Well just got back from the dealer...1.5hrs away. Had the car in to check the hi-fi speakers. They were "rattling" at normal sound levels. Long story short, they confirmed the noise then listed to the same cd in another clubman and heard it there too. The verdict... too much plastic in the car, and they can't tear the whole car apart to fix it. Sooooooo just more proof the hi-fi stereo blows and save your $500 bucks. Atleast we got it with our conv. package, so the price is dwarfed a bit.

 

UGH....this is so dissapointing to hear. We went ahead and ordered the HiFi after much household debate because we wanted to have the better amp and tweeters already installed. Our plan is to swap out the speakers as soon as we can but didn't want to have the car audio shop mucking around with drilling holes in the interior and figured the straight up speaker swap would be OK. I have heard so many negatives about the HiFi that now I am starting to doubt our decision....

I hope you end up finding some way to enjoy your tunes.

 

My MA helped me decide against it. I wan't really thinking about getting it, just brought it up and he basically said it wasn't worth it. Glad I didn't get it after what I've been reading.

Sorry you're dissapointed with it.

 

I would just throw some dynamat in some metal spots and replace the speaker with aftermarket speakers which will be much better.

 

You all need to go over to the Navigation & Audio section and do some reading. There is lots of information about the HiFi and the standard systems over there.

I personally as well as others have been doing a lot of testing with the sound systems in the R55/R56 cars. Testing is not finished and hopefully will not take more than another two weeks to complete (i have full time job and only get to wokr on it sporadicaly)

And as for the rattling plastic. I have none of that in my clubman, the sound itself is just horrible. Now the dealer, if a good one should look into the problem more than just checking one onther car ans saying "That just the way it is" That is not accepatble and you should tell them that. and you can tell them that mine is not like that if you wish.

Here are some links to the more informing threads

The standard is not with out its own problems
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=151132

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=150567

Not sepcifically for the clubman but gives good description of what needs to be done for a speaker change
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=95211

More general info
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=120290

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=151310

 

I prefer the upgraded system to the base one. The MINI has a lot of road noise so the stereo is a lower priority for me than just about all other options. I have had no rattle issues since mid-Feb delivery. Unless you need to shake your whole neighborhood (in which case you could just get an aftermarket exhaust) the upgraded sound is entirely adequate.

 

+1000. In the grand scheme of things, the Hi-Fi is not nearly as bad as people make it out to be. I made adjustments to the fade/tone and it actually sounds damn good considering you are in a small space with lots of ambient road noise. I mean it is a Mini not a 5 Series.

 

Schatzy thanks for the links. I've been looking around the Audio threads and did not stumble on the first one you posted. I of course have the HiFI system, so it seems to me that you guys have not found a solution yet for the amp.
For an upgraded system I am not at all impressed with the sound quality. The speakers can hold no bass at all. I have to keep the bass setting at 2 maybe 3 so they don't flub at higher volumes. I was going to replace the stock speakers with new low wattage speakers at some point hoping that would resolve my problems. I'll wait to see if there is an option for the HiFI system system in the near future. If you need a test case to work on I'm willing to drive up to you.

 

I picked up my clubman yesterday and it has the standard stereo and I think it sounds great. Originally I planned to upgrade the rear speakers but from what I've heard so far I probably won't bother. I'm very happy with it.

It definately sounds better than the premium stereo that was in my Volvo 960 that I just sold.

 

I have the HI Fi and like the sound system, but the speakers definately leave quite a bit to be desired to me. I plan to replace them and see what the system does with better quality speakers. Waiting for an audiophile to accomplish this in a non-invasive manner so I can follow suit.
Cheers,
John

 

from a recent extended listening session of the HI-Fi system (2 weeeks in a loaner) I can tell you that the low end of the Hi-Fi distorts easily and makes the speakers rattle at even reasonable volume levels. The highs, with the extra A Pillar tweeters, ARE sweeter however.

The Standard System is very good though and for those looking to "crank it up" it is a more suitable choice.

 

I've had no issues with my HiFi.

Sounds good to me, and I have been playing my iPod fairly loud recently. It's stinks that so many of you are not happy with it.

 

I have actually really been enjoying the upgraded Hi-Fi, and have found that is is very solid for a wide range of music. (on any given day I play classical/post-modern symphonic music, trance/ambient and club techno, cool jazz, rap and hardore punk rock.) I don't play it loud enough to rattle other car's windows, but I do play it pretty loud at times. I mean, who plays the Sex Pistols or Snoop Dogg quietly? Sheesh.

I had a very interesting experience on a trip to NYC recently. My family and I (all four of us) were riding in the Clubman on the highway, playing music from the iPod, with no trouble. Since I put an iPod in the car as soon as I bought it, I had not previously listened to CDs at any length. My daughters had some CDs they wanted to listen to, so after a while we started playing them. We had sketchy sound from the Hi-Fi on and off whenever we were playing CDs. I thought it might have had something to do with the speed-sensitive volume control, but the awkward sound went away as soon as I went back to the iPod.

Since LadyGodiva also uses the iPod, and has a clubman of similar vintage to mine, I wonder if there could be a connection. Has anyone else seen the difference between iPod and CD?

 

I've actually turned the base down to zero and there are times when the speakers rattle and shake because of the base. I'm afraid to go negative because it'll go tinny. I figure one day I'll upgrade the speakers, but that'll be one day...

