- #12 of 21
-
Subwoofer
by wilemakeit
-
Jan 09, 2009 (5:22 pm)
-
|
|
So is there a subwoofer in there cars? I just put in a new head unit and they took out my amp. Now I have no bump! Did they not hook it up or did the amp make the back speaker a sub sound?
|
- #13 of 21
-
Re: Subwoofer [wilemakeit]
by yettenschwag
-
Jan 13, 2009 (6:29 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: wilemakeit (Jan 09, 2009 5:22 pm)
2008 Clubman S - I am unfortunately working on this very same concern myself due to an unbearable dissatisfaction with the OEM 10 speaker system. I went with the premium sound system because I didn't want to modify my brand new investment. Plus, I have access to Mitchell on demand and Alldata for all of my wiring diagrams and disassemble procedures in which there is absolutely no data for MINI.I'm kind of scared to death to attempt a simple speaker replacment in this car because ever project that I've attempted with the MINI this far has been assisted by Murphy's Law. I purchase a 2008 Altima with the Bose system, and hoped the MINI system would be at least slightly comparable to the Nissan's sound quality. Not even remotely close. If anyone has gotten any further in there quest for decent sound, please let me know. I'm going to attempt to add these 6x9 neo subwoofers to the rear first (negating the rear tweeter) and see how it sounds.
|
- #14 of 21
-
Re: Subwoofer [yettenschwag]
by jaar819
-
Jan 14, 2009 (5:19 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: yettenschwag (Jan 13, 2009 6:29 pm)
i read in a post somewhere that the signal coming from the tuner/amp to the rear speakers has its low frequency components filtered out (if this is true i suspect it was a design defect. the only rational to filtering the low frequencies would be if the signal was used to drive the tweeter and not the base. however, the front and back designation probably got mixed up so mini decided to sacrifice sound quality to maintain the proper function of the fader, and blue tooth) the post recommended switching the signals between the front and the rear speakers. as soon as it warms up here in new england i plan to try it. also, a subwoofer with a built-in amp would also help. finally, thanks for your post. i am kicking myslef less for not getting the premium sound system.
|
- #15 of 21
-
Re: Subwoofer [jaar819]
by yettenschwag
-
Jan 14, 2009 (3:23 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: jaar819 (Jan 14, 2009 5:19 am)
I'll be looking forward to hearing your results. Also, I'm pretty good at reverse engineering and disassembly, however I'm timid to attempt removing the front door panels without first knowing the procedure. It seems that BMW has installed Gremlins throughout the vehicle to put a damper on non factory trained personnel attempting repair or modifications. My local dealer is less than accommodating, so I don't really want to have to visit their parts department for miscellaneous panels / clips / etc that I've broken in disassembly attempts’. So, any info you have on the do's & don't of R&R will be greatly appreciated.
|
- #16 of 21
-
Re: Subwoofer [jaar819]
by novyalby
-
Jun 14, 2009 (4:54 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: jaar819 (Jan 14, 2009 5:19 am)
First of all, don't kick yourself about not getting the upgraded stereo. It sucks. I wish I'd not spent the extra $500 and could've poured that into some after market solution. Though despite looking pretty hard, I'm not really finding one which doesn't involve ruining the car and eating up valuable cabin/storage space.
For a car in this price range, and a car which is supposed to be so much fun, MINI really dropped the ball on the stereo system. The Harmon Kardon system in my first Cooper was much better, even with the top down. Much better bass response.
