Mini Multimedia

michaeld17

I'm buying a 2005 Mini Cooper on Thursday which I'm excited about, however, it has an aftermarket radio which I don't think suits the interior, I was wondering if anyone knew of anywhere I could get a second hand or maybe brand new version of the the radio.

Also I was looking at the big speedo dial in the middle of the dash, and I've seen the sat nav which can go in instead. This may sound like a silly question but would you be able to swap the dial with a sat nav one if the original didn't have a sat nav in it?

If anyones confused:
images.compucars.co.uk/103837/large/mini-cooper-s-hatchback-petrol_5414748.jpg[/url] this is the sat nav speedo

seriouswheels.com/pics-2006/2006-MINI-Cooper-S-GP-Speedometer-1600x1200.jpg[/url] and this is the original speedo

Notmyrealname

Thats nice. So what do you use for the speedo? Do you think squinting at small numbers on a Satnav screen is as safe as looking at the original?

captainawsome

The speedo runs around the outside of the dial when it has satnav.

To fit nav you would need the monitor/speedo, a mk4 nav computer which will need connecting to a nav aerial on the roof and a painted sharks fin to cover it. You would then need the appropriate wiring to connect it together between the front nd rear of the car. In short, a massive pain at best IF you can find the parts needed from a donor car, but beware they won't be cheap. Although it does look better it's probably not worth it.

michaeld17

captainawsome wrote: »

The speedo runs around the outside of the dial when it has satnav.

To fit nav you would need the monitor/speedo, a mk4 nav computer which will need connecting to a nav aerial on the roof and a painted sharks fin to cover it. You would then need the appropriate wiring to connect it together between the front nd rear of the car. In short, a massive pain at best IF you can find the parts needed from a donor car, but beware they won't be cheap. Although it does look better it's probably not worth it.

Thanks for your help. It does sound a lot of effort for what i wanted.

Do you have any idea on the radio?

captainawsome

I think on the earlier minis they are coaded, so if u get another genuine mini one in my need coading depending on spec, cant be 100% on that though sorry

Notmyrealname

captainawsome wrote: »

The speedo runs around the outside of the dial when it has satnav.

Not on that picture.

adamc260

Notmyrealname wrote: »

Not on that picture.

As on that picture it has the speedo dial above the steering wheel

What the OP is probably thinking of is this

Lithian

I think the nav with speedo round the outside only came in on the r56 mini (2006 on) but i can't find a picture of the r50/r53 with nav, i did find a seller offering the display and computer for $1350 which looked like the setup in the OP without a surrounding speedo. But it wasn't clear if extra cables/antenna would be needed as well.

I guess it was a really expensive option on the early minis?

adamc260

Lithian wrote: »

I guess it was a really expensive option on the early minis?

Any option is an expensive one on a MINI... it's owned by BMW afterall!

Notmyrealname

adamc260 wrote: »

As on that picture it has the speedo dial above the steering wheel

What the OP is probably thinking of is this

Thank god. I was looking at that picture he posted and thought it couldn't be right.

almillar

adamc's picture is of the 2006 onwards Mini (R56) - OP is correct with their pictures they linked to (R53 Mini, 2000-2006). The sat nav screen replaces the speedo completely, and there are then TWO dials behind the steering wheel, the rev counter AND a speedo. You can actually see this in the pics.
OP - get yourself onto a Mini forum if you want to get serious about pricing this up, but yes, it'll be very expensive to get the sat nav screen, as you'll need that, probably some computer change somewhere, probably some cabling, as well as finding the speedo that goes behind the steering wheel. I'd imagine all these parts are quite rare and won't pop up on eBay often. Then you have to fit it all!
If you want all the toys above, your best bet is to buy a Mini with it already fitted.
Stereo - the original Mini stereo, as in your pic, can be had pretty cheap, especially the cassette one, as plenty of people have replaced them with better ones, like you seem to have in yours. It's a standard 1 DIN sized unit, and with a couple of adaptors, you can fit any brand of stereo in there. If you do decide to replace, the Mini one is easy enough, but only do that if you REALLY want the standard one there. I'd rather look for one that fits the interior better than what you've got at the mo, if it's a decent branded one, it WILL sound better for around £100.