2006 Mini Cooper S R53 Double Din Stereo installation

This is a video on how to install a double din stereo in a 2006 Mini Cooper S R53.

[@safed716]

Yep good to see this in operation rather than only pics. I took a deep breath and just started cutting 👍🏿

[@jamievandalen]

hackin my dash apart for this today. Thanks for the tips!

[@matiascuevas5112]

Thank you very much friend, finally a video that comes out very well explained, soon I will do it in my Mini. I give you a super like👍🏼❤️❤️❤️

[@HKing-626]

Your welcome! FYI... The Boss stereo is shallow, about 4 inches deep. Compared to other double din stereos which are around 6 inches deep. If you are planing to install a 6 inch depth stereo, it will stick out about 1 inch or more from the dash.

[@matiascuevas5112]

@@HKing-626 I plan to put an Atoto Android 7-inch radio from Amazon since it has good opinions and I like that model

[@HKing-626]

​@@matiascuevas5112 Looks good to me and it has a 4 star rating on amazon.

[@pansolo]

Thanks for explaining how you got the steering wheel controls to work

[@RDKSP33DY]

Crutchfield sells a kit for $80

[@jakepollard8093]

I did this job modeled after your video. Thank You. I wish you shared how you got your plastic side rails to mount to the center console since you lose the screw mounting points once you separate the control. I wound up using a screw at the base of the plastic side rails to keep them held up. Then I used a zip tie through the original mounting holes using the locking end to hold the plastic close to the dash. Hard to explain but it takes two zip ties to make it work and you can’t see them. I was concerned that everything in the console is being held by those two upper screws after you saw the center control in two.. I zip tied the front of the console back to the rear. I had to drill a hole in the rear on each side. There was already a good place to loop it on the front. I’m sure this will help with stop and go motion. I don’t know if I would do this again. Joying sells small screen Carplay radios that are single din. The smallest screen is small enough and adjustable so you don’t impede access to the heater controls. Nothing would need to be modded. Thanks again.

[@hendersonking4570]

You're welcome bro. The method that you took sounds very complicated, my method was pretty simple. The base of the my rails were secured once you put them in place, I was able to use one the top screw on each rails that made them secure. Hey as long at your happy with the result that ll that matters. 👍 Btw, My vehicle was totaled by another vehicle that cut me off. I made another video removing the double din stereo and reinstalling the factory stereo that I will post soon.

[@jakepollard8093]

​@@hendersonking4570 I dont see how I could have used the top screw points since the little blue backing parts falls out after I sawed the center console in half. Even then you still don't have the bottom screws to secure the rails. My extra work was to make sure everything was secured without rattles. I actually have considerably less dash rattles after this mod. I noticed another thing, I didn't have to shave the heater plastic. My unit was already slim. Maybe it's different for the digital heater controls which I have on my R53. Sorry about your mini thanks again!

[@hendersonking4570]

@@jakepollard8093 The blue plastic backing nuts wasn't an issue for me, they stayed in place on my vehicle. You can see in 0:32 seconds into the video. The rails do hav a lip on the bottom that makes them secure, at least on my vehicle. Perhaps you cut into the rails a bit more than required. I don't remember having any rattling with mine, it's good the extra work you put in payed off. The digital heater control would make a difference. Im looking at an R58 to replace the R53. I have some modes in mind will post when I do. Nice talking. with you.

[@DylanTedford]

Let’s be honest, the cup holders were already useless, haha. I own this generation MINI as well. Unless you’re putting a soda can in, it won’t fit.

[@HKing-626]

Thats a fact! lol...I'd rather have a useful stereo than cup holders I don't use.

[@garrystreeter-noaafederal2049]

I 3d printed a cup adapter that anchors into the cup holder and hangs over the side. Found on thingvese.

[@petermaclean774]

Hello, I am about to do this myself. What did you use for a mounting cage and brackets?

[@HKing-626]

The Boss stereo came with the brackets you see on the sides of the stereo in the video.The black brackets that connect the heater control to the stereo brackets I found knocking round my garage, probably from some other car project I did in the past. I believe the brackets were about 1 - 2 mm thick. If you're a handy guy and have tool you can fab your own brackets out of thin metal or aluminum that you can pick up from home depot. When you cut into and reinstall the side rails (if done correctly) they will hold everything in place. FYI...take you time cutting into the white plastic for the heater cable, I trimmed a little at a time and fit the stereo until it fit. Same goes for the side rails. I hope this helps, let me know how it goes, good luck.

[@ashleygonzalez8052]

i would be so down to let you do this to my mini cooper

[@sevensomething]

i was about to comment the same thing! are you anywhere near LA ?

[@cpms07]

Nice job could you provide the conversion kit information that allowed you to connect to the controls?

[@HKing-626]

Hi, thanks for watching this video. I used Metra Axxess ASWC-1 universal steering wheel control interface, Scosche VW03B wire harness to connect aftermarket stereo to receiver for 2002-up Audi/BMW/Volkswagen and Metro 40-EU10 Antenna to radio adapter cable for 2002-up BMW/Volkswagen.

