harman kardon system

I have just bougth myself a Mini Cooper S with the optional Harman Kardon Sound system installed. Since I am not so impressed by the factury installed Radio-CD player I wanted to install an Alpine Head-Unit with an Alpine CD-changer.

However, the technicians at my local garage cannot connect my Alpine Head-Unit to the Harman Kardon system.

Does anyone have a solution for this problem?

Many thanks in advance,

The musicman

hello,

i want to take the Harman/Kardon option on my future mini cooper but didn't see anywhere informations about quality and some pictures. Can you give me informations and/or photos about this system ?

Thanks

All depends on what you want out of an audio system.

The Harman Kardon system is a system, which can cater to the needs of the average music fan. This means that for a modest price, you get a good system, which looks very good (except for the questionable silver color of the rear speakers), and plays very reasonably.

However, if you are an absolute fan of high-end material, don't bother with the Harman Kardon system, unless you fell in love with the very nice engraved aluminium speaker covers.

It is very difficult to make it work with any aftermarket material (especially when you live in Europe where no devices are available at the moment), the bass performance is not what you'ld expect from the Harman firm, the radio reception of the Boost head-unit is terrible (again: I write from Belgium, Europe; it is therefore possible that this is better in other countries) and unless you have opted for the Multifunction Steering Wheel, it is an absolute pain in the butt to operate.

To summarize: if you like a reasonably good system, which looks good and doesn't cost that much, do buy the Harman Kardon system

If you are a music lover, and want to spend a little bit more or if you want to add some extra devices to your In Car Entertainment System, steer clear from the Harman Kardon. There are a lot better products on the market and once you have the Harman Kardon installed it is near impossible to combine it with aftermarket products.

I have spent the last month trying to find out exactly the same thing about the Harman Kardon system in my mini and the possibility of changing my cd for a Sony mp3 player. I have been down many different avenues and it seems that the only thing you can do if you want to replace the factory cd player is replace the whole harmon kardon system. What i want to know is has anybody done this? Any if they have replaced the HK system what is a better altrnative??

This weekend my carhifi-specialist and I are going to try another solution.

We will install the Alpine Head-Unit in the designated place in the dashboard. The Alpine Head-unit will be connected to the Mini HK-System by a Dietz-adapter (similar to the Soundgate adapter available in the US).

The wire which goes to pin nr. 9 will be taken out of the Mini HK-connector and will remain connected to the Mini Boost Headunit. This Headunit will be connected to the battery and will be hidden somewhere in the interior of the Mini.

This way, the HK-amp will receive the necessary startup-code to work and will get the DSP info. However, the sound-signals will come from the new headunit.

In the end, we will have the best of both worlds (we will keep the DSP function, since this function is controlled by the Amp and not by the Boost-headunit; we will have the much better sound from the Alpine headunit and the possibility to play MP3 CDroms)

If this works, i will let you know immediately.

Sounds Fantastic. Hope it works out. Let me know.

Another question: Do you have a multi-function steering wheel in your mini? and do you think rigging it up this way allow that function to work aswell, or will a seperate loom be needed for that connection? Because another problem I have is Sony don’t (as yet) produce a lead which is compatible to connect a Sony Stereo to the wheel controls.

There exists a working prototype of an adaptor which makes it possible to use the MFSW in combination with a Sony aftermarket headunit.

In the coming days it will become available via the website www.newministuff.co.uk

The adaptor for Alpine is yet available.

So it sounds as though I am stuck HK system. Changing the head unit is tricky if not impossible. So as an alternative, do you think I will be able to connect a 6 cd .mp3 changer such as the SONY CDX T70MX to the installed CD changer prep or does having the HK system make this impossible aswell? I mean will the original head unit be compatible with a non mini cd changer? Just a thought. Any ideas.

Thanks for that site you sent. They seem to know the score.

I’m a bit disappointed in my mini dealership because i tested the HK system before purchase, but was never told that once it was installed an upgrade of components was impossible.

Surely someone who is interested in the HK shows that the stereo is important to them and are more likely to upgrade in the future.

I've seen on mini2.com that the changer used for the mini is the cdx t69 6 cds sony changer.
Since it is cheaper than the bmw one's, i want to buy it.
BUT:
is ther an adaptator to buy and where can we find it.
i'm told that there is something called 99 to E34 adaptator ??
Can you help me ?

Thanks.

I will get my mini in half a week with the HK system and took the cd changer prep but without the cd changer.

If you have the CD prep cable you can buy an adapter which makes it possible to connect an aftermarket CD-changer to the Boost Headunit.

If I am not mistaken, you can buy them on www.newministuff.co.uk .

I have also seen them on some US-sites. From the moment I have their URL, I will post it on this forum.

If you do not have the CD Prep, it is somewhat more difficult. I have contacted my BMW-cardealership but they cannot deliver the cable without the CD-changer.

I know that on the site www.newministuff.co.uk you can buy a CD Prep lead but I am not sure if it is indeed the CD Prep Cable.

MusicMan

Any chance on an update to your visit to the fitters?

I've just bought the same problem. A MCS with HK's and Boost however the brand new Sony MP3 Headunit cannot be fitted.

My local caraudio fitter claims to have done BMW's with HK before however it would be good to hear how you got on anyway!

Cheers

R

Hey if you're looking for the ultimate add-on to a Mini HK system check-out XM Direct! It's a black box that can be added by the driver back in the trunk that gives you XM Radio... best part is that it's going for only $299 (plus install if you get it from the dealer). Here's a link where you can buy it:

http://www.radiosandmore.com/satelliteradio.asp

I have been trying to install two Rockford Fosgate amps with a Sub and Boston ec speakers My MCS has the HK system installed in it. After two days with my installer the best results have been the rear sub and two 6 x 9 in the rear only worked for about one day no sound from the fronts functioned after one day the rears went away and now one tweeter on the passenger side up front is working any he;p would be cool
mlegere01@hotmail.com