Anyway, you mentioned something about an adjustment one can make which might improve the sound quality. Could you elaborate?
|
- #17 of 21
-
Re: Subwoofer [novyalby]
by jaar819
-
Jun 15, 2009 (11:11 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: novyalby (Jun 14, 2009 4:54 am)
the poor quality stereo really is a shame. I love the car but get hit with a pang of irritation every time I turn the radio on. i read somewhere that switching the rear and front speaker wires will improve the sound somewhat, due to the fact that the signal to the rear speakers, for some reason, is high pass filtered, meaning that the low frequencies are attenuated. the smaller, front speakers won’t generate the low frequiencies anyway due to their size. the best way to do this I am told is at the speaker harness located somewhere under the dash/front door (check with mini where it is). I am planning to try it at some point. let me know your results, and I’ll do the same when I get to it. thanks for the feedback.
|
- #18 of 21
-
Re: Subwoofer [jaar819]
by antennariidae
-
Jul 03, 2009 (12:58 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: jaar819 (Jun 15, 2009 11:11 am)
To the person asking about improving the system for about the $500 is takes to get the (not-so) hi-fi upgrade, check out the upgrade kits at newministuff. There in the UK but will ship to the U.S. You will have to feel comfortable pulling the whole inside of the car apart but the sound quality is very nice. The kit I got contained a special harness that plugs into the back of the radio. The radio harness then plugs into the new harness. I got an amp (which goes under the passenger seat), two Kenwood 6x9s for the back and Clarion components to replace the door speakers. I chose the option to have them pre-mount the tweeters into new stock A-pillar trim pieces. It ended up costing me about $600 ish once customs duty was thrown in, but you could conceivable do better by sourcing some of the components in the U.S. The harness is the key piece as it makes everything more or less plug and play once the car is dis-assembled. Yes, it is true that the standard sound system is designed so that the bass is cut off from the big speakers in the back. The harness I got drives everything off the front two channels, and that solves the problem, though you lose fader control; but I figured a car this big really doesn't require a lot of fader control anyway! If you'd just prefer to try to swap around the channels yourself or just replace some of the speakers, check out the forum at northamericanmotoring -- there are instructions there.
|
- #19 of 21
-
Sound problem
by jadenbroc
-
Aug 18, 2009 (3:02 pm)
-
|
|
I have an 03 Mini Cooper S with the Harmon Kardon sound system. The problem I am having is that I have no sound. The stereo is on. I can change channels. The CD works. I just have no sound. I have checked all the fuses under the dash and they all seem fine. Could this be an amp problem? I have yet to pull the amp out and check it. Is this my next step?
|
- #20 of 21
-
Re: Sound problem [jadenbroc]
by uppi
-
Sep 26, 2009 (1:47 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: jadenbroc (Aug 18, 2009 3:02 pm)
Jadenbroc, I'm having the same problem in my 06 S. Was it a amp problem or a loose wire? Thanks.
|
- #21 of 21
-
Re: Sound problem [uppi]
by fribble
-
Nov 06, 2009 (4:01 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: uppi (Sep 26, 2009 1:47 pm)
Hi all,
Just thought I’d share my experience, I have a 04 cooper with the HK. The radio was still working but the HK settings were lost in the head unit and there was no sound coming out of the speakers so I concluded it was the amp.
I wrote to the Mini UK Customer Services manager, Simon Anderson (simon.anderson bmw.co.uk), citing I believed the problem was inherent and that it should be replaced for free. He denied this and asked for me to take it to my dealer and once diagnosed ask for a goodwill gesture towards fixing it. I did, they diagnosed that it was the Amp and said that would be 700 quid to fix (160 diagnosis fee, 410 for the amp and 90 for fitting plus VAT). I then asked for goodwill and, after fighting to not to have to pay the diagnosis fee because I approached Simon knowing what the problem was, got it for 160 inc vat which was 20% of the price of the amp plus half an hour fitting. I also had to contact their customer service department a bunch because getting through to Simon direct was challenging. The BMW head office number is 01344 426565, ask for him and they will put you through. FYI the goodwill was, in part I was told, based on the fact that I’d had a ‘real’ bmw dealer service my car.
It still annoys me that I had to pay anything as there clearly is a problem but c’est la vie. If anyone has managed to get this for free from BMW I’d be interested to know.
Good luck
Regards
Ben
|
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Hatchbacks 
