Proceeding with the new stereo install … I now have the Kenwood 759 head unit installed, along with a 20GB Kenwood Keg. Currently I have put all my Electric Light Orchestra, Abba and Moog music on the Keg, along with some other stuff – about 20 hours of music so far and about 20% full!
The new head units looks OK in the car – its black bezel matches the bezel around the heating controls, its blue lighting matches the Lapis Blue interior and the red buttons are a nice highlight – looks OK closed too (when the power is off).
Hard to believe how many wires I had to hide, and there is not a lot of room in there (is that why they are called MINIs). I used adaptors ordered from MikeyTheMini (on MINI2) so there were no wires to cut. The wiring adaptor provided power to the new head unit, and I also wired the speakers so that – for now – the HK DSP amp will get a signal from the Kenwood head unit. I ran RCA preouts to the trunk ready for when the new Boston Acoustics GT42 amp is installed, and of course I ran the signal between the head unit and the Kenwood Keg. I had to remove the glove box to get enough access to pull the wires back out of the way so I could slide the head unit in.
The HK DSP amp refused to run with the old head unit removed – they communicate with each other so the amp knows about volume, bass, treble, etc. So I had to jury rig the old head unit back into the car as a temporary measure!
Four wires is enough: B+, B-, Accessory B+ and Kbus. One quirk is that because the audio controls on the old head unit still affect the sound, my steering volume control still works without installing the SWIX (at least, until I put in the new amp). It also means I can get LOADS of bass or treble if I want, by adjusting both the old head unit (which affects the HK DSP amp) and the new head unit (which affects the signal to the amp). I am not playing too much with this because I am not sure if I could harm the HK DSP amp or the speakers – I bet it was not designed to be used the way I have it wired!
I mounted the Kenwood Keg where the HK amp usually goes, behind the right hand access point in the trunk. I recycled the HK DSP amp bracket. Had to remove the huge cover to get it in there; my colleague, Michel, made an excellent replacement cover and event painted it to match – the cover gives it some additional protection, although it will eventually be behind an interior panel of the MINI:
Listening today, everything is fine. The Keg plays without jumping (even hitting a huge pothole this morning); sound quality already seems better than with the stock HU which surprised me! It is incredible how much music you can load onto this Kenwood Keg – and of course the new head unit also plays CDs and has a tuner in case you get bored! The only problem I see is trying to find a specific track when there are 1000 or more loaded!
M&I / GBMINI 
Do you have your old head unit for sale?
-Jim
Jim, I am keeping the old head unit in anticipation of the day when I sell / trade GBMINI and the new owner wants the original stereo system …
Ian,
The HK upgrade provides 8 speakers in the Mini Hardtop, are there only 6 in the Mini Convertible i.e no tweeters in the back seating area?
Ray
The “hardtop” does not have tweeters in the rear speaker positions, whether HK upgraded or not.
The HK adds two speakers by having a combined mid/tweeter unit in the top position in each door.
The convertible has different shaped speaker panels in the rear, but I don’t know what lies behind them. Also, I think they had to relocate the HK amp …
Ian,
Thanks for the clarification.
The 8 speaker comment came straight from the Mini sales brochure which explains all behind each accessory (or so I thought!). It states, and I quote, “The harman/kardon HiFi speaker system offers an exceptional sound experience. With eight speakers with special harman/kardon grilles, impressively powerful bass and brilliant treble”. It does sound excellent but can be a bit flat if you are listening in the rear seats.
As an aside, my convertible was ordered with the interior lighting pack as an accessory, but the vanity mirrors are not illuminated agin in contradiction to the sales patter! Do you know if this is usual or have I got a “Friday night special”?
Ray
Ray,
I noted this morning that my ’03 MCS has lighted vanity mirrors in both visors – I would therefore expect the ’05s to have this too, but I don’t know for certain.
I have a ? .. Gary King told me to ask you if it would be hard to add a amp and a sub to the upgraded system in my mini… He told me you are the one to ask… or would it be easyer to add a new head unit with the out put for a amp and a sub?.. 3rd he said maybe if i had to do that you would maybe do the install for me…. hope to heir from you soon… and thank you… Joey O
Joey,
The MINIs factory stereos do not have line level outputs – but it is possible to use converters from the speaker level; please see this information about an upgrade that Paul did to his MINI.
Hello there, I wanted to ask (because I couldn’t understand entirely from your post) as to the actual setup of your MINI sound system. Did you still have to leave your MINI deck wired between the Kenwood head and the HK Amp, or did you remove the HK Amp as well? I’m also wondering what happens to all the fine-tuning and EQ settings available in the HK amp if you can no longer control them without the Mini head? I’m intending to buy the HK upgrade, but worry that I’ll never be able to change the head unit without losing sound quality- and I figured, Sound quality is more important than a pretty deck. Any insight?
Thanks
jeff.
Don’t worry about how you set it up- I read the other article about how you made the little circuit but I don’t think I can do such a thing so I guess I’ll just have the MINI deck. I guess it doesn’t look that bad and I don’t want to sacrifice sound quality and more importantly, warranty or something just to have a cool deck. But what are your views on ways to introduce a nice deck?
(my reply to Jeff):
The HKenabler allows use of the HK amp with an aftermarket head unit and still allows the HK modes (spatial, electronic, etc) to be used. The only disadvantage of the HKenabler is that it runs the HK amp at maximum amplification all the time (so that the aftermarket head volume works); this results in slight noise (hiss) which can be heard when the music & the car are quiet. By the way, the HKenabler can be bought (from https://www.newministuff.com/new/shop.php?action=productshow&id=116)
But if you think you might want to go aftermarket, the HK upgrade is probably not where you should be thinking! You need to think of the “HK system” – if you like the system, great. But if any part of the system is not what you want, then consider going fully aftermarket instead as I did in my new MINI.
With my HKenabler it is possible to change the head unit if you eventually conclude you have to, but if you plan from the outset to have an aftermarket head unit, then go with aftermarket amp & speakers too – you will probably get a better overall system (but it will cost you more than the $550 HK upgrade).
In my opinion:
HK pluses – clarity of sound and simplicity of installation (no install at all!)
HK minuses – not enough sub-bass and (for some people) not enough volume.
Hi there, could someone please tell me the best way of running the power cable from the battery in the engine bay to the boot for an amp, i can’t see any gromets in the fire wall and thers now way to drill one.
plez help,
Many Thanks
Nick,
Having an MCS I’ve never needed to do this but I’ve read what others have done and basically you have to force an wire through an existing grommet – there are a couple for the cars factory wiring …
I recommend you visit the audio sections on North American Motoring and/or MINI2 and search there, or ask for more help
I need to replace a blown 6×9 HK rear speaker in a 2006 Mini Convertible I just purchased. What is the exact model of this speaker and where can I find one?
Faron