What is the purpose of the huge air vent on top of the dashboard? I know how stupid that sounds but really! In all my previous cars (Mini and non-Mini) the vents let in outside air even with the fan turned off - as long as the ****/switch was set to allow in outside air.

But the F56 doesn't bring in outside air UNLESS the fan is running. Seems stupid to me. I even asked the service rep about it and he said that's the way the car works.

So why have huge air vent on top of the dash if no air comes in without turning on the fan?

 

It’s a loudspeaker cover not an air vent.



http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=65_2608

 

I think it is both.

 

Yes your right, it looks like it serves both duties.


http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=64_2047

 

It's not unusual to need the fan turned on to allow air flow. That way you can select "off" and close off outside air. My Vette, Suburban, P/U truck all work the same way.

 

Well color me stupid.

If that's the case, one more question. I don't have the H/K upgrade. Are the connections already there so I can go to an after-market audio place and have them put in a speaker and/or tweeter WITHOUT ripping apart the dash?

Thanks.

 

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=65_2608



The cover is different depending on whether the car has HK or not http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/show...diagId=64_2047 Part #64229262802 vs #64229262803

Every generation of MINI have had an air vent at that location (F-Series the first with also H/K speaker).
In an R53, it seems to be simply another outlet in the ventilation ductwork (#1 in diagram)



Almost certainly not. No other H/K wiring exists in a car without H/K.

 

Nope, correct not there. Yes its a dual purpose if you have the HK, some people are buying the HK grille and center speaker and wiring it to one of the existing channels from the door wires or an aftermarket amp for a center channel.

 

i've read that the big vent's purpose is to direct air to the back seat

 

It provides indirect air into the cabin of the car. Helps with defroster as well as keeping the radio cooled (the more you know!)

 

I can verify that the H/K head-unit does get EXTREMELY hot.

I think the arrangement in the F-series echoes BMW's airflow set-up, like most things in Fxx MINIs seemingly do.

 

Great information and thanks!!!

New MINI owner here and recently purchased a 2015 JCW and was wondering what that was on the dashboard in the center.

 

Is there a place to get the OEM grill piece other than the dealership? The link provided doesn't have pricing of the piece so curious on if the price is worth it. It would help to pull the sound imaging forward by having a center channel.

 

In stock. 64229262803

https://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/64229262803/

 

Wow that's a good price. I know my next purchase lol.

 

My R58 doesn't allow passive air flow with the fan off either. I don't think any car does.

 

that's for previous mini generations, R53s have the big vent for air only, I blocked mine off

 

Sorry but I beg to differ. ALL my previous cars did - various Mazdas, Fords, Toyotas.... Even my only other Mini, a 2006 R50. But for some reason the passive air flow in that car was always warm air - even in the winter. I had the feeling that the air was coming right off the engine and even asked the service rep to check it out. He said everything was ok but as I was the fourth owner and knew that the car was never serviced by BMW, I had a sneaking suspicion that something just wasn't quite right.