[@javiercorreasr.2630]

I heard/read you loose your chimes when removing original stereo. Do you still have original chimes?

[@HKing-626]

My chimes are working

[@Fuerstdragoon]

What kind of "cable" did you use to control the flaps, because normally the motor sits directly on the green gear wheel, at least that's how it is with me (R50). Unfortunately, you can't move the whole unit, but if you just move the servomotor, it should actually fit there too. Drum, what is that for a "cable" that was used there?

[@HKing-626]

I don't know about the heater control or what behind the stereo looks line in the R50. I didn't move, re-route or change anything, cable/wires, on the heater control or behind the stereo on my R53. I just shaved down the white plastic as shown to give the double din stereo the room I need to make it fit.

[@Fuerstdragoon]

@@HKing-626 ah ok. Looks exactly the same as the R53, I think... but I still have a servomotor on the green gear in front of it that controls it and it's currently in the way. So the "cable" on the green gear wheel was already on it from the factory?

[@HKing-626]

@@Fuerstdragoon Yea, the cable on the green gear wheel was already on from factory. I guess the R50 heating system is a little different the R53. Hope you find a way to make a double din work. Sad new, my R53 was totaled. Woman driver cut me off, will soon upload a video on how to put back the factory stereo if anyone needs to. Good luck.

[@HKing-626]

@@Fuerstdragoon Yea, the cable on the green gear wheel was already on from factory. I guess the R50 heating system is a little different the R53. Hope you find a way to make a double din work. Sad new, my R53 was totaled. Woman driver cut me off, will soon upload a video on how to put back the factory stereo if anyone needs to. Good luck.

[@petermaclean774]

What did you do with the heating control box? Did you relocate it? I want to know what it is for before I go and start hacking this thing up.

[@HKing-626]

Hi, I'm not sure what box you referring to. If you're talking about the unit behind the heater/ac control I didn't have to move it, I shave the white housing on the left behind where the double din stereo would be located. The heater/ac control was moved down from original location as seen in the video.

[@lisztophobia]

I think this car had two different climate control panels available. He has the row of old fashioned manual control dials, while the automatic climate control had a digital dial with a small LCD display on it and a bunch of buttons surrounding the dial.

[@douglasangelflores6796]

Nice what steering controller did you use? Thanks

[@HKing-626]

I used the Metra Axxess ASWC-1 Steering Wheel Control Interface, purchased from amazon.

[@douglasangelflores6796]

@@HKing-626 thank you.

[@chemitak]

Hello the steering wheel control works?

[@HKing-626]

I use to the Metra Axxess Aswc - 1 universal steering wheel control.

[@javiercorreasr.2630]

Did you get to use the suggested mounting kit for this stereo?

[@HKing-626]

I didn't use a mounting kit, I used the brackets that came with the stereo. I screwed that bracket in the screw hole where the original stereo was. I had two smaller brackets which I used to attach the heater control to the bottom of the stereo.

[@javiercorreasr.2630]

@@HKing-626 Thanks for the info. I’m starting this project on my ‘04.

[@hendersonking4570]

@@javiercorreasr.2630 Take your time cutting, good luck.

[@javiercorreasr.2630]

@@hendersonking4570 Thanks for the heads up. I’ll keep you posted. It might take some time. It’s cold here now.

[@javiercorreasr.2630]

Update: I was finally able to finish this project on my R53. I ended up installing a Sony XAV-AX3000, which offers the single din size with a double din screen (I couldn’t make space because my ac control is slightly different) I wish I could post pictures here. It turned out very nice.

[@eduardoeduardo9238]

what about the lighter ? usable ?

[@HKing-626]

It is not usable if you smoke. Not a problem for me, I'm using a Belkin usb F8M930BTBLK double usb charging port. You can alway get a cigarette lighter extender that tilts forward.

[@diegorodriguezsirgado9411]

I will call you FaceTime for help lol Crack ! Awesome !

[@HKing-626]

Lol all good!

[@sheilakatz8377]

What type of stereo is it?

[@HKing-626]

I installed the Boss audio system BVCP9685A apple CarPlay/android I purchased from Amazon.

[@legendkhanproductions5263]

Your not smoking with snoop

[@HKing-626]

lol I do my smoking outside my ride.

[@legendkhanproductions5263]

Why did you cut them lol.easy to remove

[@HKing-626]

If you're referring to the rails, I had to because I dropped the heater control down. Without the rails It would look unfinished, also the rails keep everything in place.

[@tiddysprinklez]

Does KZbin purposely fuck up the videos by cutting off the side so you can't see what you're actually doing and then muting the voice so you can't understand how to do this this is bullshit

[@HKing-626]

The video doesn't have anything to do with youtube, that the way it was made lol. I put a full still shots in the video to show reference to where I cut and shaved to install the double din unit.