Bluetooth retro-fit?

[DelboyH]

Hi All,
I have a 57 plate Cooper S convertible fitted with the Harman Kardon audio system. However, it has no Bluetooth capability, althought the steering wheel controls are present. Does anyone know if its possible to retro-fit Bluetooth capability somehow, preferably without replacing the head unit or losing the CD changer?

[mike9009]

Hi

Yes it is possible. I presume your car is a first gen MINI and not second gen as the convertible did not change until 2008ish?

I have fitted a parrot kit to my R56 MINI (mki9000). The mki9000 gave me a USB charge port and a lead to connect an ipod too. The R56 was quite difficult to install because you have to remove half the dashboard to install. If you have an early MINI it should be easier to get access to the rear of the stereo and install.

It was a great kit with most commands controlled via voice recognition. It actually improved the sound quality for music playback via the ipod connection too.

It is also possible to connect to your existing steering wheel controls using the UNIKA box. I did not do this as my car did not have steering wheel buttons.

I am now installing a ck3000 kit to my 'new' BMW as it does not have Bluetooth either.

Dependent upon what options you want to go for, you can do a DIY install for under £100. (The ck3000 is working out at about £89 including the BMW specific wiring harness but no steering wheel controls.)

I think Halfords should be able to install a parrot kit for you if you are not confident - but I am not the most competent auto-electrician and I found it easy! The Parrot instructions are quite vague so that installers can charge you (I suspect) - but there are many youtube videos/ guides which helped me.

HTH


Mike

[DelboyH]

Hi Mike, thanks for the update.
Yes my mines a first gen from December 2007 and the second gen convertible appeared in 2008 as you say.
I quite like the look of the Parrot CK3000 so I'll probably go for that one. I'm fairly competent at auto electrics so installing it shouldn't be too much of a problem. I can live without the steering wheel controls.

Thanks again, good luck with the installation in your Beemer.

Dererk

[monty999]

mike9009 said:

Hi

Yes it is possible. I presume your car is a first gen MINI and not second gen as the convertible did not change until 2008ish?

I have fitted a parrot kit to my R56 MINI (mki9000). The mki9000 gave me a USB charge port and a lead to connect an ipod too. The R56 was quite difficult to install because you have to remove half the dashboard to install. If you have an early MINI it should be easier to get access to the rear of the stereo and install.

It was a great kit with most commands controlled via voice recognition. It actually improved the sound quality for music playback via the ipod connection too.

It is also possible to connect to your existing steering wheel controls using the UNIKA box. I did not do this as my car did not have steering wheel buttons.

I am now installing a ck3000 kit to my 'new' BMW as it does not have Bluetooth either.

Dependent upon what options you want to go for, you can do a DIY install for under £100. (The ck3000 is working out at about £89 including the BMW specific wiring harness but no steering wheel controls.)


I think Halfords should be able to install a parrot kit for you if you are not confident - but I am not the most competent auto-electrician and I found it easy! The Parrot instructions are quite vague so that installers can charge you (I suspect) - but there are many youtube videos/ guides which helped me.

HTH


Mike

I installed a parrot mki9000 in my daughters 06 cooper convertible. It's the second one i've installed, the first being one in my work van and I was very impressed. Costing about £150 with the sot lead it is a great piece of kit and easy to install. Music is played from ipod/phone and voice control for making/ receiving calls is very handy and SAFE.
Definitely recommend.

[DelboyH]

Cheers for the info Monty.

Was there plenty of room behind the dash of your daughters car to hide all the cables and other bits and pieces?

[monty999]

DelboyH said:

Cheers for the info Monty.

Was there plenty of room behind the dash of your daughters car to hide all the cables and other bits and pieces?

It's a bit tight but all the cables & box went easily drivers side footwell, just need to be cable tied together and then tied to fixed point.Usb and line-in went across in the glove box. Supprisingly there was more room to put everything than when I installed in my transit van. It really is a fantastic kit and much less than the fines for using phones when driving not to mention the safety. It drives me mad when I see folks driving and on the phone especially when this option is so easy. Good luck with the install if you go with it. I'll try to find the SOT cable number which I used.

[mike9009]

DelboyH said:

Hi Mike, thanks for the update.
Yes my mines a first gen from December 2007 and the second gen convertible appeared in 2008 as you say.
I quite like the look of the Parrot CK3000 so I'll probably go for that one. I'm fairly competent at auto electrics so installing it shouldn't be too much of a problem. I can live without the steering wheel controls.

Thanks again, good luck with the installation in your Beemer.

Dererk

Installation in the Beemer is now complete - although it looks like I have been out fighting this weekend with not much skin left on my knuckles!

Space was the biggest issue with this install plus the polarity reversal on the BMW stereo. Eventually I took the blue parrot box apart to make it package much smaller and fit behind the air con controls. What a PITA!

Will write up in the BMW section to prewarn other owners!

Hope your install goes better than mine!!


Mike

[MDifficult]

I don't know if it's helpful but I got one of these for my R56 over the weekend. Only £16 with free Prime delivery - connected to the AUX & USB slots and works like an absolute charm.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01E3UC59Q

Clearly, not a substitute for the full-on Bluetooth car kit, but the audio quality is excellent and it's nice and small and easy to hide. Won't work with your steering wheel controls but my car doesn't have them anyway.

[DelboyH]

Thanks for the info guys. I've today ordered a Parrot CK3000 and adaptor lead, hopefully I'll be able to squeeze it all in somewhere!

MDifficult - I ordered one like yours too to put in the wife's Zafira - just so she doesn't feel left out....

[MDifficult]

DelboyH said:

MDifficult - I ordered one like yours too to put in the wife's Zafira - just so she doesn't feel left out....

Glad it was useful, still can't get over quite how good it is for the price.

[mr_grey_mini]

I have also been looking into this and found a few potentials for an 07 cooper s r56

https://www.seicane.com/android-in-dash-gps-naviga...

https://www.cartronics.co.uk/Videos/BMW-Mini-with-...