 

The good news is that this is my ONLY real complaint about a very fun car! It will be a fairly easy and inexpensive fix(hopefully) to put new speakers in. The rest of the system seems to have decent capabilities so I hope it will be just fine.
Cheers All!!
John

 

My solution was not to get the HIFI upgrade and pickup a real amp and upgrade to better speakers and dynamat type of material. I want bass so I will build a fiberglass enclosure in or near the wheel well. The bass action will need to be smallish for the spouse and daughter, so it will only be an 8" Rockford Fosgate I will only need .3 cubic feet for it.

With all of the upgrades it should be running me about $500 cost of upgrade HIFI. I will be doing all the labor myself so to have it done would cost a bit.

Upgrading the stereo is job number #2 after upgrading the rims and tires.

 

+1 that is really the only complaint I have about the car. I can live with it.

 

From my scanning of the Nav and Audio forum it seems like the easiest fix is to install some upgraded front speakers.

As far as I can tell this is because the bulk of the posters there are Coupe owners and the rear speakers are a bear to get to in the Coupe...

Has anyone seen or read of a Clubman rear speaker install that refutes this? (here's hoping...)

 

Well I ripped the door apart today to see if the plastic was causing the rattles... nope, with the speakers exposed and the door open the rattles were still there. I really don't want to get new speakers but these paper speakers really looked cheap.

I wonder if getting some $80 polks would make a difference?

Also it seems the rattling is just coming from the mid speaker (3.5)

 

Passanger side club door very easy to get to - 4 screws and a few panels clips. Drivers side just as difficult to get to as in the coop. Rear seat needs to come out to get the panel off to get to the speaker. So it is not an easy job.

 

Just got back from Circuit city... and before anyone says they don't know what they are talking about, I spoke to a very knowledgeable gentleman. He stated that the speaker (I took it in) was actually not that bad! He said they don't carry anything in the 3.5" size that would be better, only worse! So we talked for a bit, and he said that it has to be the plastic somewhere making the noise. So I came back home and found that the arm rest was the MAIN culprat, not the only, but the main contributer. So I tighted some torx bolts down and it makes a little difference.

Soooooooo..... new verdict, the HI-FI isn't THAT bad, just the new age plastic car manufacturing.

All and all, just a minor complaint for a great car.

 

I just started upgrading the regular Boost stereo in my 09 Clubman. So far, I have done the following:

- disconnected the small (3.5"?) OEM front speakers; and
- swapped out the larger (5.5"?) OEM front speakers for Hertz Hi-Energy HCW 165.3 (6.5") co-axial speakers.

Just from this small change, the sound is 100% better. These Hertz speakers are really nice. At first, I was going to get a component set with a 6.5" driver and the accompanying (separate) tweeter - the tweeter was going to go in the OEM 3.5" speaker's place. This co-axial set just sounded better to me and the audio guy helping me explained that it may be since there is one less "crossover" and so more power is going to the speakers - sounded plausible.

It does indeed bug me a little that my 3.5" speaker slots are now just for show...but I'll be damned if it doesn't sound like a million bucks now. The difference is amazing. These seem to be pretty good speakers though (about $300 MSRP for the pair, though I got them on a boxing day sale for $180 - all prices Canadian, which are always more than US prices) so I'm not sure if you'd get the same result from upgrading to any old aftermarket speaker.

The next thing I'm contemplating is the channel swap, and here's where I'd like some advice. The audio guy (at a specialized car-audio store) who was helping me said to think about it and do some more research before I do the swap. From my research on here, it seems like it's a win-win situation (apart from the minor annoyance of having the bluetooth phone being directed through the rear speakers but, hey, this is a Mini Clubman not a Minivan and it's not like the rear speakers are located very far away from the driver...).

But I'm concerned about doing the swap because the front speakers now sound so much better than the rear speakers...it seems unbelievable that it's just the higher quality speaker that's responsible for that. I did some testing by putting the base all the way down and then playing with the fader, going from full-front to front rear etc, and it seems like the fronts are getting more juice on every level...treble, mid, and bass.

It's clear that the channel swap will result in more bass to the rear speakers. But what I'm wondering is whether other aspects of the signal currently being sent to the fronts will be compromised by the swap? It really sounds like the front's are getting more "juice" from the head unit. Is that just the better speaker talking? Do I truly have nothing to lose by doing the channel swap?

 

I was able to get the left/driver's side rear speaker in without pulling the seatbacks, only the bottom which is very easy. Then just pried back the plastic enough to work.

From my base-level audio, I put Polk db691's in the rear and Polk db6501 component set in the front, $200 all-in, brand-y new from the 'Bay; also did the channel swap as recommended on the Nav&Audio section. Sound is MUCH cleaner now. Planning a BossAudio Bass600 integrated amp/woofer for another $130 - den we be jammin' ...

 

How long does all of this take. I have some 6x9's from my old car that I took out before selling that I'd like to put into the 08 Club S I picked up in August (Stock radio) but don't know how long something like this will take to do....any ideas? (I have 4 6x9's and yes, i realise I can only use two, in the rear...which i've read from various places, is a PITA to replace)

 

The Clubdoor side is half-hour-ish (once I discovered the "secret" screw down by the grab-handle - look from below and behind, IIRC; and the screw in the B-pillar trim by the mood light).

The other side was 2-3 times as long, but nothing like the Coupe descriptions that suggest Mini suspended a speaker in the air and welded a car around it