December 20, 2007:

MINI stereo in Porsche

A little bit unusual, but not quite off-topic

I was contacted a while ago by Roy (COOPSTR on NorthAmericanMotoring), saying:
I am trying to install an original 05′ Mini head unit into my 86′ Porsche Carrera. When I turn it on it shows DISABLED. Any suggestions as to a work around? I have been told that it is because it does not have the required Bus signal (also, see this thread)

I knew all about the “DISABLED” message, having worked with the MINI HU when developing my HKenabler - the HU expects to see iBus communications on it’s pin 13, and refuses to operate without it. It’s a security feature to discourage people stealing the MINI HU.
Back in 2003, GBMINI#2 came with a security code card - you could enter a “secret” menu of the HU while it was installed in a MINI, and changed it over from “iBus” security to “CODE” security - then after a power off, it will ask for a four digit security code. This is how I was able to use my HU on the bench.

Now though, the MINI HU no longer includes the CODE feature, so Roy was stuck. At least until I did some bench testing, and discovered that the iBus security check is quite easy to resolve, especially with HKenabler experience! So after resolving a hiccup in my solution, Roy was able to achieve his goal, and was kind enough to send a couple of pictures:

I’m impressed how good it looks in Roy’s Porsche - and as you can see in the second picture, it’s happily working and decoding RDS information

UPDATE: I had to add one resistor to the HKenabler to make it work as a MINI radio “de-security” module; see picture in the Gallery