1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Best pick for aftermarket stereo?

I have a Kenwood in my blue Mini. Fits perfectly. I also have an amp in the back where the HK usually goes, new speakers, full steering wheel controls retained. Red color mode, bluetooth works great with any phone I ever paired, even has a microphone that does hands free calling, although I don't remember ever doing that. I don't drive the car enough to get calls while I am in it.

Head unit was a refurbished Kenwood CD receiver from Crutchfield for about $100. These things usually can do variable color schemes to match the Mini. Probably should have spent a little more, because this thing still has some bad days when remote control doesn't work, either by phone or the included remote. Today, two years later, I think I'd buy something like this unit, without CD capability, adding all kinds of space in the rear of the unit where the cable patching was a really tight affair with a CD head unit. This particular unit may need a different adapter to the Mini harness than the one I used.
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_113KMBT228/Kenwood-KMM-BT228U.html

Front speakers are two way with crossover Infinity Reference 6500CX 6-1/2"
Rear speakers are Rockford Fosgate P1692 Punch 6"x9" 2-Way, but I am not a fan of those. Nowhere near as good as the fronts, so one day I'll upgrade the rears to match, but first I need to get the noise from the exhaust under control on that car

stuff I used that I can still remember - the amp is really nice for the money, the rest is the stuff you need to install and integrate it all. Lots of work wiring it all up, but unless you don't are about sound, you want that separate amp and not a head unit driving your speakers. I think there's some info about the install in my build thread for the daily driver (blue) R53.

forgot which adapter I have, but there are many options - Crutchfield has 3 units that fit the car
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CU4TOSW
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_120ASWC1/Axxess-ASWC-1-Steering-Wheel-Control-Adapter.html
https://www.crutchfield.com/p_794ADSMSW/iDatalink-Maestro-SW-Steering-Wheel-Control-Adapter.html

other stuff I got - amps, wires, etc. I think I just got some cheap speaker cable from Amazon, because I was reusing some of the already installed wiring in the car to hook up the amp in the rear to speakers in the front (a real time saver, but not purist if you're a hi-fi geek. Again, my muffler is louder than the stereo unless I really crank it up, so I didn't care about cryo-treated snake oil wires)
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007WTF70

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UVWC55A

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FKP7TY

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005F1PJBE

 

Alpine iDA-X305S

It fits perfectly, have a red color mode that is very close yo the R53 interior lights.
No CD, but good power with 3 pairs of RCAs of Amps. ( front,rear, separate sub output)

the only problem you will have is finding one since they are discontinued, but worth the search.

very low signal to noise, crystal clear, solid product.

Kenwood is not what it used to be. Quality has went down and buttons pop off.

 

You also can get an idea on looks and what will work by going to Crutchfields website.

 

@Sarcux did you end up installing the Kenwood? Would you recommend it?
Sorry for being off topic.

I'm in the process of upgrading my stock stereo and looking for a good one.

From my research Kenwood is a good option. But can't make up my mind. All the reviews I've read so far are hype garbage. Actually I've tracked down a site that tells it how it is. I was eyeing the DDX9704S headunit thanks to the review.

Can you tell me how bad the is the screen glare? What about the price is there enough value to justify it?

I'm open for suggestions