay shorty for $5 from the UK.

 

We've seen them rot like this many times, worse with cars that sit in the sun a lot.
Replacing it with one of our WMW short antennas is only $20

 

One of the first things I did was install a Cravenspeed stubby. Now my car cover fits.

 

+1

Sent from my iPhone using NAMotoring

 

Mine did this also. My SA said its pretty common.

 

I agree with this endorsement of the quality of the craven speed stubby!

 

Mine did too at the ripe age of 4. Frankly, I was fine with it because I wasn't a huge fan of the long antenna. I prefer the shark fin look so I chose the Alta 4". I'm from Texas, as is my MINI, so I suspect that the combination of extreme heat and sun (first 3 years in Texas), extreme cold (1 year in MA), and automatic car washes (also a result of moving to MA) caused mine to degrade more quickly. I don't really listen to the radio in MA because reception seems to be terrible no matter where you are. I haven't listened to the radio up here since I replaced the antenna with the Alta one so I cannot attest to whether or not the reception is better or worse than the stock antenna.

 

I had to replace the short mini antenna put on our 2011 at delivery this summer, I was thinking it was broking at the car wash but the rubber was dry rotted to my surprise so I ordered and installed a black Alta 2" aluminum. (it kind of looks like a baby bottle nipple to me for whatever that's worth)

After learning the antenna is only for the AM that we never use, I would have just picked up a black round top hex screw with matching threads at Lowes and install it for 10 cents to plug the hole. LOL....

 

replaced mine under warranty or campaign for free on my wifes 2011 MCS

 

I probably should had done the same because the OEM shorty on my 2013 is a new redesign.

 

There is the newest stubby design which is 83mm.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/65202296772/ES2590749/




Then the older stubby design which is NLA by MINI but still available other places. Its 105mm.

Short Rod Antenna "Stubby" - 105mm

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/65202179727/ES2597151/

 

My rotting ant was replaced under my "End of Warranty" complaint list last year. I had already replaced it with an Out Motoring-supplied CF stubby (which is now accumulating moisture), but re-installed it for the last warranty visit.

I use the original when I fly a flag.

 

All of the rubber on my 09 has rotted. I replaced the antenna but I have not replaced the pieces that meet the windshield. Their rubber has turned to goo. The rear window seals were replaced by Mini a couple of years ago. The stock stuff was cheap. Evidently the replacement parts are of better quality.

 

Mine rotted off this last summer. I ended up buying the second stubby from ECS. I would have grabbed the other stubby had I konwn about it though. The 105mm stubby is a little wibbly wobbly. Leans a bit to one side. So, knowing this, I'd say grab the newer 83mm version.

 

Mine just rotted off as well; my Cravenspeed stubby should be here today! It definitely affects FM and AM reception, despite what someone else was saying. Bluetooth and such seems unaffected.

 

I'll second the FM. It definately sucked untill I replaced the antenna. Not sure if later models, such as '12+, have a different FM antenna then my early model. But definately changed my reception.