I was looking on ebay and came across these $8 ones that are 3"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mini-3-Carbo...f617be&vxp=mtr

then theres the expensive ones:
http://new.minimania.com/part/G2NMA7...8-60-Cooper--S

any difference in these? the top one says its compatible according to the ebay vehicle compatibility thing.

 

I just purchased the stubby antenna from the MINI dealer for $29. I still need to install it though. Good luck with your hunt!

 

Quite happy with mine from WMW

 

i have the carbon one, works just fine. i'm not a fan of the chrome in the ebay one personally.

 

cravenspeed one I have is fine

 

I got the Helix one, he's here on the forum. It's very nice.

http://www.helix13.com/2nd-gen-mini/exterior/#go

 

The compatibility chart only lists the 2007. I don't think there has been a change in the antenna attachment in the Gen 2 cars. It was different from the Gen 1 MINI.

It should work. I have an Alta stubby. I have heard, but not tried, that no antenna works in urban areas.

If you like the look it could be worth the try.

 

I grabbed the OEM Honda s2000 antenna, works great.

 

The Helix fits on my '11. I don't they changed in the gen II's.

 

I have a Cravenspeed stubby that works great. I prefer it over a few other options since it doesn't have any visible writing such as the Helix or Alta varieties.

Note that the rooftop antenna is only used for AM reception, so it's more cosmetic than anything. I've tried completely removing it and had no change in AM reception. Basically go with whichever one looks best...

 

really its just for AM? I should just remove it then but I don't want the hole to be exposed to water. any proof its just for AM?

 

FM only needs less than 3 feet of cable + antennae to work effectively, less with tricky electronics like the Mini stereos have (or your cell phone), so the cable run to the antennae exceeds that minimum. Longer ones don't really affect FM, not like AM or shortwave, CB, etc... Just any amount sticking up out of the roof works for FM in the city which has so many other factors in play. At least that is how I understand it.

 

Most of the MINIs have antenna diversity, which means the use 2 antennas for reception: one is the roof-mounted unit, the other is the rear windscreen heater. So when you do remove one of the two, you still have FM reception.

AM is a different story, because it needs much more length. In my case AM reception is only possible with the original long antenna. The shorter ones do not get any AM reception at all, be it OEM or not (I have the OEM one).

PS: If you have INPA you can see the actual reception dB of each station and test with and without antenna. The difference with or without antenna is negligible unless the station you are testing for has a low signal strength.

 

The FM antenna is in the rear window. I listen to The Ticket sports talk radio in DFW sometimes on 1310AM. Their signal is kind of weak, but the stubby antenna causes no problem.

Go with whatever looks best to you, unless you experience reception issues, but it's unlikely. Test it out and see what happens...

Cheers
J

 

Craven Speed Stubby! Have had good luck using it!

 

Yup. The stubby antenna looks cool, but it degrades your AM radio reception big time.
If you don't care about AM, then any stubby will do. If you need AM signal strength, stick with the stock, full-length antenna where the "wire" that twists around it creates the "length" of antenna that AM reception needs.

 

I purchased the short antenna from my MINI dealer and found that it greatly reduced my AM reception. I live in Monterey, CA and with the stock antenna I could easily pick up AM stations from the Bay Area about 85-100 miles away. With the short stubby one, not so good. Much more static and weaker for AM.