1st Gen R53 Cooper S Aftermarket radio?

Discussion in '1st Generation: 2002–06 R50, R53 & 2004–08 R52' started by lr19, Aug 23, 2016.

  1. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

    Jan 25, 2010
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    OEM vs non-oem

    The non OEM seller is good... Atlantic British...bought stuff from them directly before.
    Don't know about the quality of the item, but good seller...bought filters, etc from them.
     
  2. lr19

    lr19 New Member

    Aug 12, 2016
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    Gotcha I went ahead and got a oem for 35 bucks thanks for all the help will keep posted on install


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  3. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

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  4. caseydog

    caseydog Well-Known Member

    Nov 7, 2012
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    Oh, how I miss the days of my youth, when I was an art major with a new Cutlass Supreme with a killer sound system. Now that I am a 55-year-old dude with an art degree, who listens to NPR in the car, it just isn't the same.

    CD
     
  5. mrntd

    mrntd Well-Known Member
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    Sep 30, 2011
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    I put the aux port and mounted it in the blank space in the switch panel where the rear fog light switch would go.

    I don't have the HK system but the regular one is strange too. I left the head unit and added an amp. It has high level inputs so I should have been able to run the speaker outputs into it. But it wouldn't work that way. I got from Amazon some inexpensive low level converters and now it works great.

    I replaced all the speakers with a custom set up designed by my father-in-law with tweeters and mid range in the doors and woofers in the back. I spliced in some wires to go from the head unit to the amp then back to the stock wires so I didn't have to run new ones and I can easily go back to stock. The amp is not that powerful 100w/channel so the stock wires are fine. It is mounted to the bottom of the inside air filter box.

    The system doesn't compare to systems I've had in the past but I am usually listening to the whine instead anyway.
     
  6. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    May 4, 2009
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    That Bluetooth dongle is the way to go. I have it and love the ease of use.
     
  7. lr19

    lr19 New Member

    Aug 12, 2016
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    What's is the Bluetooth thing?


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  8. ZippyNH

    ZippyNH Well-Known Member

    Jan 25, 2010
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    Pug it into your aux port....the your phone can connect to the radio...and you can play tunes....better units do have a mic so you can use it hands free to talk...IF you mount it in a reasonable location....or just hide it.
    Only drawback is it must be charged every few days.
     
  9. lr19

    lr19 New Member

    Aug 12, 2016
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    Ya I was looking at them, I might prefer that over the aux cord laying around, it would be nice if there was a way to keep it plug in all the time to avoid charging, looks like most use a USB port, not sure how to get that hooked up behind all the panels


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  10. lr19

    lr19 New Member

    Aug 12, 2016
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    Anyone using a Bluetooth setup have any suggestions on brands? I was looking at a kit sound Bluetooth converter looks pretty nice


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  11. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

    May 7, 2009
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    Just plug it into a USB charger in the cigarette lighter. There are kits that include all the necessary pieces: https://www.amazon.com/Mpow-Bluetooth-Receiver-Streambot-Hands-Free/dp/B010HSRVVA. That one also includes a noise isolator, which might be needed because MINI is prone to have a ground loop issue when something is plugged into aux and power at the same time.
     
  12. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    May 4, 2009
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    I have the bluetooth dongle mentioned in post 23 and have it plugged into a usb charger using the cigarette lighter plug. I got one of the low profile ones with 3 outlets and have no issues with buzzing, but I have the standard head unit.
     
  13. lr19

    lr19 New Member

    Aug 12, 2016
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    Okay so update I got my aux adapter today install took less then 10 min! Didn't even have to pull radio I think I'm still going to get the Bluetooth adapter. Glad I didn't go with new head unit, this system and speakers sound great!


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  14. JMC40

    JMC40 Well-Known Member

    Sep 1, 2010
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    Wonderful!!
     

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