How the heck will anyone be able to replace the the OEM radio with an aftermarket upgrade?

The control integrated into the speedo seem neat and make the whole dash very integrated. What are other people's thoughts on this?

 

I'm sure MINI will offer a range of compatible overpriced OEM stereo upgrade options. . .

 

it gets better ... what you don't see in those pics from MINI2 is the CD slot ... which is way below the speedo/radio ... still camoed ...

oh wait ... below this mailslot ... is the lone volume/on off button ...so we have 3 components stacked neatly on eachother.

still think the dash is well integrated?

 

Usually on cars with the setups like the new MINI like the Mazda RX-8 people put the new headunit in the glovebox or somewhere else so they don't lose their climate control or whatever else is controlled by the radio. It sucks, but what can you do.

 

Basically you cant do it. Technically you can, i.e. the glovebox, but thats kind of weird. You're just stuck.

 

Depends on your definition of integrated. Mine is from a design perspective and I think that the whole center stack fits nicely and is more than just a collection of components. However, the collection of components is useful when it come to replacing a semi-functional one.

I think it would be interesting to have "headless" aftermarket stereos where the car provides the keyboard and the monitor. We don't have anything like this yet, but we could hope.

Putting the stereo in the glove compartment is a poor solution in my book.

 

[QUOTE=Brian G.]I think it would be interesting to have "headless" aftermarket stereos where the car provides the keyboard and the monitor. We don't have anything like this yet, but we could hope.
QUOTE]

Today I found my answer from Alpine. They call it the Vehicle Hub Pro.

 

The Harmon Kardon system in the R53 was plenty of stereo for me I'll likely just order H?K and forget it.

For the rest of you someone will find a way
Mike

 

My guess is that it will be the same way they make metra kits for the Mazda 6/Mazdaspeed 6 or the Mazda 3. It's a big kit that replaces most of the dash and gives you a regular din slot.

-M

 

I just found this and have not seen it talked about. I was on the http://www.newmini2006.co.uk/ site. Under the interior-dashboard of the MCS you can click on the CD Changer. It's a standard DIN slot under the flip up trim panel. Plenty of oportunity for a killer aftermarket system. This car gets better and better!

 

That looks pretty cool - as long as you have a passenger, or the MFSW can control it...